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:
Apr. 15, 2008
Filed:
Jan. 27, 2003
Daniel M. Gruen, Newton, MA (US);
Paul B. Moody, Londonderry, NH (US);
Bernard Kerr, Cambridge, MA (US);
Steve L. Rohall, Winchester, MA (US);
Seymour Kellerman, Cambridge, MA (US);
John Patterson, Carlisle, MA (US);
Daniel M. Gruen, Newton, MA (US);
Paul B. Moody, Londonderry, NH (US);
Bernard Kerr, Cambridge, MA (US);
Steve L. Rohall, Winchester, MA (US);
Seymour Kellerman, Cambridge, MA (US);
John Patterson, Carlisle, MA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An electronic mail inbox uses a mail agent to categorize incoming electronic mail to facilitate more flexible and rapid viewing and possible response thereto. Several special functions for collection of regularly sent types of mail, such as newsletters, office memos, press releases, etc., are utilized. In addition, special menu items are provided for collection and presentation of different priority items, such as urgent correspondence and approval requests. The electronic mail inbox facilitates multiple viewing options so that collections of regularly sent or different priority types of mail may be viewed separately and/or interleaved with other items in a main mail inbox. In addition, items that require an affirmative response, such as approval requests, may include a special preview format that allows for rapid viewing of pertinent details and approval directly from the mail inbox without review of the complete item.