U.S. patent application number 10/734437 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-16 for scheduled electronic mail deletions.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Muller, Michael J..
Application Number | 20050132010 10/734437 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34653365 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050132010 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muller, Michael J. |
June 16, 2005 |
Scheduled electronic mail deletions
Abstract
Described are a system and method of managing electronic mail
messages in an email account. An email message is displayed to a
user on a display screen of a device. In response to detecting
intent of the user to close the email message, the user is
automatically presented with a plurality of deletion options for
deleting the email message. The user selects one of deletion
options, causing the email message to close and setting a deletion
criterion for deleting the email message based on the selected
deletion option. In response to detecting intent of the user to
send an email message, the user is presented with a plurality of
deletion options for the deleting a self-copy email message. The
user selects one of the deletion options, causing the email message
to be sent, and the deletion criterion to be set for the self-copy
based on the selected deletion option.
Inventors: |
Muller, Michael J.;
(Medford, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GUERIN & RODRIGUEZ, LLP
5 MOUNT ROYAL AVENUE
MOUNT ROYAL OFFICE PARK
MARLBOROUGH
MA
01752
US
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
34653365 |
Appl. No.: |
10/734437 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/22 20130101;
G06Q 10/107 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/206 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of managing electronic mail (email) messages in an
email account, the method comprising: displaying to a user a first
email message on a display screen of a device; presenting the user
with a plurality of deletion options in response to detecting an
intent of the user to perform an action on the first email message;
receiving an input signal from the user that selects one of
deletion options; and in response to the input signal, performing
the action on the first email message and setting a deletion
criterion for a second email message based on the selected deletion
option.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second email message is the
first email message and the action is to close the first email
message.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the action is to send the first
email message and the second email message is a copy of the sent
first email message.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of setting the deletion
criterion for the second email message includes associating
deletion of the second email message to an occurrence of a
scheduled item.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the scheduled item is an
appointment in a calendar.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the scheduled item is a task in a
task list.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of setting the deletion
criterion for the second email message includes scheduling deletion
of the second email message to a specified time.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting the user for
confirmation before deleting the second email message based on the
deletion criterion.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining by the user
each deletion option to be presented.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a mailbox
view listing a plurality of email messages, and providing an
indicator for each email message scheduled for deletion.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising activating the
indicator for one of the email messages to display deletion
criterion associated with that email message.
12. A computing system for managing electronic mail (email)
messages in an email account, the computing system comprising: a
display screen; an input device receiving a first signal from a
user of the computer system indicating an intent of the user to
perform an action on a first email message displayed on the display
screen; and a processor executing an email client program to
display a plurality of deletion options on the display screen in
response to the first signal, the email client program performing
the action on the first email message and setting a deletion
criterion for a second email message in response to a second signal
received by the input device that selects one of the deletion
options.
13. The computing system of claim 12, wherein the second email
message is the first email message and the action is to close the
first email message.
14. The computing system of claim 12, wherein the action is to send
the first email message to a recipient and the second email message
is a copy of the sent first email message.
15. The computing system of claim 12, wherein the deletion
criterion for deleting the second email message is associated with
an occurrence of a scheduled item.
16. The computing system of claim 12, wherein the deletion
criterion for deleting the second email message includes an
expiration date.
17. The computing system of claim 12, wherein the email client
program displays on the display screen a mailbox view listing a
plurality of email messages and an indicator for each email message
scheduled for deletion.
18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein the email client
program displays on the display screen deletion criterion
associated with deleting one of the email messages for which the
indicator is activated.
19. An apparatus for managing electronic mail (email) messages in
an email account, the apparatus comprising: means for displaying to
a user a first email message on a display screen of a device; means
for presenting the user with a plurality of deletion options in
response to detecting an intent of the user to perform an action on
the first email message; means for receiving an input signal from
the user that selects one of deletion options; and means,
responsive to the input signal, for performing the action on the
first email message and for setting a deletion criterion for a
second email message based on the selected deletion option.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second email message is
the first email message and the action is to close the first email
message.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the action is to send the
first email message to a recipient and the second email message is
a copy of the sent first email message.
