E-mail interface having an informational tool tip

• US 8,429,543 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Canfield, James Andrew, Carbone, Kenneth, Colburn, David Fairlie, Myers, Linda Nols, Van Lenten, Thomas E., Willis, Gregory Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/036,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20110154252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752, 715/711
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information

Abstract

An interface enables perception of information regarding e-mail communications. The interface includes an e-mail application user interface that enables perception of e-mail message information for one or more e-mails received by an e-mail participant and that enables active display of one or more of the received e-mails selected by the e-mail participant, The interface also includes a mechanism that determines a request for e-mail message information for one of the e-mails from within a desired e-mail message that is not actively displayed. The interface further includes an informational tool tip that provides a temporary perceivable indication to the e-mail participant of at least a portion of the requested information for the desired e-mail message while maintaining active display of the one or more selected e-mails.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information related to communication messages in an interface, the method comprising:

rendering, by at least one processor, a new communication indicator configured to provide a user with a perceivable indication that a new communication message has been received;

determining that, for a threshold period of time, a position of an input device is maintained relative to the new communication indicator;

in response to determining that, for the threshold period of time, the position of the input device is maintained relative to the new communication indicator, rendering an interface element, and

wherein the interface element includes a portion of information associated with content from the new communication message, the portion of information comprising multiple predetermined fields of information associated with the new communication message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the interface element comprises a predetermined number of lines of content included in the new communication message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the interface element comprises a predetermined number of characters of content included in the new communication message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiple predetermined fields include at least a from field and a subject field.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiple predetermined fields include a portion of a message text field, wherein the portion of the message text field includes less than all of the text in the message text field.

6. A method of displaying information related to communication messages in an interface, the method comprising:

receiving a first command to display a communication message;

in response to receiving the first command to display the communication message, rendering a display of the communication message;

receiving a second command to minimize the display of the electronic mail communication message;

in response to receiving the second command to minimize the display of the communication message;

removing the display of the communication message, and

causing an icon corresponding to the communication message to be displayed;

determining that, for a threshold period of time, a position of an input device is maintained relative to the icon corresponding to the communication message; and

in response to determining that, for the threshold period of time, the position of the input device is maintained relative to the icon corresponding to the electronic mail message, rendering an interface element, and

wherein the interface element comprises a portion of information associated with content from the communication message, the portion of information comprising multiple predetermined fields of information associated with the communication message.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the interface element comprises a predetermined number of lines of content included in the communication message.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the interface element comprises a predetermined number of characters of content included in the communication message.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the multiple predetermined fields include at least a from field and a subject field.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the multiple predetermined fields include a portion of a message text field, wherein the portion of the message text field includes less than all of the text in the message text field.

11. A method of displaying information related to communication messages in an interface, the method comprising:

displaying, in an operation system task area, an icon corresponding to a communication message;

determining that, for a threshold period of time, a position of an input device is maintained relative to the icon corresponding to the communication message; and

in response to determining that, for the threshold period of time, the position of the input device is maintained relative to the icon corresponding to the electronic mail message, rendering, an interface element, and

wherein the interface element comprises a portion of information associated with content from the communication message, the portion of information comprising multiple predetermined fields of information associated with the communication message.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the interface element comprises a predetermined number of lines of content included in the communication message.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the interface element comprises a predetermined number of characters of content included in the communication message.

14. The method of claim 11 the multiple predetermined fields include at least a from field and a subject field.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the multiple predetermined fields include a portion of a message text field, wherein the portion of the message text field includes less than all of the text in the message text field.