Method and apparatus for providing a view of an electronic mail message

摘要

A method, an article of manufacture and apparatus for providing a historical view or map window of an electronic mail (e-mail) message having a chain of component sections or messages therein. Specifically, the method displays a historical view with a list of identifiers. Each identifier in the view is associated with a particular component section or message in the e-mail message. As such, a recipient of the e-mail message can access a particular component message by clicking or activating its associated identifier. The recipient can also flag or determine the important component messages or sections that are highlighted on the display. Additionally, the recipient can select which component messages to include or mark as important in a subsequent reply or forward message.