United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11 J Patent Number:
`
`5,923,848
`
`Goodhand et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`USUOS923848A
`
`SYSTEM ANI) METHOD FOR RESOLVING
`NAMES IN AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGING
`ENVIRONMENT
`
`Assistant Examiner—Ivan C. Pierce, III
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jones & Askew, LLP
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: David R. Goodhand, Seattle; Brian W.
`MacDonald, Bellevue; William J.
`Bliss, Medina; Scott A. Thurlow,
`Kirkland, all of Wash.
`
`[73] Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,
`Wash.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 03/658,840
`I”
`filed
`Ma 31 1996
`“
`‘
`y
`’
`[51]
`Int. CL" ............................... G06F 3/00; GOOF 12i00
`[53 I us. Cl.
`________________________________ 395/200-49; 395;“20036;
`395,200.44
`395920036, 200.16,
`395130044, 20049
`
`Field of Search
`
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U-S‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2.:‘1989 Bernstein el al.
`4,803,619
`7/1094 Dam
`5333.317
`5,377,323 12;'1994 Vasudevan
`S,627,006
`SHOW Bauer
`5,664,185
`9.:‘1997
`landlitld tlal.
`5,701,462
`12/1007 Whitney et al.
`5,704,900
`(#1998 Edelstein et al.
`
`..
`
`
`
`364,."200
`305mm
`3951200
`305500
`395/615
`305mm
`395,000.49
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`_
`_
`_
`In an electronic maul system envrronment, a system and
`method for automatically checking recipients’ names, pro—
`viding message flags, providing custom forms, and provid-
`ing an autoresponse feature. Recipients’ names are resolved
`in the background, while the uxr of the e-mail system is
`composing the message. The user easily resolves ambiguous
`names by using a context menu. The resolved ambiguous
`names are automatically used to create nicknames, which are
`used to resolve ambiguous names in the future. Message
`flags allow a sender or recipient to identify required follow-
`UP action and a deadline. The recipient may use the message
`flags to quickly determine which messages require follow-
`up action. The e-mail system notifies a recipient when a due
`date is approaching or when a follow-up action is P85t due.
`A custom forms feature allows a user to create and share
`custom forms without requiring the form to be published or
`installed by other user. The custom form’s attributes are
`transmitted to the recipient as an element of the e-mail
`message. An autoresponse feature allows a sender to create
`a message that includes voting buttons corresponding to the
`possible responses to aquery.Arecipient replies by selecting
`one of the voting buttons. The recipient’s vote is automati-
`cally tallied in the sender’s copy of the message,
`thus
`allowing the sender to View a vote tally, a list of the
`recipients, and their rcswmsu
`
`Primary Examiner—Frank J. Asta
`
`22 Claims, 29 Drawing Sheets
`
`14
`
`E
`
`32
`
`2
`:
`
`CENTRAL
`may?
`
`VIDEO
`we»
`
`MONITOR
`
`o
`
`000
`31
`
`'
`
`a:
`
`5
`
`27
`
`AFPPLICATIO1N m
`
`18
`
`APPLICATION 37N
`PROGRAM N --
`
`““8335”
`INTERFACE
`21
`
`FLOPPY DISK
`um
`INTERFACE
`24
`
`SERIAL
`pom
`INTERFACE
`12
`
`
`
`
`:
`
`
`News
`—
`--------------- :______ 2'6‘.""" —§2_"-" _ 55" _ _"""""“-”‘
`BEE! 4—» REMOTE
`..
`x.
`I
`,
`COMPUTE
`\\ I ::
`:
`73
`
`\\°
`"
`I
`25 MOUSE K
`
`OPERATING APPLICATION APPLICATION
`SYSTEM
`PROGRAM 1
`PROGRAM 2
`_6
`m
`L78.
`
`23
`
`___________
`APPLICATION
`APPLICATION
`PROGRAMS 179 PROGRAM4 129
`
`_ ’7
`33 \
`
`0001
`
`Google Inc. 1003
`Google Inc. 1003
`
`0001
`
`

