Method and system for managing unread electronic messages

• US 8,291,347 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bocking, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin, Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEFFINGTON, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US12/423,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752, 715/776, 715/739, 715/765, 715/839, 715/854, 715/855
• US Class Current: 715/859
• 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 unopened electronic messages comprising:

receiving at least one electronic message;

providing a first non-numerical indicator reflecting a presence of the at least one received electronic message being unopened, and that the at least one received electronic message has not yet been displayed in a message listing;

detecting display of a message listing including the at least one received electronic message without displaying content from a body of the at least one received electronic message, the at least one received electronic message remaining in an unopened state; and

generating a second indicator reflecting a presence of the at least one received electronic message being in the unopened state but having been displayed in the message listing, the first non-numerical indicator being different from the second indicator in that the first non-numerical indicator comprises an annunciation providing an indication that the at least one received electronic message has not yet been displayed in the message listing.

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 non-numerical indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-numerical indicator comprises a visual display indicating the presence of the at least one electronic message remaining in an unopened state and not yet having been displayed in the message listing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-numerical indicator comprises an icon indicating the presence of the at least one electronic message remaining in an unopened state and not yet having been displayed in the message listing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second indicator comprises a visual indication of a count of unread electronic messages.

6. 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 non-numerical indicator on the display reflecting the presence of the at least one received electronic message being unopened, and that the at least one received electronic message has not yet been displayed in a message listing;

detect an input from the input device to display a message listing that does not display content from a body of unopened electronic messages, such that the at least one received electronic message remains in an unopened state; and

generate a second indicator on the display, the second indicator reflecting the presence of the at least one received electronic message being in the unopened state but having been displayed in the message listing, the first non-numerical indicator being different from the second indicator in that the first non-numerical indicator comprises an annunciation providing an indication that the at least one received electronic message has not yet been displayed in the message listing.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 6, wherein the annunciation comprises at least one selected from the group comprising:

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

8. The handheld electronic device claim 6, wherein the first indicator comprises a visual display indicating the presence of the at least one electronic message remaining in an unopened state and not yet having been displayed in the message listing.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 6, wherein the first indicator comprises an icon indicating the presence of the at least one electronic message remaining in an unopened state and not yet having been displayed in the message listing.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 6, wherein the second indicator comprises a visual indication of a count of unopened electronic messages.

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

a display;

a message list displaying at least one electronic message received with identification of electronic messages that are in an unopened state;

input means for selectively displaying the message list on the display, the message list displaying summary information of electronic messages received, wherein content from a body of the at least one electronic messages is not displayed in the message list such that the at least one electronic message remains in an unopened state; and

indicator means on the display for providing a first non-numerical indicator reflecting the presence of electronic messages in the unopened state that have been received since the message list was last displayed, and a second indicator reflecting the presence of electronic messages in the unopened state following display of the message list.