System and method for one touch e-mail reply

Abstract

The present invention relates to a simplified electronic message response, such as an electronic mail (e-mail) response. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a sender may send an electronic message, such as an e-mail, that includes a main message and one or more options. The receiver may select any of the options, for example, by pressing a number on a remote control that corresponds to an option. Once an option has been selected, information related to the selected option, such as text explaining the selected option to the user, may be presented. The user can then indicate a desire to transmit the selected option. A reply e-mail is automatically generated and sent to the original sender, such as the advertiser.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . A method for responding to an e-mail message addressed to a user, the method comprising: 
 receiving the e-mail message;    determining whether said message includes an indication that said message corresponds to a predetermined e-mail message type;    in response to determining said message does correspond to said predetermined type: 
 formatting and presenting said message according to a first format, wherein said first format includes a main message and at least one selectable option, said option being received in said received e-mail message;  
 presenting information related to the option in response to detecting said option is selected; and  
 determining whether a reply message identifying the selected option is to be transmitted.  
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said predetermined type is a one-touch email type.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electronic message is received via an interactive television system.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one option is selected by using a television remote control device.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the reply message is automatically generated and sent responsive to a single indication received from a user.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the reply message is sent to the original sender of the received electronic message.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining whether a second option has been selected if it is determined that the reply message identifying the selected option is not to be transmitted.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the second option is selected by selecting a key on a remote control device, wherein the key corresponds to the second option.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the received message corresponds to an advertisement for a product or service, and wherein said reply message indicates an interest in the product or service by the user.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the selected option is identified in a header of the reply message.  
     
     
         30 . A method for sending an e-mail message comprising: 
 creating an e-mail message, said message including: 
 an indication said e-mail message corresponds to a predetermined e-mail message type of a plurality of e-mail message types;  
 a main message;  
 at least one selectable option; and  
 information related to the option, wherein the information is to be presented after the option has been presented and selected; and  
   transmitting the e-mail message.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined type is a one-touch email type.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the electronic message is transmitted via an interactive television system.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one option is to be selected by using a television remote control device.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one option is to be identified in an automatically generated reply message if the at least one option is selected.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the selected option is identified in a header of the reply message if the selected option is to be transmitted.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the main message corresponds to an advertisement for a product or service, and wherein said option is selectable by a user to indicate at least an interest in said product or service.  
     
     
         37 . A system for responding to an electronic message addressed to a user, the system comprising: 
 a processor configured to: 
 detect a received e-mail message;  
 determine whether said e-mail message includes an indication that said e-mail message corresponds to a predetermined e-mail message type; 
 in response to determining said e-mail message does correspond to said predetermined type: 
 format and present said e-mail message according to a first format, wherein said first format includes a main message and at least one selectable option;  
 present information related to the option in response to detecting said option is selected; and  
 determine whether a reply message identifying the selected option is to be transmitted; and  
 a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide instructions to the processor.  
 
 
   
     
     
         38 . A computer program product for responding to an electronic message, said product comprising a computer readable medium including program instructions executable to: 
 detect a received e-mail message;    determine whether said e-mail message includes an indication that said e-mail message corresponds to a predetermined e-mail message type; 
 in response to determining said e-mail message does correspond to said predetermined type:  
 format and present said e-mail message according to a first format, wherein said first format includes a main message and at least one selectable option; 
 present information related to the option in response to detecting said option is selected; and  
 determine whether a reply message identifying the selected option is to be transmitted.  
 
   
     
     
         39 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of CD-ROM, floppy disk, tape, flash memory, system memory, hard drive, and data signal embodied in a carrier wave.