Method and system for filtering notification of e-mail messages
AssigneeSBC Properties, L.P.
InventorsJulia Skladman, Robert Joseph Thornberry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A messaging system (10) for notifying subscribers of incoming e-mail messages includes an e-mail system (12) communicating with a notification system (14). The e-mail system (12) includes a user interface (22) that permits subscribers to populate filter lists (16) with e-mail message attributes, such as sender e-mail addresses. The filter list (16) is provided to the notification system (14), which selectively notifies subscribers of incoming e-mail messages based on the contents of their respective filter lists. The notification system (14) can alert subscribers to incoming e-mail messages by pager, facsimile, voice mail, synthetic speech via cellular or conventional telephones, or the like.
Claims20
A method for selective notification of e-mail messages, the method comprising:
- displaying a received e-mail message and a user interface element in the same window;
- while the e-mail message is displayed in the window, receiving a selection of the user interface element from a user;
- in response to the selection of the user interface element, storing a predetermined attribute associated with the e-mail message in a filter list;
- and
- selectively notifying the user of an incoming e-mail message as a function of the predetermined attribute stored in the filter list.
A communication system comprising:
- a filter list;
- an e-mail system operative to display a received e-mail message and a user interface element in the same window, wherein the e-mail system is further operative to store a predetermined attribute associated with the e-mail message in the filter list in response to the selection of the user interface element by a user;
- and
- a notification system, in communication with the e-mail system, operative to selectively notify the user of an incoming e-mail message as a function of the predetermined attribute stored in the filter list.
A method for selective notification of e-mail messages, the method comprising:
- providing a user interface window displaying an e-mail message, wherein the user interface window includes a user interface element;
- while the e-mail message is displayed in the user interface window, receiving a selection of the user interface element from a user;
- in response to the selection of the user interface element, storing a predetermined attribute associated with the e-mail message in a filter list;
- and
- selectively notifying the user of an incoming e-mail message as a function of the predetermined attribute stored in the filter list.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.