Message thread handling

• US 7,644,126 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chmaytelli, Mazen
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilles; Jude J Jean
• Application Number:
  US10/954,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20060075040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/202, 455/450, 455/466, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

Described are techniques and mechanisms for easily allowing a user to unsubscribe (“opt out”) from receiving subsequent messages in a particular message thread. Generally stated, a component maintains information about a message thread that a user has indicated a desire to opt out of. The information includes identifying information about the message thread and an indication that a particular user desires to receive no further messages in the thread. New messages that are identified as belonging to that thread are handled in some fashion that differs from ordinary messages. For example, the messages may simply be deleted, may be held at a message server, may be redirected to a special storage location, or the like. The user indicates the desire to opt out through a user interface mechanism that is available in connection with the user viewing a message in the particular thread. Optionally, the user may have the ability to re-subscribe (“opt in”) to the thread.

Claims

1. A method for message thread handling, the method comprising:

receiving, at a server, an electronic message;

analyzing the electronic message to determine if the electronic message is associated with an electronic message thread for which an indication to be excluded has been received from at least one recipient; and

if the determination is affirmative,

handling the electronic message as an unwanted thread message, and

delivering a log tracking the at least one recipient requesting to be excluded from the electronic message thread to other recipients of the electronic message associated with the electronic message thread.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic message includes characteristic information and wherein analyzing the electronic message comprises comparing the characteristic information to stored identification information that identifies the electronic message thread.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the indication to be excluded from the electronic message thread is indicated by issuing an opt out message to a messaging system that includes identification information about the electronic message thread.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the messaging system resides on a client computing system on which messages are displayed.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein handling the unwanted thread message comprises a selected one or more of not delivering the unwanted thread message to a client computing system unless specially requested by the client computing system, redirecting the unwanted thread message to a special folder in which are stored messages for viewing separate from other electronic messages, and deleting the unwanted thread message.

6. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an opt in notification that rescinds the indication to be excluded from the electronic message thread; and

in response, handling a subsequent electronic message in the electronic message thread as an ordinary electronic message.

7. The method recited in claim 6, wherein the opt in notification comprises an expiration of a predetermined time period.

8. The method recited in claim 6, wherein the opt in notification comprises an electronic message communicating the desire to be included in the electronic message thread.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message and the indication to be excluded are received at the server from different entities.

9. A method for message thread handling, the method comprising:

receiving, at a client device, an electronic message having characteristics;

receiving an indication to exclude subsequent messages in an electronic message thread to which the electronic message belongs;

creating an opt out message that describes the electronic message thread using the characteristics of the electronic message; and

communicating the opt out message to a messaging system, the messaging system being operative to handle the subsequent messages in the electronic message thread,

wherein a log tracking the client device opting out of the electronic message thread is delivered to other client devices receiving the subsequent messages in the electronic message thread.

10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the characteristics comprise textual data in a portion of the electronic message.

11. The method recited in claim 9, wherein communicating the opt out message comprises delivering the opt out message to a messaging system separate from the client device.

12. The method recited in claim 9, wherein communicating the opt out message comprises delivering the opt out message to a messaging system resident on the client device.

13. The method recited in claim 9, further comprising issuing a notice to the messaging system to cease excluding the subsequent messages in the electronic message thread.

14. In a system having a server and a client, a method for message thread handling, comprising:

delivering an electronic message from the server to the client;

displaying the electronic message at the client;

receiving at the client an indication to cease receiving subsequent electronic messages in an electronic message thread to which the electronic message belongs;

communicating the indication from the server to the client;

creating, at the server, an electronic message thread diary to indicate that at least one recipient has requested to be excluded from the electronic message thread to which the electronic message belongs, the electronic message thread diary configured to include a log listing the at least one recipient requesting to be excluded from the electronic message thread;

receiving, at the server, a subsequent electronic message;

determining, from the electronic message thread diary, that the subsequent electronic message belongs to the electronic message thread;

handling the subsequent electronic message as an unwanted thread message; and

delivering the log to other recipients of the subsequent electronic message in the electronic message thread.

15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the electronic message has characteristics, and creating the electronic message thread diary comprises creating an electronic message thread identification based on the characteristics of the electronic message.

16. The method recited in claim 14, wherein communicating the indication comprises creating an opt out message that describes the electronic message thread using characteristics of the electronic message and includes a notice to exclude subsequent messages in the electronic message thread, and delivering the opt out message to the server.

17. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, at the server, an opt in notification that rescinds the indication to cease receiving subsequent electronic messages in the electronic message thread; and

in response, handling a subsequent electronic message in the electronic message thread as an ordinary electronic message.

18. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for receiving an electronic message at a message server, the electronic message having characteristics;

at least one instruction for comparing the characteristics of the electronic message to identification information stored at the message server to determine if the electronic message is associated with an electronic message thread for which an indication to be excluded has been received from at least one recipient; and

if the determination is affirmative,

at least one instruction for handling the electronic message as an unwanted thread message; and

at least one instruction for delivering a log tracking the at least one recipient requesting to be excluded from the electronic message thread to other recipients of the electronic message associated with the electronic message thread.

19. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 18, wherein the at least one instruction for handling the unwanted thread message comprises a selected one or more instructions from a list of instructions that includes at least one instruction for not delivering the unwanted thread message to a client computing system unless specially requested by the client computing system, at least one instruction for redirecting the unwanted thread message to a special folder in which are stored messages for viewing separate from other electronic messages, and at least one instruction for deleting the unwanted thread message.

20. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 18, wherein the instructions further comprise:

at least one instruction for receiving an opt in notification that rescinds the indication to be excluded from the electronic message thread; and

in response, at least one instruction for handling a subsequent electronic message in the electronic message thread as an ordinary electronic message.

21. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 20, wherein the opt in notification comprises an expiration of a predetermined time period.

22. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 20, wherein the opt in notification comprises an electronic message communicating a desire to be included in the electronic message thread.

23. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for receiving, at a client device, an electronic message having characteristics;

at least one instruction for receiving an indication to exclude subsequent messages in an electronic message thread to which the electronic message belongs;

at least one instruction for creating an opt out message that describes the electronic message thread using the characteristics of the electronic message; and

at least one instruction for communicating the opt out message to a messaging system, the messaging system being operative to handle the subsequent messages in the electronic message thread,

wherein a log tracking the client device opting out of the electronic message thread is delivered to other client devices receiving the subsequent messages in the electronic message thread.

24. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 23, wherein at least one instruction for communicating the opt out message comprises at least one instruction for delivering the opt out message to a messaging system resident on the client device.

25. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 23, further comprising at least one instruction for issuing a notice to the messaging system to cease excluding the subsequent messages in the electronic message thread.

26. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for delivering an electronic message from a server to a client;

at least one instruction for displaying the electronic message at the client;

at least one instruction for receiving at the client an indication to cease receiving subsequent electronic messages in an electronic message thread to which the electronic message belongs;

at least one instruction for communicating the indication from the server to the client;

at least one instruction for creating, at the server, an electronic message thread diary to indicate that at least one recipient has requested to be excluded from the electronic message thread to which the electronic message belongs, the electronic message thread diary configured to include a log tracking the at least one recipient requesting to be excluded from the electronic message thread;

at least one instruction for receiving, at the server, a subsequent electronic message;

at least one instruction for determining, from the electronic message thread diary, that the subsequent electronic message belongs to the electronic message thread;

at least one instruction for handling the subsequent electronic message as an unwanted thread message; and

at least one instruction for delivering the log to other recipients of the subsequent electronic message in the electronic message thread.

27. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 26, wherein the at least one instruction for communicating the indication comprises at least one instruction for creating an opt out message that describes the electronic message thread using characteristics of the electronic message and includes a notice to exclude subsequent messages in the electronic message thread, and at least one instruction for delivering the opt out message to the server.

28. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 26, wherein the at least one instruction for handling the unwanted thread message comprises a selected one or more of at least one instruction for not delivering the unwanted thread message to a client computing system unless specially requested by the client computing system, at least one instruction for redirecting the unwanted thread message to a special folder in which are stored messages for viewing separate from other electronic messages, or at least one instruction for deleting the unwanted thread message.

29. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 26, further comprising:

at least one instruction for receiving, at the server, an opt in notification that rescinds the indication to cease receiving subsequent electronic messages in the electronic message thread; and

in response, at least one instruction for handling a subsequent electronic message in the electronic message thread as an ordinary electronic message.

