Patent US3774074A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5990886A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5990886A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Graphically creating e-mail distribution lists with geographic area selector on map
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1997-12-01
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Granted: 1999-11-23
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Expires: 2017-12-01
Abstract
Abstract An e-mail client in accordance with the invention allows a user to select an e-mail distribution list with reference to a map that shows potential e-mail recipients and their relationships to each other. The user can select a first set of the potential e-mail recipients by designating one of a plurality of available predefined queries. A second set can be selected by positioning a graphical area selector over the map, to graphically encompass the second set of e-mail recipients. The e-mail client creates a distribution list from an intersection of the first and second sets of potential e-mail recipients.
Inventors
- 👤 Holly Serdy
- 👤 Suze Woolf
- 👤 David Baumert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/966; Y10S715/968
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A computer-readable storage medium having an e-mail program that is executable to perform the following steps: displaying a geographical image that shows potential e-mail recipients and their positions relative to each other; selecting a first set of the potential e-mail recipients in response to a set specification selected by a user; positioning a graphical area selector with respect to the displayed geographical image in response to user input, wherein the graphical area selector graphically encompasses a second set of the potential e-mail recipients; creating an e-mail distribution list that comprises an intersection of the first and second sets of the potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer-readable storage medium having an e-mail program that is executable to perform the following steps: displaying a geographical image that shows potential e-mail recipients and their positions relative to each other; selecting a first set of the potential e-mail recipients in response to a set specification selected by a user; positioning a graphical area selector with respect to the displayed geographical image in response to user input, wherein the graphical area selector graphically encompasses a second set of the potential e-mail recipients; creating an e-mail distribution list that comprises an intersection of the first and second sets of the potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 1, the e-mail program being executable to perform a further step that comprises graphically highlighting the potential e-mail recipients that are in the first set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical area selector has a size and position relative to the geographical image, and wherein the positioning step includes changing the size and position of the graphical area selector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the selecting step includes displaying a drop-down control from which the user selects a predefined query.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical area selector is a rectangle having a changeable size and position relative to the displayed geographical image.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of creating a distribution list for messages that are to be transmitted over a computer network, comprising the following steps: displaying an image that graphically indicates different potential e-mail recipients and one or more relationships between the e-mail recipients; positioning a graphical area selector with respect to the displayed image in response to user input, wherein the graphical area selector graphically encompasses an area representing a first set of the potential e-mail recipients; creating the e-mail distribution list from the first set of the potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of creating a distribution list for messages that are to be transmitted over a computer network, comprising the following steps: displaying an image that graphically indicates different potential e-mail recipients and one or more relationships between the e-mail recipients; positioning a graphical area selector with respect to the displayed image in response to user input, wherein the graphical area selector graphically encompasses an area representing a first set of the potential e-mail recipients; creating the e-mail distribution list from the first set of the potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the graphical area selector is a rectangle having a changeable size and position relative to the displayed image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the positioning step comprises changing the size and position of the graphical area selector in response to user input.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the displayed image is a geographic map showing physical positions of the different potential e-mail recipients relative to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising an additional step of selecting a second set of the potential e-mail recipients in response to a query selection by a user, wherein the creating step comprises creating the e-mail distribution list from an intersection of the first and second sets of potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising the following additional steps: selecting a second set of the potential e-mail recipients in response to a query selection by a user; and graphically highlighting the potential e-mail recipients that are in the second set.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising an additional step of selecting a second set of the potential e-mail recipients in response to a query selection by a user, wherein: the creating step comprises creating the e-mail distribution list from an intersection of the first and second sets of potential e-mail recipients; and wherein the displayed image is a geographic map showing physical positions of the different potential e-mail recipients relative to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that are executable by a computer to perform steps as recited in claim 6.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
98 words
A system comprising: a computer; a program configured for execution by the computer, wherein the program performs the following steps when executed by the computer to create an e-mail distribution list: displaying an image that graphically indicates different potential e-mail recipients and one or more relationships between the e-mail recipients; positioning a graphical area selector with respect to the displayed image in response to user input, wherein the graphical area selector graphically encompasses an area representing a first set of the potential e-mail recipients; creating the e-mail distribution list from the first set of the potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
98 words
A system comprising: a computer; a program configured for execution by the computer, wherein the program performs the following steps when executed by the computer to create an e-mail distribution list: displaying an image that graphically indicates different potential e-mail recipients and one or more relationships between the e-mail recipients; positioning a graphical area selector with respect to the displayed image in response to user input, wherein the graphical area selector graphically encompasses an area representing a first set of the potential e-mail recipients; creating the e-mail distribution list from the first set of the potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the graphical area selector is a rectangle having a changeable size and position relative to the displayed image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the positioning step comprises changing the size and position of the graphical area selector in response to user input.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the image is a geographic map showing relative positions of the different potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as recited in claim 14, wherein: the application program performs an additional step of selecting a second set of the potential e-mail recipients in response to a query selection by a user; and wherein the creating step comprises creating the e-mail distribution list from an intersection of the first and second sets of potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the application program performs additional steps comprising: selecting a second set of the potential e-mail recipients in response to a query selection by a user; graphically highlighting the potential e-mail recipients that are in the second set.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
72 words
A system as recited in claim 14, wherein: the application program performs an additional step of selecting a second set of the potential e-mail recipients in response to a query selection by a user; the creating step comprises creating the e-mail distribution list from an intersection of the first and second sets of potential e-mail recipients; and the image is a geographic map showing relative positions of the different potential e-mail recipients.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
A user interface comprising: a displayed image that shows individual entities and their relationships to each other; a set selector that allows the user to define a first set of the individual entities; wherein the individual entities that are members of the second set are graphically highlighted on the displayed image; a graphical area selector displayed over the displayed image, the graphical area selector being changeable by a user to graphically define a second set of the individual entities; an intersection of the first and second sets forming a selected group of individual entities.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 words
A user interface comprising: a displayed image that shows individual entities and their relationships to each other; a set selector that allows the user to define a first set of the individual entities; wherein the individual entities that are members of the second set are graphically highlighted on the displayed image; a graphical area selector displayed over the displayed image, the graphical area selector being changeable by a user to graphically define a second set of the individual entities; an intersection of the first and second sets forming a selected group of individual entities.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A user interface as recited in claim 21, wherein the displayed image is a geographic map showing physical positions of the individual entities relative to each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A user interface as recited in claim 21, wherein the set selector is a drop-down control from which the user selects a predefined query.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A user interface as recited in claim 21, wherein the graphical area selector is a rectangle having a changeable size and position relative to the displayed image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
61 words
A user interface as recited in claim 21, wherein: the displayed image is a geographic map showing geographical positions of the individual entities relative to each other; the set selector is a drop-down control from which the user selects a predefined query; and the graphical area selector is a rectangle having a changeable size and position relative to the displayed image.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |