Abstract:
An email classifier gives users the ability to efficiently and easily assign category information to email messages. The email classifier may present a graphical window to a user interacting with an email message. Through the graphical window, the user enters information describing at least one category to which the email relates. The email and its associated category information may be archived for later access.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from and is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/653,259, filed Sep. 3, 2003, and entitled “SECOND PERSON REVIEW OF EMAIL,” the disclosure which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to electronic communications, and more particularly, to communications via electronic mail.  
         [0004]     B. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Electronic mail (email) has become a relatively common communication medium. Email messages generally arrive quickly (i.e., minutes or less), unobtrusively, and are cheap. For these reasons, email is used extensively in the modern world.  
         [0006]     Although email is often thought of as an “informal” communication medium, email is increasingly being used to transmit more formal information. For example, legal and other professional services are increasingly using email to transmit legal and financial documents that would traditionally be sent via postal mail or courier. Some courts, for instance, no longer accept paper filings and instead require electronic filings. One consequence of this juxtaposition of formal documents in a traditionally informal communication medium is that formal documents that would normally be reviewed by one or more persons for content and grammatical accuracy are sent via email without the same level of review.  
         [0007]     Additionally, past email communications are often used as evidence in litigations. In civil litigations, for instance, the parties involved in the litigation may be required to produce a large number of emails relating to a particular topic or set of topics to the opposing side. The process of reviewing and categorizing all of the emails that may potentially need to be produced can be a time consuming and expensive process.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to archive and organize emails such that they can be effectively retrieved (e.g., produced for a litigation) when needed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     One aspect of the invention is a method for facilitating electronic mail (“email”) classification. The method includes presenting a graphical object to a user interacting with an email message, where the graphical object is configured to receive information from the user describing at least one category to which the email relates. The method further includes storing the email message and the at least one category associated with the email message.  
         [0010]     Another aspect of the invention is an email classifier that includes a graphical window presented to an email user when the email user attempts to send an email message to an addressee. The graphical window is configured to present information to the email user describing possible categories that may be assigned to the email message and receive information from the user selecting one of the categories. The email classifier further includes a database to store the email message and the selected category.  
         [0011]     Yet another aspect of the invention is a method that includes presenting a list of categories that are potentially related to an email message to a user and receiving a selection of one or more of the categories from the user. The method further includes associating the selected one or more of the categories with the email message and archiving the email message with the categories associated with the email message. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explain the invention. In the drawings,  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary diagram of a system in which systems and methods consistent with the principles of the invention may be implemented;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary diagram of a client or server entity according to an implementation consistent with the principles of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a diagram conceptually illustrating a computer-readable medium in one of the client entities shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating operation of an email review tool consistent with an aspect of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical interface of an email program through which a user may compose an email message;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interface for a second person review pop-up window that may be presented to a user;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interface of an “in-box” of an email program;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interface presented to a reviewer that is editing an email;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical interface of an email program consistent with an alternate aspect of the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical interface of an email program consistent with yet another alternate aspect of the invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a diagram conceptually illustrating a computer-readable medium containing an email classifier consistent with aspects of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interface for a pop-up window that may be presented by the email classifier shown in  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical interface of an email program including an email classifier; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is an exemplary diagram of a system illustrating email classification consistent with the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]     The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents.  
         [0028]     An email classification tool facilitates the categorization of email messages. Users may conveniently assign categories to email messages. The assigned categories can later be used when retrieving or otherwise manipulating groups of stored email messages.  
       Exemplary System Configuration  
       [0029]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary diagram of a system  100  in which systems and methods consistent with the principles of the invention may be implemented. System  100  may include a network  140  (or other communication link) that connects multiple computing entities, such as clients  110 , a server  120 , and proprietary sub-networks (such as a corporate network)  130 . Network  140  may be the Internet, although more generally network  140  may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a telephone network, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an intranet, or a combination of networks. Two clients  110 , a server  120 , and a proprietary sub-network  130  are illustrated in  FIG. 3  for simplicity. In practice, there may be more or fewer clients  110 , servers  120 , and sub-networks  130 .  
         [0030]     Clients  110  may include client entities. An entity may be may defined as a computing device, such as a wireless telephone, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a lap top, another type of computation or communication device, a thread or process running on one of these devices, and/or an object executable by one of these device. Server  120  may include a server entity that performs network functions, such as email services. Clients  110  and server  120  may connect to network  140  via wired, wireless, or optical connections.  
         [0031]     Sub-network  130  may be a network such as a corporate network. A gateway  132  may restrict access to sub-network  130  to authorized users. Gateways are generally known in the art and may act as a node in system  100  that serves as an entrance to sub-network  130 . Gateway  132  may additionally act as a proxy server and/or a firewall server to restrict access to and protect sub-network  130 . Sub-network  130  may additionally include a number of clients  134 , which may be similar to clients  110 . In one implementation, clients  134  may be personal computers that are operated by users (e.g., employees) in sub-network  130 . Clients  134  may be grouped together as a LAN.  
         [0032]     Clients  134  may exchange email with one another and with other devices in system  100 , such as clients  110  and server  120 . Reading, managing, and composing email messages may be performed at clients  134  using client email software. Clients  110  may include similar (or compatible) email software. There are a number of well known and commercially available client email software packages.  
         [0033]     Sub-network  130  may additionally include an email server, such as email server  137 . Email server  137  may facilitate the sending and receiving of email messages among clients  134  or between clients  134  and other devices in system  100 , such as clients  110 . Email server  137  may, for instance, collect email sent from clients  134 . The collected email may then be forwarded toward its final destination using a messaging protocol, such as the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). SMTP is a well known protocol for sending and receiving email. External email destined to one or more of clients  134  may be first received at email server  137  and then forwarded to the destination client(s)  134 .  
         [0034]     Clients  110  may also send/receive email. Server  120  may, for example, be configured to act as an email server that clients  110  access when sending mail or when checking whether mail has been received at server  120 . In situations in which client  110  is associated with sub-network  130 , such as an employee that is traveling or working from home, client  110  may send/receive email by accessing email server  137  through gateway  132 .  
         [0035]     Exemplary Client/Server Architecture  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary diagram of one of clients  110 / 134  or servers  120 / 137 , labeled as computing device  200 . Computing device  200  may include a bus  210 , a processor  220 , a main memory  230 , a read only memory (ROM)  240 , a storage device  250 , one or more input devices  260 , one or more output devices  270 , and a communication interface  280 . Bus  210  may include one or more conductors (or other data transmission links) that permit communication among the components of computing device  200 .  
         [0037]     Processor  220  may include any type of conventional processor or microprocessor that interprets and executes instructions. Main memory  230  may include a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that stores information and instructions for execution by processor  220 . ROM  240  may include a conventional ROM device or another type of static storage device that stores static information and instructions for use by processor  220 . Storage device  250  may include a magnetic and/or optical recording medium and its corresponding drive.  
         [0038]     Input device(s)  260  may include one or more conventional mechanisms that permit a user to input information to computing device  200 , such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, voice recognition and/or biometric mechanisms, etc. Output device(s)  270  may include one or more conventional mechanisms that output information to the user, including, but not limited to, a display, a printer, or a speaker. Communication interface  280  may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables computing device  200  to communicate with other devices and/or systems.  
         [0039]     As will be described in detail below, clients  110  and  134 , consistent with the principles of the invention, perform certain email-related operations. Clients  110  may perform these operations in response to processor  220  executing software instructions contained in a computer-readable medium, such as memory  230 . Computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, one or more physical or logical memory devices and/or carrier waves.  
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a diagram conceptually illustrating a portion of a computer-readable medium, such as memory  230 , in one of clients  110 / 134 . Memory  230  may include an email program  335  and an email review tool  336 . Email program  335  may include conventional email software that is used to send and receive email. Email review tool  336  may assist users of clients  110 / 134  in using email program  335  in a manner consistent with aspects of the invention for facilitating second person review of email. Email review tool  336  may be implemented as an “add-in” module to email program  335 , it may be integrated with email program  335 , or it may be implemented as a separate program that monitors the operation of email program  335  and intercepts input/output information flows from email program  335 .  
         [0041]     The software instructions that define email program  335  and email review tool  336  may be read into memory  230  from another computer-readable medium, such as data storage device  250 , or from another device via communication interface  280 . Alternatively, custom circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement processes consistent with the present invention. Thus, implementations consistent with the principles of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of circuitry and software.  
       Operation of Email Review Tool  
       [0042]     Email review tool  336 , as described below, provides users with a simple, quick, and safe method for implementing second person review before sending an email to an outsider, such as a client.  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating operation of email review tool  336  consistent with an aspect of the invention. To begin, a user at one of clients  110 / 134  may compose an email message in the normal manner using email program  335  (act  401 ).  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical interface  500  of email program  335  through which a user may compose an email message. Email interface  500  may include a composition section  505 , a “send” command option (e.g., an icon)  510 , a “To” address field  515 , a “CC” address field  520 , a “Subject” field  525 , and an attachment section  530 . Email interface  500  may also include a menu bar  540  through which various other email-related operations may be performed. For clarity, email interface  500  is shown in a simplified form. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a typical email interface may include numerous other commands or options.  
         [0045]     In composition section  505 , the user may type or otherwise enter text, graphics, audio, or video that are to be included in the email. In the example shown, the user has also included another file in the email, shown as attachment  532  (“attachmentl.doc”) in attachment section  530 . Attachment  532  may be, for example, any type of text or word processing file, a video file, or an audio file. Attachment  532  may be considered part of the email. In the “To” address field  515 , the user may enter the intended recipient(s) of the email. In many email programs, the recipients may be typed in manually or selected from a contact list. Additional recipient(s) may be added in “CC” field  520 . In subject field  525 , the user may enter a subject for the email.  
         [0046]     After composing the email, the user may instruct email program  335  to send the email (act  402 ). In many email programs, the send command may be initiated by selecting send option  510 . Send option  510  may be implemented in the form of an icon or software button.  
         [0047]     Email review tool  336  may determine when an email is sent (act  403 ). If email review tool  336  is integrated directly into email program  335  or as an add-in module, this determination can be made through direct communication with email program  335 . In this situation, although send option  510  may have been selected by the user, email program  335  may not actually send the email to email server  120 / 137 . If email review tool  336  is implemented as a separate program that monitors the operation of email program  335 , this determination may be made by monitoring an output of email program  335  and intercepting attempts to send an email.  
         [0048]     In some implementations, email review tool  336  may next analyze the email to determine if a second person review window should be presented to the user before actually transmitting the email to email server  120  or  137  (acts  404  and  405 ). Whether or not the second person review window is presented may be based on a user or network administrator configurable set of rules. For example, email review tool  336  may be configured to examine the To field  515  and skip the review window when all the recipients of the email have addresses within sub-network  130 . In this way, when sending internal emails, which can often afford to be less formal than external emails, the user is not presented with a second person review window. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other rules could be applied by email review tool  336 . For example, the user may be able to specify certain email addresses or domains for which the second person review window may not be shown.  
         [0049]     For emails for which a second person review window applies, email review tool  336  may present a “pop-up” window (or other indication) to the user that asks the user to enter information relating to review of the email (act  406 ). For emails in which a pop-up window is not presented to the user, email program  335  may send the email as normal using email server  120  or  137 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interface for a second person review pop-up window  600  that may be presented to the user in act  406 . Through window  600 , the user may enter information used to facilitate the second person review. Window  600  may include an author name field  602  and an author email field  604 , which may display the name and email address of the author, respectively. Review tool  336  may, by default, insert the name and email address of the user of email program  335  into name field  602  and email field  604 , respectively. In other words, review tool  336  may assume that the person currently logged into client  110 / 134  is the author. If this is not the case, the user may edit fields  602  and  604 , by entering the correct information or selecting the information, via a drop down window that provides additional names and/or email addresses.  
         [0051]     In reviewer name field  606  and reviewer email field  608 , the user may enter the name and email address of the intended reviewer(s). In some implementations, the user may only need to fill in one of fields  606  and  608 . Based on the information in the filled-in field, email review tool  336  may automatically populate the other field. In other implementations, the “reviewer” may actually be an automated review device, such as a network computer dedicated to checking emails for certain format conventions.  
         [0052]     The user may optionally enter a descriptive priority of the email in priority field  610 . Priority field  610  may be editable through a drop-down window in which the user may choose from priority levels such as “routine” (default level), “urgent,” and “low.” 
