Field of the Invention The present invention is directed towards a computer graphical user interface and, more particularly, to a computer graphical user interface operable with an interactive auto-hideable tray for performing mail functions on software notes across various E-mail systems.

Background of the Invention Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are common place in user/computer communication. Some examples of GUIs are Microsoft Windows and Apple MacIntoshB. In these GUIs, icons represent software applications or other computer functionality. The principal aim of a GUI is to allow a human user to easily manipulate the computer to perform desired tasks. Although the use of icons to represent software applications is widely accepted and was a significant advance over older interfaces, such as MS DOSS, it is apparent that many novice or casual users of computers are still intimidated by the computer. It has been found that computer users desire computer GUIs that minimize the number of steps in executing a function and that minimize analysis to determine the functionality available.

With the advent of object linking and embedding (OLE 2.ohm), GUIs have the potential to be more complex. OLE 2.OTM is a programming tool from Microsoft, Inc. that defines a standard model for creating software objects and also for communicating between software objects. OLE 2.OTM allows a user to drag an object from one application (server) and drop it into another application (OLE container).

One example of a GUl designed with the OLE technology is the Post-it(Ky Note software application from 3M Corp. With software Post-it Notes, a user can drag a Post-it Note from the computer desktop, such as the computer desktop of Windows 95 or Windows NT, and drop it into an OLE-enabled program, such as Microsoft Word designed for Windows 95 or Windows NT. For more information on OLE 2.OTM, the reader is invited to refer to Inside OLE 2.0tom, Microsoft Press (1994).

Post-it Notes are useful computer desktop tools that provide similar functionality to 3M's paper version of Post-it Notes. As described above, a software Post-it Note can be placed anywhere on the computer desktop, within any OLE- compatible document on one's desktop or may be mailed to a specified E-mail location. The software Post-It Notes are effective tools for placing reminders to oneself either on the desktop or within specific documents.

However, the current E-mailing user interface (UI) of the Post-It Note software lacks user-friendly qualities that would make this product an effective tool.

The present UI is not directly associated with the Post-it Note in a visual sense and the sending of a Post-it Note is only possible with mail systems on the receiving end that are similar to the mail system of the sender.

One well known method of handling E-mail messages between various platforms is the message application programming interface (MAPI). These MAPI systems provide mail interaction with various heterogeneous recipient E-mail systems. However, present UI extensions to MAPI do not simplify the concepts of the communications to the user. Most often, the UI extensions to MAPI present "standard" Windows 95 or NT text based dialogues with their own additional level of complexity. For example, in one UI extension to MAPI, a visually complex and confusing address book requires the an experienced user to effectively use the address book. In sum, the present Uls are complex and confusing because the user is part of the decision process of determining format conversion of the note and message.

The present invention is directed to overcoming the foregoing and other disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, the present invention is directed to providing a method, apparatus and article of manufacture suitable for providing an improved graphical user interface for mailing notes based on notes-type software technology to recipients with differing types of E-mail systems.

Summarv of the Invention A method for E-mailing notes to recipients of various E-mail systems is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: displaying the note; entering a message into said note; selecting the send command of the note; creating a copy of the displayed note; displaying a mail UI attached to the created copy of the note; assigning at least one destination address to the note; sending the note and any attached files to at least one destination address; and translating the note to the format of the E-mail system assigned to the at least one destination address.

Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of a personal computer that is capable of implementing the graphical user interface employing the present invention; FIGURE 2A is a block diagram illustrating the level of functionality and interaction employed during E-mailing of notes using the present invention; FIGURE 2B is a screen shot of the graphical user interface of the present invention; FIGURE 2C is block diagram illustrating the levels of connection between the E-mail UI and the note; FIGURES 3-9 are flow diagrams that illustrate the functionality of the present invention; FIGURES 1 OA-1 OH are screen shots that illustrate the send note L-shaped user interface of the present invention at different stages of operation; FIGURES llA-llE are screen shots of the received note L-shaped user interface of the present invention during different stages of operation; and FIGURES 12A-12B are screen shots ofthe tray ofthe present invention.

