MESSAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20090042542A1
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Dias, Eric W B
• Granted Patent: US 8,028,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided in which electronic message content and other selected or predetermined components of an electronic message are automatically displayed whenever an abbreviated or condensed message identification on a listing of messages is highlighted by a user. In one exemplary embodiment, Whenever an item of a message listing is highlighted by a user of a wireless phone or other communication device, a first pop-up content window is created and overlaid upon the listing display. The content window enables the user to view only predetermined portions, for example the first several lines of text of the highlighted message without having to access and scroll through other detailed portions of the message.

Claims

1. A method for processing messages for display to a user on a display device, said messages containing a header information section and a message content section, said method comprising:

presenting said messages in an abbreviated form in a list on said display device, said abbreviated form including only said header information for each of said messages displayed;

enabling a highlighting of a selected one of said abbreviated form messages in said list on said display device by said user;

determining that said user has highlighted said selected one of said abbreviated form messages; and

automatically displaying content information from said message content section of said selected one of said abbreviated form messages in response to said determining and without further action by said user.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said displayed content information is displayed in a message content window overlying said list.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said content information is displayed until another one of said abbreviated form messages is highlighted by said user.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said content information of said selected one of said abbreviated form messages is displayed only for a predetermined period of time after said user has highlighted said selected one of said abbreviated form messages.

5. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said content information is displayed in said message content window until another one of said abbreviated form messages is highlighted by said user.

6. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said content information of said selected one of said abbreviated form messages is displayed in said message content window only for a predetermined period of time after said user has highlighted said selected one of said abbreviated form messages.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein only a predetermined portion of said content information within said message content section of said selected one of said abbreviated form messages is displayed.

8. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said user is enabled to change characteristics of said message content window.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said characteristics include size of said content window.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said characteristics include a number of lines of text displayed in said content window.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said characteristics include a location of said content window on said display device.

12. A storage medium, said storage medium being selectively coupled to processing circuitry, said storage medium containing indicia readable by said processing circuitry for providing program signals for processing messages for display to a user on a display device, said messages containing a header information section and a message content section, said program signals being effective for:

presenting said messages in an abbreviated form in a list on said display device, said abbreviated form including only said header information for each of said messages displayed;

enabling a highlighting of a selected one of said abbreviated form messages in said list on said display device by said user;

determining that said user has highlighted said selected one of said abbreviated form messages; and

automatically displaying content information from said message content section of said selected one of said abbreviated form messages in response to said determining and without further action by said user.

13. The medium as set forth in claim 12 wherein said displayed content information is displayed in a message content window overlying said list.

14. The medium as set forth in claim 12 wherein said content information is displayed until another one of said abbreviated form messages is highlighted by said user.

15. The medium as set forth in claim 12 wherein said content information of said selected one of said abbreviated form messages is displayed only for a predetermined period of time after said user has highlighted said selected one of said abbreviated form messages.

16. The medium as set forth in claim 13 wherein said content information is displayed in said message content window until another one of said abbreviated form messages is highlighted by said user.

17. The medium as set forth in claim 13 wherein said content information of said selected one of said abbreviated form messages is displayed in said message content window only for a predetermined period of time after said user has highlighted said selected one of said abbreviated form messages.

18. The medium as set forth in claim 12 wherein only a predetermined portion of said content information within said message content section of said selected one of said abbreviated form messages is displayed.

19. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said program signals are further effective for enabling said user to change characteristics of said message content window.

20. A system for processing messages for display to a user on a display device, said messages containing a header information section and a message content section, said system comprising:

a display device;

means for presenting said messages in an abbreviated form in a list on said display device, said abbreviated form including only said header information for each of said messages displayed;

means for enabling a highlighting of a selected one of said abbreviated form messages in said list on said display device by said user;

means for determining that said user has highlighted said selected one of said abbreviated form messages; and

means for automatically displaying content information from said message content section of said selected one of said abbreviated form messages in response to said determining and without further action by said user.