US 6,725,228 B1 · System for managing and organizing stored electronic messages

Abstract

A computer-based system catalogs and retrieves electronic messages saved in a message store. The system automatically organizes each saved message into multiple folders based on the contents and attributes of the message, and implements improved methods for manually organizing messages. Unlike prior art systems, where a message exists in only one folder, the system uses lightweight message shortcuts to display the message in multiple folders simultaneously. The system preferably permits messages to be organized by: 1) basic message and attachment properties, e.g. date, status, attachment type; 2) extended message properties that the user can specify, e.g. keywords; and 3) correspondent or bulk mail sender/recipient, with automatic separation of bulk mail from correspondence. Performance and usability are improved by performing reads incrementally and by providing multiple sorting keys.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A method for organizing electronic messages comprising:

providing an electronic message, the electronic message comprising a plurality of properties;
generating a plurality of shortcuts to the electronic message, each of the shortcuts comprising a record in a database, each record comprising a FolderId value associating the shortcut with a different one of a plurality of folders and a MessageId value associating the shortcut with the message
wherein each of the records comprises a SortKey value, and the method comprises:
identifying a sort field for at least one of the folders;
and,
for each of a plurality of shortcuts associated with the at least one of the folders setting the SortKey value based upon a value corresponding to the shortcut in the sort field
wherein setting the SortKey value for each of the shortcuts comprises retrieving a most significant portion of a value for the sort field corresponding to the shortcut and basing the SortKey value on the most significant portion of the value for the sort field.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for managing and organizing stored electronic messages

Life of this patent

System for managing and organizing stored electronic messages

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34