MESSAGING CLIENT APPLICATION INTERFACE

• US 20170310813A1
• Filed: 07/07/2017
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Seo, Kijun, DeVincenzi, Anthony, Underwood, IV, George Milton, Beausoleil, Sean, Edwards, Darian
• Granted Patent: US 11,140,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A user interface for a messaging client application can include a message list. By executing various input operations on a representation of a message in the message list, the user can take an action on the message. For example, a user operating a pointing device can perform a drag operation on a representation of the message in the message list, and the action to be taken on the message can be indicated by the direction and distance of the drag. Visual feedback can be provided during the drag operation to indicate the action that will be taken if the user ends the drag at the current location.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

presenting, at a user device, a user interface including a message-list pane that displays a list of messages, each message being associated with a control menu having a dormant state and an active state, the control menu including a set of control elements, each control element being different from another and corresponding a different action that once selected can be applied to the first message,

displaying, upon receiving a selection of a first message from the list of messages, the control menu associated with the first message in the dormant state;

receiving a user input to render active the control menu;

receiving a selection of a control element from the set of control elements; and

applying an action corresponding to the selected control element to the first message.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising:

presenting, at a user device, a user interface including a message-list pane that displays a list of messages, each message being associated with a control menu having a dormant state and an active state, the control menu including a set of control elements, each control element being different from another and corresponding a different action that once selected can be applied to the first message,

displaying, upon receiving a selection of a first message from the list of messages, the control menu associated with the first message in the dormant state;

receiving a user input to render active the control menu;

receiving a selection of a control element from the set of control elements; and

applying an action corresponding to the selected control element to the first message.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the set of control elements is displayed within the boundary of the first message.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the set of control elements is displayed outside the boundary of the first message.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the set of control elements corresponds to actions comprising list, defer, save, or delete.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein each control element of the set of control elements comprises an visual indicator or a text command.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein a dormant control menu is rendered active by selecting a control element.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein selecting a control element comprises moving a cursor over the control element.

35. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising;

presenting, at a user device, a user interface including a message-list pane that displays a list of messages, each message being associated with a control menu having a dormant state and an active state, the control menu including a set of control elements, each control element being different from another and corresponding a different action that once selected can be applied to the first message,

displaying, upon receiving a selection of a first message from the list of messages, the control menu associated with the first message in the dormant state;

receiving a user input to render active the control menu;

receiving a selection of a control element from the set of control elements; and

applying an action corresponding to the selected control element to the first message.

36. The computer system of claim 35, wherein the set of control elements is displayed within the boundary of the first message.

37. The computer system of claim 35, wherein the set of control elements is displayed outside the boundary of the first message.

38. The computer system of claim 35, wherein the set of control elements corresponds to actions comprising list, defer, save, or delete.

39. The computer system of claim 35, wherein each control element of the set of control elements comprises an visual indicator or a text command.

40. The computer system of claim 35, wherein a dormant control menu is rendered active by selecting a control element.

41. The computer system of claim 40, wherein selecting a control element comprises moving a cursor over the control element.