Systems and methods for applying user actions to conversation messages

• US 9,602,456 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Buchheit, Paul, Singh, Sanjeev
• Primary Examiner(s): STRANGE, AARON N
• Application Number:
  US14/094,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20140089440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

Systems and methods for handling messages in which a list comprising a plurality of conversations is provided. A first conversation in the plurality of conversations is identified. The first conversation is configurable to occupy a single line in the list and comprises a plurality of messages. This plurality of messages shares a common set of characteristics that meets a predefined criterion. Responsive to receiving a designation of a predefined user action, the predefined user action is applied, without human intervention, to each message in the plurality of messages.

Claims

1. A computer for handling messages, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;

the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

displaying a list comprising a plurality of conversations, wherein each conversation is displayed as a respective single line that includes a respective snippet of the respective conversation;

identifying a first conversation in the plurality of conversations, wherein;

the first conversation comprises a plurality of messages;

the plurality of messages share a common set of characteristics that meet a predefined criterion; and

the respective snippet for the first conversation includes portions of message bodies from at least two of the plurality of messages; and

responsive to receiving a designation of a predefined user action, applying the predefined user action, without human intervention, to each message in the plurality of messages.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the instructions for displaying the list include instructions for identifying a first message, in a conversation of the plurality of conversations, as relevant to a search query provided by a user.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the respective single line representing the first conversation includes a string of sender identifiers corresponding to senders who have sent messages in the first conversation.

4. The computer of claim 3, wherein the string of sender identifiers is ordered according to their respective message arrival time.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein identifying the first conversation in the plurality of conversations comprises receiving an indication of user selection of the first conversation.

6. A method for handling messages, comprising:

at a computer having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;

displaying a list comprising a plurality of conversations, wherein each conversation is displayed as a respective single line that includes a respective snippet of the respective conversation;

identifying a first conversation in the plurality of conversations, wherein;

the first conversation comprises a plurality of messages;

the plurality of messages share a common set of characteristics that meet a predefined criterion; and

the respective snippet for the first conversation includes portions of message bodies from at least two of the plurality of messages; and

responsive to receiving a designation of a predefined user action, applying the predefined user action, without human intervention, to each message in the plurality of messages.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying the list comprises identifying a first message, in a conversation of the plurality of conversations, as relevant to a search query provided by a user.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the respective single line representing the first conversation includes a string of sender identifiers corresponding to senders who have sent messages in the first conversation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the string of sender identifiers is ordered according to their respective message arrival time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the first conversation in the plurality of conversations comprises receiving an indication of user selection of the first conversation.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer system with one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform a method comprising:

displaying a list comprising a plurality of conversations, wherein each conversation is displayed as a respective single line that includes a respective snippet of the respective conversation;

identifying a first conversation in the plurality of conversations, wherein;

the first conversation comprises a plurality of messages;

the plurality of messages share a common set of characteristics that meet a predefined criterion; and

the respective snippet for the first conversation includes portions of message bodies from at least two of the plurality of messages; and

responsive to receiving a designation of a predefined user action, applying the predefined user action, without human intervention, to each message in the plurality of messages.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein displaying the list comprises identifying a first message, in a conversation of the plurality of conversation, as relevant to a search query provided by a user.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the respective single line representing the first conversation includes a string of sender identifiers corresponding to senders who have sent messages in the first conversation.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the string of sender identifiers is ordered according to their respective message arrival time.