U.S. patent application number 16/663927 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-20 for user-configured alternate email rendering.
The applicant listed for this patent is International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Frank L. Jania, Andrew L. Schirmer.
Application Number | 20200057996 16/663927 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43125296 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-20 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200057996 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jania; Frank L. ; et
al. |
February 20, 2020 |
USER-CONFIGURED ALTERNATE EMAIL RENDERING
Abstract
A method of rendering email includes receiving with a networked
computing device at least one filter criterion; receiving with the
networked computing device an email message; and, responsive to a
determination by the networked computing device that the email
message meets the at least one filter criterion, diverting the
email message from delivery to an inbox and providing an immediate
display of the email message in its entirety to a user.
Inventors: |
Jania; Frank L.; (New York,
NY) ; Schirmer; Andrew L.; (Andover, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
International Business Machines Corporation |
Armonk |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
43125296 |
Appl. No.: |
16/663927 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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12469567 |
May 20, 2009 |
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16663927 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/107 20130101;
H04L 51/14 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/10 20060101
G06Q010/10; H04L 12/58 20060101 H04L012/58 |
Claims
1. A method of processing email, comprising: receiving an email
message; responsive to a determination by a recipient computing
device that the email message meets a criterion, diverting the
email message from a designated inbox and providing an alternative
rendering of the email message on a display device, the alternative
rendering comprising controls for user input regarding the email
message; responsive to a determination that the email message does
not meet the criterion, automatically send the email message to the
designated inbox.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion is configured by a
user operating the recipient computing device and an email client
application of that recipient computing device.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion comprises at least
one of: a minimum length of the email message, and a maximum length
of the email message.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative rendering
comprises a popup window on the display device of the recipient
computing device.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing a display of
a plurality of unread email messages that meet the criterion to the
user in a single popup window.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the alter alternative rendering
of the email message comprises user input controls to send the
email message on to a specific folder in the inbox.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative rendering of the
email message comprises user input controls to reply to the email
message or forward the email message.
8. The method of claim 1, the alternative rendering comprising a
user input control to snooze the alternative rendering of the email
message.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the email message comprises an
interactive calendar event invitation.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the alternative rendering
comprises user input options for accepting or declining the
calendar event invitation.
11. A computing device configured to implement an email client
application, the computing device comprising: a display device; a
processor with associated memory; and a network interface with
which to receive an email message addressed to a particular user
associated with that computing device and email client application;
wherein the computing device is configured to: apply a criterion to
the email message, responsive to the computing device determining
that the email message meets the criterion for alternative email
rendering, divert the email message away from delivery at an inbox
of the email client application and instead provide an alternative
rendering of the email message on the display device, wherein
diverting the email message comprises bypassing the inbox and
immediately displaying the email message on the display device, and
responsive to a determination that the email message does not meet
the criterion, automatically deliver the email message to the inbox
of the email client application.
12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the alternative
rendering of the email message comprises user input options to send
the email message on to a particular, designated file within the
inbox.
13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the alternative
rendering of the email message comprises user input options to
reply to the email message or forward the email message.
14. The computer device of claim 11, wherein the computing device
is further configured to, responsive to the email message being
sent to the inbox, filter the email message based on a number of
criteria.
15. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the criterion
comprises a level of urgency associated with the email message.
16. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the alternative
rendering comprises a plurality of unread email messages that meet
the criterion to the user in a single display window on the display
device.
17. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the alternative
rendering of the email message further comprises an option for the
user to snooze the alternative rendering of the email message to be
re-presented after a period of time.
18. A computer program product for email rendering e computer
program product comprising: a non-transitory computer readable
storage medium having computer readable program code embodied
therewith, the computer readable program code to, when executed by
a processor: receive an email message addressed to a particular
user with an email client application on a networked computing
device operated by that particular user; responsive to a
determination by the networked computing device that the email
message meets a criterion, divert the email message from delivery
to an inbox of the email client application of the particular user
and, instead, provide an alternative rendering of the email message
on a display device of the networked computing device for attention
by the particular user, and receive input from a user through the
alternative rendering directly further processing of the email
message; and responsive to a determination that the email message
does not meet the criterion, automatically deliver the email
message to the inbox.
19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the criterion
comprises at least one of: a minimum length of the email message, a
maximum length of the email message, and a level of urgency
associated with the email message.
