US 11,902,232 B1 · Email conversation linking

Abstract

A system adapted to link email conversations is disclosed. An email client identifies email conversations from email header information and presents the conversations along with other emails in a user's inbox. The user interface receives user inputs selecting first and second email conversations and specifying that the two should be linked. The email client generates an identifier and associates the identifier with emails that are comprised in the selected first and second conversations. When a recipient receives an email that is part of a conversation that has been linked by another user, the recipient's email client notifies the user of the prior linking and provides a button with which the recipient may also implement the link. A user may select to create a new email and link the new email to an existing conversation. An identifier is generated and associated with the new email and emails in the selected conversation.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for linking an email to an existing email conversation, comprising:

identifying a first email conversation comprising a first email and at least one reply to the first email;
presenting the first email conversation among a plurality of email conversations in a user interface;
receiving input via the user interface, the input indicative of a selection of the first email conversation from among the plurality of email conversations and creation of a second email, wherein the input indicative of a selection is made at a conversation level without identifying a particular email in the first email conversation and wherein creating the second email comprises creating a second email conversation based on information derived from the first email conversation;
generating an identifier for the second email, wherein the identifier indicates that the second email comprises a different conversation from the first email conversation;
receiving input indicative of linking the first email conversation and the second email wherein the second email is not a reply to a message in the first email conversation;
and
sending the second email to at least some recipients in the first conversation.

4 more elements

A computing system for linking an email to an email conversation, comprising:

computing memory having stored therein computer instructions that, upon execution by one or more processors, at least cause the system to:
receive input via the user interface, the input indicative of a selection of a first email conversation from among the plurality of email conversations and creation of a second email, wherein the input indicative of a selection is made at a conversation level without identifying a particular email in the first email conversation and wherein creating the second email comprises creating a second email conversation based on information derived from the first email conversation;
receive input indicating to link the first email conversation and the second email;
generate data representing the link between the first email conversation and the second email wherein the second email is not a reply to a message in the first email conversation, wherein the link indicates that the second email comprises a different email conversation from the first email conversation;
and
sending the second email to at least some recipients in the first email conversation by providing suggested recipients from the first email conversation.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Email conversation linking

Life of this patent

Email conversation linking

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20