PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8689116-B2
Application Number: US-201113165681-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Email user interface

Abstract:
Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive a reply or forward command for a selected email message in an email user interface and display a composition window in response to the command, wherein the displaying includes a sequence of images to create the illusion of the composition window popping out of the selected email message, the sequence of images including an initial image that is a copy of the selected email message, a final image of the composition window including an editable body, and at least one image between the initial image and the final image that has characteristics of both the initial and final images.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method of presenting an email user interface comprising:
 receiving a reply or forward command for a selected email message; and 
 displaying a composition window in response to the command, wherein the displaying includes a sequence of at least three images to create the illusion of the composition window popping out of the selected email message; 
 wherein the sequence of at least three images includes: an initial image that is a copy of the selected email message, a final image of the composition window including an editable body, and at least one image between the initial image and the final image that has characteristics of both the initial and final images; 
 wherein elements of the selected email message appear in the initial image but not in the final image, elements of the composition window appear in the final image but not in the initial image, and elements of the email user interface behind the composition window are dimmed and not selectable. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the elements of the selected email message that appear in the initial image but not in the final image fade-out as the sequence of images progresses from the initial image to the final image. 
     
     
       3. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the elements of the composition window that appear in the final image but not in the initial image fade-in as the sequence of images progresses from the initial image to the final image. 
     
     
       4. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the sequence of the at least three images increase in size from the initial image to the final image. 
     
     
       5. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the sequence of the at least three images appear sequentially along an arced path originating from the selected email message. 
     
     
       6. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the email user interface is in full screen mode until the composition window is closed. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus to present an email user interface, the apparatus comprising:
 a processing device, wherein the processing device executes instructions that cause the processing device to
 receive a reply or forward command for a selected email message; 
 display a composition window in response to the command, wherein the displaying includes a sequence of at least three images to create the illusion of the composition window popping out of the selected email message; 
 
 wherein the sequence of at least three images includes: an initial image that is a copy of the selected email message, a final image of the composition window including an editable body, and at least one image between the initial image and the final image that has characteristics of both the initial and final images; 
 wherein elements of the selected email message appear in the initial image but not in the final image, elements of the composition window appear in the final image but not in the initial image, and elements of the email user interface behind the composition window are dimmed and not selectable. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the elements of the selected email message that appear in the initial image but not in the final image fade-out as the sequence of images progresses from the initial image to the final image. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the elements of the composition window that appear in the final image but not in the initial image fade-in as the sequence of images progresses from the initial image to the final image. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the sequence of the at least three images increase in size from the initial image to the final image. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the sequence of the at least three images appear sequentially along an arced path originating from the selected email message. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the email user interface is in full screen mode until the composition window is closed. 
     
     
       13. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processing device to perform a method comprising:
 receiving a reply or forward command for a selected email message; 
 displaying a composition window in response to the command, wherein the displaying includes a sequence of at least three images to create the illusion of the composition window popping out of the selected email message; 
 wherein the sequence of at least three images includes: an initial image that is a copy of the selected email message, a final image of the composition window including an editable body, and at least one image between the initial image and the final image that has characteristics of both the initial and final images; 
 wherein elements of the selected email message appear in the initial image but not in the final image, elements of the composition window appear in the final image but not in the initial image, and elements of the email user interface behind the composition window are dimmed and not selectable. 
 
     
     
       14. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the elements of the selected email message that appear in the initial image but not in the final image fade-out as the sequence of images progresses from the initial image to the final image. 
     
     
       15. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the elements of the composition window that appear in the final image but not in the initial image fade-in as the sequence of images progresses from the initial image to the final image. 
     
     
       16. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the sequence of the at least three images increase in size from the initial image to the final image. 
     
     
       17. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the sequence of the at least three images appear sequentially along an arced path originating from the selected email message. 
     
     
       18. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the email user interface is in full screen mode until the composition window is closed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/433,178, filed Jan. 14, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The various embodiments described herein relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods to manage and display an email user interface. 
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE/PERMISSION 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice applies: Copyright 2011, Apple Inc., All Rights Reserved. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An email user interface displays email messages in an orderly format and provides a user an interactive medium for the organization, manipulation, and generation of email messages. Email messages can be generated by replying to or forwarding an email message stored and displayed in the email user interface. For some email user interfaces, an input to reply to or forward an email results in a pop up composition window. Additionally, email messages can be organized into a plurality of mailboxes or folders. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive a reply or forward command for a selected email message in an email user interface and display a composition window in response to the command, wherein the displaying includes a sequence of images to create the illusion of the composition window popping out of the selected email message, the sequence of images including an initial image that is a copy of the selected email message, a final image of the composition window including an editable body, and at least one image between the initial image and the final image that has characteristics of both the initial and final images. 
     For one embodiment, exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive a reply or forward command for a selected email message, determine that the email user interface is in full screen mode and that the selected email message is at least partially outside of a visible area of the email user interface, and display a composition window in response to receiving the command while in full screen mode, wherein the displaying includes a sequence of images to create the illusion of the composition window sliding up from the bottom of the screen. 
     For yet another embodiment, exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems display an email user interface including a collapsible panel of mailboxes and folders and favorites bar including a plurality of the mailboxes and folders, wherein the favorites bar is displayed separately from and independently of whether or not the collapsible panel is collapsed or not and wherein one of the plurality of mailboxes and folders in the favorites bar is a hierarchical folder that includes a subfolder that is accessible via a drop down menu from the hierarchical folder in the favorites bar. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates, in block diagram form, an exemplary processing system that can group email messages into conversations; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method of generating a composition window for responding to an existing message; 
         FIGS. 3-8  illustrate an exemplary mail user interface in full screen mode and generation of a composition window for responding to an existing message; 
         FIGS. 9-13  illustrate an exemplary mail user interface in full screen mode in which the composition window maintains focus until the message is canceled or sent; 
         FIGS. 14-19  illustrate an exemplary mail user interface in full screen mode and generation of a composition window for responding to an existing message when the existing message is at least partially off screen; 
         FIGS. 20-23  illustrate an exemplary generation of a composition window for responding to an existing message when the mail user interface is not in full screen mode; 
         FIG. 24  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method of dynamically displaying controls for a message in a mail user interface; 
         FIG. 25  illustrates an exemplary mail user interface displaying dynamic controls for a message. 
         FIG. 26  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method of adding a folder or mailbox to a favorites bar in a mail user interface; 
         FIGS. 27-31  illustrate the addition of a folder or mailbox to a favorites bar by drag and drop in an exemplary mail user interface; 
         FIG. 32  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method of dragging a message from one folder or mailbox to another folder or mailbox on the favorites bar in a mail user interface; 
         FIGS. 33-38  illustrate dragging a message from one folder or mailbox to another folder or mailbox on the favorites bar in an exemplary mail user interface; 
         FIG. 39  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method of removing a folder or mailbox from a favorites bar in a mail user interface; 
         FIGS. 40-45  illustrate removing a folder or mailbox from a favorites bar in an exemplary mail user interface; and 
         FIGS. 46-47  illustrate an exemplary mail user interface in which the mailbox panel has been collapsed and a favorites bar is used to navigate between mailboxes and folders. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments and aspects of the invention(s) will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present inventions. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates, in block diagram form, an exemplary data processing system  100  that can display a composition window and a favorites bar including a plurality of mailboxes or folders as described herein. Data processing system  100  may include one or more microprocessors  105  and connected system components (e.g., multiple connected chips) or the data processing system  100  may be a system on a chip. 
     The data processing system  100  includes memory  110  which is coupled to the microprocessor(s)  105 . The memory  110  may be used for storing data, metadata, and programs for execution by the microprocessor(s)  105 . The memory  110  may include one or more of volatile and non-volatile memories, such as Random Access Memory (“RAM”), Read Only Memory (“ROM”), Flash, Phase Change Memory (“PCM”), or other types of data storage. 
     The data processing system  100  also includes an audio input/output subsystem  115  which may include a microphone and/or a speaker for, for example, playing back music, providing telephone or voice/video chat functionality through the speaker and microphone, etc. 
     A display controller and display device  120  provides a visual user interface for the user; this user interface may include a graphical user interface which, for example, is similar to that shown on a Macintosh computer when running Mac OS operating system software or an iPad, iPhone, or similar device when running iOS operating system software. 
     The data processing system  100  also includes one or more wireless transceivers  130 , such as an IEEE 802.11 transceiver, an infrared transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a wireless cellular telephony transceiver (e.g., 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G), or another wireless protocol to connect the data processing system  100  with another device, external component, or a network. 
     It will be appreciated that one or more buses, may be used to interconnect the various components shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The data processing system  100  may be a personal computer, tablet-style device, such as an iPad, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone with PDA-like functionality, such as an iPhone, a Wi-Fi based telephone, a handheld computer which includes a cellular telephone, a media player, such as an iPod, an entertainment system, such as a iPod touch, or devices which combine aspects or functions of these devices, such as a media player combined with a PDA and a cellular telephone in one device. In other embodiments, the data processing system  100  may be a network computer or an embedded processing device within another device or consumer electronic product. 
     The system  100  also includes one or more input or output (“I/O”) devices and interfaces  125  which are provided to allow a user to provide input to, receive output from, and otherwise transfer data to and from the system. These I/O devices may include a mouse, keypad or a keyboard, a touch panel or a multi-touch input panel, camera, network interface, modem, other known I/O devices or a combination of such I/O devices. The touch input panel may be a single touch input panel which is activated with a stylus or a finger or a multi-touch input panel which is activated by one finger or a stylus or multiple fingers, and the panel is capable of distinguishing between one or two or three or more touches and is capable of providing inputs derived from those touches to the processing system  100 . The I/O devices and interfaces  125  may include a connector for a dock or a connector for a USB interface, FireWire, etc. to connect the system  100  with another device, external component, or a network. 
     It will be appreciated that additional components, not shown, may also be part of the system  100 , and, in certain embodiments, fewer components than that shown in  FIG. 1  may also be used in a data processing system  100 . It will be apparent from this description that aspects of the inventions may be embodied, at least in part, in software. That is, the computer-implemented methods may be carried out in a computer system or other data processing system in response to its processor or processing system executing sequences of instructions contained in a memory, such as memory  110  or other machine-readable storage medium. The software may further be transmitted or received over a network (not shown) via a network interface device  125 . In various embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in combination with the software instructions to implement the present embodiments. Thus, the techniques are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software, or to any particular source for the instructions executed by the data processing system  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method  200  of generating a composition window for responding to an existing message. At block  205 , the data processing system  100  receives a command to respond to a selected email message (e.g., reply, reply to all, or forward). At block  210 , the data processing system determines if the mail user interface is in full screen mode. As used herein, full screen mode refers to the window displaying the mail user interface being of such a size as to cover the entire display area of the screen in at least one of the horizontal and vertical directions. For one embodiment, full screen mode covers the entire display area of the screen in both horizontal and vertical directions. For one embodiment, an application dock or quick launch toolbar remains visible when the mail user interface is in full screen mode. 
     For simplicity, the description and figures refer to using full screen mode as the determination. For an alternate embodiment, another setting is used interchangeably with the full screen mode. For example, instead of determining if the mail user interface is in full screen mode, the data processing system  100  determines if a preference has been set, e.g., by default setting or via a drop down menu or other user preference interface. In effect, the setting of the preference would result in the data processing system  100  proceeding with the method  200  in the same manner as it would if the determination was based upon whether or not the mail user interface is in full screen mode. 
     If the mail user interface is in full screen mode, at block  215 , the data processing system  100  determines if the selected message is at least partially outside of the visible area of the user interface. If the selected message is not outside of the visible area of the user interface, at block  220 , the data processing system  100  displays a composition window as a sequence of images (e.g., as an animation) to create the illusion of the composition window popping out of the selected email message. 