20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the
alternative rendering is rendered in a designated pane of a user
display separated from a general screen area dedicated to other
operations of the computing device.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present specification relates to the field of email
message delivery. More specifically, the present specification
relates to the field of email message rendering to a user.
[0002] As a fast, reliable, and inexpensive method of transmitting
messages and files, email is widely used for business and personal
communication. Under a typical scenario, a user of an email client
program composes an email message and indicates one or more email
address to which the message will be sent. The email client program
then transmits the message to an email server, which forwards the
message either directly to a recipient email client (i.e., one
using the same email server as the sender) or to an email server
associated with the recipient email client.
[0003] Many users of email applications face a constant challenge
in dealing effectively with the large quantities of email they
typically receive. It is often difficult, for example, for a user
to ensure that he or she is attending to the information,
communications, and tasks received by email that are most
important. For example, if a user's email inbox has a large number
of unread email messages, it may require work for the user to sift
through the inbox to identify and focus his or her efforts on the
email messages that call for more immediate action.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] A method of rendering email includes receiving with a
networked computing device at least one user-selected filter
criterion; receiving with the networked computing device an email
message; and responsive to a determination by the networked
computing device that the email message meets the at least one
filter criterion, diverting the email message from delivery to an
inbox and providing an immediate display of the email message in
its entirety to a user.
[0005] A system includes a computing device configured to implement
an email client and an email server in communication with the
computing device through a network. The computing device is
configured to divert an email message received from the email
server from delivery to an inbox and immediately display the email
message to a user responsive to the computing device determining
that the email message meets at least one user-selected criterion
for alternate email rendering.
[0006] A computer program product for email rendering includes a
computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied
therewith. The computer usable program code includes computer
usable program code configured to receive at least one
user-selected filter criterion; computer usable program code
configured to receive an email message; and computer usable program
code configured to divert the email message from delivery to an
inbox and immediately display the email message in its entirety to
a user responsive to a determination that the email message meets
the at least one user-selected filter criterion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of
the principles described herein and are a part of the
specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and
do not limit the scope of the claims.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an illustrative system of email
communication, according to one exemplary embodiment of principles
described herein.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an illustrative method of
alternate email rendering, according to one exemplary embodiment of
principles described herein.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an illustrative email client user
display for selecting at least one filter criterion, according to
one exemplary embodiment of principles described herein.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative email rendering by an
email client, according to one exemplary embodiment of principles
described herein.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an illustrative email rendering by an
email client, according to one exemplary embodiment of principles
described herein.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an illustrative email rendering by an
email client, according to one exemplary embodiment of principles
described herein.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an illustrative email rendering by an
email client, according to one exemplary embodiment of principles
described herein.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an illustrative screen layout of a
visual display device, according to one exemplary embodiment of
principles described herein.
[0016] Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers
designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The present specification discloses methods, systems, and
computer program products for alternate rendering of email
messages. According to the principles disclosed herein, a user may
select one or more criteria which deem a received email message
important (or otherwise deserving of special treatment). Received
email messages that fit the user-selected criteria may be diverted
from an inbox and displayed instantly to the user in their entirety
such that the user can choose to attend to these email messages
immediately if he or she so chooses.
[0018] As used in the present specification and appended claims,
the term "email message" refers broadly to any text, file, or other
data sent electronically to a recipient address from a source
address using a standardized mail protocol (e.g., Simple Mail
Transfer Protocol (SMTP)), Thus, an email message as defined herein
may include, but is not limited to, simple text messages, formatted
text messages, text messages with files attached thereto,
interactive calendar event invitations, interactive task
assignments, and the like.
[0019] As used in the present specification and appended claims,
the term "render" or "rendering" when used in the context of email
messages refers to the delivery of an email message to a human user
through a user interface.
[0020] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of
the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or
computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present
invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an
entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident
software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and
hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a
"circuit," "module" or "system." Furthermore, aspects of the
present invention may take the form of a computer program product
embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer
readable program code embodied thereon.
[0021] Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s)
may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer
readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A
computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not
limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,
infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any
suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a
non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would
include the following: an electrical connection having one or more
wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access
memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a
portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage
device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of
the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable
storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or
store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0022] A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated
data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein,
for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a
propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including,
but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable
combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any
computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage
medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program
for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,
apparatus, or device.
[0023] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be
transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited
to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any
suitable combination of the foregoing.
[0024] Computer program code for carrying out operations of the
present invention may be written in an object oriented programming
language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the
computer program code for carrying out operations of the present
invention may also be written in conventional procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or
similar programming languages. The program code may execute
entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as
a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and
partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or
server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be
connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN)
or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an
external computer (for example, through the Internet using an
Internet Service Provider).
[0025] The present invention is described below with reference to
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus
(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of
the invention, it will be understood that each block of the
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of
blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be
implemented by computer program instructions. These computer
program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general
purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable
data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the
instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or
other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for
implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or
block diagram block or blocks.
[0026] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other
programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular
manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable
memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction
means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart
and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0027] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a
series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or
other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented
process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or
other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the
functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram
block or blocks.
[0028] With reference now to FIG. 1, an illustrative system (100)
of email communication is shown. The system (100) includes a
computing device (105) in communication with an email server (110)
through a network (115).
[0029] The computing device (105) may include a processor (120)
communicatively coupled to memory (125) and input/output interfaces
(130). The processor (120) may include one or multiple processor
cores as may best suit a particular application of the principles
described herein. The processor (120) may be configured to read
executable code from the memory (125) and execute the code.
[0030] The memory (125) may include volatile and/or nonvolatile
system memory, such as, but not limited to, random access memory
(RAM), read only memory (ROM), Flash memory, and the like. The
memory (125) may also include memory from storage devices coupled
to the processor (120) as internal components and/or peripheral
devices. These storage devices may include, but are not limited to,
magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives, backup tapes,
etc.), optical storage devices (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-RW,
etc.) and solid state drives. The memory (125) may store executable
code corresponding to an operating system (135) that manages the
operations of the computing device (105) and provides a platform
for other software programs, including an email client application
(140) to be executed by the processor (120).
[0031] The input/output interfaces (130) of the computing device
(105) may include hardware and any corresponding firmware or
software for providing an interface for devices external to the
computing device (105) to provide data to and receive data from the
processor (120). For example, a network interface (145) may include
a hardware network adapter (also known as a network interface
controller (NIC) or network card) configured to create both a
hardware and a data bridge between the processor (120) and the
network (115). Likewise, peripheral device interfaces (150) may
provide hardware and firmware/software to connect peripheral
devices to the processor (120). These peripheral devices may
include user interface devices (155) that enable a user (160) to
communicate with the computing device (105), such as a display
device (165) (e.g., monitor, projector, etc.) and one or more input
devices (170) (e.g., keyboard, pointer device, touchscreen,
microphone, etc.
[0032] The network (115) may facilitate communication between the
computing device (105) and the email server (110). In certain
embodiments, the network (115) may include a local area network
(LAN), such as, but not limited to, a corporate intranet.
Additionally or alternatively, the network (115) may include a wide
area network (WAN) such as, but not limited to, the Internet.
[0033] The email server (110) may be any email server known in the
art that may best suit a particular application of the principles
herein. The email server (110) may be configured to receive
outgoing email messages (175) from the computing device (105) and
forward the outgoing email messages (175) to their intended
destinations. The email server (110) may also be configured to
receive incoming email messages (180, 180-1) from other devices and
deliver the incoming email messages (180, 180-1) to the computing
device (105). Alternatively, separate email servers may be used to
receive outgoing email messages (175) from the computing device
(105) and deliver incoming email messages (180, 180-1) to the
computing device (105), respectively.
[0034] The user (160) may interact, with the email client
application (140) of the computing device (105) to send and receive
email messages (175, 180, 180-1) as described above. As shown in
FIG. 1, the user (160) may at times receive a substantial volume of
email messages (180, 180-1). These received email messages (180,
180-1) may vary in importance according to the priorities of the
user (160). For example, a small subset (180-1) of the email
messages (180, 180-1) received may merit immediate action on the
part of the user (160) (e.g., reading, responding to, and/or
deleting the messages), while viewing the remainder of the email
messages (180, 180-1) may be postponed.
[0035] With reference now to FIG. 2, a flow diagram is shown of an
illustrative method (200) of rendering email messages. The method
(200) may be performed by, for example, the computing device (105,
FIG. 1) illustrated in FIG. 1. The method (200) may provide a means
for filtering email messages received in a networked computing
device (105, FIG. 1) according to user-specified criteria. Received
email messages meeting the filter criteria may undergo an
alternative rendering to increase the likelihood that the user will
receive and view the email messages in a timely manner.
