Systems and Methods for Applying User Actions to Conversation Messages

• US 20140089440A1
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Buchheit, Paul, Singh, Sanjeev
• Granted Patent: US 9,602,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

Systems and methods for handling messages in which a list comprising a plurality of conversations is provided. A first conversation in the plurality of conversations is identified. The first conversation is configurable to occupy a single line in the list and comprises a plurality of messages. This plurality of messages shares a common set of characteristics that meets a predefined criterion. Responsive to receiving a designation of a predefined user action, the predefined user action is applied, without human intervention, to each message in the plurality of messages.

Claims

1. A computer for handling messages, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;

the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

providing a list comprising a plurality of conversations;

identifying a first conversation in the plurality of conversations, wherein

the first conversation is configurable to occupy a single line in the list,

the first conversation comprises a plurality of messages, and

the plurality of messages shares a common set of characteristics that meets a predefined criterion; and

responsive to receiving a designation of a predefined user action, applying the predefined user action, without human intervention, to each message in the plurality of messages.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the instructions for providing a list comprising the plurality of conversations include instructions for identifying a first message, in a conversation in the plurality of conversations, as relevant to a search query provided by a user.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the instructions for providing the list comprising the plurality of conversations comprise instructions for formatting for presentation each conversation in the list in a single line.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the single line representing the first conversation includes a string of sender identifiers corresponding to senders who have sent messages in the first conversation.

5. The computer of claim 4, wherein the string of sender identifiers is ordered according to their respective message arrival time.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the identifying a first conversation in the plurality of conversations comprises receiving an indication of user selection of the first conversation.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion includes a subject of the two or more messages and information other than the subject, an in-reply-to field, a references field, and a message identifier field of the two or more messages.

8. A method for handling messages, comprising:

at a computer having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;

providing a list comprising a plurality of conversations;

identifying a first conversation in the plurality of conversations, wherein

the first conversation is configurable to occupy a single line in the list,

the first conversation comprises a plurality of messages,

the plurality of messages shares a common set of characteristics that meets a predefined criterion; and

responsive to receiving a designation of a predefined user action, applying the predefined user action, without human intervention, to each message in the plurality of messages.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the providing a list comprising a plurality of conversations comprises identifying a first message, in a conversation in the plurality of conversations, as relevant to a search query provided by a user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the providing a list comprising a plurality of conversations comprises formatting for presentation each conversation in the list in a single line.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the single line representing the first conversation includes a string of sender identifiers corresponding to senders who have sent messages in the first conversation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the string of sender identifiers is ordered according to their respective message arrival time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the identifying a first conversation in the plurality of conversations comprises receiving an indication of user selection of the first conversation.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the predefined criterion includes a subject of the two or more messages and information other than the subject, an in-reply-to field, a references field, and a message identifier field of the two or more messages.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer system with one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform a method comprising:

providing a list comprising a plurality of conversations;

identifying a first conversation in the plurality of conversations, wherein

the first conversation is configurable to occupy a single line in the list,

the first conversation comprises a plurality of messages, and

the plurality of messages shares a common set of characteristics that meets a predefined criterion; and

responsive to receiving a designation of a predefined user action, applying the predefined user action, without human intervention, to each message in the plurality of messages.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the providing a list comprising a plurality of conversations comprises identifying a first message, in a conversation in the plurality of conversation, as relevant to a search query provided by a user.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the providing a list comprising a plurality of conversations comprises formatting for presentation each conversation in the list in a single line.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the single line representing the first conversation includes a string of sender identifiers corresponding to senders who have sent messages in the first conversation.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the string of sender identifiers is ordered according to their respective message arrival time.