Patent ID: 7082477

Claim:
A method for virtual application of features to electronic messages, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: receiving, at a first device, an electronic message that is associated with one or more features that are to be applied to the electronic message; while applying the one or more features to the electronic message, identifying a particular feature of the one or more features that is associated with a group of one or more operations that modify at least a portion of the electronic message; while virtually applying the particular feature, associating data with the electronic message, wherein the data indicates that the group of one or more operations has been performed, although the group of one or more operations actually has not been performed; after associating the data with the electronic message, applying at least one feature of the one or more features other than the particular feature as if the group of one or more operations has been performed, even though the group of one or more operations actually has not been performed; after applying the at least one feature of the one or more features, determining whether the data is associated with the electronic message; when the data is determined to be associated with the electronic message, sending the portion of the electronic message to a second device to perform the group of one or more operations, thereby generating a modified portion of the electronic message based on the portion of the electronic message; receiving from the second device the modified portion of the electronic message; and based on the modified portion of the electronic message, generating a modified electronic message.