Changing presentation of items of information based on message reception frequency

• US 20080014982A1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Foxenland, Eral
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a method, devices, a computer program product and a computer program element for changing the appearance of an item displayed to a user. A first set of electronic messages related to at least one first sender are received and the frequency at which said messages are received is determined. The appearance of at least one item (22, 26, 30) displayed in a view showing items related to received messages is then changed in dependence of said frequency. In this way a user can instantly and directly receive an indication of the messaging frequency.

Claims

1. Method of changing the presentation of an item (22, 26, 30;

50) presented to a user comprising the steps of;

receiving a first set of electronic messages related to at least one first sender, (step 36),

determining the frequency at which said messages are received, (step 40), and changing the presentation of at least one item (22, 26, 30;

50) in dependence of said frequency, (step 42).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the item is a visual item displayed to a user and the step of changing the presentation comprises changing the appearance of at least one item displayed in a view showing items related to received messages.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the item (22, 26, 30) is an item identifying said at least one first sender.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the step of changing the appearance is performed on said item identifying at least one first sender.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the item identifying said at least one first sender is an icon.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein said icon is an electronic picture.

7. Method according to any of claims 3-6, further comprising the step of receiving at least a second set of electronic messages, where the second set relates to at least one second sender and items are displayed relating to both the first and the second senders in a certain order, wherein the step of determining frequency is also performed on the second set of messages and the step of changing the appearance comprises changing the order in which the items are displayed based on the frequencies.

8. Method according to any of claims 2-7, wherein the step of changing the appearance is performed on graphics (50) surrounding a number of items (22, 26, 30) of information related to the user.

9. Method according to any of claims 2-8, wherein at least said first set of electronic messages are related to only one first sender.

10. Method according to any of claims 2-8, wherein at least said first set of electronic messages are related to a group of senders.

11. Device (10;

48) for changing the presentation of an item (22, 26, 30;

50) presented to a user comprising;

an electronic message receiving unit (20) receiving a first set of electronic messages related to at least one first sender, and

a control unit (18) arranged to;

determine the frequency at which said messages are received, and

change the presentation of at least one item (22, 26, 30;

50) in dependence of said frequency.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the item is a visual item displayed to a user and the control unit is arranged to change the appearance of the item displayed in a view showing items related to received messages in dependence of the frequency.

13. Device according to claim 12, further comprising an information presentation unit (14) for displaying said items.

14. Device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the item (22, 26, 30) is an item identifying said at least one first sender.

15. Device according to claim 14, wherein the control unit is arranged to change the appearance of said item identifying at least one first sender.

16. Device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the item identifying said at least one first sender is an icon.

17. Device according to claim 16, wherein said icon is an electronic picture.

18. Device according to any of claims 14-17, wherein the electronic message receiving unit receives at least a second set of electronic messages, which second set relates to at least one second sender and items are displayed relating to both the first and the second senders in a certain order, wherein the control unit is further arranged to determine frequency also for the second set of messages and when changing the appearance of at least one item is further arranged to change the order in which the items are displayed based on the frequencies.

19. Device according to any of claims 12-18, wherein the control unit when performing changing of the appearance is arranged to change the appearance of graphics (50) surrounding a number of items (22, 26, 30) of information related to the user.

20. Device according to any of claims 12-19, wherein at least said first set of electronic messages are related to only one first sender.

21. Device according to any of claims 12-19, wherein at least said first set of electronic messages are related to a group of senders.

22. Device (10) according to any of claims 12-21, wherein the device is a portable electronic device.

23. Device according to claim 22, wherein the device is portable communication device.

24. Device according to claim 23, wherein the device is a cellular phone.

25. Device (48) according to any of claims 12-21, wherein the device is a server.

26. Device (10) for changing the presentation of an item (22, 26, 30;

50) presented to a user comprising;

a control unit (18) arranged to;

receive information about the frequency at which electronic messages related to at least one first sender have been received, and

provide at least one item (22, 26, 30;

50) with a changed presentation in dependence of said frequency.

27. Device according to claim 26, wherein the item is a visual item and the control unit is arranged to provide the item with a changed appearance in a view showing items related to received messages in dependence of the frequency.

28. A computer program product for changing the presentation of an item presented to a user comprising a computer readable medium (52), having thereon:

computer program code means, to make a computer or an electronic equipment execute, when said program is loaded in the computer or the electronic equipment,

determine the frequency at which a first set of electronic messages related to at least one first sender are received, and

change the presentation of at least one item in dependence of said frequency.

29. A computer program element for changing the presentation of an item presented to a user comprising:

computer program code means to make a computer or an electronic equipment execute when said element is loaded in a computer or an electronic equipment;

determine the frequency at which a first set of electronic messages related to at least one first sender are received, and

change the presentation of at least one item in dependence of said frequency.