Abstract: A method is provided for automatically using address information from a selected message to create a new message that is unrelated to the selected message in response to a user action, such as selecting one of a plurality of improved reply options. These improved reply options may include a “New Message To” command and a “New Message To All” command that do not establish a relationship between the reply message and the selected message that could be exploited by, for example, a threading service. In particular, these commands populate address fields of the new message with values from address fields of the selected message without populating any other fields that are used to identify relationships among messages.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and software for recognizing and flagging a data item used by one or more application program as falling within the scope of a rule but anomalous when compared with other data items falling within the scope of the rule. The method of the present invention comprises determining a collection to which the data item belongs as defined by the rule. The collection that the data item belongs to is analyzed to calculate statistics regarding the other data items that are part of the collection. Based on the statistical calculations, it is determined whether the data item is an anomalous data item. If the data item is identified as an anomalous data item, it is flagged.

Abstract: A calendar bar utility with a special user interface may be integrated and displayed simultaneously with an electronic mail list inbox. The calendar bar user interface comprises a linear display arranged into multiple, chronologically-arranged, time periods. Upon selection of a specific time period, such as a day, or the current day, subdivisions of the time period, e.g. hours of a day, are displayed in a similar format. The calendar bar also allows multiple calendars, for example the personal calendar of the user, and a team calendar for multiple individuals, to be displayed simultaneously for easy access. Selection of a specific time period causes data associated with any event in that time period to be displayed next to the designated time period, or, alternatively, in a separate window. The data associated with the event may vary in detail and scope depending on the designer preferences, but will typically include the start and end times, the location, topic, type, i.e. call-in, video conference, etc.

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

Abstract: A system allows a user to use address information from selected message to create a new message that is unrelated to the selected message. These improved reply options may include a “New Message To” command and a “New Message To All” command that do not establish a relationship between the reply message and the selected message that could be exploited by, for example, a threading service. In particular, these commands populate address fields of the new message with values from address fields of the selected message without populating any other fields that are used to identify relationships among messages.

Abstract: A calendar bar utility with a special user interface may be integrated and displayed simultaneously with an electronic mail list inbox. The calendar bar user interface comprises a linear display arranged into multiple, chronologically-arranged, time periods. Upon selection of a specific time period, such as a day, or the current day, subdivisions of the time period, e.g. hours of a day, are displayed in a similar format. The calendar bar also allows multiple calendars, for example the personal calendar of the user, and a team calendar for multiple individuals, to be displayed simultaneously for easy access. Selection of a specific time period causes data associated with any event in that time period to be displayed next to the designated time period, or, alternatively, in a separate window. The data associated with the event may vary in detail and scope depending on the designer preferences, but will typically include the start and end times, the location, topic, type, i.e. call-in, video conference, etc.

Abstract: An electronic mail inbox uses a mail agent to categorize incoming electronic mail to facilitate more flexible and rapid viewing and possible response thereto. The mail agent is capable of receiving not only electronic messages but tracking data and documents from other sources such as databases, templates and other information, without actually including such information in the inbox. Using either the shadow document generation or document summarization techniques, a surrogate document, including meta data and/or a summary data and a pointer to the complete document content, is generated and placed in inbox. Upon selection of the surrogate document, the pointer is resolved, the complete content retrieved and stored locally and displayed in the electronic mail inbox.

Abstract: An electronic mail conversation thread may be forwarded as a single entity to facilitate greater communications among electronic mail and messaging users. The conversation thread, that may include a parent/child hierarchy of a plurality of original electronic mail documents, summaries of electronic mail documents, shadow documents of original electronic mail documents, or any combination thereof, may be generated dynamically and the data structure representing the thread forwarded to another electronic mail user. Alternatively, the conversation thread may be generated, but the actual data representing the thread stored in memory as persistent data that can then be manipulated with a number of known actions such select, drag and drop, copy, paste, delete, forward, etc.

Abstract: A technique for creating and visualizing complete conversation-thread trees in an electronic mail environment includes a mail agent which creates a shadow document upon sending or receiving an original document. The shadow document includes references to a parent or child document(s). Optionally, the shadow document may include references to the root document of a conversation-thread tree, as well as meta data which may include header information, such as sender, receiver, original size, subject, date, carbon copies, etc., and key words from the content of the document or any attachments. An algorithm can be used to recursively traverse the references to the parent of each shadow document, and, once the root of a conversation-thread tree has been identified, to then recursively traverse all references to child documents. In this manner, a tree representing a complete conversation thread may be determined.