`

`:
`:
`
`14
`
`E
`
`32
`
`CENTRAL
`PROCESSING
`UNIT (CPU)
`
`A‘DfiETER
`
`mmST]
`
`I
`:
`:
`.
`:
`I
`s
`.
`
`MONITOR
`
`O
`
`000
`3,
`
`
`: APPLICATION 37N
`
`'
`:
`:
`5
`I OPERATING 36
`
`: APPLICATION 37A
`;
`PROGRAM1 -—
`
`1 APPLICATION
`:
`PROG
`2
`1
`'
`:
`
`-
`2
`
`SYSTEM BUS
`18
`
`HARD DISK
`DRIVE
`INTERFACE
`
`FLOPPY DISK
`DRIVE
`INTERFACE
`
`lNgEDfig'gE
`
`:
`:
`
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`
`'
`Lfl‘gnALmAfifiA
`SERIAL
`
`:
`
`PORT WE
`
`INTERFACE
`
`
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`‘ NETWORK
`
`REMOTE
`COMPUTER
`
`,.._
`
`———"‘
`
`—————————
`
`33 x
`
`0002
`
`
`
`
`
`6661‘EI'IM‘
`
`62J0Imus
`
`8P8‘EZ6‘S
`
`0002
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 2 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`37A
`
`APPLICATION
`
`PROGRAM
`
`FUNCTIONS - MESSAGES
`
`OPERATING
`SYSTEM
`
`
`
`COMPUTER
`HARDWARE
`
`FIG . 2
`
`300
`
`/
`
`SPREADSHEET
`
`WORD
`PROCESSING
`
`
`
`WORK
`FLOW
`
`CLIENT
`APPLICATIONS
`
`1
`3 0
`
`—I
`PERSONALI
`ADDRESS ll
`
`BOOK
`
`305
`
`PROVIDERS
`325
`
`MESSAGE STORE
`PROVIDERS
`
`
`ADDRESS BOOK
`TRANSPORT
`PROVIDERS
`PROVIDERS
`
`
`FIGJ
`
`0003
`
`
`
`ESIMPLE MAPI CMC EOLE MESSAGING LIBRARY§
`CLIENT
`
`..............'~.. INTERFACES
`,....................................
`
`315
`
`
`335
`SERVICE
`
`330
`
`PERSONAL
`
`FOLDERS
`
`
`
`
`
`MESSAGINGSYSTEMS
`gr)
`II
`
`0003
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`MESSAGE STORE
`
`400
`
` INVENTORY
`
`
`REQUESTS
`
`J» PROPERTIES
`
`MULTIPLE
`ATFACHMENTS
`
`
`
`
`
`505
`
`MESSAGE
`STORE
`PROVIDER
`
`
`
`REGISTRY
`PROVIDER
`
`
`
`
`FORM REGISTRY
`
`0004
`
`0004
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 4 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`To:
`
`billb; sm henry; patterson
`
`600
`
`“0.6a
`
`gilt); Henry Smith; Rgggr Patterson
`
`
`
`“’5
`
`FlC.6b
`
` To:
`yup; Henry Smith; Rm Patterson
`
` Bill Barnes
`
`
`Bill Barry
`
`
`
`610
`
`
`
`Bill Benack
`
`Bill Blewell
`
`Bill Bliss
`
`Bill Blomgren
`
`Bill Bailey
`
`Show Mom Names"
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Cieate new addm for “billb”
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Address Book
`
` FIC.6C
`
`SCREEN DISPLAYS - ORIGINAL NAME RESOLUTION
`
`0005
`
`0005
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 5 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`700
`
`FIC.7a
`
`”’5
`
`FlC-Jb
`
` Bill Barnes
`
`Bill Barry
`Bill Benack
`
`Bill Blewell
`
`Bill Bliss
`
`Bill Biomgren
`
`Show More Names...
`
`Create new address for
`
`Address Book
`
`Cut
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` 710
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Copy
`
`
`Delete
`
`
`FIC.7C
`
`SCREEN DISPLAYS - NICKNAME RESOLUTION
`
`0006
`
`0006
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 6 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`ADDRESSES
`
`COMPOSE
`
`8
`20
`
`825
`
`ENTER
`RECIPIENTS'
`
`REVIEW
`RESOLVED
`ADDRESSES
`
`830
`
` r
`
`
`07K 845
`
`
`RESOLVED
`ADDRESSES
`
`CORRECT
`ADDRESS(ES)
`
`835
`
`SEND
`MESSAGE
`
`34o
`
`FLOW DIAGRAM-
`USER’S PERSPECTIVE
`
`Fl G . 8
`
`0007
`
`
`
`CHECK FOR
`MATCH TO
`
`NICKNAMES
`
`
`
`
`RESOLVE
`REMAINING
`
`
`NAMES
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`ADDRESS EST-)1
`
`WITH PRO E
`INDICIA
`
`
`
`FLOW DIAGRAM -
`NAME RESOLUTION
`FROM PROGRAMS
`PERSPECTIVE
`
`F I C . 9
`
`0007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 7 0f 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`CLICK ON UNRESOLVED
`NAME OR RESOLVED
`NICKNAME
`
`1010
`
`DISPLAY LIST OF
`MATCHING NAMES
`
`1000
`
`7005 /
`
`SELECT NAME
`
`FROM LIST
`
`STATE DIAGRAM - NICKNAME RESOLUTION
`FROM PROGRAM’S PERSPECTIVE
`
`FIGJO
`
`P______ROPERTYTAG
`
`VALUEDATA
`
`SENDER
`
`RECIPIENT(S)
`
`SUBJECT
`
`
`
`1100
`"05
`
`1110
`
`STA US
`MESSAGE FLAG
`
`DUE DATE
`
`0008
`
`0008
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 8 0129
`
`5,923,848
`
`1202
`
`1200
`
`i
`
`1205
`
`CREAHENBW
`
`1225
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1230
`YES
`
`,
`
`ADD
`Duecqu
`?
`
`1235
`
`ENTER
`DEADUNE
`
`0009
`
`0009
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 9 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`7300
`
`
`
`
`CREATE NEW
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`CREATE
`“CONVENTIONAL”
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`ADD
`MESSAGE
`FLAG
`
`1315
`
`
`
`
`
`POPULATE
`MESSAGE FLAG
`RELATED
`
`PROPERTIES
`
`
`FIGJ 7
`
`0010
`
`0010
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 10 0f 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`1405
`
`1400
`
`Read Status w m
`-
`Bob Vlfinters
`
`Sgbiect
`Windemere Proposal
`
`Drew Lytle
`
`RE: News views
`
`Scott Thurlow
`Trio Account
`
`RE:\user\specro
`Get on the WWW
`
`Bgvg
`2/12/96
`
`212/96
`
`2112/96
`2111/96
`
`<
`
`Becky Kaplan
`
`Module Name question 2111/96
`
`Brad Thompson
`
`RE: project status
`
`2110/96
`
`upcoming release
`Pam McBain
`Terminology
`Scott Gode
`Bn'an MacDonald lunch
`
`216/96
`215/96
`2/2/96
`
`FIG.I4
`
`i
`-<-<<-<-<-<-<-<z
`Bob
`
`[] Fax Proposal by November 15,
`
`From:
`To:
`Cc: .
`Subject:
`
`Bob Winters
`Tom Smith
`
`Windemere Proposal
`
`I just got a call from Sally over at Windemere and she was wondering when we
`will be able to get the proposal to her. I told her it would be there by the 15th.
`
`FIGJ 'i
`
`0011
`
`0011
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 11 0f 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`1602
`
`1605
`
`OPEN E-MAIL
`(LIST VIEW)
`
`1650
`
`GROUP
`SORT
`MESSAGES MESSAGES
`
`READ
`MESSAGE
`
`1600
`
`f
`
`1635
`
`”0
`
`1640
`
`EDIT
`MESSAGE
`FLAG
`
`MESSAGE
`FLAG OK
`7
`
`
`
`0012
`
`0012
`
`

