Dynamic And Local Management Of Hierarchical Discussion Thread Data

• US 20130125062A1
• Filed: 11/11/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Phoenix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jongwoo Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Jongwoo, Upendran, Manish, Berkebile, Locke D., Brightman, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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]

Abstract

Techniques are described for display and navigation of hierarchical messages, which displays include contextual data for the messages. Context information for a current message includes reply messages, parent messages, and metadata representations. Message representations are also associated with visual depth indicators that are independent of the text of the messages. Users may navigate displays of hierarchical message data using different navigational inputs. For example, more information may be requested for messages, without selecting a new message for viewing as a focal message, using swipes across portions of the display dedicated to displaying the messages. A limited number of messages for a requested list of messages is initially retrieved and displayed, and a mechanism for viewing more messages from the list is provided. Historical usage of the mechanism is recorded and the number of messages to be displayed for the list of messages is adjusted based on the historical usage data.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A computer-executed method comprising:

displaying, within a graphical user interface of a computing device, a plurality of messages that belong to a hierarchy of messages;

while a first message, of the plurality of messages, is selected as a focal message, displaying the first message and a first set of messages that reside below the first message in the hierarchy, wherein the first set of messages comprises a second message;

in response to selection of the second message, from the first set of messages, as the focal message, performing the steps of;

(a) for a predetermined amount of time, concurrently displaying;

the second message as the focal message; and

context information for the focal message, the context information comprising the first message as a parent message of the second message;

(b) subsequent to the predetermined amount of time;

automatically ceasing to display the context information; and

continuing to display the second message as the focal message.