Email classifier

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.

1 . A method for facilitating electronic mail (“email”) classification, the method comprising: 
 presenting a graphical object to a user interacting with an email message, the graphical object configured to receive information from the user describing at least one category to which the email relates; and    storing the email message and the at least one category associated with the email message.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user is a sender of the email message.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the graphical object is presented to the user when the email message is sent.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the graphical object is integrated with a window through which the user composes the email message.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information from the user describing the at least one category includes multiple categories input by the user.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information from the user describing the at least one category includes a sub-category of the at least one category.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 automatically identifying a likely category to which the email relates; and    displaying a visual indication of the likely category in the graphical object as a default category.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein storing the email message includes: 
 storing the email message and the at least one category associated with the email message in a database that stores email messages and associated categories from multiple users.    
   
   
       9 . An electronic mail (“email”) classifier comprising: 
 a graphical window presented to an email user when the email user attempts to send an email message to an addressee, the graphical window being configured to 
 present information to the email user describing a plurality of possible categories that may be assigned to the email message, and  
 receive information from the user selecting one of the categories; and  
   a database to store the email message and the selected category.    
   
   
       10 . The email classifier of  claim 9 , wherein the graphical window is presented to the user when the email message is sent.  
   
   
       11 . The email classifier of  claim 10 , wherein the graphical window includes controls for composing the email message.  
   
   
       12 . The email classifier of  claim 9 , wherein the graphical window receives information from the user selecting multiple categories that relate to the email message.  
   
   
       13 . The email classifier of  claim 9 , wherein the information from the user includes a sub-category of the category.  
   
   
       14 . The email classifier of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 automatically identifying a likely category to which the email message relates; and    displaying a visual indication of the likely category in the graphical window as a default category.    
   
   
       15 . A method comprising: 
 presenting a list of categories that are potentially related to an email message to a user;    receiving a selection of one or more of the categories from the user;    associating the selected one or more of the categories with the email message; and    archiving the email message with the selected one or more categories associated with the email message.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the user is a sender of the email message.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the list of categories is presented to the user in response to the email message being sent.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selection of the one or more categories includes multiple categories selected by the user.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selection of the one or more categories includes sub-category information.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 automatically identifying a likely category to which the email message relates; and    presenting the list of categories to the user with the likely category presented as a default category.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein archiving the email message includes: 
 archiving the email message and the selected one or more categories associated with the email message in a database that stores email messages and associated categories from multiple users.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the list of categories is configurable.  
   
   
       23 . A computing device comprising: 
 means for presenting a list of categories that are potentially related to an email message to a user;    means for receiving a selection of one or more of the categories from the user for the email message; and    means for archiving the email message with the categories for the email message.    
   
   
       24 . A computer-readable medium comprising: 
 instructions for presenting a graphical window to a user interacting with an email message, the graphical window configured to receive information from the user describing at least one category to which the email relates; and    storing the email message and the at least one category associated with the email message.