Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for electronic mail interaction with grouped message types

US7359936B2 · kind B2 · utility

63Cited by
12References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 27, 2003
Grant dateApr 15, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 29, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L51/216
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electronic mail inbox uses a mail agent to categorize incoming electronic mail to facilitate more flexible and rapid viewing and possible response thereto. Several special functions for collection of regularly sent types of mail, such as newsletters, office memos, press releases, etc., are utilized. In addition, special menu items are provided for collection and presentation of different priority items, such as urgent correspondence and approval requests. The electronic mail inbox facilitates multiple viewing options so that collections of regularly sent or different priority types of mail may be viewed separately and/or interleaved with other items in a main mail inbox. In addition, items that require an affirmative response, such as approval requests, may include a special preview format that allows for rapid viewing of pertinent details and approval directly from the mail inbox without review of the complete item.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.