`

`
`US. Patent
`
`
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 12 0129
`
`
`
`
`
`5,923,848
`
`
`
`
`1700
`
`
`f
`
`
`1705
`
`SORT @
`
`1730
`
`@ GROUP
`
`1735
`
`GROUP
`MESSAGES
`
`READ
`MESSAGE
`
`1710
`
`MESSAGE@ m
`
`EDIT
`
`1725
`
`
`ADD
`
`MESSAGE
`
`FLAG
`
`CLOSE
`
`7720
`
`ADD
`MESSAGE
`FLAG
`
`1715
`
`
`
`0013
`
`0013
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 13 0129
`
`5,923,848
`
`1800
`
`’
`
`1802
`
`®
`
`
`
`r1805
`REMIgJDER
`YES
`
`GENERATE
`REMINDER
`
`ITEM
`
`1905
`
`1900‘”
`
`REClpiENTS u
`SUBJECT —
`
`1935
`
`0014
`
`0014
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 14 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`2000
`f
`
`2002
`
`2005
`
`
`
`OPEN NEW
`E-MAIL
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
` DESIGN
`
`CUSTOM
`FORM
`
`2025
`
`2030
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`COMPOSE
`AND SEND
`
`
`EMAIL
`MESSAGE
`
`FIG.20
`
`0015
`
`0015
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 15 0f 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`2100
`
`/
`
`FIELD CHOOSER
`
`AVAILABLE FIELDS
`
`CATEGORIES
`
`CONVERSATION TOPIC
`
`DO NOT AUTOARCHIVE
`
`FREQUENTLY-USED FIELDS a
`
`FROM
`
`ICON
`
`IMPORTANCE
`
`MESSAGE
`
`RECEIVED
`
`SENT
`
`SELECT FROM:
`
`PIC-.21
`
`0016
`
`0016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 16 0129
`
`5,923,848
`
`2200
`
`2205
`
`REATE NEW
`E-MAIL MESSAGE
`
`/ C
`
`
`DISPLAY
`STANDARD
`FORM
`
`
`
`2240
`8mg ENTER NEW
`gas;
`
`
`
`FIELD AND
`CHOOSER
`
`
`CLICK “OK”
`
`
`
` DRAG FIELD
`
`ONTO FORM
`
`COMPOSE
`MESSAGE
`
`SELECT
`
`2230
`
`
`
`NEW FIELD
`DIALOG
`
`INTERFACE
`SELECT
`RUN
`
`MODE
`
`2235
`
`
`STANlDAEORM
`
`
`
`
`REARRANGE
`WITH NEW
`FIELDS
`FIELDS
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG-.22
`
`0017
`
`
`
`
`CONSTITUENT
`
`DATA
`
`CHOOSE
`DESIGN
`FORMS
`OPT'ON
`
`0017
`
`

