U.S. patent application number 13/615480 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-14 for e-mail interface having an informational tool tip.
The applicant listed for this patent is JAMES ANDREW CANFIELD, KENNETH CARBONE, DAVID FAIRLIE COLBURN, LINDA NOLS MYERS, THOMAS E. VAN LENTEN, GREGORY ALAN WILLIS. Invention is credited to JAMES ANDREW CANFIELD, KENNETH CARBONE, DAVID FAIRLIE COLBURN, LINDA NOLS MYERS, THOMAS E. VAN LENTEN, GREGORY ALAN WILLIS.
Application Number | 20130067353 13/615480 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39332485 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130067353 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CANFIELD; JAMES ANDREW ; et
al. |
March 14, 2013 |
E-Mail Interface Having an Informational Tool Tip
Abstract
An interface enables perception of information regarding e-mail
communications. The interface includes an e-mail application user
interface that enables perception of e-mail message information for
one or more e-mails received by an e-mail participant and that
enables active display of one or more of the received e-mails
selected by the e-mail participant. The interface also includes a
mechanism that determines a request for e-mail message information
for one of the e-mails from within a desired e-mail message that is
not actively displayed. The interface further includes an
informational tool tip that provides a temporary perceivable
indication to the e-mail participant of at least a portion of the
requested information for the desired e-mail message while
maintaining active display of the one or more selected e-mails.
Inventors: |
CANFIELD; JAMES ANDREW;
(Arlington, VA) ; CARBONE; KENNETH; (Annandale,
VA) ; COLBURN; DAVID FAIRLIE; (Reston, VA) ;
MYERS; LINDA NOLS; (Purcellville, VA) ; VAN LENTEN;
THOMAS E.; (Ashburn, VA) ; WILLIS; GREGORY ALAN;
(Arlington, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANFIELD; JAMES ANDREW
CARBONE; KENNETH
COLBURN; DAVID FAIRLIE
MYERS; LINDA NOLS
VAN LENTEN; THOMAS E.
WILLIS; GREGORY ALAN |
Arlington
Annandale
Reston
Purcellville
Ashburn
Arlington |
VA
VA
VA
VA
VA
VA |
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
39332485 |
Appl. No.: |
13/615480 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13036949 |
Feb 28, 2011 |
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13615480 |
|
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|
12115193 |
May 5, 2008 |
7900148 |
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13036949 |
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|
10326548 |
Dec 23, 2002 |
7370277 |
|
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12115193 |
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10259844 |
Sep 30, 2002 |
7421661 |
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10326548 |
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60376181 |
Apr 30, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/752 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04842 20130101;
G06Q 10/107 20130101; H04L 51/04 20130101; H04L 51/10 20130101;
G06F 3/04812 20130101; G06F 3/048 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/752 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/01 20060101
G06F003/01 |
Claims
1. A method of displaying information related to electronic mail
messages in an interface, the method comprising: rendering, in a
display portion of an electronic mail user interface configured to
display content from electronic mail messages, a display of content
from a first electronic mail message included in a group of
electronic mail messages received by a user; rendering, in the
electronic mail user interface, a control element configured to,
upon selection, trigger display, in the display portion of the
electronic mail user interface, of content from a second electronic
mail message included in the group of electronic mail messages
received by the user, the second electronic mail message being an
electronic mail message included in the group of electronic mail
messages immediately prior to or immediately subsequent to the
first electronic mail message; while content from the first
electronic mail message is displayed in the display portion of the
electronic mail user interface, determining that, for a threshold
period of time, a position of an input device is maintained
relative to the control element; and in response to determining
that, for the threshold period of time, the position of the input
device is maintained relative to the control element: rendering, in
an informational tool tip, a display of a portion of content from
the second electronic mail message, and maintaining display of
content from the first electronic mail message in the display
portion of the electronic mail user interface.