[0036] The method (200) may begin by the user setting (step 205) at
least one filter parameter for alternate email rendering. The
filter parameter(s) may include, but are not limited to, a minimum
email message length, a maximum email message length, a level of
urgency associated with the email message, an identity of at least
one sender of the email message, an identity of at least one
recipient of the email message, and a presence of one or more words
or a specified string of characters or words in a specified field
of the email message. The one or more filter parameters may be
received in the networked computing device (105, FIG. 1) through a
user interface (155, FIG. 1) that allows the user to interact
directly with the computing device (105, FIG. 1). Once received in
the computing device (105, FIG. 1), the filter parameter(s) may be
stored in memory by the computing device (105, FIG. 1) for later
reference.
[0037] After the one or more filter parameters have been set (step
205) by the user, an email client application (140, FIG. 1)
implemented by the computing device (105, FIG. 1) storing the
parameter(s) may receive (step 210) an email message over a network
(115, FIG. 1). For example, the email client (105, FIG. 1) may
check an email server (110, FIG. 1) for new messages on the email
client (105, FIG. 1) directed to an email account managed by the
email client (105, FIG. 1) and subject to the one or more filter
parameters. Upon determining that one or more such email messages
are present on the email server (110, FIG. 1), the email client
application (140, FIG. 1) may initiate a download of the email
message(s) from the email server (110, FIG. 1) to the computing
device (105, FIG. 1).
[0038] Once the email message(s) have been received by email client
application (140, FIG. 1) of the computing device (105, FIG. 1),
each email message may be evaluated (decision 215) to determine
whether the one or more filter parameters set (step 205) by the
user direct an alternate rendering of the email message. For
example, if the user-selected filter parameter included a maximum
length such that email messages shorter than the maximum length
were to alternately rendered, the email client application (140,
FIG. 1) would determine if the received email message had a length
shorter than the maximum length specified by the user.
[0039] If an evaluation of the email message in light of the
user-selected filter parameters indicates (decision 215, NO) that
the filter parameters do not direct an alternate rendering of this
email message, the email client application (140, FIG. 1) will
deliver (step 220) the email message to a normal inbox for viewing
at the user's discretion. In certain embodiments, upon delivery to
the inbox the email message may undergo additional filtering to
direct the email message to a folder within the inbox, to a trash
folder, or to allow the email message to remain in the inbox.
[0040] If an evaluation of the email message in light of the
user-selected filter parameters indicates (decision 215, YES) that
the filter parameters direct an alternate rendering of this email
message, the email client application (140, FIG. 1) will bypass a
normal inbox and provide an immediate display (step 225) of the
email to the user. The immediate display may include, for example,
a popup window on a visual display device (165, FIG. 1) of the
computing device (105, FIG. 1). Additionally or alternatively, the
immediate display may occur in a designated area of a user display.
For example, the immediate display may occur in a designated pane
or sidebar of the user display. Nevertheless, any process of
bypassing a normal inbox and immediately displaying the email
message to the user that suits a particular application of the
principles described herein is encompassed and anticipated by the
present specification.
[0041] In some situations, a plurality of unread email messages may
be received that qualify for alternate rendering and immediate
display to the user prior within a short period of time or during a
period of time in which the user chooses not to view even the
alternately rendered emails. Thus, in certain embodiments the
immediate display shown to the user may include displaying a
plurality of unread email messages filtered for immediate display
to the user.
[0042] Additionally or alternatively, a user may desire to perform
an action in response to viewing an email message immediately
displayed according to the present method (200). For example, the
user may desire to reply to the email message, forward the email
message, delete the email message, and/or relegate the email
message to the normal inbox. As such, the immediate display of an
email may include inherent functionality that allows the user to
perform one or more such actions. Additionally or alternatively, an
immediately displayed email message may include one or more
interactive components, such as "accept" and "decline" options for
an interactive calendar event invitation. Accordingly, the
immediate display of such an email may include inherent
functionality that preserves the interactive nature of the email
message, allowing the user to interact directly with the email
message in the interactive display. Thus, returning to the example
of the interactive calendar invitation email message, an immediate
display of the email may provide "accept" and "decline" buttons, in
addition to any other buttons or other functional components used
to implement the interactive functionality of the email message.
Hence, if a user clicks on an "accept" button in an interactive
calendar event invitation email message in an immediate display,
the email client application (140, FIG. 1) may reply with an
"accept" response to the email sender and add the event to a user's
calendar application.
