METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING DATA ON A COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20110161832A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: EDWARDS, Robert John, SCRIVER, Aaron David, RUNSTEDLER, Christopher James
• Granted Patent: US 9,098,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/752
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a method for processing data on a computing device are provided. The computing device comprises a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device. First message data is stored in the memory device. An indication that first flag data is to be stored in association with the first message data is received. The first flag data is stored in the memory device in association with the first message data. The first message is displayed in association with the first flag data at the display device in a message list view. Second message data is received and automatically associated with the first message data. In response to the automatic associating: the first flag data is removed from the display device; second flag data is stored in association with the second message data in the memory device and the second message data is displayed on the display device in association with the second flag data in the message list view, the second message data flagged on the display device rather than the first message data.

Claims

1. A method for processing data on a computing device, said computing device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device, said method comprising:

storing first message data in said memory device;

receiving an indication that first flag data is to be stored in association with said first message data;

storing said first flag data in said memory device in association with said first message data;

displaying said first message data in association with said first flag data at said display device in a message list view;

receiving, at said processing unit, second message data;

automatically associating said second message data with said first message data; and

, in response to said automatic associating;

removing said first flag data from said display device; and

,

storing second flag data in association with said second message data in said memory device and displaying said second message data on said display device in association with said second flag data in said message list view, said second message data flagged on said display device rather than said first message data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

displaying said first message in association with said first flag data at said display device in said message list view comprises displaying a representation of said first message data in association with a representation of said first flag data on said display device in said message list view such that said first message data is flagged in said message list view prior to said receiving said second message data;

removing said first flag data from said display device comprises deleting said representation of said first flag data in said message list view; and

displaying said second message data on said display device in association with said second flag data in said message list view comprises displaying a representation of said second message data in association with a representation of said second flag data on said display device in said message list view, such that said second message data is flagged in said message list view.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically associating said second message data with said first message data comprises at least one of:

determining that each of said first message data and said second message data each comprise similar subject data;

determining that said second message data comprises at least a portion of said first message data;

determining that each of said first message data and said second message data each comprise related metadata; and

determining that each of said first message data and said second message data belong to the same message thread.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving further message data;

automatically associating said further message data with said first message data;

and in response to said automatically associating said further message data with said first message data,

removing any existing flag data associated with any message data associated with said first message data from said display device; and

storing further flag data in association with said further message data in said memory device and displaying said further message data on said display device in association with said further flag data in said message list view, said further message data flagged on said display device rather than said any other message data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing message data and flag data with a second computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said computing device comprises a portable electronic device.

7. A computing device for processing data, said computing device comprising:

a processing unit interconnected with a memory device, a display device, and a communication interface, said processing unit enabled to;

store first message data in said memory device;

receive an indication that first flag data is to be stored in association with said first message data;

store said first flag data in said memory device in association with said first message data;

control said display device to display said first message data in association with said first flag data in a message list view;

receive second message data via said communication interface;

automatically associate said second message data with said first message data; and

, in response to said automatic associating;

remove said first flag data from said display device; and

,

store second flag data in association with said second message data in said memory device and display said second message data on said display device in association with said second flag data in said message list view, said second message data flagged on said display device rather than said first message data.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein to:

display said first message in association with said first flag data at said display device in said message list view said processing unit is further enabled to control said display device to display a representation of said first message data in association with a representation of said first flag data in said message list view such that said first message data is flagged in said message list view prior to said receiving said second message data;

remove said first flag data from said display device said processing unit is further enabled to delete said representation of said first flag data in said message list view; and

display said second message data on said display device in association with said second flag data in said message list view said processing unit is further enabled to control said display device to display a representation of said second message data in association with a representation of said second flag data in said message list view, such that said second message data is flagged in said message list view.

9. The computing device of claim 7, wherein to automatically associate said second message data with said first message data, said processing unit is further enabled to at least one of:

determine that each of said first message data and said second message data each comprise similar subject data;

determine that said second message data comprises at least a portion of said first message data;

determine that each of said first message data and said second message data each comprise related metadata; and

determine that each of said first message data and said second message data belong to the same message thread.

10. The computing device of claim 7, wherein said processing unit further is enabled to:

receive further message data;

automatically associate said further message data with said first message data; and

in response to said automatic association of said further message data with said first message data,

remove any existing flag data associated with any message data associated with said first message data from said display device; and

store further flag data in association with said further message data in said memory device and control said display device to display said further message data in association with said further flag data in said message list view, said further message data flagged on said display device rather than said any other message data.

11. The computing device of claim 7, wherein said processing unit is further enabled to synchronize message data and flag data with a second computing device.

12. The computing device of claim 7, wherein said computing device comprises a portable electronic device.

13. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for processing data on a computing device, said computing device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device, said method comprising:

storing first message data in said memory device;

receiving an indication that first flag data is to be stored in association with said first message data;

storing said first flag data in said memory device in association with said first message data;

displaying said first message in association with said first flag data at said display device in a message list view;

receiving, at said processing unit, second message data;

automatically associating said second message data with said first message data; and

, in response to said automatic associating;

removing said first flag data from said display device; and

,

storing second flag data in association with said second message data in said memory device and displaying said second message data on said display device in association with said second flag data in said message list view, said second message data flagged on said display device rather than said first message data.