MANAGING AND COLLABORATING WITH DIGITAL CONTENT

• US 20100174799A1
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hewitt, Joe, Bishop, Marlon
• Granted Patent: US 8,713,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

A universal digital content system provides a dynamic user interface having a viewing area, an action menu area, and an organizing area. A user can create, organize, send, receive, access, collaborate with and otherwise manage digital content through a single user interface. The universal digital content system provides multiple ways of viewing and organizing all of the digital content accessible through the dynamic user interface. In addition, a user can create a collaboration session with one or more contacts using one or more digital content files.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computer configured to display a user interface, the user interface being configured to;

display a collaboration in a first window;

display an email in a second window, the email including;

a header; and

a body;

display an instant message in a third window;

receive first user input selecting first text of the body of the email displayed in the second window;

receive second user input indicating that the selected first text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

in response to receiving the second user input indicating that the selected first text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

add, to the collaboration displayed in the first window, a first user-selectable link including the selected first text from the body of the email;

receive third user input selecting second text of the instant message displayed in the third window;

receive fourth user input indicating that the selected second text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window; and

in response to receiving the fourth user input indicating that the selected second text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

add, to the collaboration displayed in the first window, a second user-selectable link including the selected second text from the instant message.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, fifth user input selecting the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the email; and

in response to receiving the fifth user input that selected the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the email;

shift focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the email is displayed.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, fifth user input selecting the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the email; and

in response to receiving the fifth user input that selected the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the email;

within the second window in which the email is displayed, move to the location of the first text within the body of the email, such that the first text of the body of the email may be seen in context with additional adjacent text of the body of the email.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, fifth user input selecting the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the email; and

in response to receiving the fifth user input that selected the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the email;

shift focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the email is displayed; and

within the second window in which the email is displayed, move to the location of the first text within the body of the email, such that the first text of the body of the email may be seen in context with additional adjacent text of the body of the email.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, fifth user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the instant message; and

in response to receiving the fifth user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the instant message;

shift focus in the user interface from the first window to the third window in which the instant message is displayed.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, fifth user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the instant message; and

in response to receiving the fifth user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the instant message;

within the third window in which the instant message is displayed, move to the location of the second text within the instant message, such that the second text of the instant message may be seen in context with additional adjacent text of the instant message.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, fifth user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the instant message; and

in response to receiving the fifth user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the instant message;

shift focus in the user interface from the first window to the third window in which the instant message is displayed; and

within the third window in which the instant message is displayed, move to the location of the second text within the instant message, such that the second text of the instant message may be seen in context with additional adjacent text of the instant message.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon software configured to display a user interface, the user interface being configured to:

display a collaboration in a first window;

display a first email in a second window, the first email including;

a header; and

a body;

receive first user input selecting first text of the body of the first email displayed in the second window;

receive second user input indicating that the selected first text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

in response to receiving the second user input indicating that the selected first text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

add, to the collaboration displayed in the first window, a first user-selectable link including the selected first text from the body of the first email;

receive, in the first window, third user input selecting the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the first email; and

in response to receiving the third user input that selected the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the first email;

shift focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the first email is displayed.

9. The computer-readable storage medium as in claim 8, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

in further response to receiving the third user input that selected the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the first email;

within the second window in which the first email is displayed, move to the location of the first text within the body of the first email, such that the first text of the body of the first email may be seen in context with additional adjacent text of the body of the first email.

10. The computer-readable storage medium as in claim 9, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

display a second email in a third window, the second email including;

a header; and

a body;

receive fourth user input selecting second text of the body of the second email displayed in the second window;

receive fifth user input indicating that the selected second text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window; and

in response to receiving the fifth user input indicating that the selected second text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

add, to the collaboration displayed in the first window, a second user-selectable link including the selected second text from the body of the second email.

11. The computer-readable storage medium as in claim 10, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, sixth user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email; and

in response to receiving the sixth user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email;

shift focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the first email is displayed.

12. The computer-readable storage medium as in claim 10, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, sixth user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email; and

in response to receiving the sixth user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email;

shift focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the first email is displayed; and

within the third window in which the second email is displayed, move to the location of the second text within the body of the second email, such that the second text of the body of the second email may be seen in context with additional adjacent text of the body of the second email.

13. The computer-readable storage medium as in claim 8, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

display a second email in a third window, the second email including;

a header; and

a body;

receive fourth user input selecting second text of the body of the second email displayed in the second window;

receive fifth user input indicating that the selected second text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window; and

in response to receiving the fifth user input indicating that the selected second text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

add, to the collaboration displayed in the first window, a second user-selectable link including the selected second text from the body of the second email.

14. The computer-readable storage medium as in claim 13, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, sixth user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email; and

in response to receiving the sixth user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email;

shift focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the first email is displayed.

15. The computer-readable storage medium as in claim 13, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receive, in the first window, sixth user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email; and

in response to receiving the sixth user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email;

shift focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the first email is displayed; and

within the third window in which the second email is displayed, move to the location of the second text within the body of the second email, such that the second text of the body of the second email may be seen in context with additional adjacent text of the body of the second email.

17. The computer-readable storage medium as in claim 13, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

in further response to receiving the first user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the instant message;

within the second window in which the instant message is displayed, move to the location of the second text within the instant message, such that the second text of the instant message may be seen in context with additional adjacent text of the instant message.

16. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon software configured to display a user interface, the user interface being configured to:

display a collaboration in a first window, the collaboration including;

a first user-selectable link including first text from a body of a first email; and

a second user-selectable link including second text from an instant message;

receive, in the first window, first user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the instant message; and

in response to receiving the first user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the instant message;

shift focus in the user interface to a second window in which the instant message is displayed.

18. A method performed by a computer, the method comprising:

displaying a collaboration in a first window in a user interface;

displaying a first email in a second window in the user interface, the first email including;

a header; and

a body;

receiving first user input selecting first text of the body of the first email displayed in the second window;

receiving second user input indicating that the selected first text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

in response to receiving the second user input indicating that the selected first text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

adding, to the collaboration displayed in the first window, a first user-selectable link including the selected first text from the body of the first email;

receiving, in the first window, third user input selecting the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the first email; and

in response to receiving the third user input that selected the first user-selectable link including the first text from the body of the first email;

shifting focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the first email is displayed.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

displaying a second email in a third window, the second email including;

a header; and

a body;

receiving fourth user input selecting second text of the body of the second email displayed in the second window;

receiving fifth user input indicating that the selected second text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window; and

in response to receiving the fifth user input indicating that the selected second text should be added to the collaboration displayed in the first window;

adding, to the collaboration displayed in the first window, a second user-selectable link including the selected second text from the body of the second email.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receiving, in the first window, sixth user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email; and

in response to receiving the sixth user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email;

shifting focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the first email is displayed.

21. The method as in claim 19, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

receiving, in the first window, sixth user input selecting the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email; and

in response to receiving the sixth user input that selected the second user-selectable link including the second text from the body of the second email;

shifting focus in the user interface from the first window to the second window in which the first email is displayed; and

within the third window in which the second email is displayed, moving to the location of the second text within the body of the second email, such that the second text of the body of the second email may be seen in context with additional adjacent text of the body of the second email.