[0043] After a decision has been made regarding the delivery of an
email message received by the email client application (140, FIG.
1), flow will return to block 210 for each additional email message
received by the email client application (140, FIG. 1) using the at
least one filter parameter already set (step 205) by the user. The
method (200) may also be reinitiated at block 205 by the user
choosing to modify or update the at least one filter parameter for
alternate email rendering.
[0044] With reference now to FIG. 3, a diagram is shown of an
illustrative user interface window (300) for setting alternate
email rendering filter parameters as described above. The user
interface window (300) may be displayed to a user by an email
client application (140, FIG. 1) running on a computing device
(105, FIG. 1). The illustrative user interface window (300) of the
present example includes a plurality of filter parameters (305-1 to
305-4) that may be set by the user and selectively enabled (e.g.,
using the checkboxes). In alternate embodiments, a single filter
parameter or any other number of filter parameters may be
configurable by a user according to a particular application of the
principles of the present specification.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of filter parameters may be
specified at once and selectively enabled. When two or more filter
parameters are concurrently enabled, both parameters may be
evaluated using a logical OR such that either parameter may trigger
an alternate rendering (i.e., bypass of normal inbox and immediate
display) of the email message. In alternative embodiments, both
parameters may be evaluated using a logical AND such that all
enabled parameters must be met to trigger alternate rendering of
the email message. In still other embodiments, a user may select
whether some or all enabled parameters will be evaluated using a
logical OR or a logical AND.
[0046] In the present example, a first parameter (305-1) is
directed to a numerical threshold value. Dropdown menus and fields
allow the user to configure the numerical threshold. Thus, the
first parameter (305-1) is configured in the present example to
trigger alternate delivery/rendering of an email message if the
length of the message is less than 150 words. As shown in FIG. 3,
the fields for "length," "less," and "words" may be changed using
dropdown menus and the value 150 may be modified by entering a
different value into its corresponding field.
[0047] A second parameter (305-2) in the present example is
directed to a classification of the received email message. As
configured in FIG. 3, the second parameter (305-2) will trigger
alternate rendering of the email message if the message is
classified as urgent by the sender. This classification trigger may
be updated using the dropdown menu in the second parameter
(305-2).
[0048] A third parameter (305-3) in the present example is directed
to the presence of a string of characters in a specified field of
the email message. As configured in FIG. 3, the third parameter
would trigger alternate rendering (if the parameter were enabled)
of the email message if the sender field of the message includes
the string "Arthur Savage." The specified field of the email
message and the string of characters may be updated using the
dropdown menu and editable field of the third parameter,
respectively.
[0049] A fourth parameter (305-4) of the present example is
directed to the presence of a feature associated with the email
message, such as an attachment or a read receipt request. As
configured in FIG. 3, the fourth parameter would trigger alternate
rendering (if the parameter were enabled) of the email message if
the email message includes a read receipt request.
[0050] It will be understood that the configurable filter
parameters (305-1 to 305-4) shown in the illustrative user
interface window (300) are merely a small subset of the filter
parameters that may be specified by a user to trigger alternate
email rendering. As described previously, any user-specified filter
parameter may be used to trigger alternate email rendering suitable
to a particular application of the principles described herein.
Additional exemplary user-specified filter parameters that may be
applied to the principles described herein may include, but are not
limited to, a specific type of email message (e.g., normal email,
interactive calendar event invitation, an email message assigning
an interactive task to the recipient, etc.) and a feature of a
specific type of email message (e.g., the date/time of a proposed
calendar event, the priority level of an interactive task,
etc.).
[0051] With reference now to FIG. 4, a portion of an illustrative
user display (400) is shown that includes an illustrative email
rendering according to the principles described above. The user
display (400) includes an active application (405) that may be
occupying the attention of the user. A popup display window (410)
may appear above the active application (405) and draw the user's
attention away from the active application (405). It will be
understood that an active application (405) need not be running on
the computing device (105, FIG. 1) to accomplish the alternate
email rendering taught in the present specification. The presence
of an active application (405) in FIG. 4 merely illustrates one of
the advantages of the methods and systems of the present
specification--that of immediately displaying email messages that
fit certain user-selected criteria to a user even when the user is
not actively using the email client application (140, FIG. 1).
