System and method for sending and receiving electronic messages using graphic directional indicators

Abstract

A system and method for sending and receiving electronic messages, e.g., emails, allows a user to simply draw a graphic directional indicator, e.g., an arrow, in a computer operating environment to send emails. Depending on the drawn graphic directional indicator, the entire computer operating environment or selected graphic objects in the computer operating environment can be transmitted as an electronic message.

1 . A method for sending and receiving electronic messages, said method comprising: 
 displaying a graphic representation of a destination on a display device to deliver an electronic message;    drawing a graphic directional indicator to said graphic representation on said display device; and    performing a function associated with said graphic directional indicator in response to a user input to send at least one graphic element displayed on said display device to said destination as part of said electronic message.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said drawing of said graphic directional indicator includes drawing an arrow to said graphic representation on said display device.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said displaying of said graphic representation includes displaying a network address.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said displaying of said graphic representation includes displaying a graphic object that comprises at least one network address.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said drawing of said graphic directional indicator includes drawing said graphic directional indicator that intersects at least one graphic object displayed on said display device.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said performing of said function includes saving said graphic element to send as part of said electronic message.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said graphic element is a graphic object in a computer operating environment.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said performing of said function includes saving a system state of a computer operating environment in which said graphic directional indicator was drawn to send as part of said electronic message.  
   
   
       9 . A storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform method steps for sending and receiving electronic message, said method steps comprising: 
 displaying a graphic representation of a destination on a display device to deliver an electronic message;    drawing a graphic directional indicator to said graphic representation on said display device; and    performing a function associated with said graphic directional indicator in response to a user input to send at least one graphic element displayed on said display device to said destination as part of said electronic message.    
   
   
       10 . The storage medium of  claim 9  wherein said drawing of said graphic directional indicator includes drawing an arrow to said graphic representation on said display device.  
   
   
       11 . The storage medium of  claim 9  wherein said displaying of said graphic representation includes displaying a network address.  
   
   
       12 . The storage medium of  claim 9  wherein said displaying of said graphic representation includes displaying a graphic object that comprises at least one network address.  
   
   
       13 . The storage medium of  claim 9  wherein said drawing of said graphic directional indicator includes drawing said graphic directional indicator that intersects at least one graphic object displayed on said display device.  
   
   
       14 . The storage medium of  claim 9  wherein said performing of said function includes saving said graphic element to send as part of said electronic message.  
   
   
       15 . The storage medium of  claim 14  wherein said graphic element is a graphic object in a computer operating environment.  
   
   
       16 . The storage medium of  claim 10  wherein said performing of said function includes saving a system state of a computer operating environment in which said graphic directional indicator was drawn to send as part of said electronic message.  
   
   
       17 . A system for sending and receiving electronic messages, said system comprising: 
 a display device that can display a graphic representation of a destination of an electronic message, a graphic directional indicator and a graphic element;    a module configured to send said graphic element as part of said electronic message when said graphic directional indicator is drawn on said display device to said graphic representation and a function associated with said graphic directional indicator is activated; and    a network interface connected to a computer network, said network interface being configured to transmit said electronic message to said destination through said computer network.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said graphic directional indicator includes an arrow to said graphic representation.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said graphic representation includes a network address.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said graphic representation comprises a graphic object that includes at least one network address.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said graphic directional indicator is drawn to intersect at least one graphic object displayed on said display device.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said module is configured to save said graphic element to send as part of said electronic message.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said graphic element is a graphic object in a computer operating environment.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said module is configured to save a system state of a computer operating environment in which said graphic directional indicator was drawn to send as part of said electronic message.