Abstract: A system for adding new recipients to an e-mail thread. The system includes a server device configured to administer an electronic mail (E-MAIL) application. At least one client device being operably associated via a network with the server device. The at least one client device configured to add new E-MAIL recipients to the E-MAIL thread of the distributed E-MAIL message via a user interface (UI) having a menu selection for adding recipients to the thread. The UI being operably associated with the client device and the server device. The client device is further configured to add the identity of the new E-MAIL recipient to a persistent store table located on the client device.

Abstract: A system for making the contents of the “Subject:” field of a response email message more meaningful and more useful within a conversation thread of email messages by providing an abstract of the response message within the “Subject:” field. Before a response message is sent, the system automatically generates at least one new subject line that it proposes to the user for use in the “Subject:” field of the response message. The system generates a user interface display of a number of proposed subject lines, and also provides the user with the options of accepting, modifying, or declining the proposed subjects lines. The displayed contents of a “Subject:” field for the response message contains the currently selected one of the proposed subject lines. A predetermined one of the proposed subject lines may be provided as an initial default value of the “Subject:” field.

Abstract: A system for providing a gathered threads view of email messages that effectively indicates the presence of messages from important persons and/or from new participants in the thread. When a message in a thread is received, the sender of the message is compared to a list of important persons for the receiving user. If the message is from a person that is important to the receiving user, then an indication of that message is presented in the user interface with a higher display precedence than indications of messages in the thread from users that are not important. The sender of a received message in a thread may also be compared with the senders of previous messages in the thread and the recipients of the first message in the thread.

Abstract: A system for providing return receipts in an electronic mail (“email”) system. The system provides information in the receipts enabling a user to track messages, and provides controls to sending and receiving users to effectively manage the return receipt feature. The system is not limited to providing receipt information regarding whether the message has been delivered and read, and can provide a variety of information regarding how the message was processed after its receipt. The disclosed system also provides a rich set of options with regard to sending user and receiving user controls over the return receipt feature. A sending user can request that specific receipt information be provided, for certain messages, and/or can individually select specific types of receipt information. The receiving user is also provided with controls for enabling, disabling and/or applying specific conditions to all or certain types of return receipts.