[0052] The popup display window (410) may be used to immediate
display an email message meeting one or more user-specified filter
parameters according to the method (200, FIG. 2) described in
relation to FIG. 2. As such, the popup display window (410) may
display the entire text of the email message in addition to buttons
(415-1 to 415-7) that allow the user to take specific actions with
respect to the email message.
[0053] In the present example, these buttons (415-1 to 415-7)
include a reply button (415-1) that allows the user to immediately
reply to the sender of the email message, a "reply all" button
(415-2) that allows the user to immediately reply to the sender and
all recipients of the email message, a forward button (415-3) that
allows the user to forward the email message to additional
recipients, a delete button (415-4) that allows the user to delete
the email message, a "send to inbox" (415-5) button that allows the
user to relegate the email message to the normal inbox of the email
client application (140, FIG. 1), a "move to folder" button (415-6)
that allows the user to move the email message to a specific
storage folder, and a snooze button (415-7) that allows the user to
postpone viewing the email message (410) for a specified period of
time. It will be understood that additional and/or different
buttons may be included in a popup display window or other
immediate display of an email message consistent with the
principles described herein.
[0054] With reference now to FIG. 5, a portion of an illustrative
user display (500) is shown that includes another illustrative
email rendering according to the principles described above. The
user display (500) includes an active application (505) and a popup
display window (510) that appears above the active application
(505). The popup display window (510) of the present example not
only shows the entire text of the received email, but also
previously received or sent email messages (520-1, 520-2) that are
related to the received email (e.g., having the same or similar
subject line and/or parties), The popup display window (510) of the
present example also includes the functional buttons (415-1 to
415-7) described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0055] With reference now to FIG. 6, a portion of an illustrative
user display (600) is shown that includes another illustrative
email rendering according to the principles described above. The
user display (600) includes an active application (605) and a popup
display window (610) that appears above the active application
(605). In the present example, the email message shown by the popup
display window (610) is an interactive email calendar event
invitation. Accordingly, the popup display window (610) includes
various buttons (615-1 to 615-7) that implement a desired
functionality with respect to the emailed interactive calendar
event invitation. An "accept" button (615-1) allows the user to
reply automatically to the sender with an acceptance to the event
and may also automatically add the event to a calendar managed by
the email client application (140, FIG. 1). A "decline" button
(615-2) allows the user to reply automatically to the sender with a
declination of the event. A "propose new time" button (615-3)
allows the user to reply to the sender with a declination of the
event at the originally proposed time/date with a proposal for a
different time/date. The "send to inbox" button (615-4), delete
button (615-5), "move to folder" button (615-6), and snooze button
(615-7) may maintain the same functionality as their counterparts
described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0056] With reference now to FIG. 7, a portion of an illustrative
user display (700) is shown that includes another illustrative
email rendering according to the principles described above. The
user display (700) includes an active application (705) and a popup
display window (710) that appears above the active application
(705). As described above, in certain situations, multiple email
messages meeting the filter criteria for alternate rendering will
be received by an email client application (140, FIG. 1) before a
user is able to address any of them. As such, the popup display
window (710) of the present example displays a plurality of email
messages (720-1, 720-2, 720-3), allowing the user to selectively
view the email messages (720-1, 720-2, 720-3) from the popup
display window (710). The email messages (720-1, 720-2, 720-3) may
be selected individually or in plural and either deleted, relegated
to a normal inbox, or moved to a specific folder using buttons
(715-1, 715-2, 715-3, respectively). The popup display window (710)
may also include a snooze button (715-4).
[0057] With reference now to FIG. 8, a user display device (800) is
shown. The user display device (800) may be configured to display a
user interface having a general screen area (805) dedicated to
various normal operations of the computing device (105, FIG. 1).
Additionally, the user interface may include sidebar screen area
(810) dedicated to the immediate display of email messages fitting
certain user-selected filter criteria as described above. This
sidebar screen area (810) may be used as an alternative to or in
addition to the popup display windows (410, 510, 610, 710)
described in previous embodiments. The sidebar screen area (810)
may display any of the elements described with reference to FIGS.
4-7 in any combination.
[0058] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent
a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more
executable instructions for implementing the specified logical
function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative
implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of
the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in
succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or
the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order,
depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted
that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart
illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams
and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special
purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions
or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer
instructions.
[0059] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0060] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the
claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or
act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the
invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to
enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the
invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0061] Having thus described the invention of the present
application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it
will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible
without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the
appended claims.
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