Aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations

• US 8,701,046 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McCann, Robert Emmett, Affronti, Michael, Brauninger, Andrew, Edelen, James
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US12/147,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20090327972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 715200-277, 715700-867, 345 30-111
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

Techniques for the aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations are described. Some techniques may aggregate items in response to user input identifying a scope for item retrieval. The user input may identify a scope such as selection of a local storage location or a search query for retrieving items. The aggregated items may span multiple storage locations and include items within the identified scope and related items outside the identified scope. A group of aggregated items are presented in a hierarchical display within a user interface. The hierarchical display may visually differentiate items inside and outside of the identified scope, and may identify parent-child relationship between related items. An aggregate header for the group of aggregated items may be displayed indicating total items in the group and a status for items in the group within the identified scope. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving user input identifying a scope for item retrieval, wherein scope comprises one of;

a local storage location for items, or a search query for retrieving one or more items, the items comprising at least one of;

electronic mail messages and electronic mail message attachments;

retrieving items according to the identified scope;

associating items related to the retrieved items with the retrieved items, wherein when the scope is a local storage location the items related to the retrieved items include items that are stored in a different storage location, and when the scope is a search query, the items related to the retrieved items include items that do not meet the search query;

aggregating items within the identified scope with related items outside of the identified scope;

presenting a group of the aggregated items in a hierarchical display within a user interface; and

displaying an aggregate header for the group of aggregated items, the aggregate header indicating all of the message authors and message senders, a total number of items in the group of aggregated items and a status of items in the group that are within the identified scope.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein items outside of the identified scope are visually differentiated from items within the identified scope.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein items outside of the identified scope have different text formatting than items within the identified scope.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical display identifies parent-child relationship between related items.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a child item is indented from a parent item.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein a child item is graphically connected to a parent item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of aggregated items can be expanded and collapsed within the user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

when the scope comprises a local storage location,

the group includes aggregated items from multiple storage locations including the local storage location and one or more additional storage locations.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

when the scope comprises a search query for retrieving one or more items,

the group includes items within the identified scope that satisfy the search query and items outside of the identified scope that are related to the items that satisfy the search query.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a status of items includes at least one of:

a read/unread status, a category, and a flag.

11. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:

aggregate items in response to receiving an identified scope, the aggregated items comprising items within the identified scope and related items outside of the identified scope, wherein when the scope comprises a local storage location for items, the related items include items that are stored in a different storage location, and when the scope comprises a search query, the related items include items that do not meet the search query, the items comprising at least one of;

electronic mail messages and electronic mail message attachments;

present a group of the aggregated items in a hierarchical display within a user interface; and

display an aggregate header for the group of aggregated items, the aggregate header indicating all of the message authors and message senders, a total number of items in the group of aggregated items and a status of items in the group that are within the identified scope.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to aggregate items from multiple storage locations.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to visually differentiate items outside of the identified scope from items within the identified scope.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to identify parent-child relationship between related items.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein a status of items includes at least one of:

a read/unread status, a category, and a flag.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving user input identifying a scope for retrieving electronic mail messages, wherein scope comprises one of;

a local storage location for electronic mail messages, or a search query for retrieving one or more electronic mail messages;

presenting a user interface for an electronic mail application comprising a list pane displaying a list of electronic mail messages within the identified scope;

receiving user input selecting to arrange the listed electronic mail messages by conversation;

aggregating the electronic mail messages within the identified scope with at least one of;

related electronic mail messages and related electronic mail message attachments that are outside of the identified scope, wherein when the scope is a local storage location the electronic mail messages and electronic mail message attachments related to the retrieved electronic mail messages include at least one message or attachment that is stored in a different storage location, and when the scope is a search query, the electronic mail messages and electronic mail message attachments related to the retrieved electronic mail messages include at least one message or attachment that does not meet the search query;

presenting a conversation in the list pane comprising a hierarchical display of the aggregated electronic mail messages, the hierarchical display identifying parent-child relationships between related electronic mail messages and visually differentiating electronic mail messages outside of the identified scope from electronic mail messages within the identified scope; and

displaying an aggregate conversation header for the conversation indicating all of the message authors and message senders, a total number of electronic mail messages in the conversation and a number of unread electronic mail messages in the conversation that are within the identified scope.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

when the identified scope comprises a selected folder within the user interface of the electronic mail application,

the conversation includes electronic mail messages within the identified scope that are stored in the selected folder and electronic mail messages outside of the identified scope that are stored in one or more additional folders of the electronic mail application.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

when the identified scope comprises a search query for retrieving electronic mail message within the electronic mail application,

the conversation includes electronic mail messages within the identified scope that satisfy the search query and electronic mail messages outside of the identified scope that are related to the electronic mail messages that satisfy the search query.

19. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions causing a computer to perform the method of claim 16.