2.-20. (canceled)
Description
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/036,949, filed on Feb. 28, 2011, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/115,193, filed
on May 5, 2008 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,900,148, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/326,548, filed
on Dec. 23, 2002 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,277, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/259,844, filed
on Sep. 30, 2002 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,421,661, which
claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/376,181,
filed Apr. 30, 2002. Each of the aforementioned patent(s), and
application(s) are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The following description relates generally to providing a
user interface and more particularly to providing an informational
tool tip for an e-mail user interface.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Online service providers facilitate access to information
and services by providing interactive UIs (User Interfaces) that
help users navigate to desired resources. Generally, a UI allows a
user to execute particular commands or to link to certain locations
by simply selecting screen objects such as icons, windows, and
drop-down menus. The design of a UI has a significant impact on a
user's online experience. In particular, the icons, the windows,
and the menus of a UI may be arranged to enable a user to locate
preferred information and services quickly and easily.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one general aspect, an interface enables perception of
information regarding e-mail communications. The interface includes
an e-mail application user interface that enables perception of
e-mail message information for one or more e-mails received by an
e-mail participant and that enables active display of one or more
of the received e-mails selected by the e-mail participant. The
interface also includes a mechanism that determines a request for
e-mail message information for one of the e-mails from within a
desired e-mail message that is not actively displayed. The
interface further includes an informational tool tip that provides
a temporary perceivable indication to the e-mail participant of at
least a portion of the requested information for the desired e-mail
message while maintaining active display of the selected
e-mails.
[0005] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. For example, the tool tip may be activated in response to
participant selection of the desired e-mail message. In one
implementation, the participant selection is inferred based upon a
position of an input device relative to a user interface. For
instance, the selection may be inferred based upon maintaining the
input device in a position relative to the user interface for a
predetermined threshold period of time. In another implementation,
the user selection may be an overt selection activity. For
instance, the overt selection may be carried out by manipulating a
user input device.
[0006] In one implementation, the informational tool tip may be
rendered in a pop up window, and may be rendered as an overlay. The
tool tip may provide a perceivable indication of less than all of
the determined content of the desired e-mail message session. The
tool tip is closed automatically based on a timeout or an inferred
intent to close the tool tip, rather than based on an express or
overt closing instruction by the user. For example, intent to close
the tool tip may be inferred based upon the position of a user
input device, the movement of a user input device, or a combination
of the position of a user input device and the expiration of a
predetermined length of time.
[0007] In one implementation, the user interface is a visual
interface. For example, the desired e-mail message may include a
text message and the temporary perceivable indication may include
at least a portion of the text message. The desired e-mail message
may also include an audio-video message (e.g., a video message) and
the temporary perceivable indication may include at least a portion
of the audio-video message. In another implementation, the user
interface may be an audible interface. For example, the desired
e-mail message may include an audio message and the temporary
perceivable indication may include at least a portion of the audio
message.
[0008] In another general aspect, e-mail information for at least
one received e-mail is shown on a visual user interface. The user
interface receives a request for e-mail information other than the
e-mail information shown by the visual user interface, and a pop-up
window is rendered with e-mail information other than the
information displayed on the visual user interface while the
display of information in the visual user interface is
maintained.
[0009] Aspects of the informational tool tip may be implemented by
an apparatus and/or by a computer program stored on a computer
readable medium. The computer readable medium may comprise a disc,
a client device, a host device, and/or a propagated signal. In
addition, aspects of the informational tool tip may be implemented
in a client/host context or in a standalone or offline client
device. The informational tool tip may be rendered in a client/host
context and may be accessed or updated through a remote device in a
client/host environment. The informational tool tip also may be
rendered by the standalone/offline device and may be accessed or
updated through a remote device in a non-client/host environment
such as, for example, a LAN server serving an end user or a
mainframe serving a terminal device.
[0010] Other features will be apparent from the following
description, including the drawings, and from the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams of a communications
system.
[0012] FIGS. 3 and 7 are flow charts of processes that may be
implemented by the systems of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0013] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, and 6C are illustrations of
different graphical user interfaces that may be implemented by the
systems of FIGS. 1 and 2 when executing the processes of FIGS. 3
and 7.
[0014] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like
elements. For brevity, several elements in the figures described
below are represented as monolithic entities. However, as would be
understood by one skilled in the art, these elements each may
include numerous interconnected computers and components designed
to perform a set of specified operations and/or may be dedicated to
a particular geographical region.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] In general, an informational tool tip may be provided for an
e-mail user interface (UI). An informational tool tip for the
e-mail UI is capable of presenting to the user a perceivable
indication of at least a portion of an e-mail message that is not
being actively displayed. As such, the informational tool tip is
able to accommodate a user who seeks to perceive information about
one of the e-mail messages that is not actively displayed to the
user, while maintaining active display of the currently displayed
e-mail message. Although such functionality may be applied to other
communications environments, it may have particular utility when
applied to an e-mail environment, where it may be used to quickly
view content from within a received message without requiring the
user to open a persistent window dedicated to that message, and
without requiring the user to otherwise change a current view.
