Handheld threading

• US 7,620,407 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Matiskella, David, Mahe, Isabel Ge, Williams, David L., Donald, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brandt; Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US10/759,597
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/422.1, 379/265.02, 379/265.01, 379/93.24, 379/100.08, 379/265.09, 709/206, 358/402
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57

Abstract

The present invention determines which messages to display in message threads to a user. An electronic communication device receives and stores numerous SMS messages transported through an SMS network, but the SMS messages are sent without explicit linking information such as a previous message or subject line. A threading module applies threading rules to determine which messages to correlate into an SMS message thread through implicit link information. The threading rules thread outgoing messages sent in response to an incoming message from a user, or incoming messages where a previous outgoing message was sent to the user. An SMS application displays threads in a user interface and indicates messages threads with an icon in one view, and displays an expanded message thread in another view.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a plurality of related SMS (Short Message Service) messages comprising:

reviewing a plurality of SMS messages associated with a first party;

determining whether to thread one or more SMS messages from the plurality of SMS messages into an SMS message thread by applying a set of incoming SMS message rules to incoming SMS messages, the set of incoming SMS message rules associating an incoming SMS message from a first telephone number and an incoming SMS message from a second telephone number with the SMS message thread which includes one or more SMS messages from a contact associated with the first telephone number and with the second telephone number, and applying a set of outgoing SMS message rules to outgoing SMS messages, the set of outgoing SMS message rules associating an outgoing SMS message with one or more threads including one or more SMS messages, wherein the outgoing SMS message rules are different from the incoming SMS message rules and the one or more SMS messages are also associated with a second party; and

outputting the SMS message thread displaying a relationship between two or more SMS messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the SMS messages associated with the second party comprises a reply message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the SMS messages associated with the second party comprises a message other than a reply message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether to thread further comprises:

searching the one or more SMS messages based on a first identifier associated with the second party.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first identifier comprises a telephone number.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first identifier comprises one from the group of a telephone number and an SMS address.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing the plurality of SMS messages associated with the first party in a persistent storage device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first party is a sender of one of the second party SMS messages and the second party is the receiver.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first party is a receiver of one of the second party SMS messages and the second party is the sender.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a current SMS message from the second party; and

determining whether to thread the current message into the SMS message thread.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of incoming SMS message rules or the set of outgoing SMS message rules includes a rule to prevent threading if the second party is a non-threaded party.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-threaded party comprises a broadcasting party.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of incoming SMS message rules or the set of outgoing SMS message rules includes a rule to verify the second party as a threaded party.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the verification rule verifies the second party if the second party matches an entry in a phone book.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the correlating further comprises:

applying a set of SMS message rules to define thread characteristics, wherein the set of SMS message rules comprises a rule to prevent expired SMS messages from being threaded.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the correlating further comprises:

applying a set of SMS message rules to define thread characteristics, wherein the set of SMS message rules including a rule to define the order in which SMS messages are threaded.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting the SMS message thread comprises:

outputting the SMS message thread to an SMS application for display in a threaded format.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying an icon in the SMS application to represent an SMS message thread.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the SMS application is a network browser.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein outputting further comprises:

formatting messages originated by the first party in a first display format; and

formatting messages originated by the second party in a second display format.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the SMS messages.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving and threading at least one MMS message.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving and threading at least one EMS message.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving and threading at least one message using a data protocol capable of encapsulating messages for transport between networked devices.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to thread is performed without user input.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to thread is performed in accordance with one or more threading rules.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the SMS message thread comprises:

displaying the SMS message thread on a screen of a mobile telephony device.

28. A device for displaying a plurality of related SMS (Short Message Service) messages, comprising:

a SMS message database to store a plurality of SMS messages associated with a first party;

a threading module, coupled in communication with the SMS message database, the threading module determining whether to thread one or more SMS messages from the plurality of SMS messages into an SMS message thread, the one or more SMS messages associated with a second party, and to output the SMS message thread; and

a threading rule database including a set of incoming SMS message rules applicable to incoming SMS messages, the set of incoming SMS message rules associating an incoming SMS message from a first telephone number and an incoming SMS message from a second telephone number with a thread which includes one or more SMS messages associated with a contact associated with the first telephone number and with the second telephone number, and a set of outgoing SMS message rules applicable to outgoing SMS messages, the set of outgoing SMS message rules associating an outgoing SMS message with one or more threads including one or more SMS messages, wherein the set of outgoing SMS message rules are different from the set of incoming SMS message rules.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein one of the second party SMS messages comprises a reply message.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein one of the second party SMS messages comprises a message other than a reply message.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein the threading module searches an SMS message database based on a first identifier associated with the second party.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the first identifier comprises a telephone number.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the first identifier comprises an SMS address.

34. The device of claim 31, wherein the threading module retrieves a second identification for the second party, wherein the SMS message thread comprises SMS messages associated with both the first and second identifications.

35. The device of claim 28, wherein the first party is a sender of one of the second party SMS messages and the second party is the receiver.

36. The device of claim 28, wherein the first party is a receiver of one of the second party SMS messages and the second party is the sender.

37. The device of claim 28, wherein the threading module receives a current SMS message from the second party, and determines whether to thread the current message into the SMS message thread.

38. The device of claim 28, wherein the threading module further comprises a threading engine to apply the set of incoming SMS message rules to incoming SMS messages and the set of outgoing SMS message rules to outgoing SMS messages.

39. The device of claim 28, wherein the set of incoming SMS message rules define thread characteristics, the set of incoming SMS message rules including a rule to prevent threading if the second party is a non-threaded party.