30. A server for message thread handling, comprising:

a message receiving component configured to receive inbound electronic messages;

a message transmitting component configured to transmit outbound electronic messages; and

a processing unit programmed to;

identify unwanted thread messages by comparing inbound electronic messages to stored identification information that identifies an electronic message thread for which an indication to exclude a recipient has been received,

remove the recipient from a recipient list for the unwanted thread message, and

deliver a log tracking the recipient requesting to be excluded from the recipient list for the unwanted thread message to other recipients in the recipient list for the unwanted thread message.

31. The server recited in claim 30, wherein:

the stored identification information further comprises an electronic message thread diary that includes identification information that identifies the electronic message thread, the electronic message thread diary further including a list of recipients that have requested to be excluded from the electronic message thread; and

wherein

the processing unit is further programmed to analyze an inbound electronic message to determine if the inbound electronic message is within the electronic message thread by comparing characteristics of the inbound electronic message to the identification information in the electronic message thread diary, the processing unit being further programmed to create the electronic message thread diary in response to a request to be excluded from the electronic message thread.

32. The server recited in claim 31, wherein the processing unit is further programmed to add additional names of recipients to an exclusion list within the electronic message thread diary upon receiving another request to be excluded from the electronic message thread.

33. The server recited in claim 32, wherein the processing unit is further programmed to remove names of recipients from the exclusion list within the electronic message thread diary upon receiving a request associated with such recipient to be included in the electronic message thread.

34. A client computing device, comprising:

a message receiving component configured to receive inbound electronic messages;

a message transmitting component configured to transmit outbound electronic messages; and

a processing unit programmed to;

display an inbound electronic message received by the message receiving component,

create an opt out message in response to an indication, by a recipient, to exclude subsequent inbound electronic messages in an electronic message thread to which the inbound electronic message belongs, and

cause the message transmitting component to deliver the opt out message to a message server,

wherein a log tracking the recipient requested to be excluded from the subsequent inbound electronic messages in the electronic message thread is delivered to other recipients of the subsequent inbound electronic messages in the electronic message thread.

35. The client computing device recited in claim 34, wherein the processing unit is further programmed with an electronic message thread UI component configured to receive the indication to exclude subsequent inbound electronic messages from the electronic message thread.

36. The client computing device recited in claim 35, wherein the electronic message thread UI component comprises a user interface element displayed in conjunction with the inbound electronic message.

37. The client computing device recited in claim 36, wherein the user interface element comprises a toolbar button.

38. The client computing device recited in claim 34, wherein the processing unit is further configured to evaluate the inbound electronic message to determine characteristic information about the inbound electronic message, and to include the characteristic information in the opt out message.

39. A system for message thread handling, comprising:

a server including;

a server message receiving component configured to receive inbound electronic messages;

a message transmitting component configured to transmit outbound electronic messages; and

a server processing unit programmed to;

identify unwanted thread messages by comparing inbound electronic messages to stored identification information that identifies an electronic message thread for which an indication to exclude a recipient has been received,

remove the recipient from a recipient list for the unwanted thread message, and

deliver a log tracking the recipient requesting to be excluded from the recipient list for the unwanted thread message to other recipients in the recipient list for the unwanted thread message; and

a client computing device including;

a client message receiving component configured to receive inbound electronic messages from the server;

a client message transmitting component configured to deliver outbound electronic messages to the server; and

a client processing unit programmed to;

display an inbound electronic message received by the client message receiving component,

create an opt out message that includes the indication to exclude subsequent inbound electronic messages in the electronic message thread, and

cause the client message transmitting component to deliver the opt out message to the server.

40. A server for message thread handling, comprising:

means for receiving inbound electronic messages;

means for transmitting outbound electronic messages;

means for identifying unwanted thread messages by comparing inbound electronic messages to stored identification information that identifies an electronic message thread for which an indication to exclude a recipient has been received;

means for removing the recipient from a recipient list for the unwanted thread message; and

means for delivering a log tracking the recipient requesting to be excluded from the recipient list for the unwanted thread message to other recipients in the recipient list for the unwanted thread message.

41. A client computing device, comprising:

means for receiving inbound electronic messages;

means for transmitting outbound electronic messages;

means for displaying an inbound electronic message received by the message receiving component;

means for creating an opt out message in response to an indication, by a recipient, to exclude subsequent inbound electronic messages in an electronic message thread to which the first inbound electronic message belongs; and

means for causing the transmitting means to deliver the opt out message to a message server,

wherein a log tracking the recipient requested to be excluded from the subsequent inbound electronic messages in the electronic message thread is delivered to other recipients of the subsequent inbound electronic messages in the electronic message thread.