[0016] In order to activate the informational tool tip, the user
may select a desired e-mail message that is not being actively
displayed. For example, to activate and render the informational
tool tip, the user may position a mouse or other viewer input
device proximate to or over an interface tab or icon corresponding
to the desired e-mail message. In response, the informational tool
tip may be rendered as a pop-up window and may be rendered in any
location on the display.
[0017] The informational tool tip may be used to present all or a
portion of the desired e-mail message other than the selected or
default message displayed in the preview pane 417 or other e-mail
message UI, and to do so without affecting the display of the
default or selected e-mail message. In one implementation, a
predetermined number of lines or characters of content from within
the desired e-mail message are presented. In another
implementation, one or more predetermined fields of the message are
presented. In another implementation, the content presented in the
tool tip is variable and may depend, for example, upon the manner
or context in which the tool tip was invoked. The contents of the
desired e-mail message may be made available to the tool tip by,
for example, a client system or a host system, or a combination
thereof.
[0018] For illustrative purposes, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of
a communications system for implementing techniques for
transferring electronic data such as e-mail messages.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a communications system 100 is capable
of delivering and exchanging data between a client system 105 and a
host system 110 through a communications link 115. The client
system 105 typically includes one or more client devices 120 and/or
client controllers 125, and the host system 110 typically includes
one or more host devices 135 and/or host controllers 140. For
example, the client system 105 or the host system 110 may include
one or more general-purpose computers (e.g., personal computers),
one or more special-purpose computers (e.g., devices specifically
programmed to communicate with each other and/or the client system
105 or the host system 110), or a combination of one or more
general-purpose computers and one or more special-purpose
computers. The client system 105 and the host system 110 may be
arranged to operate within or in concert with one or more other
systems, such as, for example, one or more LANs ("Local Area
Networks") and/or one or more WANs ("Wide Area Networks").
[0020] The client device 120 and the host device 135 are generally
capable of executing instructions under the command of,
respectively, a client controller 125 and a host controller 140.
The client device 120 and the host device 135 are connected to,
respectively, the client controller 125 and the host controller 140
by, respectively, wired or wireless data pathways 130 and 145,
which are capable of delivering data.
[0021] The client device 120, the client controller 125, the host
device 135, and the host controller 140 typically each include one
or more hardware components and/or software components. An example
of a client device 120 or a host device 135 is a general-purpose
computer (e.g., a personal computer) or software on such a computer
capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined
manner. Other examples include a special-purpose computer, a
workstation, a server, a device, a component, other physical or
virtual equipment, or some combination of these capable of
responding to and executing instructions. The client device 120 and
the host device 135 may include devices that are capable of
establishing peer-to-peer communications.
[0022] An example of client controller 125 or host controller 140
is a software application loaded on the client device 120 or the
host device 135 for commanding and directing communications enabled
by the client device 120 or the host device 135. Other examples
include a program, a piece of code, an instruction, a device, a
computer, a computer system, or a combination of these for
independently or collectively instructing the client device 120 or
the host device 135 to interact and operate as described. The
client controller 125 and the host controller 140 may be embodied
permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component,
physical or virtual equipment, storage medium, or propagated signal
capable of providing instructions to the client device 120 and the
host device 135.
[0023] The communications link 115 typically includes a delivery
network 160 making a direct or indirect communication between the
client system 105 and the host system 110, irrespective of physical
separation. Examples of a delivery network 160 include the
Internet, the World Wide Web, WANs, LANs, analog or digital wired
and wireless telephone networks (e.g. Public Switched Telephone
Network (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and
Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)), radio, television, cable, or
satellite systems, and other delivery mechanisms for carrying data.
The communications link 115 may include communication pathways 150
and 155 that enable communications through the one or more delivery
networks 160 described above. Each of the communication pathways
150 and 155 may include, for example, a wired, wireless, cable or
satellite communication pathway.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a communications system 200 including a
client system 105 communicating with a host system 110 through a
communications link 115.