       FIGS. 3-8  illustrate an exemplary mail user interface  300  in full screen mode and generation of a composition window as an animation creating the illusion of the composition window popping out of the selected email message (“pop out animation”). For example, in  FIG. 3 , a message  305  is selected with the mail user interface  300  (e.g., a selected message will have a bold border, be highlighted, or emphasized in another manner). The data processing system receives a reply command  310 , and determines that the mail user interface  300  is in full screen mode and that the selected message  305  is within the visible area of the mail user interface.  FIG. 4  illustrates one of the first images  405  in a sequence of images for the composition window that is a copy of and displayed on top of the selected email message  305 . For one embodiment, the first image or one of the first images  405  in the pop out animation is a partial copy of the selected email message  305 . For example, the first image of the composition window  405  may include the majority of elements of the selected email message  305  but also include an element or partial element of the final composition window that is not present in the selected email message  305 .  FIGS. 5-8  illustrate exemplary images  405  in the animation in which the composition window  405  grows in size and moves along an arced path originating from the selected email message  305  as the sequence of images progresses from the initial image to the final image. For one embodiment, elements of the selected email message  305  that appear in the initial image  405  but not in the final composition window  405 , such as the header  410  and location of the text from the body  415  of the selected email message  305 , fade-out as the sequence of images progresses from the initial image to the final image. For one embodiment, elements of the that appear in the final composition window  405  but not in the initial image  405 , such as a composition body  805  (which may include quoted text from the selected message  305 ), a composition window header  810 , and toolbar  815 , fade-in as the sequence of images progresses from the initial image to the final image. For alternate embodiments, more or less images are used to create the pop out animation. 
     For one embodiment, at block  225 , the data processing system  100  maintains focus on the composition window  405  until the message is closed (when the mail user interface  300  is in full screen mode). Maintaining focus, as used herein, refers to the data processing system  100  allowing the user to interact with the composition window  405  (e.g., typing in any of the message header fields, editing the body of the message, interacting with various buttons on the composition window  405 , etc.) but not letting the user bring the main window of the mail user interface  300  to the forefront, interact with another message or window, etc. until the message in the composition window  405  is sent or the composition window is otherwise closed. For one embodiment, elements of the email user interface  300  behind the composition window  405  are dimmed and not selectable until the composition window is closed (e.g., canceled or sent). Once the window is closed, at block  230 , the composition window  405  is removed from the display by way of a sequence of images to create the illusion of the composition window sliding down and off of the bottom of the screen (“slide down animation”). 
       FIGS. 9-13  illustrate the exemplary mail user interface  405  in full screen mode in which the composition window  405  maintains focus until the message is closed e.g., by selecting close window icon  905 , send icon  910 , or otherwise closing or sending the composition window  405  by way of a keyboard shortcut, drop down menu, etc. For one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the mail user interface  300 , other than composition window  405 , is dimmed to demonstrate that focus is being maintained on the composition window  405 . For an alternate embodiment, the composition window  405  is highlighted to demonstrate that focus is being maintained on the composition window  405 . Once the window is closed, the composition window  405  is removed from the display by way of the slide down animation. For example,  FIGS. 10-12  illustrate the exemplary composition window  405  at lower and lower positions within the screen with less and less of the composition window  405  remaining visible.  FIG. 13  illustrates the exemplary mail user interface  300  once the composition window  405  has completely disappeared off of the bottom of the screen and focus has returned to the main window of the mail user interface  300  (e.g., mail user interface  300  is no longer dimmed). For alternate embodiments, more or less images are used to create the slide down animation. For an alternate embodiment, the composition window  405  is animated to slide off of the screen in another direction (e.g., off of the top, left, or right of the screen). 
     For one embodiment, if the mail user interface  300  is in full screen mode and the selected message is at least partially outside of the visible area of the mail user interface, at block  235 , the data processing system  100  displays a composition window as a sequence of images to create the illusion of the composition window sliding up from the bottom of the screen (“slide up animation”). 
       FIGS. 14-19  illustrate an exemplary mail user interface  300  in full screen mode and generation of a composition window  1605  for responding to an existing message  1405  when the existing message  1405  is at least partially off screen. For example, in  FIG. 14 , the selected message  1405  is completely visible within the mail user interface  300 , e.g., neither the header portion  1410  at the top of the selected message  1405  nor the body portion  1415  at the bottom of the selected message  1405  is partially outside of the visible area. In  FIG. 15 , however, the message pane has been scrolled and the selected message  1405  is partially outside of the visible are of the mail user interface  300 . The header  1410  and part of the body  1415  of the selected message  1405  are outside of the visible area of the mail user interface  300 . When a reply command  1505  is received, the data processing system  100  generates a composition window  1605  using the slide up animation. For example,  FIGS. 16-18  illustrate the exemplary composition window  1605  sliding up from off of the bottom of the screen until it is fully visible. Composition window  1605  is displayed at higher and higher positions within the screen with more and more of the composition window  1605  becoming visible until fully visible in  FIG. 19 . 
     For one embodiment, the data processing system  100  uses a threshold of how much of the selected message  1405  is outside of the visible area to result in using the slide up animation rather than the popping out animation for generating a new composition window. For one embodiment, the data processing system  100  uses the slide up animation if any portion of the header  1410  is outside of the visible area. For an alternative embodiment, if any portion of the selected message  1405 , e.g., including the body  1415 , is outside of the visible area, the slide up animation is used. For yet another alternative, the slide up animation is used when a particular fraction, a number of lines, or another measurable amount of the selected message  1405  or a portion thereof (the header  1410  or body  1415 ) is outside of the visible area of the mail user interface  300 . For another alternate embodiment, the composition window  405  is animated to slide onto the screen from another direction (e.g., the top, left, or right of the screen). 
     For one embodiment, once composition window  1405  has completed the slide up animation, at block  225 , the data processing system  100  sets and maintains focus on the composition window  1405  until the composition window  1405  is closed similar to the composition window  405  described above. At block  230 , upon the message being canceled or sent, the composition window  1405  is removed from the display. For one embodiment, the closed composition window  1405  is removed by way of the slide down animation. 
     If the mail user interface  300  is not in full screen mode, at block  240 , the data processing system  100  determines if the selected message  2005  is at least partially outside of the visible area of the mail user interface  300  in a manner similar to the determination described with reference to block  215 . If the selected message  2005  is not outside of the visible area of the mail user interface  300 , at block  245 , the data processing system  100  displays a composition window  2105  using the pop out animation. 
       FIGS. 20-23  illustrate an exemplary generation of a composition window  2105  using the pop out animation when the mail user interface  300  is not in full screen mode. The mail user interface  300  is not in full screen mode, e.g., when a portion of the desktop is visible next to, above, or below the mail user interface  300 . The pop out animation is similar to that described above with reference to  FIGS. 3-8 . 
     If the mail user interface is not in full screen mode and the selected message  2005  is at least partially outside of the visible are of the mail user interface  300  (e.g., as described above), at block  250 , the data processing system  100  displays an ordinary pop up composition window when a reply or forward command is received for the selected message  2005 . 
     For an alternate embodiment, one or more blocks of method  200  are omitted or interchangeable with similar features. For example, the data processing system  100  determines that the mail user interface is in full screen mode at block  210  and the data processing system maintains focus on the composition window until receiving a close or send command at block  225 , regardless of how the composition window is displayed and removed. As a further example, the data processing system  100  determines if the selected message is at least partially outside of the visible area of the mail user interface at block  215  and, as a result, displays a composition window using the pop out animation at block  220  or using the slide up animation at block  235 , regardless of whether or not the mail user interface is in full screen mode. 
