Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Paul Daley

Chaitanya Dev Sareen

Radu Bacioiu

Christopher Cameron White

Michael Philip Arcuri

Anthony Joseph Beeman

Raja Charu Vikram Kakumani

Julie Madhusoodanan

A contextually sensitive user interface for defining an e-mail message handling rule is provided. The user interface includes one or more user interface objects for specifying conditions for the rule and one or more user interface objects for defining the actions to be performed if the specified conditions are met. The conditions that are displayed within the user interface for selection are chosen, at least in part, based upon the context in which a request to create the e-mail handling rule is received. The displayed conditions may be based, in part, upon the contexts of reading an e-mail message, creating an e-mail message, creating an alert subscription, or selecting a user name.

User interface for context sensitive creation of electronic mail message handling rules

A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for identifying to a user the cause of an event occurring within a computer system. According to one method, a rule is maintained at a computer system that includes one or more conditions and one or more actions that are performed when the conditions are satisfied. An evaluation is periodically performed to determine whether the conditions are satisfied. If the conditions are satisfied, the one or more actions are performed. A request may then be received to identify the cause of the performance of the actions. In response to such a request, the rule is identified, such as by identifying the rule within a user interface provided by the computer system.

Method and apparatus for identifying the cause of an event occurring within a computer system

A method, apparatus, system, and user interface are provided for managing e-mail rules and alert subscriptions from multiple sources. Alert messages and persistent state objects, such as cookies, are examined to determine whether they relate to an alert subscription. If an e-mail message or persistent state object is determined to relate to an alert subscription, a network address for a subscription source identified by the contents of the e-mail message or state object are added to a list of subscription sources. A request may then be received to manage one or more alert subscriptions. In response to the request, each subscription source identified in the list of subscription sources is validated. Each validated subscription source is added to a current subscriptions list, which is displayed to a user. Each subscription in the current subscriptions list may be modified or deleted by the user through a unified user interface for managing e-mail rules and alert subscriptions. Schema and data structures are also provided for communication between an e-mail and alert subscription client and a subscription source.

Method, apparatus, and user interface for managing electronic mail and alert messages

A method and apparatus for notifying a computer user of the occurrence of an event are provided. An indication is received that an event has occurred. In response to receiving the indication, a notification window is gradually displayed by varying the opacity of the window. When the event comprises the receipt of a new electronic mail message, the notification window includes a notification message indicating that the new electronic mail message has been received. If a predetermined period of time elapses without a selection of the new message notification window being received, the window is gradually removed. The new message notification window may be displayed above the displays provided by other executing applications.

System for displaying a notification window from completely transparent to intermediate level of opacity as a function of time to indicate an event has occurred

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Paul Daley