Detalled Description of the Preferred Embodiment FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of the type of computer system that uses the graphical user interfaces (GUIs) of the present invention. This system operates in a windows-type operating system environment and typically includes a PC or host computer 12 with a CPU and memory, a display device 10 and user interaction devices, keyboard 14 and mouse 16. In a preferred embodiment, the CPU of the host computer 12 is an IBM compatible or Apple personal computer that can run a variety of application software, such as ExcelTM, Microsoft WordTM, or Rumba OfficeTM. In the preferred embodiment, the windows-type environment is compatible with object linking and embedding (OLE) type software, for example, Windows 95 or NT. The user interacts with the GUI displayed on the display device 10 through the keyboard 14 or mouse 16.

The present invention is a user interface (UI) that operates with a note software for the delivery and receipt of electronic notes, such as Post-it Notes, across various E-mail systems, such as Microsoft Exchange, Lotus CC:Mail, Internee Mail, etc. The present invention automatically adjusts outgoing electronic notes to match the recipient's E-mail application. Also, if the recipient does not have compatible notes-type software, the message in the received note appears as a standard E-mail, if the message was sent alone, or as a special kind of footnote, if the note was located within a document. In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a auto-hideable tray is disclosed that provides access to file folders of various differing E-mail systems connected to the user through a message application programming interface (MAPI). The file folders are displayed as icons in the auto- hideable tray. The auto-hideable tray is shown and described in more detail below in FIGURES 12A-12B.

FIGURE 2A illustrates a note system 17 formed in accordance with the present invention which includes a send and receive note UI 18 (Rumba Mail featuring 3M's Post-It Software Notes GUI) and a MAPI system 19. The send and receive note Uni 18 includes send and receive inverted L-shaped UIs, respectively, and an OLE-type container, described below in more detail with FIGURES 3-5. The inverted L-shaped UIs and the auto-hideable tray hide all the networking and multiple communication system complexities from the user. An example of networking and multiple communication system complexities are E-mail address lists requiring various formatting options, and various log-on sequences.

The MAPI system 19, such as Rumba Mail MAPI system or Microsoft's multiple mail system, translates E-mail communication between the host computer 12 and various differing recipient E-mail systems 26. The inverted L-shaped Uls communicate with the MAPI system 19 through a MAPI client application program interface (API) 21. Also, the note system 17 includes a communication layer at the MAPI system, referred to as the MAPI service provider API 22, and PC transports, such as host mail 23, LAN 24 mail, and X.400 Mail 25.

The MAPI service provider APT 22 and PC transports provide communication between the MAPI system 19 and the recipient's E-mail system 26 (Message Transfer Agents (MTA), such as PROFS, OV/VM, OV/400, cc:Mail, MS Mail, X.400, etc.).

The transports provide different post office communication protocol support.

Generally, present UI extensions to a MAPI system 19 do not simplify the concepts of communications to the user. Most often, current UI extensions to the MAPI system 19 present "standard" Windows 95 or NT text based dialogues with their own additional level of complexity. Present UI extensions are complex and confusing because the user is part of the decision process of determining format conversion of the note and message.

The send and receive note UIs 18 and the auto-hideable tray of the present invention are an improved extension to the MAPI system 19 that provide a more user friendly interface, as described below with FIGURES 3-12.

FIGURE 2B is a screen shot of a send note UI 28 designed in accordance with the features of the present invention. The send note UI 28 includes a send inverted L-shaped UI 30 with a note 31, such as the Post-It Note shown, located and attached to the inverted L-shaped Uni 30 at the concave corner of the inverted L-shaped Uni 30. The inverted L-shaped UI 30 includes buttons and windows for executing various mail functions and displaying various mail information. The analog to the send note UI 28 is a receive note UI that is located at the recipient computer. A receive note UI with a receive note inverted L-shaped UI is described in more detail below with FIGURES 1 1A-1 lE.

