Patent ID: 8255472

Claim:
A method of tracking an electronic mail message, comprising: providing a window of a graphical user interface that allows a sender to compose an electronic mail message; while the sender is composing the electronic mail message, providing an option to flag the electronic mail message to provide a notification that is only for the sender; receiving selection of the option to flag by the sender, including sender flag data in a flag storage location of the electronic mail message, wherein the electronic mail message comprises a primary flag storage location that transfers with the message when the message is sent, a secondary flag storage location that does not transfer with the message when the message is sent, and a to-do state that is initially set to inactive, wherein including the sender flag data comprises storing the sender flag data in the secondary flag storage location of the electronic mail message; sending the electronic mail message; after the electronic mail message has been sent, moving the sender flag data from the secondary flag location of a stored copy of the electronic mail message to the primary flag location of the stored copy of the electronic mail message; and after the electronic mail message has been sent, changing the to-do state to active thereby surfacing an item corresponding to the electronic mail message into a to-do bar of the graphical user interface.