22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for setting the
deletion criterion for the second email message includes means for
associating deletion of the second email message to an occurrence
of a scheduled item.
23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for setting the
deletion criterion for the second email message includes means for
scheduling deletion of the second email message to a specified
time.
24. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for
displaying a mailbox view listing a plurality of email messages and
for providing an indicator for each email message scheduled for
deletion.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for
activating the indicator for one of the email messages to display
deletion criterion associated with that email message.
26. A computer program product for use with a computer system, the
computer program product comprising a computer useable medium
having embodied therein program code comprising: program code for
displaying to a user a first email message on a display screen of a
device; program code for presenting the user with a plurality of
deletion options in response to detecting an intent of the user to
perform an action on the first email message; program code for
receiving an input signal from the user that selects one of
deletion options; and program code, responsive to the input signal,
for performing the action on the first email message and for
setting a deletion criterion for a second email message based on
the selected deletion option.
27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the second
email message is the first email message and the action is to close
the first email message.
28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the action is
to send the first email message to a recipient and the second email
message is a copy of the first email message.
29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the program
code for setting the deletion criterion for the second email
message includes program code for associating deletion of the
second email message to an occurrence of a scheduled item.
30. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the program
code for setting the deletion criterion for the second email
message includes program code for scheduling deletion of the second
email message to a specified time.
31. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising
program code for displaying a mailbox view listing a plurality of
email messages, and program code for providing an indicator for
each email message scheduled for deletion.
32. The computer program product of claim 31, further comprising
program code for activating the indicator for one of the email
messages to display deletion criterion associated with that email
message.
33. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for use with
a computer system having a display and capable of generating a user
interface through which a user may interact with the computer
system, the computer data signal comprising: program code for
displaying to a user a first email message on a display screen of a
device; program code for presenting the user with a plurality of
deletion options in response to detecting an intent of the user to
perform an action on the first email message; program code for
receiving an input signal from the user that selects one of
deletion options; and program code, responsive to the input signal,
for performing the action on the first email message and for
setting a deletion criterion for a second email message based on
the selected deletion option.
34. The computer data signal of claim 33, wherein the second email
message is the first email message and the action is to close the
first email message.
35. The computer data signal of claim 33, wherein the action is to
send the first email message to a recipient and wherein the second
email message is a copy of the first email message.
36. The computer data signal of claim 33, wherein the program code
for setting the deletion criterion for the second email message
includes program code for associating deletion of the second email
message to an occurrence of a scheduled item.
37. The computer data signal of claim 33, wherein the program code
for setting the deletion criterion for the second email message
includes program code for scheduling deletion of the second email
message to a specified time.
38. The computer data signal of claim 33, further comprising
program code for displaying a mailbox view listing a plurality of
email messages, and program code for providing an indicator for
each email message scheduled for deletion.
39. The computer data signal of claim 33, further comprising
program code for activating the indicator for one of the email
messages to display deletion criterion associated with that email
message.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to electronic mail systems.
More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method of
scheduling automatic deletions of electronic mail messages in a
user's electronic mail account.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electronic mail, or email, is a widespread, heavily used
software tool for exchanging messages among users over a
communications network, such as the Internet. Anyone with an
email-enabled computing device, such as a desktop or laptop
computer, workstation, personal digital assistant, or cell phone,
with a wireless or wired connection to the network, can send email
messages to the electronic mailboxes of others users similarly
connected to the network. A typical business user can receive
several hundred email messages in the course of a day. Moreover,
users often save a copy of each self-generated mail message,
whether that mail message is a newly composed mail message or a
reply to or a forwarding of a received message. Unless proactively
and regularly managed, users' mailboxes thus become cluttered with
saved email messages, many of which have outlived their
usefulness.
[0003] Disadvantages inherent to mailbox clutter are evident.
Organizations need to spend more on their mail servers to maintain
the large number of saved email messages and employees are less
efficient when having to sort through many irrelevant emails.