[0025] The client device 120 typically includes a general-purpose
computer 270 having an internal or external memory 272 for storing
data and programs such as an operating system 274 (e.g., DOS,
Windows.TM., Windows 95.TM., Windows 98.TM., Windows 2000.TM.,
Windows Mc.TM., Windows XP.TM., Windows NT.TM., OS/2, or Linux) and
one or more application programs. Examples of application programs
include authoring applications 276 (e.g., word processing, database
programs, spreadsheet programs, or graphics programs) capable of
generating documents or other electronic content; client
applications 278 (e.g., America Online (AOL) client, CompuServe
client, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) client, interactive television
(ITV) client, Internet Service Provider (ISP) client, or instant
messaging (IM) client) capable of communicating with other computer
users, accessing various computer resources, and viewing, creating,
or otherwise manipulating electronic content; and browser
applications 280 (e.g., Netscape's Navigator or Microsoft's
Internet Explorer) capable of rendering standard Internet content
and other content formatted according to standard protocols such as
the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
[0026] One or more of the application programs may be installed in
the internal or external memory 272 of the general-purpose computer
270. Alternatively, in another implementation, the client
controller 125 may access application programs externally stored in
and/or performed by one or more device(s) external to the
general-purpose computer 270.
[0027] The general-purpose computer 270 also includes a central
processing unit 282 (CPU) for executing instructions in response to
commands from the client controller 125. The general-purpose
computer 270 may include a communication device 284 for sending and
receiving data. One example of the communication device 284 is a
modem. Other examples include a transceiver, a set-top box, a
communication card, a satellite dish, an antenna, a network
adapter, or some other mechanism capable of transmitting and
receiving data over the communications link 115 through a wired or
wireless data pathway 150. The general-purpose computer 270 also
may include a television ("TV") tuner 286 for receiving television
programming in the form of broadcast, satellite, and/or cable TV
signals. As a result, the client device 120 can selectively and/or
simultaneously display network content received by communications
device 284 and TV programming content received by the TV tuner
286.
[0028] The general-purpose computer 270 may include an input/output
interface 288 that enables wired or wireless connection to various
peripheral devices 290. Examples of peripheral devices 290 include,
but are not limited to, a mouse 291, a mobile phone 292, a personal
digital assistant 293 (PDA), an MP3 player (not shown), a keyboard
294, a display monitor 295 with or without a touch screen input, a
TV remote control 296 for receiving information from and rendering
information to users, and an audiovisual input device 298.
[0029] Although FIG. 2 illustrates devices such as a mobile
telephone 292, a PDA 293, and a TV remote control 296 as being
peripheral with respect to the general-purpose computer 270, in
another implementation, such devices may themselves include the
functionality of the general-purpose computer 270 and operate as
the client device 120. For example, the mobile phone 292 or the PDA
293 may include computing and networking capabilities and function
as a client device 120 by accessing the delivery network 160 and
communicating with the host system 110. Furthermore, the client
system 105 may include one, some or all of the components and
devices described above.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary procedure 300 generally
involves rendering an informational tool tip for an e-mail UI. The
procedure 300 may be implemented by any type of hardware, software,
device, computer, computer system, equipment, component, program,
application, code, storage medium, or propagated signal.
[0031] In procedure 300, the client system 105 receives one or more
e-mail messages from one or more e-mail senders (step 305). For
instance, client system 105 may connect to the host system 110
across a network (e.g., network 160) by supplying a user
identification and password to a server (e.g., a login server) in
order to obtain access to the host system 110. The host system 110
may deliver an e-mail message from an e-mail sender across a
network 160, and the e-mail message may include, for example, a
text message portion, a time of delivery, and a screen name or
other identifier for its source.
[0032] Next, the client system 105 renders a user interface (UI)
illustrating aspects of at least one of the received messages,
examples of which are described below with respect to FIGS. 4A, 4B,
5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, and 6C (step 310). In one implementation, the
client system 105 renders the UI when an e-mail message from an
e-mail sender is provided, and may render other portions of the UI
separately at different times. In another implementation, the
entire UI, including the e-mail message, may be rendered when the
e-mail message is provided. In another implementation, the UI is
rendered in response to a user action. For example, the UI may be
rendered in response to user selection of an e-mail message. As
shown, the UI may provide a preview of a default or selected
message, or it may merely show the subjects of the e-mail messages.
