Cross Platform Messaging

• US 20130238728A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: Fleck, Christopher, McBride, John, Templeton, Mark, Anderson, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,438,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

Described herein are methods and systems for displaying an email conversation similar to an instant message format by integrating aspects of an email system with an instant messaging interface. In one aspect, messages may be sent over existing email channels using email protocols through email servers and an email system (e.g., email client and/or email server) may identify the messages as cross-platform messages (CPM) based on whether the message body includes either no or only predefined content, or the message includes a predefined unique identifier. If a message is identified as a CPM then the message is treated similar to an instant message and may be displayed in a threaded view. In some embodiments, messages having content in the body may be treated as conventional email messages.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an email message;

determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface based on content within the email message; and

displaying text included in the email message within the instant message interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface comprises determining that the email message is a subject-only message, and the text includes a subject field of the email message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface comprises determining that the email message includes only predefined content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface comprises determining that the email message includes a metadata tag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging interface groups messages by sender as one or more threads.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface is performed by an e-mail client.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the email message is a cross-platform message (CPM).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the email message includes a history of one or more CPMs sent between two or more users.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the email message was received at a CPM-capable client and sent from a non-CPM-capable client.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating whether a sender of the email message is present.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing executable instructions configured to, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

receive an email message;

determine that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface based on content within the email message; and

display text included in the email message within the instant message interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface comprises determining that the email message is a subject-only message, and the text includes a subject field of the email message.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface comprises determining that the email message includes only predefined content.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface comprises determining that the email message includes a metadata tag.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the email message is a cross-platform message (CPM).

16. One or more computer readable media storing executable instructions configured to, when executed, cause an apparatus to:

receive an email message;

determine that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface based on content within the email message; and

display text included in the email message within the instant message interface.

17. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface comprises determining that the email message is a subject-only message, and the text includes a subject field of the email message.

18. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface comprises determining that the email message includes only predefined content.

19. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein determining that the email message is to be displayed in an instant messaging interface comprises determining that the email message includes a metadata tag.

20. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the email message is a cross-platform message (CPM).