Patent ID: 7159011

Claim:
A message management system for use with an online electronic message board, said system comprising: a first routine executing on a computer associated with the system for sorting electronic messages and storing them in a plurality of groups such that they are reviewable by users within a web browser as individual sets of electronic messages identified under separate group names; a second routine also executing on a computer associated with the system, said second routine being configured: (i) for receiving a user query; and (ii) for locating electronic messages in response to said user query; and (iii) for transmitting at least a list of such electronic messages to a user in response to said query; and wherein said second routine is further configured to display listings of messages in a first portion of a user query interface based on a group of filter buttons provided within a second portion of said user query interface, such that a first listing of a first set of messages for a first group can be provided within said user query interface in response to a first user operation selecting a first group name filter button, and a second listing of a second set of messages for a second group can be provided within said user query interface in response to a second user operation selecting a second group name filter button; said user query interface being further controlled so that said group filter buttons, including said group name filter button and said second group name filter button, are both visible in said second portion of said user query during both said first user operation and said second operation to facilitate review of messages by a user.