Displaying conversations in a conversation-based email system

• US 9,819,624 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Buchheit, Paul T., Chang, Bay-Wei W., Lim, Jing Yee, Rakowski, Brian D., Singh, Sanjeev
• Primary Examiner(s): ELFERVIG, TAYLOR A
• Application Number:
  US10/914,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20050234850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,848 Days
• Field of Search: 709206, 709207, 707 1
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method and system for processing messages is disclosed that includes receiving a plurality of messages directed to a user, where each message has a unique message identifier. Each of the plurality of messages may be associated with a respective conversation, where each conversation has a respective conversation identifier. Also, each conversation includes a set of one or more messages sharing a common set of characteristics that meet a first predefined criteria. A list of conversations is displayed as a set of rows in an order determined by a second predefined criteria, where each row corresponds to one of the listed conversations and includes at least a sender list, a conversation topic and a date/time value. The contents of a conversation is displayed when the user selects a conversation from the displayed list of conversations. Messages can be displayed in one of three modes: expanded, compacted and hidden.

Claims

1. A method of processing messages, comprising:

at a client computer;

receiving from a server a plurality of messages associated with a user;

wherein each of the plurality of messages is associated with a respective conversation, each conversation comprising a set of one or more related messages;

displaying, in a conversation view, content of a selected conversation that is associated with a plurality of messages, the content including one or more viewed or read messages displayed in a compacted mode and an unviewed or unread message displayed in an expanded mode, wherein when a respective message is displayed in compacted mode, at least a first portion of a message body of the respective message is displayed and a second portion of the message body of the respective message is not displayed in the conversation view; and

while displaying the one or more messages in the compacted mode, responding to detecting selection of an expand-all affordance by displaying in the conversation view a message body of each of the messages associated with the selected conversation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the content of a conversation includes displaying a plurality of sub-forms, each sub-form corresponding to a respective message in the conversation, and each sub-form having a plurality of display modes, including a compacted display mode and an expanded display mode;

and wherein the plurality of displayed sub-forms include at least one sub-form in the expanded display mode and at least one sub-form in a display mode other than the expanded display mode.

3. The method of claim 2, further providing a third display mode including a hidden display mode.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user may toggle between the compacted mode and the expanded mode for a respective message by clicking in a concise message header area, the concise message header including an identifier of the message sender and a portion of the message.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a sub-form includes a concise message header, a detailed message header, a message body and a plurality of message redirecting control affordances.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the concise message header includes an identifier of the message sender and a list of identifiers of primary message recipients.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the identifier of a new conversation participant is highlighted when the associated message comprises a first participation in the conversation by the new conversation participant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the highlighting is one or more selected from the list consisting of:

bolding, underlining, font color, font size, background color, and font type.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the identifier of any of the message sender and the primary message recipients is highlighted when the associated message comprises a first participation in the conversation by the message sender or the primary message recipient.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the identifier of the user as the message sender or one of the primary message recipients is replaced with a predefined character string or predefined icon.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the predefined character string or predefined icon comprises a self-referencing identifier in a particular language.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the concise message header includes an identifier of the message sender and the sub-form includes a portion of text from the corresponding message.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the sub-form provides an affordance for rendering the detailed message header visible or invisible to the user.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein displaying the content of a conversation includes displaying a plurality of the sub-forms when the conversation includes a plurality of messages, and wherein the plurality of message redirecting control affordances in each of the displayed sub-forms includes an affordance for producing a reply form to prepare a message to the message sender and/or any of the primary and secondary message recipients.

15. A method for processing messages, comprising:

at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing programs executed by the one or more processors;

receiving a plurality of messages associated with a user associating each of the plurality of messages with a respective conversation, wherein each conversation comprises a set of one or more related messages; and

formatting, for display at a client;

a conversation view including content of a selected conversation that is associated with a plurality of messages, the content including one or more viewed or read messages displayed in a compacted mode and an unviewed or unread message displayed in an expanded mode, wherein when a respective message is displayed in compacted mode, at least a first portion of a message body of the respective message is displayed and a second portion of the message body of the respective message is not displayed in the conversation view; and

a conversation view including a message body of each of the messages associated with the selected conversation for display at the client in response to detecting selection of an expand-all affordance while the one or more messages are displayed in the compacted mode.

16. The method of claim 15, further including providing a plurality of sub-forms, each sub-form corresponding to a respective message in a conversation, and each sub-form having a plurality of display modes, including a compacted display mode and an expanded display mode;

and wherein the plurality of provided sub-forms include at least one sub-form in the expanded display mode and at least one sub-form in a display mode other than the expanded display mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a sub-form includes a concise message header, a detailed message header, a message body and a plurality of message redirecting control affordances.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the concise message header includes an identifier of the message sender and a list of identifiers of primary message recipients.

19. The method of claim 18, further including identifying any of the message sender and the primary message recipients when the associated message comprises a first participation in the conversation by the message sender or the primary message recipient.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the identifier of a new conversation participant is highlighted when the associated message comprises a first participation in the conversation by the new conversation participant.

21. The method of claim 18, further including replacing the identifier of the user as the message sender or one of the primary message recipients with a predefined character string or predefined icon.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the predefined character string or predefined icon comprises a self-referencing identifier in a particular language.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the concise message header includes an identifier of the message sender and the sub-form includes a portion of text from the corresponding message.

24. Memory storing one or more programs for execution by a client computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions to:

receive a plurality of messages associated with a user;

wherein each of the plurality of messages is associated with a respective conversation, and comprises a set of one or more related messages;

display, in a conversation view, content of a selected conversation that is associated with a plurality of messages, the content including one or more viewed or read messages displayed in a compacted mode and an unviewed or unread message displayed in an expanded mode, wherein when a respective message is displayed in compacted mode, at least a first portion of a message body of the respective message is displayed and a second portion of the message body of the respective message is not displayed in the conversation view; and

while displaying the one or more messages in the compacted mode, respond to detecting selection of an expand-all affordance by displaying in the conversation view a message body of each of the messages associated with the selected conversation.

25. The memory of claim 24, wherein the instructions for displaying the content of a conversation includes instructions for displaying a plurality of sub-forms, each sub-form corresponding to a respective message in the conversation, and each sub-form having a plurality of display modes, including a compacted display mode and an expanded display mode;

and wherein the plurality of displayed sub-forms include at least one sub-form in the expanded display mode and at least one sub-form in a display mode other than the expanded display mode.

26. The memory of claim 25, further including instructions for providing a third display mode including a hidden display mode.

27. The memory of claim 25, further including instructions wherein the user may toggle between the compacted mode and the expanded mode for a respective message by clicking in a concise message header area, the concise message header including an identifier of the message sender and a portion of the message.

28. The memory of claim 25, wherein a sub-form includes a concise message header, a detailed message header, a message body and a plurality of message redirecting control affordances.

29. The memory of claim 28, wherein the concise message header includes an identifier of the message sender and a list of identifiers of primary message recipients.

30. The memory of claim 29, further including instructions for highlighting the identifier of a new conversation participant when the associated message comprises a first participation in the conversation by the new conversation participant.

31. The memory of claim 30, wherein the highlighting is one or more selected from the list consisting of:

bolding, underlining, font color, font size, background color, and font type.

32. The memory of claim 29, further including instructions for highlighting the identifier of any of the message sender and the primary message recipients when the associated message comprises a first participation in the conversation by the message sender or the primary message recipient.

33. The memory of claim 29, further including instructions for replacing the identifier of the user as the message sender or one of the primary message recipients with a predefined character string or predefined icon.

34. The memory of claim 33, further including instructions for providing the predefined character string or predefined icon comprises a self-referencing identifier in a particular language.

35. The memory of claim 28, wherein the concise message header includes an identifier of the message sender and the sub-form includes a portion of text from the corresponding message.

36. The memory of claim 28, wherein the instructions for displaying the sub-form includes instructions for providing an affordance for rendering the detailed message header visible or invisible to the user.