`

` Jim Rogers (Exchange)
`
`Sent 14/11/95 11:32 AM
`
`Shirley Johnston (Exchange)
`
`2305
`
`2315
`
`Shirley,
`
`
`
`
`i wanted to confirm the dimensions are correct I also wanted to
`ask you if the length of the radio design can be decreased by an
`
`
`inch so that we can use a new safety material?
`
`
`
`Thanks,
`
`Jim
`
`
`
`FIC.21
`
`0018
`
`
`
`waned'S'[1
`
`
`
`6661“Elint
`
`62.10L1193118
`
`8178‘926‘9
`
`0018
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 18 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`2400
`
`/
`
`2402
`
`
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`COMMAND
`
` RECEIVE OPEN
`
`
`24 15
`
`EXTRACT LAYOUT
`INFORMATION
`FROM FORMS
`REGISTRY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`EXTRACT
`LAYOUT INFO
`
`
`ASSOCIATED
`
`WITH “FORM"
`PROPERTY
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`
`
`MESSAGE
`
`FIC.24
`
`0019
`
`0019
`
`

`

`
`
`"lined'S'fl
`
`:
`
`E E
`
`so
`
`g
`
`a 3
`
`2,
`S
`
`3"
`S
`.3
`
`4;
`cc
`
`2500
`
`Shirley Johnson (Exchange)
`
`Sent 14/11/95 11:24 AM
`
`To:
`
`Cc:
`
`Jim Rogers (Exchange)
`
`Subject:
`Dimensions:
`
`Updated Design
`13x35x4
`
`Jim,
`
`2505
`
`These are the new dimensions as it stands today.
`We might be able to reduce the length. I will let you know as soon
`as I find out
`
`Cheers,
`Shirley
`
`no.2;
`
`0020
`
`0020
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 20 0f 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`2700
`f
`
`2702
`
` CREATE
`
`
`NEW E-MAIL
`
`
`
`ACTIVATE
`
`MORE§WNSE
` YES
`
`
`
`ACTIVATE
`AUTORESPONSE
`AND ENTER
`TOKENS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2620
`2625
`2630
`
`PROPERTY TAG
`
`ITEM
`
`
`
`mam-
`
`RECIPIENT 8
`JOHN. JIM
`sumecr —
`sow —
`more —
`AUTORESPONSE CHEZJEAN.MAMA
`VERBS
`ROSA’S. BIG BOB'S
`
`PR REPORT
`
`MONlKER
`
`2640
`
`JOHN —
`——
`
`
`
`EMAIL
`MESSAGE
`
` SEND
`
`FIC.27
`
`FIG.26
`
`0021
`
`0021
`
`

`

`Yes; No; Maybe
`
`D Have re Iies sent to:
`
`9
`
`Save sent message to:
`
`A rove'. Re'ect
`
`2805
`
`Importance _a Sensitivity
`
`i::::l§_i
`
`2810
`
`Use voting buttons:
`
`Chez Jean; Mama Rosa's; Big Bob's.
`
`, 2825
`
`Yes;
`
`DD
`
`No
`
`1
`
`}
`
`2830
`
`FIG.28
`
`0022
`
`mamaso
`
`6661‘u1M
`
`62J0[ZPENIS
`
`8V8‘EZ6‘S
`
`28 15
`
`2820
`
`0022
`
`

