The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 29, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1997
Scott A Thurlow, Kirkland, WA (US);
William J Bliss, Medina, WA (US);
Douglas E Stumberger, Kirkland, WA (US);
David R Goodhand, Seattle, WA (US);
Brian W MacDonald, Bellevue, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A desktop information manager includes a 'Rules Wizard' for creating and editing rules for processing electronic messages. The Rules Wizard allows creation of rules in a step-by-step manner by selecting natural language phrases representing conditions, actions, and exceptions. As rule components are selected by the user, the current rule is displayed in a natural language format. Variables are displayed as hypertext links. When the user specifies the value of a variable, the specified value is threaded back into the displayed rule. Templates and a rules from context feature expedite the construction of rules. Once created rules are stored on the client computer and possibly uploaded to the server in order to ensure efficient message processing.