DISPLAYING A LIST OF FILE ATTACHMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH A MESSAGE THREAD

• US 20090319618A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brauninger, Andrew Russell, Edelen, James J. IV, Affronti, Michael Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for displaying a list of file attachments associated with a message thread an email application. The messages associated with the message thread are identified, along with any file attachments attached to those messages. An aggregated attachment list is generated containing an entry for each file attachment associated with the message thread. The aggregated attachment list associated with the message thread is then displayed in a window of the email application.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an aggregated attachment list (216) associated with a message thread (204) in an email application (108), the method comprising:

identifying one or more messages (118) associated with the message thread (204);

identifying one or more file attachments (124) attached to the one or more messages (118);

generating the aggregated attachment list (216) to include respective list entries (218A-218C) for the one or more file attachments (124); and

displaying the aggregated attachment list (216) in a window (202) of the email application (108).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the list entries respectively comprise one or more of a file-type icon, a file name, a file size, and an identification of an author for the one or more file attachments.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more messages associated with the message thread comprises identifying one or more messages having a same conversation ID.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more messages associated with the message thread comprises identifying one or more messages having a same or similar subject.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

upon identifying the one or more file attachments, identifying respective root files related to the one or more file attachments;

determining respective version levels for the one or more file attachments based upon the root file related to the file attachment; and

generating the aggregated attachment list to include respective list entries for the root files identified.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the list entries respectively comprise one or more of a file-type icon, a file name, a file size, and an identification of an author of the file attachment related to the root files having a greatest version level.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the list entries respectively further comprise an indication of a number of file attachments related to the root files.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying the respective root files related to the one or more file attachments comprises identifying file attachments having a same or similar file name as related to one root file.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein determining respective version levels for the one or more file attachments based upon the root file related to the file attachment comprises comparing a respective modified date for the one or more file attachments related to the root file.

10. A computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

identify one or more messages (118) associated with a message thread (204);

identify one or more file attachments (124) attached to the one or more messages (118);

identify respective root files related to the one or more file attachments (124);

determine respective version levels of the one or more file attachments (124) based upon the root file related to the file attachment (124);

generate an aggregated attachment list (216) comprising respective list entries (218A-218C) for the root files identified; and

display the aggregated attachment list (216) in a window (202) of an email application (108).

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the list entries respectively comprise one or more of a file-type icon, a file name, a file size, and an identification of an author of the file attachment related to the root files having a greatest version level, and an indication of a number of file attachments related to the root files.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein identifying the one or more messages associated with the message thread comprises identifying one or more messages having a same conversation ID.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein identifying the one or more messages associated with the message thread comprises identifying one or more messages having a same or similar subject.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein identifying the respective root files related to the one or more file attachments comprises identifying file attachments having a same or similar file name as related to one root file.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein determining respective version levels for the one or more file attachments based upon the root file related to the file attachment comprises comparing a respective modified date for the one or more file attachments related to the root file.

16. A system for displaying an aggregated attachment list (216) comprising:

a message store (116) containing a plurality of messages (118) associated with a message thread (204);

an email application (108) configured to execute on a workstation (102) and operable to access the message store (116) and display a window (202) comprising information regarding the plurality of messages (118); and

an attachment aggregation module (136) configured to execute within the email application (108) and operable to;

identify the plurality of messages (118) associated with the message thread (204),

identify one or more file attachments (124) attached to the plurality of messages (118),

identify respective root files related to the one or more file attachments (124),

generate the aggregated attachment list (216) to include respective list entries (218A-218C) for the root files identified, and

display the aggregated attachment list (216) in the window (202) of the email application (108).

17. The system of claim 16, wherein identifying the plurality of messages associated with the message thread comprises identifying the messages is the message store having a same conversation ID.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein identifying the respective root files related to the one or more file attachments comprises identifying file attachments having a same or similar file name as being related to a same root file.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the message store is stored locally on the workstation.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the message store is stored on a server computer remote from the workstation.