Threaded presentation of electronic mail
US7421690B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L51/216
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A threaded list of e-mail messages is provided by checking each received message against previous messages to determine whether the new message is associated with previous messages. If so, then a new thread is created. The new thread has an associated thread header, which stores metadata bout the messages in the thread. If the received message is related to messages in an existing thread, then the received message is added to that thread, and the thread header for that thread is updated to reflect data from the received message. The thread header appears with messages in a message list view of the inbox, and provides data about the thread. Messages that are not part of a thread are shown in the same view as threaded messages, without a thread header. This allows a user to view both threaded and non-threaded messages in a single view.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.