The UI may be presented using a Web page having text, images,
audio, video, and/or other type of content. While maintaining the
default or the selected message, the user may desire to perceive
information about a received e-mail message other than the selected
or default message, and may do so by activating an informational
tool tip (step 315). For example, as discussed below with respect
to FIGS. 4B, 5B, 6B, and 6C, the user may invoke an informational
tool tip by positioning a mouse 425 or other user input device
proximate to or directly over an interface item corresponding to
the desired e-mail message. In one implementation, the
informational tool tip 430 is activated as soon as the mouse 425 or
other user input device is positioned proximate to or directly over
the interface tab. In another implementation, the informational
tool tip 430 is activated and rendered after the mouse 425 or other
user input device remains proximate to or positioned over the
interface tab for a predetermined threshold period of time, or
after some overt selection activity using the mouse or input
device. In yet another implementation, the tool tip may be
activated by positioning a mouse or other input device over or
proximate to other features of the UI. For example, as shown in
FIG. 6B, a user may position the mouse over a new mail status
indicator 615 to invoke a tool tip that displays at least a portion
of a new message. Also, as shown in FIG. 6C, a user may position
the mouse over an icon representing the desired e-mail message 620
to enable activation of the tool tip.
[0033] However, if the user is not configured to invoke the
informational tool tip or the tool tip feature is not enabled, the
current UI display is maintained (step 320).
[0034] If the user is able to invoke the informational tool tip,
then the tool tip is invoked (step 325). Invoking the tool tip may
include rendering the tool tip for a selected e-mail message. As
discussed with respect to FIGS. 4B, 5B, 6B, and 6C, the
informational tool tip 430 may display all or a portion of the
desired e-mail message. In one implementation, a pre-determined or
limited number of lines or characters of the desired e-mail message
are displayed. In another implementation, a pre-determined number
of e-mail fields are displayed. For instance, as shown with respect
to tool tip 430 of FIG. 4B, the tool tip may be limited to include
two fields of the e-mail message (e.g., the "from" field 415c and
the "subject" field 415d) in their entirety and a portion a third
field (e.g., the message text). As shown in FIGS. 5B, 6B, and 6C,
the tool tip 430 may be limited to include only two fields of the
e-mail message (e.g., the "from" field 415c and the "subject" field
415d). The fields of the desired e-mail message may be made
available to the tool tip by, for example, the client system 105 or
the host system 110, or a combination thereof. The informational
tool tip may be rendered in various locations on the display, or it
may be non-visual.
[0035] Display of the informational tool tip may be maintained
until revoked (step 330). Display of the tool tip may be revoked
upon expiration of a predetermined period of time, or if the user
takes some action to implicitly command removal of the tool tip,
e.g., moving the cursor away from a position used to trigger the
tool tip (step 335). For example, the informational tool tip 430
may be automatically closed or deactivated if the user moves the
mouse or input device 425, or if the mouse or input device 425 is
moved from a position over or proximate to the desired e-mail
message.
[0036] If the user has revoked the informational tool tip and/or
the user is no longer enabled to invoke the informational tool tip,
then the display described with respect to step 320 is maintained.
If the tool tip has not been revoked, then the display described
with respect to step 330 is maintained.
[0037] While some functions of procedure 300 may be performed
entirely by the client system 105, as described, other functions
may be performed by the collective operation of the client system
105 and the host system 110. For example, the informational tool
tip may be rendered entirely by the client. However, the
informational tool tip may be rendered based upon the host system
acting in cooperation with the client.
[0038] In one of various possible implementations, a client system
105 and a host system 110 may interact according to procedure 300
to provide an e-mail tool tip for an e-mail UI. Although not shown
in FIG. 3, the client system 105 and the host system 110 may be
directly or indirectly interconnected through known or described
delivery networks, examples of which are described with respect to
network 160 of FIG. 1. In such an environment, the e-mail UI may be
accessed or updated through a remote device. In another
implementation, the procedure 300 may be implemented in a
standalone or offline client context. The e-mail UI may be rendered
by the standalone/offline device and may be accessed or updated
through a remote device in a non-client/host environment such as,
for example, a LAN server serving an end user or a mainframe
serving a terminal device. Thus, procedure 300 may be implemented
for any e-mail UI of any OSP, ISP, or browser.
