A system for managing messages so that messages with redundant contents need not be reviewed by a user. Techniques of the invention monitor electronic messages received by a user and determine whether the received electronic messages are related to pending electronic messages for the user, such as by being part of the same message thread. Messages with redundant contents among the related messages are then identified, and the messages with redundant contents are managed so that the user need not review the contents. The messages with redundant contents can be managed by creating a new message which includes the unique contents of each of the identified messages but at most a single copy of the redundant contents. After the new message is created, the identified messages can then be indicated to be redundant in light of the newly created message in one or more ways, such as by deleting the identified messages or by altering the visual indicators of the identified messages presented to the user. Alternately, the messages with redundant contents can be managed by deleting the redundant contents from the identified messages, or by altering the manner in which the redundant contents are presented to allow for easy identification by the user.
A method for local archiving of e-mail messages in an e-mail client application according to various exemplary embodiments can include generating a mail thread including at least two e-mail messages transmitted and received between a message originator and at least one recipient; appending e-mail identification data into a header of the at least two e-mail messages when transmitted. The method may also include archiving related e-mail messages within the mail thread in an e-mail client application, comprising: searching for the related e-mail messages by identifying each e-mail message having a same message originator field; and merging non-redundant segments of each e-mail message into a single message document hierarchically by response level and timestamp. The method may further include displaying, on a display screen, the single message document according to a conversational view based upon a perspective of the response level of a user within the mail thread.
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for processing redundant electronic mail (e-mail) messages. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an e-mail message, and deleting the received e-mail message if the received e-mail message is substantially similar to an available e-mail message. As such, the received e-mail message is deleted if the received e-mail message is considered redundant to a recipient terminal.
A method, article of manufacture and apparatus for assisting an electronic mail (e-mail) response message by providing e-mail messages related to an open e-mail message. Specifically, the method determines whether an available e-mail message is related to the open e-mail message. Available e-mail messages may include unopened, previously opened, or incoming e-mail messages. As such, the user is warned of all relevant e-mail messages before responding with a reply message or a forward message.
A method and apparatus for processing electronic mail (e-mail) using an importance indicator such that a user can clearly identify which mail is important and should be viewed immediately. The method applies a set of importance rules to each electronic mail message that is received to determine the importance of that particular electronic mail message. Control messages are used to identify e-mail messages that have been read by others and replied to by others. As such, if a particular message has been "handled" by another recipient of the message then the importance indicator is lowered for the non-responding recipient(s). In one embodiment, a recipient may nominate another recipient of a message to "handle" the message. When a nomination is made, a nomination control message is sent to the nominated user to cause the importance indicator to be the highest value for the message the user has been nominated to handle.
Message exchange handling concept. A message exchange session between wireless communication terminals via a wireless network is initiated from one of the terminals. The user of the initiating terminal invites at least one other communication terminal to participate in the message exchange session. This is done by forwarding a message text to said at least one other communication terminal. Then the other terminal responds to received message by inputing a message text for replying to the received message. Then the responding terminal automatically adds the inputted reply message text to the received message text, whereby the aggregate message text includes the message exchange session history, and the aggregate message text is then transmitted to the other communication terminals being party to the message exchange session.