As shown in FIGURE 2C, the note 31 (also referred to as a note object 29) is contained within an OLE-type container 44 that is sized relative to the size of the note 31. The OLE-type container 44 is placed within a note pop-up window 45. The note pop-up window 45 is automatically retrieved when a mail panel window 45 is retrieved. The note pop-up window 45 is owned by the mail panel window 44.

Therefore, when the mail panel window 44 is moved on the computer desktop or

placed on top of other existing windows on the computer desktop the pop-up window 45 always appears with the mail panel window 44. The mail panel window 44 is retrieved when displaying the send or receive inverted L-shaped Ul.

The following are the steps for presenting the display of a specific example of the preferred embodiment: 1. Create the L-shaped panel window; 2. Create the pop-up window, owned by the L-shaped panel window; 3. Create a standard OLE container, make it a child window of the pop-up window, remove its decorations; 4. Create the Post-it Note object and embed it in a dummy document of the OLE container; 5. Activate the Post-it Note object, use the Post-it Note object's size to decide the size of the OLE container and the size of the pop-up window, position the Post-it Note object and the OLE container so the pop-up window looks exactly the same as the note itself; and 6. Position the pop-up window to the inner comer of the L- shaped panel window.

The note UI 28 occupies an area on the computer desktop. The L-shaped Ul 30 occupies the left and top portion of the note UI area with a width large enough for the display of icons and field windows. A note 31 is displayed under the top portion and adjacent the left portion of the inverted L-shaped UI 30. It can be appreciated to one of ordinary skill in the art that the Ul 30 can be of various shapes displayed at various locations around a note.

Returning to FIGURE 2B, the send inverted L-shaped UI 30 includes TO: and CC: field areas (go to address book buttons 33 and 34), a send button 43, a save button 41, a check names button 42, and a print button 32 located on the top portion, and a note view button 35, an address book view button 36, an attachment button 37, a help button 39, a cancel button 40 and an advanced options button 38 located on the left portion. A user selects the input buttons by activating the cursor using the interaction devices. Selecting the send button 43 passes the attached note and message to the MAPI system for format translation and delivery to the recipient's E- mail system. If the user selects the save button 41, the attached note is saved to a user defined location. Selection of the check names button 42 allows the user to double check the accuracy of the names entered in the TO: and CC: fields. The print

button 32 sends the attached note to the printer connected to the host computer for printing. Selecting the note view button 35 displays the note in the pop-up window 45. If the user selects the address book view button 36, prestored address books are viewable in the note pop-up window area. The attachment button 37 displays a window in the note pop-up window area containing a list of documents attached to the attached note. The help button 39 accesses help files relating to operation of the note UI; and the cancel button 40 exits the note mailing operation.

FIGURES 3-9 illustrate the step-by-step processing performed when the inverted L-shaped Uls are used. As shown in FIGURE 3, the first step at block 46 begins with the user selecting a note for display and the CPU displaying a note on the computer desktop. Displaying a note on the user's computer desktop can be performed in a number of ways. One way is to activate a note dispenser, such as a Post-it Note dispenser, which is displayed on the computer desktop or in a file, or by selecting a notes display command located at a predefined position on the computer desktop or within a file or window on the computer desktop. The first step in block 46 may be bypassed by selecting a dispense note tab, described and shown below with FIGURE 12A. The displayed note includes a title bar area at the top of the note and a text area below the title bar. The note system allows the user to input a text message into the text area of the displayed note at any time simply by placing the cursor in the text area of the displayed note.

In order for the user to send the note to a desired recipient, at block 48 the user selects the send note command which is ustially located in a pull-down menu accessed through an icon on the title bar of the note. At block 50, an inverted L-shaped UI is displayed around a copy of the selected note. This step is described in more detail with FIGURE 5. The displayed inverted L-shaped UI includes functions in a similar manner to standard mail UIs.

At block 52 if the user knows the address of the recipient, the user can directly enter the E-mail address into the TO: and/or CC: field on the inverted L-shaped UI. At block 54, if the user does not know the desired address of the recipient of the note, the user selects an address icon located on the inverted L-shaped UI. Selecting the address icon presents prestored recipient address lists from which the user can select a recipient. Selection of a name or names from the prestored list of E-mail addresses enters the selected name into either the TO: or CC: field of the inverted L-shaped UI. The description above is shown and described in more detail below with FIGURES 10A-10H.

