SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROGRESSIVE MESSAGE FLOW

• US 20150188870A1
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: POLLOCK, Xander, CORNWELL, Jason Briggs, SHARP, Phillip, NACHUM, David, COLEMAN, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 9,306,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing electronic messages are disclosed. In some implementations, a method includes, at a computing device, causing an electronic message to be displayed to a user in an electronic message folder. Responsive to detecting that the user has read at least a portion of the electronic message, without user intervention, the electronic message is removed from the electronic message folder. In some implementations, the electronic message folder is a message inbox and the electronic message is removed from the message inbox to an archive or delete folder. In some implementations, the computing device includes one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors.

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;

causing an indication of an electronic message to be displayed to a receiving user within a cluster graphic corresponding to a first message cluster in a plurality of message clusters, wherein the first message cluster includes a plurality of electronic messages, and wherein the plurality of message clusters is in a folder;

detecting that the receiving user has read at least a portion of the electronic message in addition to the indication of the electronic message;

polling for an affirmative action by the receiving user indicating that the electronic message is to be maintained in the folder;

absent detection of the affirmative action indicating that the electronic message is to be maintained in the folder, removing the indication of the electronic message from the first message cluster; and

in response to detection of the affirmative action indicating that the electronic message is to be maintained in the folder, maintaining the indication of the electronic message in the first message cluster.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the folder is a message inbox and the electronic message is removed from the message inbox to an archive or delete folder absent detection of the affirmative action.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the maintaining maintains the electronic message in the folder for a predefined time period prior to the removing of the electronic message from the folder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting that the receiving user has read at least a portion of the electronic message comprises detecting a predefined user action indicating that the receiving user has completed reading the electronic message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is displayed within a cluster graphic corresponding to a message cluster including a plurality of electronic messages;

and

the method further comprises;

in accordance with a determination that a predefined number of electronic messages in the first message cluster have been removed from the electronic message folder;

causing, without user intervention, the cluster graphic to be removed from the folder.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the affirmative action comprises pinning the electronic message.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the affirmative action comprises flagging the electronic message to be kept.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the electronic message is a snippet drawn from the electronic message.

3. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. A computing system, 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;

causing an indication of an electronic message to be displayed to a receiving user within a cluster graphic corresponding to a first message cluster in a plurality of message clusters, wherein the first message cluster includes a plurality of electronic messages, and wherein the plurality of message clusters is in a folder;

detecting that the receiving user has read at least a portion of the electronic message in addition to the indication of the electronic message;

polling for an affirmative action by the receiving user indicating that the electronic message is to be maintained in the folder;

absent detection of the affirmative action indicating that the electronic message is to be maintained in the folder, removing the indication of the electronic message from the first message cluster; and

in response to detection of the affirmative action indicating that the electronic message is to be maintained in the folder, maintaining the indication of the electronic message in the first message cluster.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the folder is a message inbox and the electronic message is removed from the message inbox to an archive or delete folder absent detection of the affirmative action.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein

the maintaining maintains the electronic message in the folder for a predefined time period prior to the removing of the electronic message from the folder.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the detecting that the receiving user has read at least a portion of the electronic message comprises detecting a predefined user action indicating that the receiving user has completed reading the electronic message.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic message is displayed within a cluster graphic corresponding to a message cluster including a plurality of electronic messages;

and

the one or more programs further comprises instructions for;

in accordance with a determination that a predefined number of electronic messages in the first message cluster has been removed from the folder;

causing, without user intervention, the cluster graphic to be removed from the folder.

24. The system of claim 9, wherein the affirmative action comprises pinning the electronic message.

25. The system of claim 9, wherein the affirmative action comprises flagging the electronic message to be kept.

26. The system of claim 9, wherein the indication of the electronic message is a snippet drawn from the electronic message.

11. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a server system, the one or more programs comprising instructions, to be executed by the one or more processors, for:

causing an indication of an electronic message to be displayed to a receiving user within a cluster graphic corresponding to a first message cluster in a plurality of message clusters, wherein the first message cluster includes a plurality of electronic messages, and wherein the plurality of message clusters is in a folder;

detecting that the receiving user has read at least a portion of the electronic message in addition to the indication of the electronic message;

polling for an affirmative action by the receiving user indicating that the electronic message is to be maintained in the folder;

absent detection of the affirmative action indicating that the electronic message is to be maintained in the folder, removing the indication of the electronic message from the first message cluster; and

in response to detection of the affirmative action indicating that the electronic message is to be maintained in the folder, maintaining the indication of the electronic message in the first message cluster.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the folder is a message inbox and the electronic message is removed from the message inbox to an archive or delete folder absent detection of the affirmative action.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the affirmative action comprises pinning the electronic message.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the affirmative action comprises flagging the electronic message to be kept.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)