`

`
`US. Patent
`
`
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 22 0f 29
`
`
`
`
`
`5,923,848
`
`
`
`
`
`2900
`
`
`
`
`CREATE MESSAGE
`
`
`
`CREATE
`
`“CONVENTIONAL”
`
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SELECT OPTIONS
`
`
`PAGE AND
`
`
`
`CLICK ON “USE
`
`
`VOTING BUTTONS”
`
`CHECKBOX
`
`SEND
`
`
`
`
`ADD
`
`
`AUTORESPONSE
`
`
`
`
`PROPERTIES TO
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`ITEM
`
`
`
`FIG.29
`
`
`
`0023
`
`0023
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 23 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`3002
`
`OPEN
`NEW/EAmML
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`
` SELECT
`VCWMVG
`BUTVDN
`
`3030
`
`FIGJO
`
`0024
`
`0024
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mama'S'fl
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a
`:3
`
`5
`
`”E\D
`
`
`
`c
`
`
`
`m
`
`5':—
`
`;
`
`
`N4
`
`
`
`S,
`D
`
`
`
`
`N\
`
`
`i"
`
`\o
`
`
`
`”
`°°
`
`4:
`on
`
`
`N 5
`
`
`
`
`
` :
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`— /3100
`
`ChezJean_m——BigBobs
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'1 Please respond using thevoting buttons-abov_e
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Bett Johnson Exchan e
`
`g )
`(
`y
`
`
`
`Erin Dunphy (Exchange)
`
`
`
`Sent 10/11/95 1:32
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PM
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3105/
`
`3110 J
`J
`3115
`3120 _/
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Christmas Party
`
`
`
`
`At which restaurant would you like the Christmas party held?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3125
`
`
`
`FIG 31
`°
`
`
`
`0025
`
`0025
`
`

`

`
`US. Patent
`
`
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 25 0f 29
`
`
`
`
`
`5,923,848
`
`
`
`3205
`
`3200
`
`
`
`
`/
`
`
`OPEN
`
`
`3210
`
`
`OPEN
`
`
`MESSAGE AND
`
`
`DISPLAY VOTING
`
`BUTTONS
`
`
`
`
`
`SELECTA
`
`
`VOTING BUTTON
`
`SEND
`
`3215
`
`
`
`
`EXECUTE
`
`AUTORESPONSE
`
`VERB
`
`3220
`
`
`SEND
`
`RESPONSE
`
`
`SEND
`
`3225
`
`
`EDIT
`
`EDIT
`
`
`RESPONSE
`
`FIG-.32
`
`
`
`0026
`
`0026
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`Sheet 26 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`3300
`
`/
`
`
` PROCESS
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`
` 3320
`
`CLOSE
`
`MESSAGE
`
`
`FIG}?
`
`0027
`
`0027
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`Sheet 27 of 29
`
`5,923,848
`
`3400
`
`3405
`
`SNIFFER
`PROCESSES
`AUTORESPONSE
`REPLY
`
`USER OPENS
`AUTORESPONSE
`REPLY
`
`CLOSES
`
`USER
`CLOSES
`MESSAGE
`
`SNIFFER
`
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`3430
`
` UPDATE
`VOTER
`PROPERTY WITH
`
`
`“Mm“
`
`
`VOTER
`“"éBSfiRDTY
`
`Fl C- . 34
`
`0028
`
`0028
`
`

`

`mamaso
`
`
`
`6661“El'IM‘
`
`62.1082mus
`
`8178‘926‘9
`
`3520
`
`35 15
`
`3500
`
`Read To Do
`
`Encl
`
`From
`
`M
`
`Rcvd
`
`Size
`
`2K
`
`Bob Winters
`
`Windemere Proposal
`
`2/12/96
`
`Drew Lytle
`
`Big Bob’s: Christmas Party
`
`2/12/96
`
`Scott Thurlow
`
`Chez Jean: Christmas Party 2/12/96
`
`Trio Account
`
`Get on theW 2/1 1/96
`
`2K
`
`2K
`
`Becky Kaplan
`
`Module Name question
`
`2/11/96
`
`Brad Thompson
`
`RE: project Status
`
`2/10/96
`
`Pam McBain
`
`upcoming release
`
`Scott Gode
`
`Terminology
`
`Brian MacDonald
`
`lunch
`
`2/6/96
`
`2/5/96
`
`2/2/96
`
`N Y Y Y
`
`Y Y Y Y
`
`Y
`
`3505
`
`3510
`
`FIG}?
`
`0029
`
`0029
`
`