As shown in FIGURE 4, at block 56 the user determines if attachments are to be sent with the note. At block 58, the user selects the attachment button for attaching file(s) to the note by displaying an attachment clipboard next to the inverted L-shaped Ul on top of the note, at block 60. At block 62, the user enters a file(s) into the clipboard for E-mailing with the note. The clipboard acts as an OLE-type container which allow OLE enabled objects that identify documents of various applications to be dragged and dropped into and out of the clipboard. This is described and shown in more detail below with the example in FIGURES 10F and 10G. After the user has determined which attachments to send with the note, at block 64 the user determines which if any options are to be set for the sending of the note. If options are to be set, at block 66 the user selects the desired options, described in more detail below with the example of FIGURE lOH. Once the options are set or the user has accepted the default options, at block 68 the user activates the send command. At block 70, the note is sent through Rumba Mail for processing to the selected destinations according to the selected options.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the steps performed during the display of the inverted L-shaped UI and the associated note. After the user has selected send note command at block 48, at block 72 a mail UI is created which includes an inverted L-shaped UI and an OLE-type container located at the concave inner corner of the inverted L-shaped UI. At block 74, the system software makes a copy of the note, to be sent, displayed on the computer desktop. At block 76, the copy of the note is placed within the container of the mail UI. The note contained within the container remains active while the note UI is displayed. This allows the user to interact with the note contained in the container without having to deselect the note UI and reactivate the note. The relationships are described with FIGURE 2C above.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the steps performed when a host computer receives a note through E-mail. First, at block 86 the system receives a note from a sender through the MAPI system. At block 88, the system displays a receive note UI that includes a receive inverted L-shaped UI displayed around the received note with the message in the note sent by the sender. The steps performed in the display at block 88 is described in more detail by FIGURE 5. At block 90, the user determines if the user wishes to save the received note by placing it on the user's computer desktop. If not, the receive process is done. If the user desires to place the received note on the computer desktop, at block 92 the user drags and drops the received note

from the receive note UI onto the computer desktop. This is described and shown in more detail below with the example in FIGURES 11 A-1 1 C.

As shown in FIGURE 7, at block 94, if the received inverted L-shaped UI indicates that file(s) accompany the received note, at block 96 the user can activate the attachment button for displaying a clipboard that lists all the attachments to the note, at block 98. The user can initiate attached files directly from the clipboard or at block 100. If the user wishes to save the attachments listed in the clipboard, the user can drag and drop the listed file name onto the computer desktop for placing it on the computer desktop, described and shown in more detail below with the example of FIGURE l l D. The receive inverted L-shaped UI also has other options for saving attached files, also described in more detail below with the example of FIGURE 11 D.

FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate steps in initiating send note UIs from an auto- hideable tray. The auto-hideable tray is a uniquely created desktop that is created using the auto-hideable programming techniques similar to that used for windows in Windows 95 or NT. The auto-hideable tray is described in more detail below with the example in FIGURES 12A-12B. FIGURE 8 illustrates send note UI activation upon selection of a dispense note tab or button located on an activated tray. First, at block 110 the tray is activated. Preferably the tray stays hidden at an unused edge of the computer desktop. When the user moves the cursor to the edge of the computer desktop where the tray is hidden, the tray appears over the computer desktop. The tray disappears if the user moves the cursor off of the area occupied by the tray. The tray may also be detached from the borders, thereby occupying an area on the computer desktop.

