System and Method for Silencing Notifications for A Message Thread

• US 20100262666A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Kalu, Kalu Onuka
• Granted Patent: US 9,349,120 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 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer programming products are provided for silencing message threads. Incoming messages related to the same matter are grouped into one or more message threads. A user can select to silence a message thread. Once a message thread has been silenced, the user will no longer receive notifications of new messages added to the thread.

Claims

1. A communication system configured to silence notifications for incoming electronic messages, the system comprising a data processor, media readable by the data processor and a communications subsystem:

the communication subsystem adapted for receiving the incoming electronic messages; and

the media readable by the data processor comprising coded program instructions adapted to cause the processor to;

determine that a new incoming electronic message is associated with a message thread;

determine that the message thread has been flagged as silenced; and

override a currently-enabled notification setting to prevent a receipt notification pertaining to new incoming electronic messages associated with the message thread from being activated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the new incoming electronic message is associated with a defined group.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the new incoming electronic message is associated with an inbox.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the inbox is one of a group inbox and an email inbox.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein a receipt notification for a new incoming electronic message is prevented only for a user who has flagged the message thread as silenced.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one display for displaying the incoming electronic messages.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein, if the message thread has been flagged as silenced, electronic messages in the message thread appear diminished in appearance.

8. The system of claim 1, further adapted to allow the message thread to be unflagged.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a wireless device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the notifications include one or more of an auditory alert, a visual alert and a physical alert.

11. A method for silencing notifications for incoming electronic messages to a communication system, the communication system comprising a data processor, media readable by the data processor and a communications subsystem, the communications subsystem adapted to receive the incoming electronic messages, the method comprising:

receiving a new incoming electronic message;

identifying the new incoming message as associated with one or more message threads;

determining that a message thread associated with the new incoming message has been flagged as silenced; and

overriding at least one currently-enabled notification setting to prevent a notification pertaining to receipt of the new incoming message from being activated.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the new incoming electronic message is associated with a defined group.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the new incoming electronic message is associated with an inbox.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the inbox is one of a group inbox and an email inbox.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein a receipt notification for a new incoming electronic message is prevented only for a user who has flagged the message thread as silenced.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the incoming electronic messages.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, if the message thread has been flagged as silenced, electronic messages in the message thread appear diminished in appearance.

18. The method of claim 11, further adapted to allow the message thread to be unflagged.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the notifications include one or more of an auditory alert, a visual alert and a physical alert.