METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING UNREAD ELECTRONIC MESSAGES

• US 20090210823A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Bocking, Andrew D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,291,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/821
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

The presence of new unread electronic messages received, that is, messages received since unread messages were last reviewed, is provided by indicia presented to the user. These indicia can take various forms, such as by bolding, flashing, changing the size or color of a count of unread messages, and/or the unread message icon. Alternatively, a separate indication, such as a second count representing the number of new unread electronic messages received, or some other symbol, such as an explanation point, can be displayed.

Claims

1. A method of managing unread electronic messages comprising:

receiving at least one electronic message;

providing a first indicator comprising an indication of the presence of the at least one electronic message being unread and unscanned;

detecting a scan of the at least one electronic message without reading; and

generating a second indicator indicative of the presence of the at least one electronic message being unread, the first indicator being different from the second indicator in that the first indicator comprises an annunciation providing the indication of the presence of the at least one message being unscanned.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the annunciation comprises at least one selected from the group comprising:

flashing, bolding, changing the size, and changing the color of the first indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indicator comprises a visual display indicating the presence of the at least one electronic message being unread and unscanned

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indicator comprises an icon indicating the presence of the at least one electronic message being unread and unscanned.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first indicator comprises a visual indication of a count of unread electronic messages.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second indicator comprises a visual indication of a count of unread electronic messages.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the count of unread electronic messages indicated by the first indicator is equal to the count of unread electronic messages indicated by the second indicator.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first indicator comprises an unread mail icon indicating the presence of at least one unread electronic message along with the visual indication of the count of unread electronic messages.

9. A handheld electronic device comprising:

an input device and a display, the handheld electronic device adapted to;

receive at least one electronic message;

provide a first indicator on the display, the first indicator comprising an indication of the presence of the at least one electronic message being unread and unscanned;

detect an input from the input device, the input comprising a scan of the at least one electronic message without reading; and

generate a second indicator on the display, the second indicator indicating the presence of the at least one electronic message being unread, the first indicator being different from the second indicator in that the first indicator comprises an annunciation providing the indication of the presence of the at least one message being unscanned.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 9, wherein the annunciation comprises at least one selected from the group comprising:

flashing, bolding, changing the size, and changing the color of the first indicator.

11. The handheld electronic device claim 9, wherein the first indicator comprises a visual display indicating the presence of the at least one electronic message being unread and unscanned

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first indicator comprises an icon indicating the presence of the at least one electronic message being unread and unscanned.

13. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first indicator comprises a visual indication of a count of unread electronic messages.

14. The handheld electronic device of claim 13, wherein the second indicator comprises a visual indication of a count of unread electronic messages.

15. The handheld electronic device of claim 14, wherein the count of unread electronic messages indicated by the first indicator is equal to the count of unread electronic messages indicated by the second indicator.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 13, wherein the first indicator comprises an unread mail icon indicating the presence of at least one unread electronic message along with the visual indication of the count of unread electronic messages.

17. A system for managing electronic messages received, comprising:

a display;

a message list of electronic messages received with identification of those that are unread;

input means for selectively displaying the message list on the display for scanning of unread messages received; and

indicator means on the display indicating the presence of new unread electronic messages received since the message list was last displayed.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the indicator means comprises a count of unread electronic messages displayed on the display in addition to the indication of the presence of new unread electronic messages received.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the indicator means indicating the presence of new unread electronic messages received comprises an annunciation added to the count of unread electronic messages received.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the annunciation comprises at least one of:

bolding the count, flashing the count, changing the size of the count and changing the color of the count.