`

`Betty Johnson (Exchange)
`
`Sent 10/11/951232
`
`PM
`
`To:
`
`Cc:
`
`My Department (Exchange)
`
`Christmas Party
`Subject
`I: Vote results: Mama Rosa’s-23. Chez Jean-12, Big Bob’s-3.
`
`10/11/95 3620
`
`
`
`waned'S'[1
`
`6661‘€I'IM‘
`
`62.1062wells
`
`8178‘9Z6‘S
`
`i
`
`3615
`
`“——
`Mama Rosa’s
`10/11/95
`Erin Dunphy
`Bob Smith
`
`Chez Jean
`
`10/11/95
`
`3605
`
`John Late
`
`Christine Ko
`
`Jim Street
`
`Terace Grop
`Jane Parker
`
`Joe Black
`
`Phillip White
`
`Mama Rosa’s
`
`Mama Rosa’s
`
`Big Bob’s
`Mama Rosa’s
`
`Mama Rosa’s
`
`Chez Jean
`
`Mama Rosa
`
`10/11/95
`
`10/11/95
`
`10/11/95
`
`10/11/95
`
`10/11/95
`
`10/11/95
`
`0030
`
`

`

`5,923,848
`
`
`
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESOLVING
`
`
`
`
`
`NAMES IN AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGING
`
`
`
`
`
`ENVIRONMENT
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`
`
`
`The present invention relates to a system and method for
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`
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`creating and sending electronic mail, and more particularly
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`relates to a system and method for simplifying the processes
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`of resolving recipient names, indicating action items, utiliz-
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`
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`ing custom forms, and tallying replies from a group of
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`recipients.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`transmits
`is a service that
`Electronic mail, or e-mail,
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`electronic messages from one computer to another. These
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`messages may be simple text messages or more complex
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`messages containing documents and data of various types.
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`The transmission of e-mail messages may range from trans-
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`mission over a short distance, such as over a local area
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`network between employees in adjoining offices, to trans-
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`mission over extremely long distances, such as over the
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`global Internet between users on different continents.
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`Generally,
`to send an e-mail message via an e-mail
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`system, a user opens an e-mail program module and types a
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`message and other information into an e-mail form. The
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`e-mail form contains a number of fields for the recipients’
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`addresses, the subject of the message, and the message itself.
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`The user may also attach separate files to the e-mail mes-
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`sage. Before sending the e-mail message, the user must enter
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`the recipient’s e-mail address, which is used by the e-mail
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`system to route the message to the intended recipient.
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`After composing an e-mail message and entering the
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`recipient’s address, the user sends the message by invoking
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`a “send” command. The e-mail system then sends the
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`message to the recipient. At the recipient’s computer, the
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`recipient typically will receive a visual or auditory cue, such
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`as a ringing bell, when an e-mail message has been received
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`in the recipient’s inbox. The recipient may then open the
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`e-mail program and view a list of the messages in the inbox.
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`The recipient may view the complete text of a message by
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`selecting and opening that message.
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`E-mail is becoming increasingly popular because it is a
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`quick, convenient, and easy way to exchange information
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`and communicate with others. E-mail offers numerous
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`
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`advantages over other
`forms of communication. For
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`
`
`
`
`
`example, e-mail
`is less intrusive than a telephone call
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`because the recipient of an e-mail message may wait until a
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`convenient time to retrieve and respond to the message
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`rather than being immediately interrupted. Another advan-
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`
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`tage of e-mail is the ability to communicate with large
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`groups of people by sending a single e-mail message to
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`multiple recipients. Still another advantage of e-mail is the
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`ability of attaching documents in electronic format to an
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`e-mail message.
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`
`E-mail messages are composed in the context of a “form.”
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`A form is an object that is used to display a message in a
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`structured format. An e-mail form typically provides a
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`plurality of fields, including an address field, a “From” field,
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`a “Subject” field, a “cc” field, and a “Body” field. The user
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`of the e-mail system composes the message by entering data
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`into some or all of the fields on the form.
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`E-mail forms typically incorporate verbs, which are com-
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`mands that a form is capable of executing. Typical verbs
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`include commands such as reply, forward, open, and print.
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`For example, a recipient may generate a reply to an e-mail
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`10
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`15
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`20
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`30
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`
`35
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`40
`
`
`
`45
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`
`50
`
`
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`55
`
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`60
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`65
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`
`0031
`
`
`2
`message by clicking on a reply button. In response to the
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`reply command, the e-mail program carries out the instruc-
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`tions associated with the “reply” verb. This includes copying
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`the data in the address field of the incoming message to the
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`“From” field of the reply, copying the data in the “From”
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`field of the incoming message to the address field of the
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`reply, and adding “Rez” before the data in the “Subject”
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`field.
`
`tool,
`Although e-mail provides a valuable and useful
`
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`
`current e-mail systems are not without their drawbacks. For
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`instance, an e-mail system must have a unique, specific
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`destination address in order to deliver an e-mail message to
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`the correct recipient. In many cases, e-mail addresses are not
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`intuitive derivatives of a person’s name and may be difficult
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`for the user to remember. Also, because the address must be
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`specific, a typographical error entered by the user will result
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`in the message being misdelivered or not delivered at all.