37. The memory of claim 28, wherein the instructions for displaying the content of a conversation includes instructions for displaying a plurality of the sub-forms when the conversation includes a plurality of messages, and wherein the instructions for providing the plurality of message redirecting control affordances in each of the displayed sub-forms includes instructions for providing an affordance for producing a reply form to prepare a message to the message sender and/or any of the primary and secondary message recipients.

38. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by a computer system, the one or more programs comprising instructions to:

receive a plurality of messages associated with a user;

associate each of the plurality of messages with a respective conversation, wherein each conversation comprises a set of one or more related messages; and

format, for display at a client;

a conversation view including content of a selected conversation that is associated with a plurality of messages, the content including one or more viewed or read messages displayed in a compacted mode and an unviewed or unread message displayed in an expanded mode, wherein when a respective message is displayed in compacted mode, at least a first portion of a message body of the respective message is displayed and a second portion of the message body of the respective message is not displayed in the conversation view; and

a conversation view including a message body of each of the messages associated with the selected conversation for display at the client in response to detecting selection of an expand-all affordance while the one or more messages are displayed in the compacted mode.

39. The computer readable storage medium of claim 38, further including instructions for providing a plurality of sub-forms, each sub-form corresponding to a respective message in a conversation, and each sub-form having a plurality of display modes, including a compacted display mode and an expanded display mode;

and wherein the plurality of provided sub-forms include at least one sub-form in the expanded display mode and at least one sub-form in a display mode other than the expanded display mode.

40. The computer readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the instructions for providing the sub-form includes instructions for providing a concise message header, a detailed message header, a message body and a plurality of message redirecting control affordances.

41. The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the instructions for providing the sub-form includes instructions for providing an identifier of the message sender and a list of identifiers of primary message recipients in the concise message header.

42. The computer readable storage medium of claim 41, further including instructions for identifying any of the message sender and the primary message recipients when the associated message comprises a first participation in the conversation by the message sender or the primary message recipient.

43. The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the instructions for providing the sub-form includes instructions for providing an identifier of the message sender in the concise message header and for providing a portion of text from the corresponding message in the sub-form.

44. The computer readable storage medium of claim 41, further including instruction for highlighting the identifier of a new conversation participant when the associated message comprises a first participation in the conversation by the new conversation participant.

45. The computer readable storage medium of claim 41, further including replacing the identifier of the user as the message sender or one of the primary message recipients with a predefined character string or predefined icon.

46. The computer readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the predefined character string or predefined icon comprises a self-referencing identifier in a particular language.

47. A client computer for processing messages, comprising:

memory;

one or more programs stored in the memory and executed by the client computer, wherein the one or more programs comprise instructions for;

receiving a plurality of messages directed to a user;

wherein each of the plurality of messages is associated with a respective conversation, and comprises a set of one or more related messages;

displaying, in a conversation view, content of a selected conversation that is associated with a plurality of messages, the content including one or more viewed or read messages displayed in a compacted mode and an unviewed or unread message displayed in an expanded mode, wherein when a respective message is displayed in compacted mode, at least a first portion of a message body of the respective message is displayed and a second portion of the message body of the respective message is not displayed in the conversation view; and

while displaying the one or more messages in the compacted mode, responding to detecting selection of an expand-all affordance by displaying in the conversation view a message body of each of the messages associated with the selected conversation.

48. A system for processing messages, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors;

one or more programs stored in the memory and executed by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for;

receiving a plurality of messages associated with a user;

associating each of the plurality of messages with a respective conversation, wherein each conversation comprises a set of one or more related messages; and

formatting, for display at a client;

a conversation view including content of a selected conversation that is associated with a plurality of messages, the content including one or more viewed or read messages displayed in a compacted mode and an unviewed or unread message displayed in an expanded mode, wherein when a respective message is displayed in compacted mode, at least a first portion of a message body of the respective message is displayed and a second portion of the message body of the respective message is not displayed in the conversation view; and

a conversation view including a message body of each of the messages associated with the selected conversation for display at the client in response to detecting selection of an expand-all affordance while the one or more messages are displayed in the compacted mode.