Integration of email and persistent conversations

• US 9,350,692 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Smilak, Kevin, Nester, Christian, Flanigan, Ian, Szab, Balzs, van As, Thijs, Eidelson, Benjamin David
• Primary Examiner(s): Henderson, Esther B
• Application Number:
  US13/894,346
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media for persistent conversation and email integration are described. Some implementations can include a method comprising receiving a persistent conversation communication message sent from a first user to at least one other user, and adding the message to an email thread associated with the persistent conversation. The method can also include storing the persistent conversation message as part of the email thread, and creating a new email thread associated with the persistent conversation when a predetermined condition is met, wherein the condition is one of an elapsed time or reaching a predetermined number of messages in the email thread. The method can further include rendering a displayable version of the persistent conversation within an email client, the displayable version including a continuous display of email threads associated with the persistent conversation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a persistent conversation communication message sent from a first user to at least one other user;

adding the persistent conversation communication message to an email thread associated with a persistent conversation, wherein the persistent conversation is stored in a central persistent conversation object;

storing the persistent conversation communication message as part of the email thread;

creating a new email thread associated with the persistent conversation when a predetermined condition is met, wherein the condition is one of an elapsed time or reaching a predetermined number of messages in the email thread and wherein the new email thread is assigned an identifier associating the new email thread with the central persistent conversation object; and

rendering a displayable version of the persistent conversation within an email client, the displayable version including a continuous display of email threads associated with the persistent conversation, wherein the new email thread is indicated separately in the displayable version.

2. A method comprising:

receiving a persistent conversation communication message sent from a first user to at least one other user;

adding the persistent conversation communication message to an email thread associated with a persistent conversation, wherein the persistent conversation is stored in a central persistent conversation object;

storing the persistent conversation communication message as part of the email thread;

creating a new email thread associated with the persistent conversation when a condition is met, wherein the new email thread is assigned an identifier associating the new email thread with the central persistent conversation object; and

rendering a displayable version of the persistent conversation within an email client, the displayable version including a continuous display of email threads associated with the persistent conversation, wherein the new email thread is indicated separately in the displayable version.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the persistent conversation communication message includes a chat message.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the condition includes an elapsed time between messages in the persistent conversation exceeding a threshold.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the condition includes reaching a predetermined number of messages in the email thread.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising updating the email thread to reflect new activity in the persistent conversation.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing for display a user interface including the displayable version of the persistent conversation.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising dynamically rendering the displayable version to show updates to the persistent conversation as the updates are received by an email client application.

9. A system comprising:

one or more computers configured to perform operations including;

receiving a persistent conversation communication message sent from a first user to at least one other user;

adding the persistent conversation communication message to an email thread associated with a persistent conversation, wherein the persistent conversation is stored in a central persistent conversation object;

storing the persistent conversation communication message as part of the email thread;

creating a new email thread associated with the persistent conversation when a condition is met, wherein the new email thread is assigned an identifier associating the new email thread with the central persistent conversation object; and

rendering a displayable version of the persistent conversation within an email client, the displayable version including a continuous display of email threads associated with the persistent conversation, wherein the new email thread is indicated separately in the displayable version.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the persistent conversation communication message includes a chat message.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the condition includes an elapsed time between messages in the persistent conversation exceeding a threshold.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the condition includes reaching a predetermined number of messages in the email thread.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the operations further comprise updating the email thread to reflect new activity in the persistent conversation.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise providing for display a user interface including the displayable version of the persistent conversation.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise dynamically rendering the displayable version to show updates to the persistent conversation as the updates are received by an email client application.