40. The device of claim 37, wherein the threading module further comprises a threading engine to apply the set of incoming SMS message rules to define thread characteristics, wherein the set of incoming SMS message rules including a rule to verify the second party as a threaded party.

41. The device of claim 38, wherein the verification rule verifies the second party if the second party matches an entry in a phone book.

42. The device of claim 28, wherein the set of incoming SMS message rules or the set of outgoing SMS message rules includes a rule to prevent expired SMS messages from being threaded.

43. The device of claim 28, wherein the set of incoming SMS message rules or the set of outgoing SMS message rules includes a rule to define the order in which SMS messages are threaded.

44. The device of claim 28, wherein the threading module outputs the SMS message thread to an SMS application for display in a threaded format.

45. The device of claim 44, further comprising:

the SMS application to display an icon to represent a threaded SMS.

46. The device of claim 28, further comprising:

a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) to display the SMS messages.

47. The device of claim 28, further comprising:

a messaging device to display the SMS messages.

48. The device of claim 28, further comprising:

a mobile device to display the SMS messages.

49. The device of claim 28, further comprising receiving and threading at least one MMS message.

50. The device of claim 28, further comprising receiving and threading at least one EMS message.

51. The device of claim 28, further comprising receiving and threading at least one message using a data protocol capable of encapsulating messages for transport between networked devices.

52. The device of claim 28, wherein determining whether to thread is performed without user input.

53. A computer product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium having computer program instructions and data embodied thereon for displaying a plurality of related SMS (short message service), comprising;

reviewing a plurality of SMS messages associated with a first party;

determining whether to thread one or more SMS messages from the plurality of SMS messages into an SMS message thread by applying a set of incoming SMS message rules to incoming SMS message, the set of incoming SMS message rules associating an incoming SMS message from a first telephone number and an incoming SMS message from a second telephone number with the SMS message thread which includes one or more SMS messages associated with a contact associated with the first telephone number and with the second telephone number, and applying a set of outgoing SMS message rules to outgoing SMS messages, the set of outgoing SMS message rules associating an outgoing SMS message with one or more threads including one or more SMS messages, wherein the outgoing SMS message rules are different from the incoming SMS message rules and the one or more SMS messages are associated with a second party; and

outputting the SMS message thread.

54. The computer product of claim 53, wherein at least one of the SMS messages associated with the second party comprises a reply message that has yet to be transmitted.

55. The computer product of claim 53, wherein at least one of the SMS messages associated with the second party comprises a message other than a reply message.

56. The computer product of claim 53, wherein the identifying comprises:

searching the one or more SMS messages based on a first identifier associated with the second party.

57. The computer product of claim 56, wherein the first identifier comprises a telephone number.

58. The computer product of claim 56, wherein the first identifier comprises an SMS address.

59. The computer product of claim 53, further comprising:

retrieving a second identification for the second party,

wherein the SMS message thread comprises SMS messages associated with both the first and second identifications.

60. The computer product of claim 53, wherein the incoming SMS message rules or the outgoing SMS message rules include a rule to prevent threading if the second party is a non-threaded party.

61. The computer product of claim 53, wherein

the incoming SMS message rules or the outgoing SMS message rules include a rule to verify the second party as a threaded party.

62. The computer product of claim 61, wherein the verification rule verifies the second party if the second party'"'"'s unique identification matches an entry in a phone book.

63. The computer product of claim 53, wherein the determining whether to thread further comprises:

applying a set of SMS message rules to define thread characteristics, wherein the incoming SMS message rules or the outgoing SMS message rules include a rule to prevent expired SMS messages from being threaded.

64. The computer product of claim 53, wherein the determining whether to thread further comprises:

applying a set of SMS message rules to define thread characteristics, wherein the incoming SMS message rules or the outgoing SMS message rules include a rule to define the order in which SMS messages are threaded.

65. The computer product of claim 53, wherein the outputting the SMS message thread comprises:

outputting the SMS message thread to an SMS application for display in a threaded format.

66. The computer product of claim 65, further comprising:

displaying an icon in the SMS application to represent a threaded SMS.

67. The computer program product of claim 53, further comprising receiving and threading at least one MMS message.

68. The computer program product of claim 53, further comprising receiving and threading at least one EMS message.

69. The computer program product of claim 53, further comprising receiving and threading at least one message using a data protocol capable of encapsulating messages for transport between networked devices.

70. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein determining whether to thread is performed without user input.

71. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein outputting the SMS message thread comprises:

displaying the SMS message thread on a screen of a mobile telephony device.

72. A method for displaying a plurality of related messages on a handheld device, comprising:

reviewing a plurality of messages received by the handheld device and associated with a first party;

determining whether to thread one or more messages from the plurality of messages into an message thread by applying a set of incoming SMS message rules to incoming SMS message, the set of incoming SMS message rules associating an incoming SMS message from a first telephone number and an incoming SMS message from a second telephone number with the message thread which includes one or more SMS messages associated with a contact associated with the first telephone number and with the second telephone number, and applying a set of outgoing SMS message rules to outgoing SMS messages, the set of outgoing SMS message rules associating an outgoing SMS message with one or more threads including one or more SMS messages, wherein the outgoing SMS message rules are different from the incoming SMS message rules and the one or more messages are also associated with a second party; and

outputting the message thread.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising receiving and threading at least one MMS message.

74. The method of claim 72, further comprising receiving and threading at least one EMS message.

75. The method of claim 72, wherein determining whether to thread is performed without user input.

76. The method of claim 72, wherein outputting the message thread comprises:

displaying the message thread on a screen of a mobile telephony device.