Patent ID: 7370277

Claim:
A graphical user interface, stored in a computer readable storage medium, that enables perception of information regarding electronic mail messages, the interface comprising: an electronic mail message display area configured to display information included in a first electronic mail message received by a user, the first electronic mail message being included in a list of electronic mail messages, received by the user; a next-interface control configured to, upon activation, enable progress through the list of electronic mail messages received by the user to cause the electronic mail message display area to display information included in a second electronic mail message that subsequent to the first electronic mail message in the list of electronic mail messages received by the user; a first informational tool tip configured to provide a perceivable indication to the user of a portion of the information included in the second electronic mail message, the informational tool tip being activated in response to a determination that, for a threshold period of time, a position of an input devices in maintained relative to the next-interface control; a previous-interface control configured to, upon activation, cause the electronic mail message display area to display information included in a third electronic mail message that is prior to the first electronic mail message in the list of electronic mail messages received by the user, the third electronic mail message being different than the first electronic mail message and the second electronic mail message; and a second informational tool tip configured to provide a perceivable indication to the user of a portion of the information included the third electronic mail massage, the second informational tool tip being activated in response to a determination that, for a threshold period of time, a position of the input device is maintained relative to the previous-interface control.