Browser-based email system with user interface for audio/video capture

In a browser-based email system, a method for capturing audio or video data for inclusion in an email message comprising:

• receiving a first page for entering an email message;
• rendering the first page;
• presenting a user interface having at least one control that enables recordation of the audio or video data and inclusion of the audio or video data in the email message;
• upon actuation of the control in the user interface, submitting a request to a host mail server for a second page that contains the email message with the audio or video data included therein;
• receiving a response specifying a new page that contains the email message and the audio or video data;
• and
• rendering the new page.

In a browser-based email system, a method for capturing audio or video data for inclusion in an email message comprising:

• receiving a first page for entering an email message;
• rendering the first page;
• presenting a user interface having at least one control that enables recordation of the audio or video data and inclusion of the audio or video data in the email message;
• upon actuation of the control in the user interface, submitting a request to a host mail server for a second page that contains the email message with a token in lieu of the audio or video data;
• receiving a response specifying a new page that contains the email message, the response including the token and indicating a location in the new page at which the audio or video data is to be rendered;
• and
• rendering the new page.

A browser-based email system comprising:

• a thin client having a browser;
• a host mail server to serve pages to the thin client, which can be rendered by the browser to present an email service to a user;
• the thin client having a user interface to enable capture of a data stream for inclusion in an email message;
• whereupon capture of the data stream, the browser submits a request to the host mail server that contains a token in lieu of the data stream;
• whereupon receipt of the request, the host mail server returns a response specifying a new page that contains the email message, the response including the token and indicating a location in the new page at which the audio or video data is to be rendered;
• and
• whereupon receipt of the response, the browser inserts the data stream into the new page at the location and renders the new page.

A thin client comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor;
• a data input to receive a data stream;
• a browser program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the browser rendering pages written in a markup language to present an email interface for reading and writing email messages;
• a user interface stored in the memory and executable on the processor to enable capture of the data stream received at the data input for inclusion in an email message;
• wherein upon a user command to add the data stream to the email message, the browser submits a request to a host mail server for a second page that contains the email message with the data stream included therein;
• and
• wherein the browser receives a response specifying a new page that contains the email message and indicating a location in the second page at which the data stream is to be rendered.

In a browser-based email system having a thin client interconnected to a host mail server, computer-readable media residing at the thin client and the host mail server having computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps:

• rendering, at the client, a page for entering an email message;
• presenting, at the client, a user interface to capture audio or video data to be included as part of the email message;
• in response to a user command to add the audio or video data to the email message, submitting a request from the client to the host mail server, the request containing a token in lieu of the audio or video data;
• returning a response from the host mail server to the client, the response specifying a new page that contains the email message, the response including the token and indicating a location in the new page at which the audio or video data is to be rendered;
• inserting, at the client, the audio or video data at the location in the new page;
• and
• rendering, at the client, the new page.