Conversation index builder
First Claim
1. In a collection of data records in which a plurality of the data records have a parent-child relationship so that when the data records in the collection are sorted according to individual record indices the data records will be positioned according to their parent-child relationships, a method for creating a record index for each data record of the data collection, comprising the steps of:
- generating a record index for a parent data record in the collection by performing at least the steps of;
creating a unique header block comprising a time stamp parameter indicating the time said parent data record is created, andattaching said header block to said parent data record as its record index; and
generating a record index for a child data record of said parent data record by performing at least the steps of;
creating a child block comprising a time stamp parameter indicating the time said child data record is created,appending said child block to said header block, andattaching the combined header and child blocks to said child data record as its record index.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for generating a unique record index for a collection of data records. A parent index is generated and attached to a parent data record, and serves as the record index. When a child data record is generated, a child index is generated and is appended to its parent index, and the combination is the record index for that child data record. The record index allows a collection of data records to be sorted and displayed efficiently according to their logical position in a collection. The technique finds application in an electronic mail messaging system, wherein a conversation index is generated for each electronic message.
112 Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a collection of data records in which a plurality of the data records have a parent-child relationship so that when the data records in the collection are sorted according to individual record indices the data records will be positioned according to their parent-child relationships, a method for creating a record index for each data record of the data collection, comprising the steps of:
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generating a record index for a parent data record in the collection by performing at least the steps of; creating a unique header block comprising a time stamp parameter indicating the time said parent data record is created, and attaching said header block to said parent data record as its record index; and generating a record index for a child data record of said parent data record by performing at least the steps of; creating a child block comprising a time stamp parameter indicating the time said child data record is created, appending said child block to said header block, and attaching the combined header and child blocks to said child data record as its record index. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a collection of data records in which a plurality of the data records have a parent-child relationship so that when the data records in the collection are sorted according to individual record indices the data records will be positioned according to their parent-child relationships, a computer program product for creating a record index for each data record of the data collection comprising:
computer readable medium having computer executable instructions encoded thereon, said computer executable instructions comprising; means for creating a unique header block comprising a time stamp parameter indicating the time a parent data record is created; means for attaching said header block to said parent data record as its record index; means for creating a child block comprising a time stamp parameter indicating the time a child data record of said parent data record is created; means for appending said child block to said header block; and means for attaching the combined header and child blocks to said child data record as its record index. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification