Patent ID: 8423570

Claim:
A method for searching message data in a portable electronic device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory device, a display device and a communication interface, comprising providing a threaded message inbox, at said display device, said threaded message inbox comprising said message data grouped as threads; receiving search criteria, at said processing unit, for searching said threaded message inbox; initiating a search of an index of said threaded message inbox, at said processing unit, using said search criteria, said index comprising key words extracted from said message data and stored in said memory device; receiving additional message data belonging to a given thread, via said communication interface, while said search is being performed; searching said additional message data in addition to said index; generating search results based on whether at least one of data from said additional message data and data from said index meets said search criteria; and providing said search results in threads at said display device, wherein said search results are automatically updated in response to said receiving said additional message data when said additional message data meets said search criteria.