Method and device for composing electronic mail messages starting from existing messages in an electronic mail program

Abstract

A method for composing electronic mail messages in an electronic mail program or service includes (a) activating a merge function for merging two or more existing messages, including creating an empty merge message; (b) selecting a first message of the two or more existing messages; (c) automatic entry of the contents of at least a part of the text and subject fields of the selected first message into the text and subject fields of the merge message, as well as of at least one of the addresses in the sender's address field ('From:') and the recipients' address fields ('To:', “Cc:”, “Bcc:”) of the first message into at least one of the recipients' address fields (“To:”, “Cc:”, “Bcc:”) of the merge message; (d) selecting at least a second one of the two or more existing messages; (e) automatic entry of the contents of at least a part of the text and subject fields of the selected second message into the text and subject fields of the merge message, as well as of at least one of the sender's address (“From:”) and the recipients' addresses (“To:”, “Cc:”, “Bcc:”) of the at least one second message into at least one of the recipients' address fields of the merge message; (f) automatic entry of any attachments of the first message and at least one second message into the attachments field of the merge message, and (g) storing in a non-volatile manner, discarding, or sending the merge message thus created.