Patent ID: 6057841
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and a user interface selection device, a method for constructing a rule for processing electronic messages, comprising the steps of:displaying on the display device the current state of the rule in a natural language format comprising a text-based sentence formed by a contiguous string of appended clauses;displaying on the display device a plurality of conditions upon which the rule will cause action to be taken, each condition represented by a clause that can be appended to the rule;receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the conditions;in response to the selection of one of the conditions, adding the clause representing the selected condition to the displayed current state of the rule;displaying on the display device a plurality of actions that may be taken in response to the selected condition, each action represented by a clause that can be appended to the rule;receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the actions; andin response to the selection of one of the actions, adding the clause representing the selected action to the displayed current state of the rule, the natural language sentence for the rule including the appended clauses of the selected condition and the selected action.