Systems and methods for throttling display of electronic messages

• US 10,021,053 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharp, Phillip, Pollock, Xander, Bolohan, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US14/829,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20150358269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A method throttles display of electronic messages. The process displays a list of entries in an email application. The list of entries includes a first electronic message, a first message cluster, and a second message cluster. The process detects the occurrence of a cluster display trigger event for the first message cluster. The trigger event is one of: detection of passage of a predetermined amount of time since refreshing display of the first message cluster, an occurrence of a particular time of day, an occurrence of a predetermined date, or receipt by the first message cluster of a predefined number of new electronic messages since previously refreshing the display of the list. In response to the detected trigger event, the process refreshes the display of the list of entries, including re-ranking the first message cluster within the list of entries. This changes the relative position of the first message cluster.

Claims

1. A method of refreshing display of electronic messages, comprising:

at a computing device having one or more processors, a display, and memory storing one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors;

displaying a list of entries in an email application, wherein the list of entries comprises a first electronic message, a first cluster graphic, and a second cluster graphic, wherein;

the first cluster graphic represents a first message cluster having a first plurality of electronic messages distinct from the first electronic message;

the second cluster graphic represents a second message cluster having a second plurality of electronic messages distinct from the first electronic message and distinct from the first plurality of electronic messages; and

the first cluster graphic is distinct from the second cluster graphic;

detecting occurrence of a cluster display trigger event for the first message cluster, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises one or more of;

detection of passage of a predetermined amount of time since refreshing display of the list of entries;

an occurrence of a particular time of day;

an occurrence of a predetermined date; and

receipt by the first message cluster of a predefined number, greater than one, of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the list of entries; and

in response to the detected cluster display trigger event and without user interaction;

re-ranking the list of entries; and

refreshing the display according to the re-ranking, thereby changing position of the first cluster graphic relative to the first electronic message and changing position of the first cluster graphic relative to the second cluster graphic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises receipt by the first message cluster of at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the list of entries and occurrence of a particular time of day.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises receipt by the first message cluster of at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the list of entries and passage of a predetermined amount of time since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises receipt by the first message cluster of the predefined number of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the list of entries, wherein at least one of the new electronic messages is identified as having high priority.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cluster display trigger event is detection of passage of a predetermined amount of time since refreshing display of the list of entries.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cluster display trigger event is occurrence of a particular time of day.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cluster display trigger event is occurrence of a predetermined date.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cluster display trigger event is receipt by the first message cluster of a predefined number, greater than one, of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the list of entries.

9. A computer system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a display;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a list of entries in an email application, wherein the list of entries comprises a first electronic message, a first cluster graphic, and a second cluster graphic, wherein;

the first cluster graphic represents a first message cluster having a first plurality of electronic messages distinct from the first electronic message;

the second cluster graphic represents a second message cluster having a second plurality of electronic messages distinct from the first electronic message and distinct from the first plurality of electronic messages; and

the first cluster graphic is distinct from the second cluster graphic;

detecting occurrence of a cluster display trigger event for the first cluster, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises one or more of;

detection of passage of a predetermined amount of time since refreshing display of the list of entries;

an occurrence of a particular time of day;

an occurrence of a predetermined date; and

receipt by the first message cluster of a predefined number, greater than one, of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the list of entries; and

in response to the detected cluster display trigger event and without user interaction;

re-ranking the list of entries; and

refreshing the display according to the re-ranking, thereby changing position of the first cluster graphic relative to the first electronic message and changing position of the first cluster graphic relative to the second cluster graphic.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises receipt by the first message cluster of at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the list of entries and occurrence of a particular time of day.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises receipt by the first message cluster of at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the list of entries and passage of a predetermined amount of time since previously refreshing display of the first cluster.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises receipt by the first message cluster of the predefined number of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the list of entries, wherein at least one of the new electronic messages is identified as having high priority.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the cluster display trigger event is detection of passage of a predetermined amount of time since refreshing display of the list of entries.

14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the cluster display trigger event is occurrence of a particular time of day.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer system having one or more processors and memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

displaying a list of entries in an email application, wherein the list of entries comprises a first electronic message, a first cluster graphic, and a second cluster graphic, wherein;

the first cluster graphic represents a first message cluster having a first plurality of electronic messages distinct from the first electronic message;

the second cluster graphic represents a second message cluster having a second plurality of electronic messages distinct from the first electronic message and distinct from the first plurality of electronic messages; and

the first cluster graphic is distinct from the second cluster graphic;

detecting occurrence of a cluster display trigger event for the first message cluster, wherein the cluster display trigger event is one or more of;

detection of passage of a predetermined amount of time since refreshing display of the list of entries;

an occurrence of a particular time of day;

an occurrence of a predetermined date; and

receipt by the first message cluster of a predefined number, greater than one, of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the list of entries; and

in response to the detected cluster display trigger event and without user interaction;

re-ranking the list of entries; and

refreshing the display of the list according to the re-ranking, thereby changing position of the first cluster graphic relative to the first electronic message and changing position of the first cluster graphic relative to the second cluster graphic.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises receipt by the first message cluster of at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the list of entries and occurrence of a particular time of day.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises receipt by the first message cluster of at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the list of entries and passage of a predetermined amount of time since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the cluster display trigger event comprises receipt by the first message cluster of the predefined number of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the list of entries, wherein at least one of the new electronic messages is identified as having high priority.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the cluster display trigger event is occurrence of a predetermined date.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the cluster display trigger event is receipt by the first message cluster of a predefined number, greater than one, of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the list of entries.