Patent ID: 8189749

Claim:
A method for handling messages in a messaging system, comprising: receiving a playback request for a message; initiating playback of the message in response to the request; receiving, at a first time after the initiating, a first user control input that is associated with the playback request for the message, the first user control input corresponding to a fast-forward function or a rewind function; discontinuing playback of the message in response to receiving the first user control input; determining whether a second user control input is received prior to expiration of a first time period, the first time period beginning at the first time, the second user control input corresponding to a same function as the first user control input; and resuming playback of the message, in response to the second user control input, at a first offset when the second user control input is not received prior to expiration of the first time period and at a second offset when the second user control input is received prior to expiration of the first time period, wherein the first and second offsets correspond to different temporal positions within the message.