Notwithstanding such disadvantages, mailbox clutter still grows
because users do not want to delete immediately email messages that
may have some time-limited usefulness (e.g., until a scheduled
meeting occurs with the email message sender). Many users, however,
forget to delete these email messages after their period of
usefulness has passed. Thus, there is a need for a system and
method that can help email users reduce the clutter of email
messages in their mailboxes and organizations manage costs for
maintaining email accounts.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, the invention features a method of managing
electronic mail (email) messages in an email account. A first email
message is displayed to a user on a display screen of a device. The
user is presented with a plurality of deletion options in response
to detecting an intent of the user to perform an action on the
first email message. An input signal is received from the user that
selects one of deletion options. In response to the input signal,
the action is performed on the first email message and a deletion
criterion is set for a second email message based on the selected
deletion option.
[0005] In another aspect, the invention features a computing system
for managing electronic mail (email) messages in an email account.
The computing system comprises a display screen and an input device
receiving a first signal from a user of the computer system
indicating intent of the user to perform an action on a first email
message displayed on the display screen. A processor executes an
email client program to display a plurality of deletion options on
the display screen in response to the first signal. The email
client program performs the action on the first email message and
sets a deletion criterion for a second email message in response to
a second signal received by the input device that selects one of
the deletion options.
[0006] In yet another aspect, the invention features an apparatus
for managing electronic mail (email) messages in an email account.
The apparatus includes means for displaying to a user a first email
message on a display screen of a device, means for presenting the
user with a plurality of deletion options in response to detecting
an intent of the user to perform an action on the first email
message, means for receiving an input signal from the user that
selects one of deletion options, and means, responsive to the input
signal, for performing the action on the first email message and
for setting a deletion criterion for a second email message based
on the selected deletion option.
[0007] In still another aspect, the invention features a computer
program product for use with a computer system. The computer
program product comprises a computer useable medium having embodied
therein program code. The program code includes program code for
displaying to a user a first email message on a display screen of a
device, program code for presenting the user with a plurality of
deletion options in response to detecting an intent of the user to
perform an action on the first email message, program code for
receiving an input signal from the user that selects one of
deletion options, and program code, responsive to the input signal,
for performing the action on the first email message and for
setting a deletion criterion for a second email message based on
the selected deletion option.
[0008] In still yet another aspect, the invention features a
computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for use with a
computer system having a display and capable of generating a user
interface through which a user may interact with the computer
system. The computer data signal comprises program code for
displaying to a user a first email message on a display screen of a
device, program code for presenting the user with a plurality of
deletion options in response to detecting an intent of the user to
perform an action on the first email message, program code for
receiving an input signal from the user that selects one of
deletion options, and program code, responsive to the input signal,
for performing the action on the first email message and for
setting a deletion criterion for a second email message based on
the selected deletion option.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above and further advantages of this invention may be
better understood by referring to the following description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals
indicate like structural elements and features in various figures.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a client
system constructed in accordance with the invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a process for
scheduling automatic deletion of a received email message.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a one-click deletion menu for
assigning a deletion criterion to a received email message.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a process for
scheduling automatic deletion of an email message to be sent.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a one-click deletion menu for
assigning a deletion criterion to an email message to be sent.
[0015] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a one-click deletion menu for
linking a deletion criterion for an email message to a scheduled
item, such as a task in a "to do" list or a meeting in a
"calendar."
