Patent ID: 7363590
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. In a computer system operatively coupled to a network and capable of displaying a user interface, a method for displaying electronic mail conversation threads comprising: (A) providing a first displayable calendar bar utility, the calendar utility defining a plurality of time periods; (B) establishing a reference link between at least one of the defined time periods and a data structure used to maintain information associated with the defined time period; (C) displaying the first linear calendar bar utility on the user interface; and (D) in response to receipt of selection criteria identifying one of the defined time periods, displaying on the user interface a graphic representation of an electronic mail conversation thread, said graphic representation designating a relationship between at least two electronic mail messages within the conversation thread by graphically interconnecting symbolic representations of said at least two electronic mail messages, derived from the information maintained in the data structure associated with the defined time period, the graphic representation including a message tree containing the interconnected symbolic representations of the at least two electronic mail messages, wherein each interconnection between respective ones of the symbolic representations of the at least two electronic mail messages in the message tree represents a parent child relationship between the represented ones of the at least two electronic mail messages, wherein the symbolic representations collectively span multiple ones of the time periods defined by the calendar bar utility, and wherein each one of the symbolic representations of the electronic mail messages in the message tree is contained in only one of the time periods defined by the calendar bar utility.