       FIG. 24  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method  2400  of dynamically displaying controls for a message in a mail user interface.  FIG. 25  illustrates an exemplary mail user interface  2500  displaying the dynamically generated controls  2505 . At block  2405 , the data processing system  100  determines if a cursor (e.g., a mouse cursor) has hovered over a message  2510  in a message panel  2515  of the mail user interface  2500  for an amount of time. For one embodiment, a predetermined amount of time, such as a matter of seconds, is used as the threshold for the determination. If a cursor has not hovered over a message  2510  for the amount of time, the data processing system  100  continues to wait at block  2405  until a hovered over a message  2510  in a message panel  2515  of the mail user interface  2500  for an amount of time. If the cursor has hovered over a message  2510  for the amount of time, at block  2410 , the data processing system displays a set of one or more controls  2505  on the message  2510 . Exemplary controls  2505  dynamically displayed on a message  2510  include delete, reply, reply to all, and forward. Alternatively, other controls to manipulate the message  2510  may be included (e.g., move to a file, mark as unread, block sender, flag, etc.). At block  2415 , the data processing system  100  continues to display the one or more controls  2505  until the data processing system  100  receives an input associated with one of the controls  2505  or until the cursor is moved from the message  2510 . If the data processing system  100  receives an input associated with one of the controls  2505  or the cursor is moved from the message  2510 , at block  2420 , the data processing system discontinues the display of the one or more controls  2505  on the message  2510 . 
       FIG. 26  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method  2600  of adding a folder or mailbox to a favorites bar in a mail user interface.  FIGS. 27-31  illustrate adding a folder or mailbox  2710  to a favorites bar  2720  in an exemplary mail user interface  2700 . At block  2605 , the data processing system  100  displays an email user interface  2700  including a collapsible panel  2705  of mailboxes and folders and a favorites bar  2720  including a plurality of the mailboxes and folders. For one embodiment, the favorites bar  2720  is displayed separately from and independently of whether or not the collapsible panel  2705  is collapsed. 
     At block  2610 , a mailbox or folder  2710  is added to the favorites bar by dragging the mailbox or folder  2710  from the collapsible panel  2705  of mailboxes and dropped on the favorites bar  2720 . For one embodiment, one of the plurality of mailboxes and folders in the favorites bar  2720  is a hierarchical folder that includes one or more subfolders that is accessible via a drop down menu from the hierarchical folder in the favorites bar  2720 . For example, subfolders of a hierarchical folder in the favorites bar  2720  are accessed by way of clicking the hierarchical folder, or an icon next to it, in the favorites bar  2720 , by way of a “spring-loaded” opening (described further below), etc. 
       FIG. 28  illustrates that a mailbox or folder  2710  and is being drug (illustrated by a translucent copy  2805 ) towards the favorites bar  2720 . The mailbox or folder  2710  is a hierarchical folder and includes subfolders  2715 .  FIGS. 29 and 30  illustrate the data processing system  100  rearranging the current layout of mailboxes and/or folders in the favorites bar  2720  when the translucent copy  2805  of the mailbox or folder  2710  is held above a portion of the favorites bar  2720 . For example, if the translucent copy  2805  is held over a location of the favorites bar  2720  that displays a mailbox or folder, that mailbox or folder shifts to the right or left in anticipation of the translucent copy  2805  being dropped onto the favorites bar  2720  and creating an empty space  2905 . For one embodiment, the shifting of one mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  causes one or more additional mailboxes or folders in the favorites bar  2720  to also shift in the same direction. For an alternate embodiment, one or more mailboxes or folders in the favorites bar  2720  are shifted at the time or after, rather than before, the translucent copy  2805  is dropped on the favorites bar  2720 .  FIG. 31  illustrates a copy of the mailbox or folder  3105  in the favorites bar  2720  after the translucent copy  2805  has been dropped onto the favorites bar  2720 . 
       FIG. 32  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method  3200  of dragging a message from one folder or mailbox to another folder or mailbox on the favorites bar in a mail user interface.  FIGS. 33-38  illustrate dragging a message  3325  from one folder or mailbox  3305  to another folder or mailbox  3705  on the favorites bar  2720  in an exemplary mail user interface  2700 . At block  3205 , the data processing system  100  displays an email user interface  2700  including a collapsible panel  2705  of mailboxes and folders and a favorites bar  2720  including a plurality of the mailboxes and folders. The exemplary mail user interface  2700  includes collapsible panel  2705  of mailboxes and folders, a preview panel  3310  listing and providing previews for messages stored within a selected mailbox or folder  3305 , and a message panel  3320  displaying a selected message  3315 . The recently added mailbox or folder  3105  is included in the favorites bar  2720 . For one embodiment, an icon  3330  is displayed next to a mailbox or folder  3105  in the favorites bar  2720  to illustrate that the mailbox or folder  3105  is a hierarchical folder and includes subfolders  3335 . For one embodiment, clicking on the icon  3330  results in a drop down menu of the subfolders  3335 . 
     At block  3210 , a drag and drop input is received to move a message  3325  from the currently displayed mailbox or folder  3305  to another mailbox or folder on the favorites bar  2720 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 34 , dragging a message  3325  results in a translucent copy  3405  moving across the display. For one embodiment, hovering the translucent copy  3405  above a mailbox or folder  3105  (for simplicity also interchangeably referred to as folder  3105 ) on the favorites bar  2720  results in the folder  3105  being highlighted as illustrated in  FIG. 35 . If the translucent copy  3405  is dropped on the folder  3105 , the message  3325  is moved from its current folder  3205  to the new folder  3105 . If the folder  3105  is a hierarchical folder, for one embodiment, hovering the translucent copy  3405  above a hierarchical folder  3105  on the favorites bar  2720  results in an automatic (or “spring-loaded”) opening of a drop down listing of the subfolders  3335  for the folder  3105 . The translucent copy  3405  may then be dragged and dropped into a subfolder  3705  as illustrated in  FIG. 37 . Once the message  3325  has been dragged and dropped into a folder  3105  or subfolder  3705  in the favorites bar  2720 , the message  3325  is moved and no longer displayed in the current folder  3205 , as illustrated in  FIG. 38 . For example, in  FIG. 38 , the message  3325  is no longer displayed in the preview panel  3310 . Should the mailbox or folder  3705 / 3805  be selected in the collapsible panel  2705  or in the favorites bar  2720 , the message  3325  will be displayed in its new location. 
     For one embodiment, the data processing system  100  will move a selected message from one mailbox or folder to another mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  in response to receiving a keyboard shortcut input. For example, each mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  may be assigned a number and a keyboard shortcut using said number will move the selected message to the corresponding mailbox or folder. For example, if mailboxes and folders from left to right in the favorites bar  2720  were numbered 1, 2, 3, etc., the keyboard shortcuts Cmd-Ctrl-1 (the combination of Command, Control, and 1 keys all being pressed), Cmd-2, Cmd-3, etc. would cause the data processing system  100  to move the selected message to the mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  corresponding to the number in the keyboard shortcut command. 
     For one embodiment, the data processing system  100  provides a visual representation of the move of a selected message to a mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  when executed in response to a keyboard shortcut. For example, the data processing system  100  displays, similar to the drag and drop described above and illustrated in  FIGS. 33-38 , a translucent copy of the selected message preview, or an icon or other visual representation of the selected message, moving from the location of the selected message to the mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  that corresponds to the keyboard shortcut. 
       FIG. 39  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method  3900  of removing a folder or mailbox from a favorites bar in a mail user interface.  FIGS. 40-45  illustrate removing a folder or mailbox from a favorites bar in an exemplary mail user interface. At block  3905 , the data processing system  100  displays an email user interface  2700  including a collapsible panel  2705  of mailboxes and folders and a favorites bar  2720  including a plurality of the mailboxes and folders. At block  3910 , the data processing system  100  removes a mailbox or folder  3105  from the favorites bar  2720  when an input dragging the mailbox or folder  3105  from the favorites bar  2720  and dropping it at a location other than the favorites bar  2720  is received. For example,  FIG. 40  illustrates the mailbox or folder  3105  in the process of being dragged from the favorites bar  2720 . An empty space  4005 , is temporarily displayed in the favorites bar  2720  where the mailbox or folder  3105  once was displayed. For one embodiment, when the mailbox or folder  3105  is dragged at a location other than the favorites bar  2720 , a remaining mailbox or folder on the favorites bar  2720  shifts to the right or left in anticipation of the mailbox or folder  3105  being dropped off of the favorites bar  2720  to fill the empty space  4005 . For one embodiment, the shifting of the remaining mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  causes one or more additional mailboxes or folders in the favorites bar  2720  to also shift in the same direction. For an alternate embodiment, one or more mailboxes or folders in the favorites bar  2720  are shifted at the time or after, rather than before, the mailbox or folder  3105  is dropped off of the favorites bar  2720 . For one embodiment, when the mailbox or folder  3105  is dropped in a location other than the favorites bar  2720 , it disappears by way of an animation of a dissipating cloud of smoke  4105  as illustrated in  FIGS. 41-45  and no longer appears in the favorites bar  2720 . Alternatively, when the mailbox or folder  3105  is dropped in a location other than the favorites bar  2720 , it disappears in an alternate animation or simply disappears from the display. 
     For one embodiment, the deactivation of a mail account will not automatically remove the corresponding mailbox or folder from the favorites bar  2720 . For one embodiment, the data processing system  100  presents the mailbox or folder for a deactivated account in a different appearance, e.g., “grayed out,” translucent, or another appearance to display it differently from an active mailbox or folder. For an alternate embodiment, the data processing system  100  removes a mailbox or folder from the favorites bar automatically in response to deactivating the associated account. 
       FIGS. 46-47  illustrate an exemplary mail user interface  2700  in which the collapsible panel of mailboxes and folders  2705  has been collapsed and the favorites bar  2720  is used to navigate between mailboxes and folders. For example, in  FIG. 46 , the mailbox or folder “ 500 ” in the favorites bar  2720  is highlighted to indicate that the mailbox or folder “ 500 ” is currently selected and that its contents are displayed in the preview pane  4605  and message pane  4610 . In  FIG. 47 , the mailbox or folder “Mailbox  1 ” in the favorites bar  2720  is selected (e.g., by clicking on it by way of a mouse or other cursor control device). As a result, the mailbox or folder “Mailbox  1 ” in the favorites bar  2720  is highlighted to indicate that the mailbox or folder “Mailbox  1 ” is currently selected and that its contents are displayed in the preview pane  4605  and, if a message in the preview pane  4605  were selected, in message pane  4610 . 
     For one embodiment, the data processing system  100  will navigate from one mailbox or folder to another mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  in response to receiving a keyboard shortcut input. For example, each mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  may be assigned a number and a keyboard shortcut using said number will switch the mail user interface  2700  to the corresponding mailbox or folder. For example, if mailboxes and folders from left to right in the favorites bar  2720  were numbered 1, 2, 3, etc., the keyboard shortcuts Cmd-1 (the combination of Command and 1 keys all being pressed), Cmd-2, Cmd-3, etc. would cause the data processing system  100  to navigate to the mailbox or folder in the favorites bar  2720  corresponding to the number in the keyboard shortcut command. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. An article of manufacture may be used to store program code providing at least some of the functionality of the embodiments described above. An article of manufacture that stores program code may be embodied as, but is not limited to, one or more memories (e.g., one or more flash memories, random access memories—static, dynamic, or other), optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards or other type of machine-readable media suitable for storing electronic instructions. Additionally, embodiments of the invention may be implemented in, but not limited to, hardware or firmware utilizing an FPGA, ASIC, a processor, a computer, or a computer system including a network. Modules and components of hardware or software implementations can be divided or combined without significantly altering embodiments of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110621
Publication Date: 20140401
Grant Date: 20140401
Priority Date: 20110114
Inventors: GUZMAN ANGELA
ORDING BAS
LANGOULANT BRENDAN
SHTEREMBERG DANIEL
COFFMAN PATRICK L.
DECKER STEPHEN
LEMAY STEPHEN O.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/0481", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06Q10/107", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L51/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0486", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0482", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06Q10/107", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0481", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0482", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0486", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06Q10/107", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L51/07", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46491696