Then, at block 112 the user activates the dispense note tab, which displays a send inverted L-shaped UI and a blank note, at block 114. At block 116, the user enters desired text into the note and then performs the steps shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the steps performed when a send note UI is activated by activating names within a mail address list in the tray. First, the user activates a tray at block 118. At block 120, the user opens a list of names that have associated E-mail addresses. At block 122, the user then activates a name in the opened list for displaying a blank note and a send inverted L-shaped UI with the name that was activated displayed in the TO: field, at block 124. The processing steps then are the same as FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 1 OA-1 OH are screen shots that show an example of the preferred embodiment. As shown in FIGURE 10A, a software Post-it Note is displayed at

approximately the center of the computer desktop. The Post-it Note software tool by 3M is used here as an example of a note the present invention improves upon. A note 142 can mark a spot in a memo or document or it can be used alone, as shown in FIGURE 3. As shown in FIGURE 10B, an icon 145 in the title bar 144 area of the note has been activated, thus displaying a menu 146 with various commands for performing multiple commands upon the note, such as set an alarm, print the note, trash the note, etc.

In the example of FIGURE lOB, the user has selected the send note command 147 with one of the input devices. As shown in FIGURE 10C, selection of the send note command 147 activates the send note UI 28. The send note UI 28 includes a send inverted L-shaped UI 30 with a copy of the note displayed within the open concave area of the inverted L-shaped UI 30.

As shown in FIGURE 10D, the user has selected the address button 36 for activating an address window 149 that displays a list of prestored E-mail addresses.

The user browses through the address window 149, and locates and selects desired E-mail addresses for entry into either the TO: or CC: field blocks of the inverted L-shaped UI 30. The user identifies whether the address selected is for the TO: or CC: field by selecting a TO: or CC: identifier 150 and 152 on the border of the address window 149 while the desired E-mail address is highlighted within the address window 149. As shown in FIGURE 10E, the user has selected the E-mail recipient "pitt".

As shown in FIGURE 1 OF, the attachment button 37 was selected by the user, thereby displaying a clipboard window 156 over the note 31. As shown on FIGURE 10G, the user then enters files to be attached to the note 31 during sending.

Files are entered into the attachment window 156 by either dragging and dropping a file that is either listed in a file list outside the note UI 28 or displayed on the computer desktop 140 or by using a file browser, not shown. As shown in FIGURE 10H, the user has selected the advanced options button 38 for displaying the hideable drawer 158 that includes request receipt of delivery buttons 160 and 162 and a set priority button 164. The request receipt of delivery buttons 160 and 162 prompt the recipient to return a notification that the sent note was received. The set priority button 164 allows the user to set the delivery priority of the E-mail at either high or low priority.

FIGURES llA-llE are screen shots of the receive note Uni 165 which includes the receive inverted L-shaped UI 166 and a received note 168. As shown in

FIGURE 1 lA, the position, shape, and many of the buttons of the receive inverted L-shaped UI 166 are similar to that of the send inverted L-shaped UI 30 described above. The received inverted L-shaped UI 166 does not include a TO: or CC: field, but does include a From: window 169 on the horizontal portion of the inverted L-shaped UI 166. Also, the receive inverted L-shaped Uni 166 includes print 170, save 171, delete note 172, reply to sender 174, reply to sender and request receipt 176, and forward to other recipient(s) 178 buttons located on the top portion.

FIGURES 11 B and 11 C illustrate the copying of a received note 168 within the receive note UI 165 onto the computer desktop 140. The user activates the cursor within the title bar 144 of the note 168 displayed within the receive note UI 165 and drags the cursor to an area of the computer desktop 140 or an area within a displayed document that is outside the area of the receive note UI 165. As shown in FIGURE 11 C, the user then deactivates the cursor and a copy 182 of the sent note is displayed on the computer desktop. The outline figure 180 shown in FIGURE 11 B illustrates the outline of the created note and is not actually shown during the step of dragging the note onto the computer desktop.

As shown in FIGURE 11 D, the user has activated the attachments button 186 located in order to display an attachment clipboard 184 that includes a list of the files sent with the received note 168. Displayed on the computer desktop 140 is a file 188 which was sent with the received note 168 and was placed on the computer desktop 140 by the user activating the cursor on the same-named file within the attachments clipboard 184 and dragging it onto the computer desktop 140 outside the area of the attachments clipboard 184 and of the receive note UI 165.

As shown in FIGURE 11 E, the user has selected the details button 190.

Selection of the details button 190 displays a history window 192 that lists who received the E-mailed note 168, who the E-mailed note 168 was from and the subject of the E-mailed note 168.

FIGURES 12A-12B illustrate screen shot examples of the auto-hideable tray 200 that includes a hierarchical folder area 202, a message and address view area 204, and a border with various buttons. Current UI extensions to the MAPI system 19 present "standard" Windows 95 or NT text based dialogues with their own additional level of complexity. Present UI extensions are complex and confusing because the user is part of the decision process of determining format conversion of the note and message. The auto-hideable tray 200 is an active window that greatly

simplifies the users interaction with folders from various differing E-mail systems connected to the user's computer 12 through the MAPI system.

In order to increase accessibility and save space, the auto-hideable tray 200 is preferably hidden from view when not in use. The auto-hideable tray 200 is assigned a non-assigned edge of the computer desktop 140 and is accessed for display on the computer desktop by dragging the cursor to the assigned edge of the computer desktop. The auto-hideable tray 200 automatically retracts and disappears into the assigned display edge when the cursor is moved off of the displayed auto- hideable tray 200, see FIGURE 12B.

As shown in FIGURE 12A, the hierarchical folder area 202 is displayed on the left side of the auto-hideable tray 200 and the message and address view area 204 is displayed to the right of the hierarchical folder area 202. To the right of the message and address view area 204 is a widened border of the auto-hideable tray 200 that includes a check for new mail button 210, an options button 212, a help button 214 and an exit button 216. Attached to the bottom of the auto-hideable tray 200 is a tray pull-down tab 205 and a dispense note tab 206. Left of the hierarchical folder area 202 is a border including a right mouse click button 208. It can be appreciated to one of ordinary skill in the art that the positions of the various objects within the auto-hideable tray 200 may vary without changing the functionality of the auto-hideable tray 200 or the objects.

The user may create and save various types of files in the hierarchical folder area 202. As shown in FIGURE 12A, the hierarchical folder area 202 includes an address books folder and message store folders with a received mail folder, an outgoing mail folder and a copies of sent mail folder. The hierarchical folder area 202 can contain numerous file messages from various connected E-mail systems.

The message and address view area 204 displays the objects (mail, address, etc.) included in the folder selected in the hierarchical folder area 202. Thus, the auto- hideable tray 200 provides one central place for viewing and accessing E-mails and addresses from various E-mail system sources connected through the MAPI system.

Six E-mail messages are displayed in the message and address view area 204 of the example of FIGURE 12A. The six E-mail messages are displayed with received from, subject, received date and time, and attachment information. The bottom five messages are regular E-mail messages that may be from different E-mail system sources connected through the MAPI system, as indicated by the envelope icon to the far left of the window. However, the top E-mail is a Post-it Note message

as indicated by the note icon to the left of the message information. If the user activates the top message by double clicking it or moving the message to the computer desktop 140 by using a drag/drop operation, a Post-it Note with the included message is displayed.

If an address book file folder is opened within the auto-hideable tray 200, names from different E-mail system sources connected through the MAPI system that are stored in the opened address book file folder are displayed in the message and address view area 204. The user can automatically retrieve a send note UI 28 by activating a displayed name. The send note UI 28 is activated by double clicking it or moving the message to the computer desktop 140. The automatically retrieved send note UI 28 is displayed on the computer desktop 140 with the activated name displayed in the TO: field of the send inverted L-shaped UI 30. Another method of automatically retrieving the send note Uni 28 is to activate the cursor on the dispense note tab 206.

The auto-hideable tray 200 may be dislodged from its assigned display edge by activating the cursor on the tray pull-down tab 205, dragging the cursor a predefined distance and releasing the cursor. If the dragged cursor moves the predefined distance, the tray pull-down tab 205 and the auto-hideable tray 200 move as one away from the assigned display edge.

Right mouse click button 208 allows the user perform functions associated with right mouse clicks in a Window 95 environment. If the user left mouse clicks on button 208, the functions associated with right mouse clicks in a Window 95 environment are performed on the highlighted or identified icon/item within the auto- hideable tray 200.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.