[0016] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a process for
linking deletion of an email to a scheduled item.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example of mailbox view having
email messages marked for scheduled deletion in accordance with the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] In general, the present invention provides users with a tool
for managing electronic mail (email) messages in their email
accounts. In brief overview, a user determines if and when email
messages are to be deleted from an email account. Scheduled email
deletions can be time-based or event-based. Time-based deletions
cause email messages to be deleted at a specified time. Event-based
deletions cause email messages to be deleted on the occurrence of a
particular event. A user assigns a deletion criterion to an email
message, whether time-based or event based, upon closing that email
message. Accordingly, email messages are subsequently and
automatically removed from a user's email account, at the scheduled
time or upon the occurrence of the event, without any further
intervention by the user, thus helping reduce the clutter of email
messages in the user's email account and the amount of computing
resources needed for storing email messages.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a client system 10 constructed
in accordance with the invention. The client system 10 can be any
personal computer (e.g., 286, 386, 486, Pentium, Pentium II,
Macintosh computer), Windows-based terminal, Network Computer,
wireless device, information appliance, RISC Power PC, X-device,
workstation, mini-computer, mainframe computer, cell phone,
personal digital assistant (PDA) or other computing device that has
hardware 14 such as a display screen, one or more input devices
(e.g., keypad, stylus, keyboard, mouse, touch-pad, and trackball),
a processor for executing application programs 16, and sufficient
persistent storage for storing such application programs and
related information. One such application program 16 is an
electronic mail client program 18 of the invention.
[0020] The email client program 18 can be any proprietary or
commercially available email program, such as Lotus NOTES.TM. and
Microsoft OUTLOOK.TM., modified to support scheduled email
deletions of the invention. Optionally, the client system 10
includes other application programs 16, such as a "personal
information manager" 22 with which the email client program 18
interoperates to schedule event-based email deletions in accordance
with the invention. The personal information manager program 22
includes a task organizer (i.e., "To Do" items) module 24 and a
calendar module 26 by which a user can define and schedule tasks
and appointments. Although shown to be separate application
programs, the email client program 18 and personal information
manager 22 can be integrated in a single application program.
[0021] The email client program 18 and performance information
manager 22 execute within an operating system 28. Examples of
operating systems supported by the client system 10 include Windows
3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0,
Windows XP, Windows CE, Macintosh, Java, LINUX, and UNIX. The
client system 10 also includes a network interface 30 for
communicating over a network 32. The network 32 can be a local-area
network (LAN), a metro-area network (MAN), or wide-area network
(WAN), such as the Internet or World Wide Web. Users of the client
system 10 can connect to the network 32 through one of a variety of
connections, such as standard telephone lines, LAN or WAN links
(e.g., T1, T3), broadband connections (Frame Relay, ATM), and
wireless connections (e.g., 802.11(a), 802.11(b), 802.11(g)). The
email client program 18 communicates with an email server 40
located on the network 32 through the network interface 30, to
exchange email messages with other users connected to the network
32.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a process 50 for scheduling
time-based deletions of email messages in an email account in
accordance with the invention. Consider that the user is currently
running the email client program 18 on the client system 10, has
received a new email message, and opened it to read its contents.
The email client program 18 accordingly displays the new email
message on a display screen of the client system 10 within a
graphical window. At step 54, the user signals intent to close the
email message by activating a "close" button located at the
window's edge. In response to this signal to close the email
message, the email client program 18 displays (step 58) a
deletion-options menu on the display screen. The deletion-options
menu lists various deletion criteria from which the user is
required to make a selection to complete the process of closing the
email message.
[0023] The user then selects (step 62) a particular deletion
criterion to assign to the email message. The manner of making the
selection depends upon the technology of the client system 10. For
example, the user can click the desired selection (e.g., for a
mouse, trackball, or touch-pad input device), type a character
associated with the selection (e.g., for a keypad or keyboard), or
press the selection on the display screen (e.g., with a stylus).
