STRUCTURED ARCHIVING AND RETRIEVAL OF LINKED MESSAGES IN A SYNCHRONOUS COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT

• US 20080144784A1
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: LIMBERG, JARED ANDREW
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product enables manipulation of a message thread created by linking two or more messages within a messaging interface of a synchronous, collaborative messaging application. The message thread is first generated by linking the plurality of messages within the messaging interface. Then manipulation of the message thread is enabled in a separate window from the messaging interface.

Claims

1. In a computer device having a messaging application that provides a messaging interface, a method comprising:

generating a message thread having a plurality of messages linked within the messaging interface; and

enabling manipulation of the message thread separate from the messaging interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of messages is a sub-portion of the total messages within the messaging interface; and

the link among the plurality of messages is not chronological.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to an input, selecting the message thread as a single interconnected linking of individual messages that make up the message thread; and

saving the message thread as a file when a save option is selected while the message thread is selected/highlighted, said file having a with a filename and file attributes, including a date of creation.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

when an opening of the file is detected, automatically opening the file within a window that enables manipulation of the message thread provided by the file; and

displaying a link indicator providing a sequence by which the individual messages within the message thread are linked.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said enabling manipulation of the message thread comprises:

detecting a selection of a first option within the messaging interface to open a new window while said message thread is selected/highlighted;

when selection of the first option is detected, automatically opening the new window and displaying the message thread within the new window.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said enabling manipulation comprises one or more of:

providing a first option as a selectable affordance within the messaging interface, wherein selection of the selectable affordance while the message thread is selected/highlighted enables an automatic opening of a new window for displaying the message thread; and

when the message thread is selected/highlighted within the messaging interface;

displaying a selection menu for selection of one or more options for manipulating the message thread;

detecting selection of a first menu option for opening the new window; and

automatically opening the new window and displaying the message thread within the new window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said manipulation comprises one or more of:

re-arranging a link sequence of the individual messages within the message thread;

sorting the individual messages within the message thread; and

changing a filename of the file in which the message thread is stored.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said manipulation comprises one or more of:

deleting one or more of the individual messages within the message thread;

editing/modifying one or more of the individual messages within the message thread; and

annotating the message thread with additional information.

20. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said code for enabling manipulation comprises code for completing one or more of:

re-arranging a link sequence of the individual messages within the message thread;

sorting the individual messages within the message thread;

changing a filename of the file in which the message thread is stored;

deleting one or more of the individual messages within the message thread;

editing/modifying one or more of the individual messages within the message thread; and

annotating the message thread with additional information.

9. A device comprising:

a processor;

means by which the device communicates with one or more remote devices;

a messaging application that executes on the processor and enables receipt and creation of messages posted within a messaging interface; and

a utility associated with the messaging application and which also executes on the processor to enable the messaging application to provide the functions of;

generating a message thread having a plurality of messages linked within the messaging interface; and

enabling manipulation of the message thread separate from the messaging interface;

wherein the plurality of messages is a sub-portion of the total messages within the messaging interface; and

wherein the link among the plurality of messages is not chronological.

10. The device of claim 9, said utility further comprising program instructions for:

in response to an input, selecting the message thread as a single interconnected linking of individual messages that make up the message thread;

saving the message thread as a file when a save option is selected while the message thread is selected/highlighted, said file having a with a filename and file attributes, including a date of creation;

when an opening of the file is detected, automatically opening the file within a window that enables manipulation of the message thread provided by the file; and

displaying a link indicator providing a sequence by which the individual messages within the message thread are linked.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said function of the utility for enabling manipulation of the message thread comprises instructions for:

detecting a selection of a first option within the messaging interface to open a new window while said message thread is selected/highlighted;

when selection of the first option is detected, automatically opening the new window and displaying the message thread within the new window.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said enabling manipulation comprises instructions for completing one or more of:

providing a first option as a selectable affordance within the messaging interface, wherein selection of the selectable affordance while the message thread is selected/highlighted enables an automatic opening of a new window for displaying the message thread; and

when the message thread is selected/highlighted within the messaging interface;

displaying a selection menu for selection of one or more options for manipulating the message thread;

detecting selection of a first menu option for opening the new window; and

automatically opening the new window and displaying the message thread within the new window.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said enabling manipulation comprises instructions for completing one or more of:

re-arranging a link sequence of the individual messages within the message thread;

sorting the individual messages within the message thread; and

changing a filename of the file in which the message thread is stored.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein said enabling manipulation comprises instructions for completing one or more of:

deleting one or more of the individual messages within the message thread;

editing/modifying one or more of the individual messages within the message thread; and

annotating the message thread with additional information.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

program code on the computer readable medium that when executed by a processor performs the functions of;

generating a message thread having a plurality of messages linked within a messaging interface of a messaging application; and

enabling manipulation of the message thread separate from the messaging interface.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein:

the plurality of messages is a sub-portion of the total messages within the messaging interface; and

the link among the plurality of messages is not chronological.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising program code for:

in response to an input, selecting the message thread as a single interconnected linking of individual messages that make up the message thread;

saving the message thread as a file when a save option is selected while the message thread is selected/highlighted, said file having a with a filename and file attributes, including a date of creation;

when an opening of the file is detected, automatically opening the file within a window that enables manipulation of the message thread provided by the file; and

displaying a link indicator providing a sequence by which the individual messages within the message thread are linked.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said program code for enabling manipulation of the message thread comprises code for:

detecting a selection of a first option within the messaging interface to open a new window while said message thread is selected/highlighted;

when selection of the first option is detected, automatically opening the new window and displaying the message thread within the new window.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said program code for enabling manipulation comprises code for one or more of:

providing a first option as a selectable affordance within the messaging interface, wherein selection of the selectable affordance while the message thread is selected/highlighted enables an automatic opening of a new window for displaying the message thread; and

when the message thread is selected/highlighted within the messaging interface;

displaying a selection menu for selection of one or more options for manipulating the message thread;

detecting selection of a first menu option for opening the new window; and

automatically opening the new window and displaying the message thread within the new window.