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`Before the e-mail system can send a message, all of the
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`names in the address field must be “resolved,” or matched
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`with the valid address of a particular user. In most e-mail
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`systems, the recipients’ names are resolved when the user
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`invokes the “send” command or a “check names” command.
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`In either case,
`the e-mail system resolves unambiguous
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`names without user intervention and prompts the user to
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`resolve ambiguous names by selecting the correct name
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`from a short list.
`
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`
`
`As an example, Jim Peterson is sending an e-mail mes-
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`sage to his friend Dave. In the address field of the message,
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`Jim enters the name “Dave.” An address book or directory,
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`which is stored on the server, is used by the e-mail system
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`to match the name “Dave” with the appropriate recipient. In
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`a small company or organization with only one user named
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`Dave, entering “Dave” in the address field would be unam-
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`biguous to the e-mail system and the e-mail system would
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`match the name “Dave” to the correct, unique e-mail
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`address. However, in a company or organization with mul-
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`tiple Daves, the name must be resolved to the correct Dave.
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`This method of resolving names is inconvenient because the
`
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`user must execute an extra step to resolve the names before
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`the message is sent. This is especially inconvenient if a user
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`only sends mail to one “Dave” although the address book
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`contains many “Daves.” Also, as companies and organiza-
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`tions expand, the e-mail system address book continues to
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`grow,
`thereby increasing the chances for ambiguity. The
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`potential is created for false matches resulting in misdirected
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`e-mail.
`
`One attempt to simplify the process of resolving names is
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`to implement a feature that monitors the user’s typing of
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`characters in the address field and volunteers the full name
`
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`when the user types enough characters to uniquely identify
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`one recipient. Alternatively, in another attempted solution,
`
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`the user can type in a number of characters and get a list of
`
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`recipients whose name begins with the characters typed in
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`by the user. Neither of these solutions provides a satisfactory
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`
`
`solution to the problem of resolving names. First, a long
`
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`string of characters may need to be entered before a unique
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`name is found. Also, for certain names, such as John Smith,
`
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`a unique name may never be found even if the entire name
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`is entered. In addition, the user must enter the name exactly
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`as it appears in the directory even if one part of a name is
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`more unique than another part of a name. For example,
`
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`“MacDonald” is probably more unique than “John,” but a
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`user must enter the name as “John Mac .
`.” if that is how
`.
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`the name appears in the directory. Furthermore,
`these
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`attempted solutions require the user’s attention to complete
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`the resolution of the names.
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`In addition to the drawbacks associated with verifying
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`e-mail addresses, current e-mail systems do not provide the
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`0031
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`5,923,848
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`3
`user with an effective way to organize and manage the user’s
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`e-mail inbox. Many businesses rely on an e-mail system as
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`one of the main modes of communication between
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`individuals, resulting in users often having to deal with large
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`numbers of e-mail messages. In cases where an e-mail user
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`has received messages that delegate responsibilities or
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`request specific follow-up actions,
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`easily be lost in a flood of other e-mail messages. Even if a
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`recipient has a manageable amount of e-mail messages in his
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`or her inbox, requests for action are often buried in the body
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`of an e-mail message and the recipient may not realize that
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`an action has been requested.
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`E-mail systems usually provide only rudimentary mecha-
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`nisms for identifying and sorting important messages that
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`require some sort of action. For example, one mechanism for
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`identifying and sorting important messages is for the sender
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`of the message to set a priority for the message that the
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`recipient will receive with the message. In the alternative,
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`the sender may provide information about the e-mail mes-
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`sage in the subject line. For example, the sender may set the
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`priority as “urgent” for a respective e-mail message or type
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`“urgent” in the “Subject” field. However, this mechanism of
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`setting priorities is ineffective because the e-mail message
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`may not require immediate action. The recipient may open
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`and read the message, and then file the message in a
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`“follow-up” folder. Thus, there is the possibility that the
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`recipient will forget to take the action at a later time.
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`Another mechanism for identifying and sorting important
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`messages is for the recipient of the message to forward the
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`message to himself and change the priority of the message
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`or subject of the message to the priority or subject desired by
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`the recipient. However, re-prioritizing by the recipient suf-
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`fers from the drawback of the recipient spending extra time
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`and effort to execute the steps of sending a message back to
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`himself. Thus, the previous solutions to organize and iden-
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`tify important e-mail messages, such as those that require
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`action, only achieve adequate results at best.
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`Another drawback of current e-mail systems is the diffi-
