Representing new messages on a communication device

• US 8,286,089 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hardy, Michael Thomas, Zinn, R. Scotte, Klassen, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUMAR, ANIL N
• Application Number:
  US11/320,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,475 Days
• Field of Search: 715/772
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

There is provided a method of representing new email messages on a communication device having a display. This method comprises setting a new message flag when an email message is received by the device; and displaying a new message indicator on the display when the new message flag is set. The new message indicator can be displayed on a home screen on the display. The new message flag can be unset when a messages screen is selected on the device. A computer readable memory having recorded thereon instructions to carry out this method is also provided, as well as a device comprising such memory.

Claims

1. A method of representing new electronic messages on a communication device having a display, the method comprising:

receiving a new electronic message;

setting a new message flag to indicate receipt of the new electronic message;

representing, on a home screen displayed on the display, a new message indicator when the new message flag is set;

receiving an invocation to switch the home screen displayed on the display to a message inventory display screen for viewing a listing including a plurality of electronic messages including the new electronic message, the message inventory display screen displaying a preview, for each listed electronic message, of either a subject line or of a portion of contents of the electronic message, the contents of an electronic message being accessible upon receipt of a request to open an electronic message from the list of messages;

unsetting the new message flag in response to the invocation to switch the home screen displayed on the display to the message inventory display screen, the unsetting of the flag occurring without having received a request to open the new electronic message; and

receiving an invocation to switch the message inventory display screen to the home screen, wherein the new message indicator represented on the home screen is not displayed as a result of the unsetting of the new message flag.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising assigning a new message state to the received new electronic message, and unsetting the new message flag and changing the state of each electronic message assigned the new message state to an old message state in response to said invocation of the message inventory display screen.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising changing the state of an electronic message assigned the new message state to an old message state when the electronic message is opened on the device.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising updating an unopened message counter when the received electronic message is received unopened.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is a mobile wireless communication device or a desktop computer.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

assigning a new and unopened state to the received electronic message when the received electronic message is received unopened, and

assigning a new and opened state to the received electronic message when the received electronic message is received opened.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:

changing the state of a received electronic message assigned the new and unopened state to an old and unopened state when such an electronic message is displayed on said message inventory display screen, and

changing the state of a received electronic message assigned the new and opened state to an old and opened state when such an electronic message is displayed on the message inventory display screen.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising receiving a change in state of at least one received electronic message assigned the new and unopened state, and changing the state of the at least one received electronic message to old and opened.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising unsetting the new message flag when no received electronic message is assigned the new and opened or new and unopened states.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising changing the state of an electronic message assigned the new and opened state to old and opened, or an electronic message assigned the new and unopened state to old and unopened, when a selected time period has elapsed.

11. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the new message flag is a new messages counter and the flag is set when the counter is not zero and unset when the counter is zero.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising updating the new messages counter when the state of any electronic message has changed from new to old, or old to new, or when the electronic message received by the device is assigned a new and opened, or new and unopened state.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising activating a light emitting diode (LED) on the device when the new message flag is set.

14. A non-transitory computer readable memory having recorded thereon instructions for carrying out the method claimed in claim 1.

15. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 14 wherein the method further comprises:

assigning a new message state to the received new electronic message, and unsetting the new message flag and changing the state of each electronic message assigned the new message state to an old message state in response to said invocation of the message inventory display screen.

16. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 15 wherein the method further comprises changing the state of an electronic message assigned the new message state to an old message state when the electronic message is opened on the device.

17. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 14 wherein the method further comprises updating an unopened message counter when the received electronic message is received unopened.

18. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 14 wherein the device is a mobile wireless communication device or a desktop computer.

19. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 14 wherein the method further comprises:

assigning a new and unopened state to the received electronic message when the received electronic message is received unopened, and

assigning a new and opened state to the received electronic message when the received electronic message is received opened.

20. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

changing the state of a received electronic message assigned the new and unopened state to an old and unopened state when such an electronic message is displayed on said message inventory display screen, and

changing the state of a received electronic message assigned the new and opened state to an old and opened state when such an electronic message is displayed on the message inventory display screen.

21. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 19 wherein the method further comprises receiving a change in state of at least one received electronic message assigned the new and unopened state, and changing the state of the at least one received electronic message to old and opened.

22. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 20 wherein the method further comprises unsetting the new message flag when no received electronic message is assigned the new and opened or new and unopened states.

23. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 22 wherein the method further comprises changing the state of an electronic message assigned the new and opened state to old and opened, or an electronic message assigned the new and unopened state to old and unopened, when a selected time period has elapsed.

24. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 19 wherein the new message flag is a new messages counter and the flag is set when the counter is not zero and unset when the counter is zero.

25. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 24 wherein the method further comprises updating the new messages counter when the state of any electronic message has changed from new to old, or old to new, or when the electronic message received by the device is assigned a new and opened or new and unopened state.

26. A computer readable memory as claimed in claim 14 wherein the method comprises activating a light emitting diode (LED) on the device when the new message flag is set.

27. A communication device comprising a processor, a memory and a display, the memory storing instructions thereon for carrying out the method claimed in claim 1.

28. A communication device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the method further comprises assigning a new message state to the received new electronic message, and unsetting the new message flag and changing the state of each electronic message assigned the new message state to an old message state in response to said invocation of the message inventory display screen.

29. A communication device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the method further comprises changing the state of an electronic message assigned the new message state to an old message state when the electronic message is opened on the device.

30. A communication device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the method further comprises updating an unopened message counter when the received electronic message is received unopened.

31. A communication device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the device is a mobile wireless communication device or a desktop computer.

32. A communication device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the method further comprises:

assigning a new and unopened state to the received electronic message when the received electronic message is received unopened, and

assigning a new and opened state to the received electronic message when the received electronic message is received opened.

33. A communication device as claimed in claim 32 wherein the method further comprises:

changing the state of a received electronic message assigned the new and unopened state to an “

old and unopened”

state when such an electronic message is displayed on said message inventory display screen, and

changing the state of a received electronic message assigned the new and opened state to an old and opened state when such an electronic message is displayed on the message inventory display screen.

34. A communication device as claimed in claim 32 wherein the method further comprises receiving a change in state of at least one received electronic message assigned the new and unopened state, and changing the state of the at least one received electronic message to old and opened.

35. A communication device as claimed in claim 33 wherein the method further comprises unsetting the new message flag when no received electronic message is assigned the new and opened or new and unopened states.

36. A communication device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the method further comprises changing the state of an electronic message assigned the new and opened state to old and opened, or an electronic message assigned the new and unopened state to old and unopened, when a selected time period has elapsed.

37. A communication device as claimed in claim 32 wherein the new message flag is a new messages counter and the flag is set when the counter is not zero and unset when the counter is zero.

38. A communication device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the method further comprises updating the new messages counter when the state of any electronic message has changed from new to old, or old to new, or when the email message received by the device is assigned a new and opened, or new and unopened state.

39. A communication device as claimed in claim 27 further comprising a light emitting diode (LED), and wherein the method further comprises activating the LED when the new message flag is set.