EP0660574A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for distribution of arbitrary media
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-11-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the distribution of arbitrary media are provided. In one embodiment, during the preparation of an electronic mail item, the invention searches a electronic mail inbasket for items received from the address to which the electronic mail item is to be sent. A list of any such in-basket items is presented to the user before the item being prepared may be sent. The user is offered the option of viewing any such received items, editing the item being prepared, sending the item being prepared without further editing, or aborting the item being prepared. In another embodiment, upon the dialing of a telephone call, the invention searches a voice mail inbasket for recorded audio messages received from the telephone whose number has been dialed, and offers the user similar options if any such inbasket items are found.
Inventors
- 👤 Sophia M. Johnson
- 👤 William J. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307; H04M3/533; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A method, performed in a data processing system, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: searching mail inbasket items for a characteristic associated with an unsent mail distribution; and prior to sending the mail distribution, presenting a notice that a mail inbasket item associated to the characteristic has been found.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the unsent mail distribution is an electronic mail item and the characteristic associated with the unsent mail distribution is an address to which the electronic mail item is directed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the unsent mail distribution is an electronic mail item and the characteristic associated with the unsent mail distribution is any common content of both the electronic mail item and the mail inbasket item.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the unsent mail distribution is a telephone call and the characteristic associated with the unsent mail distribution is the telephone number to which the telephone call is directed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the unsent mail distribution is an outgoing telephone message and the characteristic associated with the unsent mail distribution is any common content of both the outgoing telephone message and the mail inbasket item.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of any of the claims 1 to 5, further comprising the computer implemented step of requiring a response to the notice before the mail distribution may be sent.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of any of the claims 1 to 6, wherein only those mail inbasket items not previously seen by the user are searched.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
31 words
The method of any of the claims 1 to 6 , wherein only those mail inbasket items received by the mail inbasket while the mail distribution is being prepared are searched.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
35 words
The method of any of the claims 1 to 8 , wherein the notice presented prior to sending the mail distribution includes a list of searched mail inbasket items that are associated to the characteristic.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of any of the claims 1 to 9 , wherein the notice presented prior to sending the mail distribution includes the option of editing the mail distribution.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
36 words
The method of any of the claims 1 to 10 , wherein the notice presented prior to sending the mail distribution includes the option of viewing a mail inbasket item that is associated to the characteristic.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of any of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the notice presented prior to sending the mail distribution includes the option of aborting the mail distribution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A data processing system, comprising: means for searching mail inbasket items for a characteristic associated with an unsent mail distribution; and means for presenting a notice that a mail inbasket item associated to the characteristic has been found, prior to sending the mail distribution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the unsent mail distribution is an electronic mail item and the characteristic associated with the unsent mail distribution is an address to which the electronic mail item is directed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the unsent mail distribution is an electronic mail item and the characteristic associated with the unsent mail distribution is any common content of both the electronic mail item and the mail inbasket item.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the unsent mail distribution is a telephone call and the characteristic associated with the unsent mail distribution is the telephone number to which the telephone call is directed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the unsent mail distribution is an outgoing telephone message and the characteristic associated with the unsent mail distribution is any common content of both the outgoing telephone message and the mail inbasket item.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data processing system of any of the claims 13 to 17 , further comprising means for requiring a response to the notice before the mail distribution may be sent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The data processing system of any of the claims 13 to 18, wherein the means for searching searches only those mail inbasket items not previously seen by the user.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The data processing system of any of the claims 13 to 18, wherein the means for searching searches only those mail inbasket items received by the mail inbasket while the mail distribution is being prepared.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The data processing system of any of the claims 13 to 20 , wherein the notice presented prior to sending the mail distribution includes a list of searched mail inbasket items that are associated to the characteristic.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data processing system of any of the claims 13 to 20, wherein the notice presented prior to sending the mail distribution includes the option of editing the mail distribution.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The data processing system of any of the claims 13 to 20 , wherein the notice presented prior to sending the mail distribution includes the option of viewing a mail inbasket item that is associated to the characteristic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data processing system of any of the claims 13 to 20, wherein the notice presented prior to sending the mail distribution includes the option of aborting the mail distribution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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