Electronic mail with recipient-specific content

What is claimed is:

1. A method for creating a computerized message that contains recipient-specific content, comprising the steps of:

an author of the message composing plural portions of a message;

identifying one or more recipients to which at least one portion of the message will be sent; and

associating, with each recipient, at least one portion of the message such that at least one recipient does not receive all portions of the message.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending the computerized message with a portion associated in said associating step being sent to a respective set of one or more recipients with whom that portion has been associated.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of one recipient, among plural recipients, viewing a received message with at least a portion highlighted such that that one recipient is provided with visual cues as to whether other recipients have received the highlighted portion.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of viewing portions of the message that are to be sent to respective sets of one or more recipients.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said viewing step comprises viewing those portions in an as-received mode.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of viewing a list of recipients for each portion.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said associating step further comprises the steps of selecting portions of the message and identifying one or more recipients for at least one of the selected portions.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said identifying step comprises making a selection from a pop-up list.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said identifying step comprises making a deselection from a pop-up list.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the computerized message to the author, with visual cues of which portions are to be sent to which recipient.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein visual cues include color-coding for a "to:" list.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein visual cues include color-coding for a "cc:" list.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein visual cues include color-coding for a "bcc:" list.

14. An apparatus for creating a computerized message that contains recipient-specific content, comprising:

a memory including a region for storing executable process steps; and

a processor for executing the executable process steps,

wherein the executable process steps include steps of: (a) accepting composition of plural portions of a message; (b) accepting identification of one or more recipients to which at least one portion of the message will be sent; and (c) accepting an association, with each recipient, of at least one portion of the message such that at least one recipient does not receive all portions of the message.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the executable process steps further include the step of sending the computerized message with portion associated in said associating step being sent to a respective set of one or more recipients with whom that portion has been associated in said associating step.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the computer-executable process steps further include the step of one recipient, among plural recipients, viewing a received message with at least a portion highlighted such that that one recipient is provided with visual cues as to whether other recipients have received the highlighted portion.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the computer-executable process steps further include the step of providing a view of portions of the message that are to be sent to respective sets of one or more recipients.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said step of providing a view comprises providing a view of those portions in an as-received mode.

19. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the computer-executable process steps further include the step of providing a view of a list of recipients for each portion.

20. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said step of accepting association comprises the steps of accepting selection of portions of the message and accepting identification of one or more recipients for at least one of the selected portions.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said identification comprises a selection from a pop-up list.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said identification comprises a deselection from a pop-up list.

23. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the computer-executable process steps further include the step of providing a display of the computerized message to the sender with visual cues of which portions are to be sent to which recipient.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein visual cues include color-coding for a "to:" list.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein visual cues include color-coding for a "cc:" list.

26. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein visual cues include color-coding for a "bcc:" list.

27. Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer-executable process steps for creating a computerized message that contains recipient-specific content, said computer-executable process steps comprising:

code to accept an author's composition of plural portions of a message;

code to accept identification of one or more recipients to which at least one portion of the message will be sent; and

code to associate, with each recipient, at least one portion of the message such that at least one recipient does not receive all portions of the message.

28. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 27, further comprising code to send the computerized message with a portion associated by said code to associate being sent to a respective set of one or more recipients with whom that portion has been associated.

29. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 28, further comprising code to provide a recipient with a view of a received message with at least a portion highlighted such that that one recipient is provided with visual cues as to whether other recipients have received the highlighted portion.

30. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 27, further comprising code to provide a view of portions of the message that are sent to respective sets of one or more recipients.

31. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 30, wherein said code to provide a view of portions of the message that are sent to respective sets of one or more recipients comprises code to provide a viewing in an as-received mode.

32. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 27, further comprising code to provide a view of a list of recipients for each portion.

33. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 27, wherein said code to associate comprises code to accept selection of portions of the message and to accept identification of recipients for selected portions.

34. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 33, wherein said identification comprises a selection from a pop-up list.

35. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 33, wherein said identification comprises a deselection from a pop-up list.

36. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 27, further comprising code to provide a display of the computerized message to the author with visual cues of which portions are to be sent to which recipient.

37. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 36, wherein visual cues are color-coded for a "to:" list.

38. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 36, wherein visual cues are color-coded for a "cc:" list.

39. Computer-executable process steps according to claim 36, wherein visual cues are color-coded for a "bcc:" list.

40. A computer-readable medium according to claim 36, wherein visual cues are color-coded for a "to:" list.

41. A computer-readable medium according to claim 36, wherein visual cues are color-coded for a "cc:" list.

42. A computer-readable medium according to claim 36, wherein visual cues are color-coded for a "bcc:" list.

43. A computer-readable medium which stores computer-executable process steps, the computer-executable process steps for creating a computerized message that contains recipient-specific content, the computer-executable process steps comprising:

an authoring step to accept an author's composition of plural portions of a message;

an identifying step to accept identification of one or more recipients to which at least one portion of the message will be sent; and

an associating step to associate, with each recipient, at least one portion of the message such that at least one recipient does not receive all portions of the message.

44. A computer-readable medium according to claim 40, wherein the computer-executable process steps further comprise a sending step to send the computerized message with a portion associated by said step to associate being sent to a respective set of one or more recipients with whom the portion has been associated.

45. A computer-readable medium according to claim 41, wherein the computer-executable process steps further comprise a viewing step to provide a recipient with a view of a received message with at least a portion highlighted such that that one recipient is provided with visual cues as to whether other recipients have received the highlighted portion.

46. A computer-readable medium according to claim 40, wherein the computer-executable process steps further comprise a viewing step to provide a view of portions of the message that are sent to respective sets of one or more recipients.

47. A computer-readable medium according to claim 46, wherein the viewing step comprises providing a view in an as-received mode.

48. A computer-readable medium according to claim 40, wherein the computer-executable process steps further comprise a viewing step to provide a view of a list of recipients for each portion.

49. A computer-readable medium according to claim 40, wherein said associating step comprises accepting selection of portions of the message and accepting identification of recipients for selected portions.

50. A computer-readable medium according to claim 49, wherein said identification comprises a selection from a pop-up list.

51. A computer-readable medium according to claim 49, wherein said identification comprises a deselection from a pop-up list.

52. A computer-readable medium according to claim 40, wherein the computer-executable process steps further comprise a displaying step to provide a display of the computerized message to the author with visual cues of which portions are to be sent to which recipient.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an authoring system for computerized messages such as electronic mail, and specifically to an authoring system for computerized messages that can create messages containing recipient-specific content such that all recipients do not receive the identical version of the message.

2. Description of the Related Art

Current computerized messaging systems provide for the ability to send a computerized message to more than one recipient. Such systems are limited, however, in that each recipient receives the identical message. This is inconvenient, for example, in a situation where it is desired to send a private comment to some but not all of the recipients.

For example, in an electronic mail ("E-mail") messaging system, the sender authors a text message, with or without attachments, that can be sent to recipients in any of three categories: a "To:" category, a "cc:" category, and a "bcc:" category. As is known, the "To:" category is for the directly-intended recipient or recipients, the "cc:" category is for courtesy-copy recipients who are included for information, and the "bcc:" category is for blind-courtesy-copy recipients who are intended to receive the message without other recipients being aware of their receipt. However, even with the above addressing categories, what is received by each recipient is the entire text of the message and all attachments. Thus, each recipient receives the identical message.

In some situations, the sender wishes to forward some portions of a message only to certain recipients and not to others. For example, a sender may desire to include private comments in the E-mail message, with the private comments being readable only by bcc recipients. However, since current E-mail systems send the identical message to each and every recipient, it is necessary for the sender to create two different E-mail messages, and to select which message is to be sent to which recipient. This arrangement is cumbersome and time-consuming, and inevitably leads to errors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to address the foregoing difficulties in conventional computerized messaging systems by providing an authoring system for computerized messages, such as electronic mail, that contains recipient-specific content.

In one aspect, the invention provides for a sender of computerized messages such as E-mail to select portions of the message or attachments which are sent only to certain recipients. In one embodiment, authoring of an E-mail message in which selected portions of the text or attachments are sent only to certain recipients involves the steps of first creating a message and creating a list of recipients. If no contrary instructions are entered, the entire message will be sent to all recipients. After the author has created the list of recipients, any portion or portions of the message which are to be sent only to certain recipients are selected, such as with a pointing device or with key strokes. A list of available recipients is provided to the sender for selection, such as with a "pop-up" menu. The recipients for the selected text are then selected (or selected ones can be deselected, if desired). Any other portions to be sent only to some recipients are also selected in the same way, and the respective lists of recipients for those portions are designated, resulting in a message in which one or more portions are not sent to all recipients.

As an alternative approach, the author can identify which portions of the message are for which recipients in a different manner. At the beginning of the message, the author can select or list the intended recipient(s) for the initial portion of the message, and then compose that portion. The author then selects which recipients are to receive the following portion, and then composes that following portion. This procedure is continued until the message is complete.

Thus, according to this aspect of the invention, authoring a computerized message that contains recipient-specific content involves composing plural portions of the message, identifying one or more recipients to which at least one portion of the message will be sent, and for each recipient associating at least one portion of the message such that at least one recipient does not receive all portions of the message. This associating may comprise selection of portions and identifying recipients of selected portions, and identification may be by either selection or deselection from the list of recipients. Thereafter, the message may be sent with each recipient receiving only its designated portion or portions of the message.

Other aspects of the invention involve the provision of a pleasing and efficient visual interface between the authoring system and the sender. For example, recipients for the selected portions of the message may appear colored, underlined or otherwise highlighted when the portions of the message that are received by such recipients has received focus by the sender. The portions of the message itself may also appear colored, underlined or otherwise highlighted, even when not in focus, so as to indicate that the highlighted portion has a limited list of recipients. Color coding or some other form of differential highlighting (such as multiple underlining) may also be employed so as to show which different portions of a message are sent to different sets of recipients.

In further aspects, the invention allows the sender to view the respective portions that are actually sent to each recipient. Viewing may be by color coding or differential highlighting as described above. Alternatively, the portions can be viewed in an "as-received" mode such that the sender can view the message as it will be received by each recipient. Thus, the invention allows the sender to view the message with visual cues of the portions that are sent to each recipient.

Conversely, rather than viewing the message, the sender can view recipients, such as by viewing a list of recipients for each selected portion of a message. This aspect of the invention provides the sender with the ability to modify the list of recipients for each portion, and to make such modifications easily.

At the receiving end of the message, a recipient can view received messages with portions highlighted or a recipient list displayed, so that the recipient of private portions of the message can know that one or more others did not receive that portion, and can further know which recipients actually received the private portion.

This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representational view of a computerized messaging system in which the present invention may be utilized.

FIG. 2 is a representational view of a computer system that can serve as an E-mail client or an E-mail server for use with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram showing the internal architecture of the computer system shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a representational view showing E-mail applications and E-mail files stored in a fixed disk of a computer system that serves as an E-mail client.

FIG. 5 is a representational view showing E-mail applications and E-mail files stored in a fixed disk of a computer system that serves as an E-mail server.

FIG. 6 is a representational view of a graphical user interface for an E-mail editor according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view for illustrating how a user can manipulate the interface of FIG. 6 in order to view a message so as to see how the message will appear as received by each recipient.

FIG. 8 is a representational view of a graphical user interface for an E-mail reader according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a representational view illustrating how the interface of FIG. 8 can be manipulated so as to provide a recipient of a message with a view of the message as it is received by other recipients.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention in authoring computerized messages.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for describing the operation of an E-mail editor in carrying out the authoring of computerized messages according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for describing viewing of a message according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for describing the operation of an E-mail reader in performing the viewing of computerized messages according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a representational view of computerized messaging system 1, in this case an electronic mail system, in which the present invention can be utilized. Computer systems 2 through 6 are connected to each other through network 7. Computer systems 2 through 5 are E-mail clients, and computer system 6 is an E-mail server. Computer systems 2 through 6 can comprise programmable general-purpose computers or other types of data processing equipment. Network 7 can comprise a local area network (LAN) such as an Etherneto network, a wide area network (WAN) such as a pair of LANs connected over a phone line via routers, a commercial E-mail network, the Internet, an intranet, or any other network that accommodates computer messaging services such as E-mail.

In operation, a user generates an E-mail message using one of the E-mail clients, for example, E-mail client 2. The user then sends the E-mail message to recipients who have access to the E-mail clients of computerized messaging system 1. When the user sends the E-mail message, the message is communicated to E-mail server 6. Typically, E-mail server 6 maintains a shared directory with subdirectories corresponding respectively to each of the users who have access to computerized messaging system 1. A copy of the message is stored in the subdirectories corresponding to the intended recipients.

Whenever a user is logged-on to one of E-mail clients 2 through 5, that E-mail client periodically polls E-mail server 6 to see if any unread messages have been stored in the subdirectory corresponding to that user. In the example described above, if the user is an intended recipient of the E-mail message, the server notifies the client that a new unread message has been placed in that user's subdirectory on the server. Then, the user can read the message using the E-mail client to which the user is logged-on, and the user can store the message for later reference. After the message is read by the user, the message typically is deleted from that user's subdirectory on E-mail server 6 so as to free-up space on the server.

It should be noted that the invention also is applicable to E-mail systems that differ from computerized messaging system 1 described above. For example, in other E-mail systems, a single computer system can serve as both an E-mail client and an E-mail server. The invention is applicable to E-mail systems that have any number of E-mail clients and E-mail servers, and that are interconnected through any number of networks. The invention also is applicable to other types of computerized messaging systems, such as instant message systems (e.g., WinPop.RTM.), chat rooms, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a representational view of a computer system 10 that can serve as an E-mail client or an E-mail server for use with the present invention. Computer system 10 may be a Macintosh.RTM., PC-compatible, or other type of system having an operating system which preferably is a windowing operating system, such as Microsoft.RTM. Windows, but which may also be a non-windowing system, such as DOS or UNIX. In the preferred embodiment, computer system 10 is a Pentium.RTM.-based computer system.

Provided with computer system 10 are display 11, which may be a color monitor, keyboard 12 for entering user commands, and pointing device 14 such as a mouse for pointing to and for manipulating graphical user interfaces and other objects displayed on display 11. Computer system 10 also includes a mass storage device such as fixed disk 15 for storing computer-executable process steps for E-mail applications, E-mail files, other applications, other files, and the like. Such storage may also be provided by a CD-ROM (not shown).

Network interface 17 provides an interface between computer system 10 and network 7, as described with respect to FIG. 1 above. Thus, network interface 17 provides computer system 10 with access to computerized messaging system 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram showing the internal architecture of computer system 10. As shown in FIG. 3, computer system 10 includes central processing unit (CPU) 19, which interfaces with computer bus 20. Also interfacing with computer bus 20 are fixed disk 15, network interface 17, main memory (RAM) 21, read-only memory (ROM) 22, floppy disk interface 24, display interface 25 to display 11, keyboard interface 27 to keyboard 12, and mouse interface 28 to pointing device 14. Other components, such as a printer, scanner, modem or the like, also can be interfaced to computer bus 20.

Main memory 21 interfaces with computer bus 20 so as to provide RAM storage to CPU 19 during execution of software applications. More specifically, CPU 19 loads process steps from fixed disk 15, another storage device, or some other source such as network 7, into main memory 21. CPU 19 then executes the stored process steps from main memory 21 in order to execute applications. Data such as E-mail messages can be stored in fixed disk 15, main memory 21, or at some other location in network 7, where the data can be accessed by CPU 19 during execution of the process steps.

As also shown in FIG. 3, fixed disk 15 typically contains an operating system, E-mail applications, E-mail files, other applications, other files, and the like.

In the preferred embodiment, the E-mail applications and E-mail files stored on fixed disk 15 differ depending on whether computer system 10 is serving as an E-mail client or as an E-mail server. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the E-mail applications and E-mail files stored in fixed disk 15 in these two cases.

FIG. 4 is a representational view showing E-mail applications and E-mail files stored in fixed disk 15 in a case where computer system 10 is serving as an E-mail client. As shown in FIG. 4, the E-mail applications stored in fixed disk 15 include E-mail editor 31 and E-mail reader 32. E-mail editor 31 is used for generating, editing, and sending E-mail messages to one or more recipient(s) who can access computerized messaging system 1. E-mail reader 32 is used for reading E-mail messages sent to a user logged-on to computer system 10. In the E-mail client context, fixed disk 15 also stores E-mail files including temporary files generated by E-mail editor 31 and by E-mail reader 32.

FIG. 5 is a representational view showing E-mail applications and E-mail files stored in fixed disk 15 in a case where computer system 10 is serving as an E-mail server. As shown in FIG. 5, the E-mail applications stored in fixed disk 15 include E-mail server 35. E-mail server 35 manages E-mail files stored in fixed disk 15, including unread mail 36, read mail 37, and sent mail 38. Unread mail 36 includes E-mail messages stored in a shared directory before those messages have been read by their intended recipients, as described above with respect to FIG. 1. Read mail 37 includes E-mail messages that have been read by users and that users have decided to retain for later reference. Sent mail 38 includes E-mail messages that have been sent by a user using E-mail editor 31 on an E-mail client and that the user also has retained for later reference. Preferably included with the E-mail files are logs 39 that track E-mail usage. Of course, other arrangements of E-mail files are possible.

FIG. 6 is a representational view of a graphical user interface for E-mail editor 31 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. This graphical user interface comprises E-mail editor window 41. Included in E-mail editor window 41 are pull-down menu bar 42, tool bar 43, and message area 44.

As shown in FIG. 6, pull-down menu bar 42 includes pull-down menus for file commands, edit commands, view commands, format commands, tool commands, and help commands. Other pull-down menus also can be provided in pull-down menu bar 42.

Tool bar 43 includes tools for determining font type, font size, and format information for a message generated using E-mail editor window 41. Tool bar 43 also includes send buttons 45 for sending, forwarding, and replying to messages, and attachment button 46 for attaching files to a message.

Message area 44 includes "To:" list box 47, "cc:" list box 48, "bcc:" list box 49, "Subject:" list box 50, and message text area 51. "To:" list box 47 is used for designating intended recipients of a message entered into message text area 51. "Cc:" list box 48 is used for designating or courtesy copy recipients of the message. "Bcc:" list box 49 is used for designating blind-courtesy-copy recipients of the message. Blind-courtesy-copy recipients are recipients who are intended to receive the message without other recipients being aware of their receipt. "Subject:" list box 50 is used for entering an optional subject title for the message. Message area 51 is used for entering the text body of the message. Icons representing attachments also can appear in message text area 51.

In order to generate a message, a user manipulates items in E-mail editor window 41 using cursor 53 controlled with pointing device 14. The user identifies intended recipients of the message in list boxes 47 through 49, enters a subject for the message in "Subject:" list box 50, and enters text for the body of the message in message text area 51. Attachments can be designated using a window called up with attachment button 46.

As the message is being entered, the user can "focus" on a part of the message by pointing to that part of the message with cursor 53 and then clicking on a left button of pointing device 14. When the user clicks the left button of pointing device 14, focus indicator 54 appears where cursor 53 is positioned.

If the user keeps the left button depressed and moves cursor 53, focus indicator 54 follows the cursor, and any text through which focus indicator 54 passes is highlighted. This highlighted text is "selected". In FIG. 6, text line 56 of message text area 51 has been so selected, as indicated by the broken line surrounding text line 56. On an actual display, the selected text preferably is highlighted, as for example by being displayed in a rectangle with inverse colors as compared to unselected text.

Selected text is affected by various commands entered into E-mail editor window 41. For example, if the user selects a portion of text in message text area 51 and then activates one of the format tools in tool bar 43, the formatting command (e.g., bold or underline) is applied to the selected text.

In conventional systems, a user can utilize an E-mail editor to generate and format a message in a similar fashion as described above. The user can designate "To:" category recipients, "cc:" category go recipients, and "bcc:" category recipients. However, in these conventional systems, each recipient receives identical message text and attachments. Thus, if the user desires to direct special comments to some but not to others of the recipients, the user must create a separate message. As some of the contents of the separate message often will be the same as in the first message, this process is inefficient.

The present invention addresses the foregoing deficiencies of conventional systems by allowing a user to author an E-mail message in which selected portions of text or attachments are sent only to certain recipients. In order to author such a message, the user first composes all or part of a message. In the absence of contrary instructions entered by the author (i.e., as a default procedure), the entire message will be sent to all recipients designated in list boxes 47 through 49. Then, the user selects a portion of the message, such as text line 56, and activates a recipient selection process, for example with key strokes or by clicking the right button of pointing device 14. In response to this activation, a list of intended recipients is displayed, and the user can select or deselect recipients for the selected part of the message using the list. By selecting less than all of the listed recipients for portions of the message, the user easily can customize the message for different recipients.

In the preferred embodiment, the list of recipients comprises a pop-up window such as pop-up window 59 shown in FIG. 6. Pop-up window 59 includes several sections that allow different methods for selecting and/or deselecting intended recipients. Select/deselect-all section 61 allows the user to select or deselect all of the recipients at once. Individual selection section 62 allows the user to select or deselect recipients individually. As shown in FIG. 6, "Team Member 1", "Manager", and "President" have been selected as recipients for selected text line 56. This designation of recipients is indicated by check marks next to the recipients in individual selection section 62.

Also included in pop-up window 59 are category selection section 63 and sent mail selection section 64. Category selection section 63 allows the user to select intended recipients grouped by the recipient categories. Sent mail section 64 is provided to allow the user to designate portions of the message that should be included in the user's retained store of sent mail. For example, if the only recipient of a selected part of the message is "sent mail", that portion of the message could be used for private notes that the user wants to retain concerning the message, but that the user does not want to be sent to any recipient.

In order to select or deselect recipients, the user preferably points to a recipient using cursor 53, and then selects or deselects that recipient by clicking on the left button of pointing device 14. In the preferred embodiment, changes in any one of the sections are reflected in the other sections. For example, if the "To:" category in category selection section 63 is selected, the corresponding individual recipients in individual selection section 62 have check marks automatically displayed next to them, indicating that they have been selected. Optionally, if some but not all of the recipients for a category have been designated as recipients of the selected part of the message, a special mark (for example, a gray, rather than black, check mark) can be displayed next to that category.

In addition, visual cues in message text area 51 and list boxes 47 through 49 preferably are provided to indicate which portions of the message are designated for which recipient. For example, text line 65 has been designated with a double underline, and recipients "Manager" and "President" in list boxes 48 and 49, respectively, also have been highlighted with a double underline. This highlighting indicates that text line 65 is intended only for recipients "Manager" and "President".

In the preferred embodiment, highlighting such as by color-coding also is used to indicate portions of the message intended for different categories of recipients. For example, black text in message text area 51 is intended for all recipients, blue text is intended for "To:" recipients, green text is intended for "cc:" recipients, and red text is intended for "bcc:" recipients. In addition, recipients for text that is in focus can be color-coded or otherwise highlighted in list boxes 47 through 49.

Other types of highlighting and other color schemes can be used to provide the foregoing visual cues, and are included within the scope of the invention. These other types of highlighting include, for example, different fonts, different text styles (e.g., bold, shadow, etc.), flashing text, etc.

After the user has designated the recipients for the various portions of the message, the user can continue adding text and attachments, redesignating recipients, etc., until the user is satisfied.

In an alternative embodiment, recipients are associated with text by first selecting intended recipients. This selection can be made in a similar fashion as described above. Then, subsequently-entered text is automatically designated as intended for the selected recipients. If the user subsequently selects a different recipient or recipients, text entered following that designation is associated with those recipients. This process is repeated until the message is complete. In addition, the user can select already-entered text and modify the recipients of that text, as described above.

At some point in the process of authoring the message, the user may desire to see how the message will appear as received by each recipient. Optionally, E-mail editor 31 is implemented so as to allow a user to view the message in this manner, as explained with reference to FIG. 7 below.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, in order to view a message as it will be received by a particular recipient, the user clicks on view pull-down menu 66 from pull-down menu bar 42 of E-mail editor window 41. Preferably, view pulldown menu 66 includes at least tool bars line 67 and as-received line 68. Other lines can be provided in view pull-down menu 66. Tool bars line 67 provides access to conventional tool bars. As-received line 68 provides access to list 69 of intended recipients.

Shown in list 69 are individual selection section 71, category selection section 72, and sent-mail selection section 73. Individual selection section 71 includes all recipients named in list boxes 47 through 49. Category selection section 72 includes lines for the "To:" category, the "cc: