Patent Abstract:
A method for automatically populating fields included in an electronic mail (email) message, the method includes: receiving an email subject input from a composer of the email message; determining whether the received email subject input matches a previously entered subject; wherein the previously entered subject is linked with predefined data and information associated with one or more email message fields; and wherein the one or more email message fields of the email message are automatically populated with the predefined data and information in the event that the received email subject matches the previously entered subject.

Full Description:
TRADEMARKS 
       [0001]    IBM® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of International Business Machines Corporation or other companies. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to computer software, and more particularly to a method and system for streamlining the writing and sending of repetitive electronic mail. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Electronic mail has become a central feature of modern life and users have come to expect to receive electronic mail messages at any time and in virtually any place. For example, during the course of one day of travel, a user may receive electronic mail messages at a home desktop computer in the early morning, an office desktop computer in midmorning, via a cell phone or personal digital assistant in a taxi on the way to the airport, on a laptop computer via a wireless local area network while waiting in the airport lounge, via an in-flight telephone on the airplane, and in a hotel room via a high-speed Internet connection provided by the hotel at the end of the day. 
         [0006]    The ease of use of electronic mail (email) has led to using email for nearly any type of correspondence. Many of these correspondences are repetitive in nature, such as a meeting notification, an absence from work, a doctor&#39;s appointment, “I am running late,” etc. The writing and sending of an email involves the typing in of a subject, one or more recipients, and a message body. The typing of repetitive messages to the same recipients several times a day can become a time consuming and tedious chore. In addition, portable communication and computing devices generally have small keypad areas for entry of email content and recipient information. Therefore there is a need for streamlining the process of writing and sending repetitive emails. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for automatically populating fields included in an electronic mail (email) message, wherein the method includes: receiving an email subject input from a composer of the email message; determining whether the received email subject input matches a previously entered subject; wherein the previously entered subject is linked with predefined data and information associated with one or more email message fields; and wherein the one or more email message fields of the email message are automatically populated with the predefined data and information in the event that the received email subject matches the previously entered subject. 
         [0008]    A system for automatically populating fields in electronic mail (email), the system includes: one or more server devices in communication with one or more client devices through a network; the server devices and the client devices configured to execute electronic software that automatically populates fields in emails; wherein the electronic software is resident on storage mediums in signal communication with the client and server devices; wherein the electronic software comprises a series of algorithms configured for: receiving an email subject; determining whether the received email subject matches a previously entered subject; wherein the previously entered subject is linked with predefined data and information; and wherein if the received email subject matches the previously entered subject, one or more fields of an email are automatically populated with the predefined data and information. 
         [0009]    Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 
       TECHNICAL EFFECTS 
       [0010]    As a result of the summarized invention, a solution is technically achieved for a method and system for streamlining the process of writing and sending repetitive emails. The electronic mail software automates the population of message body and recipient address fields based on the email subject. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate an electronic message that features the automatic population of the message body and recipient address fields according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart for the generation of an email according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a system for implementing embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for streamlining the process of writing and sending repetitive emails. The electronic mail software automates the population of message body and recipient address fields based on the email subject. Embodiments of the invention eliminate the need for users to write or compose the same messages on a redundant and repetitive basis, and thus save the user time and increase their productivity. In addition, embodiments of the invention offer a convenient and efficient solution for sending repetitive emails on handheld portable communication and computing devices that have small input keyboards, keypads, and display screens. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate an embodiment of the invention, wherein a message sender opens a graphical user interface (GUI) email template  100 , and selects a subject from a menu of subject titles, for example from a drop down list box  102 . The subject titles are listed in the list box  102 ′ of  FIG. 1B , when the message sender places a cursor  120  in the area of the list box  102 . In  FIG. 1C , based on the subject selected, the address field  104  is automatically populated with intended recipients added to the To ( 106 ), CC ( 108 ), and BCC ( 110 ), and a corresponding relevant message is generated in the message body section  112 ′ of the email template  100 . The only other operation the message sender is required to execute is to select send  114 , and the email will be sent to the intended recipients. The selectable values in the drop down subject list  102 , and their corresponding values for the address  104  and message body  112  fields may be populated by a self-learning mechanism in an email client program. The message sender is presented with an option, when entering a unique value within the subject box  102 , to register the unique subject value as a new email client profile with a save key  116 . A hot key, such as the update key  118  enables the message sender to update values (recipients, message body) for an existing subject to keep them current. In addition, auto completion or pattern matching of text strings can be utilized during the entry of the subject in the subject line  102 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram detailing the operation of an embodiment of the invention. An email client-learning module  200  establishes a subject list (block  202 ), a recipient list (block  204 ), and records message body content (block  206 ), and correlates and links (block  208 ) the subject list  202  to the recipient list  204  and message body content  208 . Upon receiving a subject entry (block  210 ) the email client software compares the subject entry to the subject list (block  212 ) in the email client-learning module  200 . If the subject entry for the email matches a subject in the subject list (block  214  is Yes), the recipients and message body content associated with the subject entry are obtained from the email client learning module (block  216  and  200 ), and automatically populated into the address field and message body section, respectively thereby automatically generating the email (block  218 ). The email is then sent to the recipients (block  226 ). If the subject entry for the email does not match any subject in the subject list (block  214  is No), the message sender is asked (block  220 ) if they want the email client-learning module  200  to record the entries (block  222 ) for the current email. The email is manually generated (block  224 ), and sent to the recipients (block  226 ). 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary system  300  for streamlining the process of writing and sending repetitive emails according to an embodiment of the invention, and graphically illustrates how these blocks interact in operation. The system  300  includes remote devices including one or more multimedia/communication devices  302  equipped with speakers  316  for implementing the audio, as well as display capabilities  318  for facilitating graphical user interface (GUI) aspects of the present invention. In addition, mobile computing devices  304  and desktop computing devices  305  equipped with displays  314  for use with the GUI of the present invention are also illustrated. The remote devices  302  and  304  may be wirelessly connected to a network  308 . The network  308  may be any type of known network including a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), global network (e.g., Internet), intranet, etc. with data/Internet capabilities as represented by server  306 . Communication aspects of the network are represented by cellular base station  310  and antenna  312 . Each remote device  302  and  304  may be implemented using a general-purpose computer executing a computer program for carrying out the GUI described herein. The computer program may be resident on a storage medium local to the remote devices  302  and  304 , or maybe stored on the server system  306  or cellular base station  310 . The server system  306  may belong to a public service. The remote devices  302  and  304 , and desktop device  305  may be coupled to the server system  306  through multiple networks (e.g., intranet and Internet) so that not all remote devices  302 ,  304 , and desktop device  305  are coupled to the server system  306  via the same network. The remote devices  302 ,  304 , desktop device  305 , and the server system  306  may be connected to the network  308  in a wireless fashion, and network  308  may be a wireless network. In a preferred embodiment, the network  308  is a LAN and each remote device  302 ,  304  and desktop device  305  executes a user interface application (e.g., web browser) to contact the server system  306  through the network  308 . Alternatively, the remote devices  302  and  304  may be implemented using a device programmed primarily for accessing network  308  such as a remote client. 
         [0020]    The capabilities of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof. 
         [0021]    As one example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately. 
         [0022]    Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided. 
         [0023]    The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
         [0024]    While the preferred embodiments to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6