         [0053]     A comment field  609  may also be included in pop-up window  600 . In comment field  609 , a short message may be entered for the reviewer.  
         [0054]     Pop-up window  600  may additionally include a number of additional command options, such as “skip review option  612 , “return to draft email” option  614 , and “send for review” option  616 . Skip review option  612  may allow the user to, skip the second person review and have the email instead sent as a normal email to the destination address(es) (i.e., the email addressees specified in To field  515  and CC field  520 ). Return to draft email option  614  may cause email review tool  336  to exit and return the user to email interface  500 , where the user can continue to compose the email. Send for review option  616  may cause email review tool  336  to send the email to the reviewer(s) entered in fields  606  and  608 .  
         [0055]     In some implementations, pop-up window  600  may include other options relating to second person review of email. For example, there may be an option to enable the reviewer to send the reviewed email directly to its final addressees if the reviewer does not have any changes. Also, there may be an option to allow the user to input a filing location for a hard copy of the email. Also, there may be an option to allow the user to input a date when the email can be deleted as part of a document retention program. Also, there may be an option to enable the reviewer to send the reviewed email directly to its final addressees, incorporating any changes the reviewer made to the document. Also, there may be an option to enter an identification number, such as a client number, that is associated with the email. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that options relating to second person review, other than those discussed above, may be included and configured through pop-up window  600 .  
         [0056]     Returning to  FIG. 4 , assuming that the user transmits the email to the reviewer, such as by selecting send for review icon  616 , the email may then be sent to the reviewer (act  408 ). The email may be transmitted to the reviewer as a normal email via email server  120 / 137 . In one implementation, email review tool  336  may modify subject field  525  to reflect the fact that a second person review of the email is being requested.  
         [0057]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interface  700  of an “in-box” of email program  335 . As shown, a number of email messages  701 - 703  may be present and ready to be read. Email message  702 , in particular, may be a second person review email. Email review tool  336  may use a standard text identifier, such as “Request for Second Person Review,” to identify the email  702  as a second person review request.  
         [0058]     The reviewer (e.g., the user of in-box  700 ) may select email  702  to review and potentially make changes to email  702  and/or its attachments. In one implementation, the reviewer may select an “edit draft” icon  710  to initiate viewing and editing of email  702 .  
         [0059]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interface presented to a reviewer that is editing an email (e.g., email  702 ). Body  801  of email  702  is displayed to the reviewer in a text editable format. The reviewer may make desired changes to the text in body  801 . Any comments entered in field  609  ( FIG. 6 ) may also be displayed to the reviewer, as shown in field  815 . Additionally, the reviewer may select attachments, such as attachment  802 . In response, the email review tool may run an editing program appropriate for the attachment. For example, if the attachment is a word processing document, clicking on the attachment may cause email review tool  336  to run the corresponding word processing program.  
         [0060]     When the reviewer has finished the review, the reviewer may select review complete option  810  to send the email, including any changes to body  801  or attachment  802 , back to the author. Optionally, email review tool  336  may include fields in which the reviewer can identify additional people to whom the reviewer would like to send the reviewed email.  
         [0061]     Email review tool  336 , in response to selection of review complete icon  810 , may send email  702  back to the author. The reviewed email may be viewable by the author as a normal email. The reviewed email may include distinctive text in the subject line, such as “Completed Second Person Review” that identifies the email as being a returned second person review request.  
         [0062]     The author may select the reviewed email to again initiate email interface  500 , where the author may view and edit the contents of the email, including any changes made by the reviewer. In one implementation, email review tool  336  may present the changes using a distinctive font, such as red text to indicate additions and red strikethough text to indicate deletions. The author may further edit the reviewed email. When the author is done editing, or if the author is satisfied with the changes, the author may accept the changes and then forward the edited email to its intended addressees (i.e., the addressees in fields  515  and  520 ). For example, the author may select send icon  510  and skip review icon  612  to forward the email to the intended addressees.  
         [0063]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical interface  900  of email program  335  consistent with an alternate aspect of the invention. Graphical interface  900  is similar to graphical interface  500 , except that graphical interface  900  additionally includes a “send for review” option  910 . By placing option  910  in the main email composition interface, the user has the opportunity to affirmatively choose to send the email for review at an earlier stage in the email process. Selecting send for review option  910  may present the user with a second person review window such as window  600 . In this implementation, selecting send option  510  may skip the second person review window  600  and immediately send the email to the addressees in fields  515  and  520 .  
         [0064]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical interface  1000  of email program  335  consistent with yet another aspect of the invention. Graphical interface  1000  is similar to graphical interface  900 , except that graphical interface  1000  includes additional information relating to the second person review. For example, a reviewer name field  1006  and comment field  1009 , which function similarly to fields  606  and  609  ( FIG. 6 ), may also be included in graphical interface  1000 . In this manner, the email sender can fill in basic email information as well as the second person review information in a single graphical interface. In this implementation, selecting send for review option  1010  may send the email directly to the reviewer without the need for another window.  
       Email Classifier  
       [0065]     In addition to providing functionality to assist in reviewing emails, such as email review tool  336 , concepts consistent with aspects of the invention may assist users or organizations in archiving and organizing emails.  
         [0066]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a computer-readable medium containing an exemplary email classifier  1110 . Computer-readable memory  230  may include email program  335  and, optionally, email review tool  336 , as previously discussed. Additionally, computer-readable memory may contain email classifier  1110 . Email classifier  1110  may assist in archiving and organizing email messages. More particularly, as described in more detail below, email classifier  1110  may assist in associating email messages with categories. For example, each time an email is created, the email may be associated with one or more categories, such as categories relating to social topics, finance, legal advice, administrative, certain technologies, business categories, etc. Email classifier  1110  may assist in associating the appropriate categories with each created email.  
         [0067]     Email classifier  1110  may be implemented as an “add-on” module to email program  335 , it may be integrated with email program  335 , or it may be implemented as a separate program that monitors the operation of email program  335  and intercepts input/output information flows from email program  335 . The software instructions that define email classifier  1110  may be read into memory  230  from another computer-readable medium, such as data storage device  250 , or from another device via communication interface  280 . Alternatively, custom circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement processes consistent with the invention. Thus, implementations consistent with the principles of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of circuitry and software.  
         [0068]     In one implementation, email classifier  1110  may present a “pop-up” window that asks the user to enter information relating to the appropriate classification for the email. The pop-up window may be presented to the user when the user attempts to send the email. More generally, the pop-up window may be presented to the user whenever a user is interacting with (e.g., reading, sending, or composing) an email message.  
         [0069]      FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interface for a pop-up window  1200  that may be presented by email classifier  1100 . Through pop-up window  1200 , a user may enter appropriate classification categories for the email message. Window  1200  may include a classification drop down menu  1210  and a sub-classification drop down menu  1220 . Via drop down menu  1210 , the user may select the category most appropriate to their email. For example, drop down menu  1210  may include a main field  1212  that includes the currently selected category (“finance”) and a list  1214  of other possible categories. The actual categories from which a user may select may be customizable by the user or an administrator. The currently selected category may be changed by the user by, for example, selecting another category from list  1214 . The newly selected category may then be placed in field  1212 .  
         [0070]     In some implementations, the selection of a particular category may enable the user to further define the category by entering a sub-classification category of the main category. As shown in  FIG. 12 , a sub-classification menu  1220  allows users to select sub-categories relating to a category. The currently selected sub-classification category may be listed in field  1222 . The list of available sub-categories may be dynamically generated based on the category selected in field  1212 . For instance, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the category “finance” is the selected category. The finance category may include a number of possible sub-categories, such as the sub-categories “invoices,” “client billing issues,” “company spending,” and “company investments.” These sub-categories may be placed in sub-classification menu  1220  when the user selects the finance category in the classification menu  1210 .  
         [0071]     When the user has selected the appropriate category, the user may select “done” graphical command button  1230 . The classification categories selected by the user may then be associated with the email message and the email message may be further processed (e.g., transmitted to its destination addresses) as normal. The email and its associated categories may be saved or otherwise archived. For example, in the context of a corporate email server, such as email server  137 , the email server may handle the archiving of emails and their selected categories.  
         [0072]     In some implementations, multiple categories/sub-categories may be associated with a single email. Graphical command button  1240  may be selected by the user when the user wishes to enter another category. Email classifier  11 ′ 0  may respond to this button by storing the currently selected categories and then allowing the user to enter another category.  