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`culty in creating and using customized e-mail forms. There
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`are times when a user feels that the fields on an e-mail form
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`simply do not meet their requirements and that it would be
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`to add user-specified fields. For example, Jim is
`useful
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`working with Shirley to develop a casing for the radio she
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`is designing. E-mail messages containing information about
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`the dimensions of the radio are constantly being sent
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`between the two. Using a normal e-mail message,
`the
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`information is buried within the message making it difficult
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`to find. As a result, Jim and Shirley would like to create a
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`customized e-mail form with added fields for the length,
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`width, and height of the casing.
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`Currently, to add fields to an e-mail message, a custom
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`form is created using a separate application program. After
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`the form is created and defined, the form must be placed on
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`a central server for distribution and installed in each user’s
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`form registry. Usually, placing the form on the server must
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`be approved and executed by the management information
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`systems (MIS) department. Thus, placing a form on a server
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`may involve some delay and bureaucratic problems After the
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`form is placed on the server, any user of the form must install
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`the form before an e-mail message using this form may be
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`displayed on their screen. For
`instance,
`in the above
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`example, Jim would have to install the form on his computer
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`before receiving an e-mail message from Shirley utilizing
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`the form. Therefore, using a form with user-specified fields
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`may be time-consuming and annoying because the form
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`must be created and placed on a server, and the form must
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`be installed on a user’s computer before the form can be
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`used.
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`10
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`15
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`45
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`4
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`Another drawback of current e-mail systems is an inabil-
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`ity to effectively organize responses to an e-mail message
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`from a group of people. For example, when working with a
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`large group, a user is often required to interact with other
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`group members to make decisions. Using an e-mail message
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`to pose a question to a large group reduces the difficulty of
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`contacting each member of the group for their response.
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`Instead of directly contacting each member of the group, one
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`e-mail message requesting a response can be sent to every
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`member of the group. Each recipient types in their response
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`and sends a reply e-mail message to the user. However, the
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`user still has the task of organizing the replies as they are
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`received and tallying the responses to determine the group
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`consensus. Thus, the user is required to open every reply,
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`read it to determine the response, and tally the responses to
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`decide the consensus of the group. Current e-mail systems
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`do not provide a mechanism for automatically tallying the
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`responses to a question. Instead, the user must manually
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`organize the responses, typically by creating folders for each
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`of the different responses, by creating a spreadsheet with the
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`different responses and the number of replies associated with
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`each response, or simply by tracking the responses on paper.
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`However, these solutions require time and effort on the part
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`of the user and do not directly address the issue of tallying
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`responses.
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`Therefore, there is a need in the art for an e-mail system
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`that is easier to use and provides more useful organizational
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`features than current e-mail systems.
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`In particular, there is a need for an e-mail system that
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`simplifies the process of resolving recipient addresses and
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`minimizes the input required from the user.
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`There is also a need for an e-mail system that provides
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`more useful organizational features for the recipient by
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`distinctly identifying important e-mail messages, such as
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`messages that require follow-up action.
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`There is a further need for an e-mail system that provides
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`the ability to use custom forms with user-specified fields
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`without requiring the forms to be created and stored on a
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`server.
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`There is still a further need for an e-mail system that
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`provides more useful organizational features by automati-
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`cally tallying the responses to a question posed to a group of
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`e-mail users.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention satisfies the above described needs
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`by providing an improved system and method for
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`composing, processing, and organizing electronic mail mes-
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`sage items. The present invention automatically resolves
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`recipient display names while the user is composing the
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`message. The invention provides multiple options for
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`resolving ambiguous names and automatically creates nick-
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`names based on how ambiguous names are resolved. The
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`present invention also allows a sender or recipient to indi-
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`cate specific follow-up action associated with a message.
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`The message flag may be accompanied by a due date, which
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`generates reminders and past due notices. The present inven-
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`tion also provides an efficient method for sharing custom
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`e-mail forms with other users. A description of the custom
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`form is transmitted as part of the e-mail message and
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`displayed by