Execution of the user's selection results in closing (step 66) the
email message, and scheduling or performing immediately (step 70)
the deletion of the email mail message in accordance with the
user's selection. Optionally, in the inbox of the user's mailbox
view, when the email message is not deleted immediately, an
indicator also appears (step 74) adjacent to the email message to
indicate the scheduled deletion. One technique useful for
implementing single selection deletion-option menus of the
invention is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/992,236, filed Nov. 6, 2001, titled "Method and Apparatus for
Single Selection Evaluations in Interactive Systems," the entirety
of which is incorporated by reference herein.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows an example of a deletion-options menu 100
presented to the user for closing a received email message. The
deletion-options menu 100 includes a plurality of
deletion-criterion buttons 104. Each button 104, except for button
104a, identifies a different expiration period for the email
message (e.g., immediate deletion, delete in 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week,
and 1 year). The deletion-criterion button 104a indicates to save
the email message indefinitely. With the exception of this button
104a, each of the other deletion-criterion buttons establishes a
time-based scheduled deletion of the email message. In one
embodiment, those deletion-options available to the user are
determined by an email retention policy set by the organization for
which the user works. For example, the policy can require mandatory
expiration periods not to exceed one year. In this instance, the
"Save indefinitely" button 104a is not presented as an option. In
another embodiment, the user designs the deletion-option menu 100
to satisfy personal email retention practices. Deletion options
other than the time-based deletion options shown in FIG. 3 can be
used without departing from the principles of the invention. For
example, another set of deletion options includes: delete
immediately, at the end of the day, at the end of the week, at the
end of the month, at the end of the year, or keep indefinitely.
[0025] Although described above in connection with closing email
messages, the principles of the invention apply also to setting a
deletion criterion for a self-copy of a "sent" email message. Users
commonly configure their email client programs to save a copy in
their email account of those email messages that are newly
authored, sent in reply, or forwarded. For example, consider that
before closing the email message described in FIG. 3, the user
desires to draft a reply to the sender of the email message.
Referring to FIG. 4, an embodiment of a process 110 for managing a
copy of a sent email message includes displaying (step 118) a
deletion-options menu on the display screen when the user signals
intent to send the email message. The user can signal this intent
by activating a "send" button displayed by the email client program
18. This deletion-options menu lists various deletion criteria from
which the user is required to make a selection to complete the
process of sending the email message. The user selects (step 122)
the particular deletion criterion for the email message using a
selection technique appropriate for the technology of the client
system 10, as described above. This selection causes the email
message to be sent (step 126) and the copy of this email message,
which remains in the user's email account, to be immediately
deleted or scheduled for deletion (step 130). Optionally, in the
sent mail folder of the user's email account, when the copy of the
sent email message is not deleted immediately, an indicator appears
(step 134) adjacent to the email message to indicate the scheduled
deletion.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a deletion-options menu 150
presented to the user for setting a deletion criterion for the
self-copy of a sent email message (i.e., a newly authored, reply,
or forwarded email message). The deletion-options menu 150 includes
a plurality of deletion-criterion buttons 154 that each identify a
period for saving a copy of the sent email message in the sender's
email account (e.g., do not save, save for 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1
year, and indefinitely). Activating any of the buttons 154 operates
to send the email message to its identified recipients. Activation
of the selected button 154 also schedules a time-based deletion or
performs an immediate deletion of the copy, except for the button
154a, which indicates to save the copy indefinitely.
[0027] Another embodiment of the invention permits the user to
associate or link the deletion of an email message to an external
object, such as a scheduled item and a file stored on the client
system 10. A scheduled item, as used herein, is a scheduled event,
such as a task or an appointment. For linking to a scheduled item,
the user runs the personal information manager program 22 of FIG. 1
to define and maintain such tasks and appointments. FIG. 6 shows an
embodiment of another deletion-options menu 180 that can be
presented to the user for linking the deletion of email messages
with scheduled items or with stored files. In addition to the same
buttons of FIG. 3, here identified as deletion-criterion buttons
184, the deletion-options menu 180 includes a button 184b (labeled
"Save Until") for linking the deletion of the email message (or its
copy) to a scheduled item. In another embodiment, the user can
highlight an email message in a mailbox view and open a drop-down
menu on the toolbar that includes an option to link the highlighted
email message to an external object.
[0028] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a process 200 for linking the
deletion of an email message to a scheduled item. When closing a
received email message, when forwarding a received email message,
or when sending a new or reply email message, the user signals
(step 204) intent to close or send the email message. In response,
the email client program 18 displays (step 208) the
deletion-options menu 180 of FIG. 6, for example. To link deletion
of the email message to a scheduled item, the user selects (step
212) the linking button 184b. Activation of this button 184b causes
a dialog window to open (step 216), prompting the user to identify
the particular scheduled item to which the email message (or its
copy) is to be linked. To assist the user in selecting the
scheduled item, the dialog window provides searching and browsing
capabilities for looking through the possible tasks or
appointments. Once the user enters the selected scheduled item, at
step 220 the email message closes (for a close operation) or is
sent (for a send operation) to its target recipient. Any number of
email messages can be linked to the same scheduled item. When the
event associated with the scheduled item occurs, e.g., the task is
marked completed or the date of the appointment passes, each email
message linked to that scheduled item is automatically deleted
(step 224).
[0029] As a safeguard against unwanted email message deletions, one
embodiment of the email client program 18 prompts the user for a
confirmation before deleting any automatic time-based or
event-based deletions. For example, the email client program 18 can
display a dialog window listing each of the email messages that are
to be deleted immediately, pending user confirmation. In one
embodiment, a checkbox appears adjacent to each deletion candidate.
The dialog window also instructs the user to enter a check into the
checkbox of each email message that is to be deleted, or,
alternatively, that is to be saved from deletion, depending upon
the preferred technique for confirming deletion.
[0030] FIG. 8 shows an example of a mailbox view 300 listing a
plurality of email messages. (For example, the mailbox view 300 can
be of the sent mail folder or of the inbox folder). Some of the
email messages (denoted 304) are associated with scheduled
time-based deletions, other email messages (denoted 308) are
associated with event-based deletions, and other email messages
(denoted 312) are unassociated with any scheduled deletions (i.e.,
to remain in the email account indefinitely until manually deleted
by the user). One type of icon 316, here, a timepiece or a clock
located adjacent to the subject column of the email message,
identifies the email message as being associated with a scheduled
time-based deletion. Variations of the icon 316', 316" (e.g.,
different colors, different shading or different patterns) can
indicate the amount of time remaining before the email message is
deleted. For example, a red clock can signify that the email
message is to expire immediately (i.e., to be deleted upon the next
refresh of the email client program 18); an orange clock can
signify that the email message is to expire in less than an hour;
and a green clock can signify that the email message is scheduled
to expire in less than one month. The user can activate the icon
(e.g., by double-clicking) to open a dialog window that specifies
the scheduled time of deletion and permits the user to modify or
remove the expiration date.
[0031] Another type of icon 320, here, a double-headed arrow
located adjacent to the subject column of the email message,
indicates that the email message is associated with an event-based
deletion. Optionally, a second icon, such as a clock, appears
adjacent the double-headed arrow to indicate when the scheduled
event is currently expected to occur. Again, patterns or color can
be used to denote the expiration period, for example, a yellow
clock to signify that the scheduled event is to occur within a
week. Activating this icon opens a dialog window that specifies the
scheduled item. The user can open and review the scheduled item,
remove the link to this scheduled item, change the link to a
different scheduled object, or any combination thereof. Note that
if a scheduled item experiences a schedule change, the expiration
date of the email message linked to that scheduled item
automatically changes. For example, consider an appointment that is
changed to occur one week later than originally scheduled. The
expiration date of any email message linked to the occurrence of
this appointment is automatically extended one week.
[0032] Additionally, for a user with visual disabilities, all
iconic indicia described above have optional text equivalents
(suitable for presentation via text-to-speech technology), which
can be used instead of the icons, depending upon the user's
settings in a preferences table.
[0033] The present invention may be implemented as one or more
computer-readable software programs embodied on or in one or more
articles of manufacture. The article of manufacture can be, for
example, any one or combination of a floppy disk, a hard disk,
hard-disk drive, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a flash memory card, an
EEPROM, an EPROM, a PROM, a RAM, a ROM, or a magnetic tape. In
general, any standard or proprietary, programming or interpretive
language can be used to produce the computer-readable software
programs. Examples of such languages include C, C++, Pascal, JAVA,
BASIC, Visual Basic, and Visual C++. The software programs may be
stored on or in one or more articles of manufacture as source code,
object code, interpretive code, or executable code.
[0034] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
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