         [0073]     In some implementations, email classifier  1110  may attempt to intelligently determine the likely category that the user will select based on either the content of the email, the destination addresses of the email, an attachment added to the email, and/or the user&#39;s past category selections. Email classifier  1110  may then place these selections as the default category in classification menu  1210 . This may save the user time when email classifier  1110  is able to correctly identify the category that is to be associated with the email. In these situations, if the user agrees with the automatically selected category, the user may simply select “done” command button  1230 . If the user does not agree, he may first select the correct category before pressing done button  1230 .  
         [0074]     Email classifier  1110  may use a variety of techniques to intelligently determine the likely category that the user will select. For example, if a certain number of past email messages to a particular address were all classified in one category, email classifier  1110  may initially assume that a new email destined to that address is likely to also be classified in that category. As another example, email classifier  1110  may examine the contents of the unclassified email. If the email contains words or phrases that are usually associated with a particular category, email classifier  1110  may assume that the email is likely to also be classified in that category. As yet another example, email classifier  1110  may compare the contents of a new email to previously classified emails. If the new email is similar to one or more previously sent emails, email classifier  1110  may assume that the new email is likely to be classified in the same category as the previously sent emails. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other techniques could be used to intelligently determine the likely category that the user will select.  
         [0075]      FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical interface  1300  of email program  335  consistent with yet another aspect of the invention. Graphical interface  1300  is similar to graphical interface  1000 , except that the functionality of email classifier  1110  is also integrated into the email interface for composing an email message. As shown, interface  1300  includes graphical elements that allow the user to compose an email message and enter second-person review information. Additionally, interface  1300  includes a classification menu  1310  and a sub-classification menu  1320 . Menus  1310  and  1320  may be used to enter email categories in the manner used with classification menu  1210  and sub-classification menu  1220 .  
         [0076]      FIG. 14  is an exemplary diagram of a system  1400  illustrating email classification consistent with the principles of the invention. System  1400  may include a number of client computing devices  1401 , which may be similar to clients  134  ( FIG. 1 ). Clients  1401  may exchange emails with one another and with other external clients (not shown), such as external clients connected to a wide area network, such as the Internet. Reading, managing, and composing email messages may be performed at clients  1401  using client email software  1405 . Client email software  1405  may include conventional email client functionality as well as the previously discussed functionality of email classifier  1110 .  
         [0077]     System  1400  may additionally include email server  1410  that facilitates the sending and receiving of email messages among clients  1401  or between clients  1401  and other external clients. Email server  1410  may, for instance, collect an email message sent from or received by clients  1401 , including the email category information. The collected email may then be forwarded toward its final destination using an email messaging protocol.  
         [0078]     Email that is sent or received via email server  1410  may be archived in email archive database  1420 . Archive database  1420  may store the email messages along with the categories assigned to the emails. Additional information, such as the sender and receivers of each of the emails may also be stored in database  1420 . In the event that a group of emails needs to be retrieved, such as a group of emails that is required to be produced in a litigation, the categories associated with the emails may be used to assist in the retrieval of the emails. For example, when there is a large number of emails stored in database  1420 , the categories associated with the emails can be used to quickly eliminate many of the emails from the set of possible emails that may need to be produced.  
       Conclusion  
       [0079]     The email classifier described above assists in categorizing emails. Email message categories may be saved with the emails and can then be used to later help in producing or otherwise organizing a large number of email messages.  
         [0080]     It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that aspects of the invention, as described above, may be implemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardware in the implementations illustrated in the figures. The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement aspects consistent with the invention is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the operation and behavior of the aspects were described without reference to the specific software code—it being understood that a person of ordinary skill in the art would be able to design software and control hardware to implement the aspects based on the description herein.  
         [0081]     The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. For example, although email review tool  336  and email classifier  1110  was described as being implemented on client computing devices, the programming logic that defines email review tool  336  and email classifier  1110  may instead be implemented at the email server or at a combination of the email server and client. Additionally, although a number of exemplary graphical user interfaces were illustrated, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these interfaces are exemplary only, and that other interfaces could be used that perform similar or the same functions.  
         [0082]     No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used.  
         [0083]     The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.