[0039] FIG. 4A illustrates one example of an e-mail user interface
(UI) 400A that may be presented to a user in response to user
manipulation of a general interface actionable item, such as item
610 discussed with respect to FIGS. 6A and 6B. Although UI 400A may
be generated remotely and delivered to a user client system 105, in
general, the UI 400A will be rendered on or at the client system
105 using software stored on the client system 105. The UI 400A
includes a folder list 405 that lists the various folders in which
e-mail may be placed. For example, new mail folder 405a may contain
new e-mail messages, old mail folder 405b may contain old e-mail
messages, sent mail folder 405c may contain mail sent by the user,
and deleted mail folder 405d may contain e-mail messages deleted by
the user.
[0040] UI 400A also includes a display area 415 that displays
e-mail messages within a designated folder 405a contained in folder
list 405. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, display area 415
contains a list of messages 410 contained in designated new mail
folder 405a. The messages 410 include messages 410a, 410b, 410c,
410d, and 410e. Each message 410 contains one or more fields. For
example, the messages 410 shown in display area 415 each contain a
type field 415a, a date field 415b, a from field 415c, and a
subject field 415d. A set of controls 420 is provided for the user
to manipulate each of the e-mail messages 410. Controls 420 include
a control 422 that enables the user to read one of the e-mail
messages 410. Once control 422 is acted on by a user, the
corresponding e-mail message is read and a separate UI is rendered
in order for the user to read the designated e-mail message.
[0041] A preview pane 417 is provided to allow a user to preview a
default or a selected message. In the example of FIG. 4A, the
preview pane 417 shows information about a selected or default
message 410a, including the "From" field 415c, the "To" field 417a,
the "Date" field 415b, the "Subject" field 415d, and a portion of
the message text 417b. The preview pane display remains visible
unless manually deactivated by user manipulation of UI display
control options.
[0042] FIG. 4B illustrates another example of an e-mail UI 400B
that is similar to the example discussed above with respect to FIG.
4A. In the example of FIG. 4B, an informational tool tip 430 is
invoked on the e-mail UI to provide the user with a perceivable
indication of least of a portion of an e-mail message that is not
otherwise being actively displayed. For example, the informational
tool tip 430 may show all or a portion of the desired e-mail
message 410b.
[0043] In the example of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the standard interface
being displayed includes a subject line for the non-selected e-mail
messages 410b, 410c, 410d, 410e, but it does not display the body
of these non-selected e-mail messages. Yet, in the example of FIG.
4B, in response to a user action with respect to e-mail message
410b (e.g., movement of a cursor 425 over e-mail 410b), the tool
tip 430 is invoked to enable perception of at least a portion of
the body of e-mail message 410b. More specifically, to activate and
render the informational tool tip 430, the user may position a
pointer 425 of a mouse or other user input device proximate to or
over a field corresponding to e-mail message 410b.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4B, the pointer 425 is positioned over the
type field 415a for e-mail message 410b. In another implementation,
the informational tool tip 430 is activated and rendered after the
pointer 425 remains proximate to or positioned over a field of the
desired e-mail message 410b for a predetermined threshold period of
time, or after some overt activities taken using the mouse or input
device with respect to e-mail 410b.
[0045] The user may close or deactivate the informational tool tip
430. In one implementation, the informational tool tip 430 may be
automatically closed or deactivated if the user moves the pointer
425. For example, if the pointer 425 is moved from a position over
or proximate to the desired e-mail message 410b. As shown in the
implementation of FIG. 4B, the informational tool tip shows all or
a portion of the body of the desired e-mail message 410b.
[0046] FIG. 5A illustrates one example of an e-mail user interface
(UI) 500A displaying a particular received e-mail message 410a. The
UI 500A shows information about the selected or default message
410a, including the "From" field 415c, the "To" field 417a, the
"Date" field 415b, the "Subject" field 415d, and the message text
417b. UI 500A may include interface controls 505, including
interface controls that display the previous 505a and the next 505b
e-mail messages.
