SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLUSTERING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES

• US 20150185973A1
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: GILAD, Itamar, GAWLEY, Thompson Alexander Ivor, MOEDINGER, Andrew Ward, SMILAK, Kevin, JILLISSEN, Jeroen Danil, CORNWELL, Jason Briggs, JINDAL, Deepak, MIKLOS, Balint
• Granted Patent: US 9,542,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

System and methods are provided for receiving selection, by a user, of a subset of message clusters in a plurality of message clusters. Each message cluster is associated with a corresponding set of clustering rules. Each respective electronic message, addressed to and/or from the user, in a plurality of electronic messages is assigned to one or more of the clusters in the subset of clusters in accordance with the sets of clustering rules associated with the subset of clusters. The set of clustering rules for a first cluster in the subset of clusters (i) prevents some messages in the plurality of messages from being assigned to the first cluster and (ii) assigns messages to the first cluster without regard to content relatedness between messages in the plurality of messages and messages already in the first cluster. Messages in the first cluster are formatted for display as a single cluster graphic.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

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

receiving a selection, by a first user, of a subset of message clusters in a plurality of message clusters, wherein each respective message cluster in the plurality of message clusters is uniquely associated with a corresponding set of clustering rules in a plurality of sets of clustering rules;

while defining a supplemental clustering rule, and prior to saving the supplemental clustering rule, for a first message cluster in the plurality of message clusters;

formatting for display a designation identifying one or more senders of electronic messages in a sample plurality of electronic messages that qualify for inclusion in the first message cluster in accordance with the supplemental rule and the set of clustering rules associated with the first message cluster and in accordance with a display state of the first message cluster in which a subset of the text for each respective electronic message in the sample plurality of electronic messages is displayed;

saving the supplemental clustering rule;

assigning each respective electronic message in a first plurality of electronic messages, wherein each respective electronic message in the first plurality of electronic messages is addressed to the first user or is from the first user, to one or more of the message clusters in the subset of message clusters in accordance with the supplemental clustering rule and the sets of clustering rules; and

formatting for display, in an electronic message folder, electronic messages in the first message cluster as a single cluster graphic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

the first message cluster comprises a second plurality of electronic messages,

the electronic message folder further includes a third plurality of electronic messages not associated with the first message cluster,

the method further comprising:

responsive to a predefined user action in connection with the single cluster graphic;

expanding display of the single cluster graphic by;

while maintaining display of information representing the third plurality of electronic messages,

formatting for display content of an electronic message in the second plurality of electronic messages.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of message clusters comprises one or more system message clusters and wherein the corresponding sets of clustering rules for the one or more system message clusters are applied on a system-wide basis across a plurality of users including the first user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more system message clusters includes a message cluster selected from the group consisting of a message cluster for personal electronic messages, a message cluster for social electronic messages, a message cluster for electronic messages pertaining to promotions, a message cluster for electronic messages pertaining to updates, and a message cluster for electronic messages pertaining to forums.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of message clusters comprises one or more user defined message clusters and wherein the corresponding sets of clustering rules for the one or more user defined message clusters are uniquely applied to electronic messages addressed to the first user, or authored by the first user, in order to determine which electronic messages are to be assigned to the one or more user defined message clusters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each message cluster in the plurality of message clusters is uniquely associated with a message category in a plurality of message categories, the method further comprising:

receiving a search request that specifies a message category in the plurality of message categories; and

responsive to the search request, formatting for display a designation of the identity of each electronic message in the first plurality of electronic messages that qualifies for assignment in the message cluster associated with the message category.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the message category is one of personal, social, promotions, updates or forums.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each message cluster in the plurality of message clusters is uniquely associated with a message category in a plurality of message categories, the method further comprising:

receiving a notification designation that specifies a message category in the plurality of message categories; and

responsive to the notification designation, formatting for display a visual alert, or preparing an audible alert or a vibrational alert, upon receipt of an electronic message that qualifies for assignment to the message cluster associated with the message category.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the message category is one of personal, social, promotions, updates or forums.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the notification is conditional upon a device associated with the first user so that the notification is suppressed when the first user is using a device in a first device class and the notification is made when the first user is using a device in a second device class.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first device class is one of desktop or mobile and the second device class is other than the first device class and is one of desktop or mobile.

5. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

14. A computing device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and are configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving a selection, by a first user, of a subset of message clusters in a plurality of message clusters, wherein each respective message cluster in the plurality of message clusters is uniquely associated with a corresponding set of clustering rules in a plurality of sets of clustering rules;

while defining a supplemental clustering rule, and prior to saving the supplemental clustering rule, for a first message cluster in the plurality of message clusters;

formatting for display a designation identifying one or more senders of electronic messages in a sample plurality of electronic messages that qualify for inclusion in the first message cluster in accordance with the supplemental rule and the set of clustering rules associated with the first message cluster;

saving the supplemental clustering rule;

assigning each respective electronic message in a first plurality of electronic messages, wherein each respective electronic message in the first plurality of electronic messages is addressed to the first user or is from the first user, to one or more of the message clusters in the subset of message clusters in accordance with the supplemental clustering rule and the sets of clustering rules and in accordance with a display state of the first message cluster in which a subset of the text for each respective electronic message in the sample plurality of electronic messages is displayed; and

formatting for display, in an electronic message folder, electronic messages in the first message cluster as a single cluster graphic.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of message clusters comprises one or more system message clusters and wherein the corresponding set of clustering rules for the one or more system message clusters are applied on a system-wide basis across a plurality of users including the first user.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the one or more system message clusters includes a message cluster selected from the group consisting of a message cluster for personal electronic messages, a message cluster for social electronic messages, a message cluster for electronic messages pertaining to promotions, a message cluster for electronic messages pertaining to updates, and a message cluster for electronic messages pertaining to forums.

17-22. -22. (canceled)