Labeling Messages of Conversations and Snoozing Labeled Conversations in a Conversation-Based Email System

• US 20100064017A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bay-Wei W. Chang, Jing Yee Lim, Lauren M. Baptist, Paul T. Buchheit, Russell R. Tuck, III, Sanjeev Singh, Seth J. Golub
• Inventors: Baptist, Lauren M., Singh, Sanjeev, Chang, Bay-Wei W., Lim, Jing Yee, Tuck, Russell R. III, Buchheit, Paul T., Golub, Seth J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

A method system for labeling messages of conversations, where each conversation has a respective conversation identifier and comprises one or more messages sharing a common set of characteristics. A selected conversation has a plurality of messages associated with a first label. In response to an action specifying a second label to be associated with the selected conversation, the second label is associated with the messages of the selected conversation, such that the plurality of messages are each associated with both the first and second labels. An index entry for the second label is modified to account for the association of the second label with the messages. In some embodiments, a set of predetermined conditions is associated with the conversation; the first label is removed from the plurality of messages and is prevented from being automatically associated with newly received messages of the conversation until the predetermined conditions are satisfied.

Claims

1. A method of using a conversation-based messaging system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs executed by the one or more processors, the method comprising:

selecting a conversation from a plurality of conversations, each of the conversations having a respective conversation identifier and comprising one or more messages sharing a common set of characteristics that meet predefined criteria, the selected conversation having a plurality of messages associated with a first label;

in response to an action specifying a second label to be associated with the selected conversation, associating the second label with every message in the selected conversation, such that the plurality of messages in the selected conversation are each associated with both the first and second labels; and

modifying an index entry for the second label to account for the association of the second label with the messages in the selected conversation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting includes searching a data structure to identify messages that belong to the conversation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the searching includes using the respective conversation identifier to identify messages that belong to the conversation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting is in response to a user-initiated action.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to a user action, associating a set of predetermined conditions to the conversation;

removing the first label from the plurality of messages previously associated with the first label; and

preventing the first label from being automatically associated with newly received messages of the conversation until the predetermined conditions are satisfied.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined conditions are received in a communication in response to user-initiated actions.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined conditions are received in a communication from a client.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the set of predetermined conditions include determining whether a predefined period of time has elapsed since a predefined point in time.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the set of predetermined conditions include determining whether an incoming message that is associated with the conversation possesses predefined characteristics, and the predefined characteristics are selected from the list consisting of:

the incoming message causes a number of unchecked messages in the conversation to reach a predetermined limit, the incoming message is from a predetermined sender, the incoming message specifies the user as a primary recipient, and the message contains a specified word or phrase that is associated with the conversation.

10. A conversation-based messaging system, comprising

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more modules, wherein the one or more modules are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more modules including;

a select conversations module for selecting a conversation from a plurality of conversations, each of the conversations having a respective conversation identifier and comprising one or more messages sharing a common set of characteristics that meet predefined criteria, the selected conversation having a plurality of messages associated with a first label;

a modify attributes module for responding to an action specifying a second label to be associated with the selected conversation by associating the second label with every message in the selected conversation, such that the plurality of messages in the selected conversation are each associated with both the first and second labels; and

a processing module for modifying an index entry for the second label to account for the association of the second label with the messages in the selected conversation.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a data structure that associates messages to conversations.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising wherein the select conversations module uses the respective conversation identifier to identify the one or more messages.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a modify attributes module for responding to a user action by associating a set of predetermined conditions with the conversation; and

removing the first label from the plurality of messages previously associated with the first label; and

a filter module for preventing the first label from being automatically associated with newly received messages of the conversation until the predetermined conditions are satisfied.

14. A conversation-based messaging system, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more modules to be executed by the one or more processors; and

means for selecting a conversation from a plurality of conversations, each of the conversations having a respective conversation identifier and comprising one or more messages sharing a common set of characteristics that meet predefined criteria, the selected conversation having a plurality of messages associated with a first label;

means for responding to an action specifying a second label to be associated with the selected conversation by associating the second label with every message in the selected conversation, such that the plurality of messages in the selected conversation are each associated with both the first and second labels; and

means for modifying an index entry for the second label to account for the association of the second label with the messages in the selected conversation.

15. A computer readable storage medium and one or more computer programs embedded therein the one or more computer programs comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to:

select a conversation from a plurality of conversations, each of the conversations having a respective conversation identifier and comprising one or more messages sharing a common set of characteristics that meet predefined criteria, the selected conversation having a plurality of messages associated with a first label;

respond to an action specifying a second label to be associated with the selected conversation by associating the second label with every message in the selected conversation, such that the plurality of messages in the selected conversation are each associated with both the first and second labels; and

modify an index entry for the second label to account for the association of the second label with the messages in the selected conversation.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions which, when executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to select a conversation include instructions for searching a data structure to identify messages that belong to the conversation.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions which, when executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to search include instructions for using the respective conversation identifier to identify messages that belong to the conversation.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions which, when executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to select a conversation are in response to a user-initiated action.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to:

in response to a user action, associate a set of predetermined conditions to the conversation;

remove the first label from the plurality of messages previously associated with the first label; and

prevent the first label from being automatically associated with newly received messages of the conversation until the predetermined conditions are satisfied.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, further including instructions which, when executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to receive the predetermined conditions in a communication in response to user-initiated actions.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, further including instructions which, when executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to receive the predetermined conditions in a communication from a client.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the set of predetermined conditions include a condition that a predefined period of time has elapsed since a predefined point in time.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the set of predetermined conditions include a condition that an incoming message that is associated with the conversation possesses predefined characteristics, and the predefined characteristics are selected from the list consisting of:

the incoming message causes a number of unchecked messages in the conversation to reach a predetermined limit, the incoming message is from a predetermined sender, the incoming message specifies the user as a primary recipient, and the message contains a specified word or phrase that is associated with the conversation.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the set of predetermined conditions include a condition that an incoming message belongs to the selected conversation.