[0047] FIG. 5B illustrates an example of an UI 500B similar to UI
500A described above with respect to FIG. 5A. In the example of
FIG. 5B, an informational tool tip 530 may be provided for UI 500B
to provide the user with a perceivable indication of at least a
portion of an e-mail message that is not otherwise being actively
displayed by UI 500A. For example, in response to a mouse rollover
of the Next button, the informational tool tip 530 may show all or
a portion of the desired e-mail message 410b with e-mail sender
"GabbyGrace," without the user needing to take action that would
cause the desired e-mail message 410b to replace e-mail message
410a as the selected or default message. In the example of FIG. 5B,
the tool tip 530 shows the from field and the subject field of
message 410b. The informational tool tip may be rendered in various
locations on the display. For example, the tool tip may be rendered
proximate or close to the interface control 405b to which the tool
tip corresponds, which, in this case, is near the Next button.
[0048] FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a user interface (UI) 600A
that may be presented to a user of an online service provider such
as AOL. The UI 600 includes a toolbar 605 for quickly enabling
activation of features such as, for example, reading or writing
e-mail, exchanging IM messages with another user, entering chat
areas with other users, shopping or accessing the Internet. The
toolbar 605 may include one or more general interface actionable
items 610, 620, 630, 640, and 650, each of which is configured to
enable activation of an associated UI. The actionable item may be,
for example, a button or a tab.
[0049] FIG. 6B illustrates another example of an e-mail user
interface (UI) 600B that may be presented to a user. UI 600B is
similar to the examples discussed above with respect to FIG. 6A. In
the example of FIG. 6B, an informational tool tip 630 may be
provided for the UI 600B to provide the user with perceivable
indication that at least a portion of an e-mail message not
otherwise actively displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the
display of all e-mail UIs have been minimized, and a new mail
indicator 615 is provided for the user and indicates that a new
e-mail message is present. As shown, a user has positioned a
pointer 425 proximate to or directly over new mail indicator 615 in
order to render the informational tool tip 630. In response, the
informational tool tip 630 is activated as described previously
with respect to FIGS. 4B and 5B.
[0050] FIG. 6C illustrates another example of an e-mail user
interface (UI) 600C that may be presented to a user. UI 600C is
similar to the examples discussed above with respect to FIGS. 6A
and 6B. In the example of FIG. 6C, icons 620, 625, 630 correspond
to e-mail messages which have been minimized and are not presently
being displayed. In the example of FIG. 6C, a user has positioned a
pointer 425 proximate to or over icon 620 in order to render the
informational tool tip 630.
[0051] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary procedure 700 for opening
and populating a tool tip window. The procedure 700 may be
implemented by any type of hardware, software, device, computer,
computer system, equipment, component, program, application, code,
storage medium, or propagated signal.
[0052] In procedure 700, the overt or inferred selection of an
interface tab or other interface item corresponding to an e-mail is
detected (step 705). For example, a selection may be inferred by
the positioning of a pointer over or proximate to the interface tab
or other interface item. In one implementation, if the position of
the pointer is proximate to or positioned over the interface tab,
or remains so positioned for a predetermined threshold period of
time, a selection of the interface tab or other interface item is
inferred. An overt selection of an interface tab or other interface
item may also be made. For example, a button or other control on a
mouse or other input device may be manipulated to make the overt
selection.
[0053] The current window information is maintained (step 710). For
example, referring to FIG. 5A, display of the selected or default
e-mail message 410a is maintained.
[0054] Next content from within the e-mail message corresponding to
the interface tab or other interface item is retrieved (step 715).
In one implementation, all of the content of the e-mail message is
retrieved. In another implementation, only a portion of the content
of the e-mail message is retrieved. The tool tip is then opened and
populated (step 720) with the retrieved content. For example, the
tool tip may be opened and may appear as a rectangular pop-up
window proximate to the interface tab over which the mouse is
positioned. In other implementations, the tool tip may be opened in
other locations on the display. The window may be automatically
closed based on a timeout or based on an inferred intent to close
the window, rather than an express or overt closing instruction by
the user.
[0055] The relative placement of steps of described processes with
respect to other steps and with respect to each other, such as, for
example, steps 305-335 in FIG. 3 and steps 705-720 in FIG. 7, may
vary, and one or more steps may be eliminated altogether.
[0056] Other implementations are within the scope of the following
claims. For example, although the examples above are given in an
e-mail context, other communications systems with similar
attributes may be used. Also, the UI may be a viewable interface,
an audible interface, a tactile interface, or any combination
thereof.
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