Method and apparatus for cataloging and displaying e-mail using a classification rule preparing means and providing cataloging a piece of e-mail into multiple categories or classification types based on e-mail object information

An electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system for cataloging and retrieving sent or received electronic mail comprising:

• an electronic mail communication means for sending or receiving the electronic mail;
• a first storage means for storing the electronic mail sent or received by the electronic mail communication means;
• a second storage means for storing a format to relate information on a plurality of classification types, used for classification of the electronic mail with the electronic mail according to the plurality of classification types;
• a third storage means which, with respect to each individual piece of electronic mail stored in the first storage means, stores an electronic mail object having at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information, classification information, and given additional information on a related piece of electronic mail;
• a header information display means for reading from the third storage means the header information and the electronic mail attribute information among the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail and displaying on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;
• a tray display means for displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types stored in the second storage means, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail and being stored in the third storage means;
• an additional information display means for showing a memo symbols indicating that the additional information is added to the related piece of electronic mail which includes the additional information in the electronic mail objects in correspondence with a first list which is displayed on the display device by the header information display means and in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line onto the header information display screen;
• and
• an electronic mail editing means for displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail stored in the first storage means according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

An electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system for cataloging or retrieving sent or received electronic mail comprising:

• an electronic mail communication means for sending or receiving the electronic mail;
• a first storage means for storing the electronic mail sent or received by the electronic mail communication means;
• a second storage means which stores a plurality of classification rules used for classification of the electronic mail;
• an electronic mail classification means which determines classification categories of the electronic mail by using the plurality of classification rules stored in the second storage means and determines a classified result;
• a classified result display means for displaying the classified result;
• and
• a classification rule preparing means which extracts required information from mail data of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a classification example entered by a user and prepares a classification rule by an interactive procedure.

A method for cataloging and retrieving sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending or receiving the electronic mail;
• storing the electronic mail sent or received;
• storing information on a plurality of classification types used for classification of the electronic mail;
• storing a format to relate each of the individual pieces of electronic mail according to the classification types;
• storing an electronic mail object which has at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information and classification information on each individual piece of electronic mail;
• reading the header information and the electronic mail attribute information from the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail, and displaying the header information and the electronic mail attribute information on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;
• displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail;
• and
• displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

A method for cataloging and retrieving sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending or receiving the electronic mail;
• storing the electronic mail sent or received;
• storing a format to relate information on a plurality of classification types, used for classification of the electronic mail, with the electronic mail according to the plurality of classification types;
• storing, for each individual piece of electronic mail, an electronic mail object having at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information, classification information, and given additional information on a related piece of electronic mail;
• reading the header information and the electronic mail attribute information from the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail and displaying the header information and the electronic mail attribute information on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;
• displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail;
• showing a memo symbol, indicating that the additional information is added to the related piece of electronic mail which includes the additional information in the electronic mail object, in correspondence with a first list which is displayed on the display device by the header information display means and in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line on the header information display screen;
• and
• displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

A method for cataloging and retrieving sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending or receiving the electronic mail;
• storing the electronic mail sent or received;
• storing a plurality of classification rules used for classification of the electronic mail;
• determining classification categories of the electronic mail by using the plurality of classification rules;
• determining a classified result from the classification categories;
• displaying the classified result;
• and
• preparing a classification rule by extracting required information from mail data of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a classification example entered by a user and preparing a classification rule by an interactive procedure.

A computer program product comprising computer readable program code for causing a cataloging and a retrieving of sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the program code in the computer program product comprising:

• first computer readable program code for sending or receiving the electronic mail;
• second computer readable program code for storing the sent or received electronic mail;
• third computer readable program code for storing information on a plurality of classification types used for classification of the electronic mail;
• fourth computer readable program code for storing a format to relate each of the individual pieces of electronic mail according to the classification types;
• fifth computer readable program code for storing an electronic mail object which has at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information and classification information on each individual piece of electronic mail;
• sixth computer readable program code for reading the header information and the electronic mail attribute information from the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail and displaying the header information and the electronic mail attribute information on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;
• seventh computer readable program code for displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail;
• and
• eighth computer readable program code for displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

A computer program product comprising computer readable program code for causing a cataloging and a retrieving of sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the program code in the computer program product comprising:

• first computer readable program code for sending or receiving the electronic mail;
• second computer readable program code for storing the sent or received electronic mail;
• third computer readable program code for storing a format to relate information on a plurality of classification types, used for classification of the electronic mail, with the electronic mail according to the plurality of classification types;
• fourth computer readable program code for storing, for each individual piece of electronic mail, an electronic mail object having at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information, classification information, and given additional information on a related piece of electronic mail;
• fifth computer readable program code for reading the header information and the electronic mail attribute information from the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail and displaying the header information and the electronic mail attribute information on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;
• sixth computer readable program code for displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail;
• seventh computer readable program code for showing a memo symbol, indicating that the additional information is added to the related piece of electronic mail which includes the additional information in the electronic mail object, in correspondence with a first list which is displayed on the display device by the header information display means and in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line on the header information display screen;
• and
• eighth computer readable program code for displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

A computer program product comprising computer readable program code for causing a cataloging and a retrieving of sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the program code in the computer program product comprising:

• first computer readable program code for sending or receiving the electronic mail;
• second computer readable program code for storing the sent or received electronic mail;
• third computer readable program code for storing a plurality of classification rules used for classification of the electronic mail;
• fourth computer readable program code for determining classification categories of the electronic mail by using the plurality of classification rules;
• fifth computer readable program code for determining a classified result from the classification categories;
• sixth computer readable program code for displaying the classified result;
• and
• seventh computer readable program code for preparing a classification rule by extracting required information from mail data of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a classification example entered by a user and preparing a classification rule by an interactive procedure.