Systems and methods for throttling display of electronic messages

• US 9,124,546 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharp, Phillip, Pollock, Xander
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US14/145,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20150188875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

Systems and methods for throttling display of clustered electronic messages are disclosed. In some implementations, a method includes, at a computing device detecting occurrence of one or more cluster throttling trigger events for a first message cluster, of a first cluster type, in an email application. The method further includes updating a set of properties for the first message cluster in accordance with the one or more cluster throttling trigger events and comparing the updated set of properties for the first message cluster to one or more cluster display throttling rules associated with the first message cluster. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the set of properties for the first message cluster satisfies the one or more cluster display throttling rules, refreshing display of the first message cluster within a listing of electronic messages.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a computing device having one or more processors, a display and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;

displaying a listing of entries in an email application, wherein the listing of entries comprises one or more electronic messages and a plurality of message clusters the listing of entries including a first entry listing that is a first electronic message displayed outside of the plurality of message clusters, a second entry listing that is a first message cluster, and a third entry listing that is a second message cluster, wherein the first message cluster is a first cluster type and comprises a first plurality of electronic messages having a collective association, and the second message cluster comprises a second plurality of messages;

detecting occurrence of one or more cluster display throttling trigger events for the first message cluster, wherein a first cluster display throttling trigger event in the one or more cluster display throttling trigger events is;

detection of passage of a predetermined amount of time since refreshing display of the first message cluster,

an occurrence of a particular time of day,

an occurrence of a predetermined date, or

receipt by the first message cluster of a predefined number of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster;

updating a set of properties for the first message cluster in accordance with the detected one or more cluster display throttling trigger events;

comparing the updated set of properties for the first message cluster to one or more cluster display throttling rules associated with the first message cluster, wherein the one or more cluster display throttling rules affect when the first message cluster is re-ranked within the listing of entries; and

in accordance with a determination that the updated set of properties for the first message cluster satisfies the one or more cluster display throttling rules;

refreshing display without user intervention, of the first message cluster within the listing of electronic messages in the email application, wherein refreshing display of the first message cluster comprises re-ranking the first message cluster within the listing of entries thereby changing its relative position among the entries within the listing including the relative position of the first message cluster with respect to the first message and to the second message cluster.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein refreshing display of the first message cluster comprises displaying the first message cluster at the top of the listing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a cluster throttling trigger event of the one or more cluster throttling trigger events is receipt of an incoming electronic message corresponding to the first message cluster.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a cluster display throttling rule of the one or more cluster display throttling rules comprises receipt by the first message cluster of at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster, and occurrence of a particular time of day.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a cluster display throttling rule of the one or more cluster display throttling rules comprises the first message cluster receiving at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster and passage of a predetermined amount of time since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a cluster display throttling rule of the one or more cluster display throttling rules comprises the first message cluster receiving at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster, wherein the at least one new electronic message is identified as having priority.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the one or more cluster display throttling rules is user-generated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one cluster display throttling rule of the one or more cluster display throttling rules is a default rule for message clusters of the first cluster type.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein one cluster display throttling rule of the one or more cluster display throttling rules is a default rule for all message clusters displayed in the listing of electronic messages.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the default rule for all message clusters displayed in the listing of electronic messages overrides all other cluster throttling rules.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein satisfaction of the one or more cluster display throttling rules is based on a weighted combination of the one or more cluster display throttling rules.

12. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and are configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a listing of entries in an email application, wherein the listing of entries comprises one or more electronic messages and a plurality of message clusters the listing of entries including a first entry listing that is a first electronic message displayed outside of the plurality of message clusters, a second entry listing that is a first message cluster, and a third entry listing that is a second message cluster, wherein the first message cluster is a first cluster type and comprises a first plurality of electronic messages having a collective association, and the second message cluster comprises a second plurality of messages;

detecting occurrence of one or more cluster display throttling trigger events for the first message cluster, wherein a first cluster display throttling trigger event in the one or more cluster display throttling trigger events is;

detection of passage of a predetermined amount of time since refreshing display of the first message cluster,

an occurrence of a particular time of day,

an occurrence of a predetermined date, or

receipt by the first message cluster of a predefined number of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster;

updating a set of properties for the first message cluster in accordance with the detected one or more cluster display throttling trigger events;

comparing the updated set of properties for the first message cluster to one or more cluster display throttling rules associated with the first message cluster, wherein the one or more cluster display throttling rules affect when the first message cluster is re-ranked within the listing of entries; and

in accordance with a determination that the updated set of properties for the first message cluster satisfies the one or more cluster display throttling rules;

refreshing display without user intervention, of the first message cluster within the listing of electronic messages in the email application, wherein refreshing display of the first message cluster comprises re-ranking the first message cluster within the listing of entries thereby changing its relative position among the entries within the listing including the relative position of the first message cluster with respect to the first message and to the second message cluster.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein refreshing display of the first message cluster within a listing of electronic messages comprises displaying the first message cluster at the top of the listing.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein a cluster throttling trigger event of the one or more cluster throttling trigger events is receipt of an incoming electronic message corresponding to the first message cluster.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein a cluster display throttling rule of the one or more cluster display throttling rules comprises receipt by the first message cluster of at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster, and occurrence of a particular time of day.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein a cluster display throttling rule of the one or more cluster display throttling rules comprises the first message cluster receiving at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster and passage of a predetermined amount of time since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computing system with one or more processors, cause the computing system to execute a method of:

displaying a listing of entries in an email application, wherein the listing of entries comprises one or more electronic messages and a plurality of message clusters the listing of entries including a first entry listing that is a first electronic message displayed outside of the plurality of message clusters, a second entry listing that is a first message cluster, and a third entry listing that is a second message cluster, wherein the first message cluster is a first cluster type and comprises a first plurality of electronic messages having a collective association, and the second message cluster comprises a second plurality of messages;

detecting occurrence of one or more cluster display throttling trigger events for the first message cluster, wherein a first cluster display throttling trigger event in the one or more cluster display throttling trigger events is;

detection of passage of a predetermined amount of time since refreshing display of the first message cluster,

an occurrence of a particular time of day,

an occurrence of a predetermined date, or

receipt by the first message cluster of a predefined number of new electronic messages since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster;

updating a set of properties for the first message cluster in accordance with the detected one or more cluster display throttling trigger events;

comparing the updated set of properties for the first message cluster to one or more cluster display throttling rules associated with the first message cluster, wherein the one or more cluster display throttling rules affect when the first message cluster is re-ranked within the listing of entries; and

in accordance with a determination that the updated set of properties for the first message cluster satisfies the one or more cluster display throttling rules;

refreshing display without user intervention, of the first message cluster within the listing of electronic messages in the email application, wherein refreshing display of the first message cluster comprises re-ranking the first message cluster within the listing of entries thereby changing its relative position among the entries within the listing including the relative position of the first message cluster with respect to the first message and to the second message cluster.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein refreshing display of the first message cluster within a listing of electronic messages comprises displaying the first message cluster at the top of the listing.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein a cluster throttling trigger event of the one or more cluster throttling trigger events is receipt of an incoming electronic message corresponding to the first message cluster.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein a cluster display throttling rule of the one or more cluster display throttling rules comprises receipt by the first message cluster of at least one new electronic message since previously refreshing display of the first message cluster, and occurrence of a particular time of day.