# US 11,122,158 B2 · Portable electronic device with conversation management for incoming instant messages > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,158 B2 - Document ID: US11122158B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/960,330 - Filed: 2018-04-23 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-28 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Gregory N. Christie; Marcel Van Os; Stephen O. Lemay; Evan Russell Doll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122158B2 ## CPC - H04M 1/72436: for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails - G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing] - H04M 1/67: by electronic means - H04M 2250/22: including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector - H04M 2250/60: logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A portable electronic device with a touch screen display displays an incoming message from a party to a user of the device while the device is locked. The device responds to detecting a user request to view the incoming message by immediately displaying a set of messages between the user and the party in a chronological order. While the device is unlocked, if an incoming message is longer than a predefined length the device displays a portion of the incoming message, a view icon, and a long-message indicia. Alternately, if the incoming message is equal to or less than the predefined length, the device displays the entire incoming message and a reply icon. In response to user selection of either the view icon or the reply icon, the device immediately displays a set of messages between the user of the device and the party in a chronological order. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: a touch screen display; one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: while displaying a non-messaging application: receiving a first message from a first sender; in response to receiving the first message from the first sender, displaying, on the touch screen display, a notification that includes a representation of at least a portion of the first message that is overlaid on top of the non-messaging application, wherein the notification is different from a messaging application associated with the first message; in accordance with marking criteria being met for the first message, the marking criteria including a requirement that a user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message was detected on the touch screen display, marking the first message as read; and in accordance with the marking criteria not being met for the first message, forgoing marking the first message as read; and subsequent to displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message, displaying, on the touch screen display, the messaging application including: a plurality of representations of messages including representations of a plurality of messages including the first message, wherein one or more messages in the plurality of messages are marked as read and one or more messages in the plurality of messages are not marked as read, and wherein messages that have been marked as read are visually distinguished from messages that have not been marked as read in the plurality of representations of messages; and a selectable user interface element that, when selected, initiates a process for sending a message to one or more recipients other than the first sender, wherein the selectable user interface element is not included in the notification corresponding to the messaging application that is displayed overlaid on top of the non-messaging application. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein receiving the first message comprises receiving the first message while the device is unlocked. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein receiving the first message comprises receiving the first message while the device is locked. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message comprises displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message while the device is locked. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the marking criteria is not met for the first message if the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message has not been detected on the touch screen display. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more programs further including instructions for: receiving a touch, on the touch screen display, at a location visually associated with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message; and in response to receiving the touch at the location visually associated with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message, determining that the device has received the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message and that the marking criteria has been met for the first message, and marking the first message as read. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message comprises concurrently displaying, on the touch screen display: the at least a portion of the first message, and one or more icons visually associated with the representation of the at least a portion of the first message, and wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for: receiving user input selection, on the touch screen display, of an icon of the one or more icons; and in response to receiving the user input selection of the icon of the one or more icons, determining that the device has received the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message and that the marking criteria has been met for the first message, and marking the first message as read. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the one or more icons include: a close icon that, when selected, causes the representation of the at least a portion of the first message to cease to be displayed; and a reply icon that, when selected, causes display of a set of messages, in chronological order, between the user of the device and the sender of the first message; and wherein user input selection of either the close icon or the reply icon causes a determination that the device has received the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message and that the marking criteria has been met for the first message. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message comprises: in accordance with a determination that the first message is longer than a predefined length, displaying a portion of the first message, wherein the portion is less than an entirety of the first message; and in accordance with a determination that the first message is equal to or less than the predefined length, displaying the first message in its entirety. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first message is longer than the predefined length, and wherein the marking criteria further include a requirement that a request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message was received prior to receiving the user input interaction, wherein the marking criteria is not met for the first message if a request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message was not received prior to receiving the user input interaction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message is a request to scroll the first message. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message is a request that causes the remainder of the first message that has not been displayed to be displayed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, the one or more programs further including instructions for: further in accordance with a determination that the first message is longer than a predefined length, concurrently displaying the portion of the first message, and a long-message indicia. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more programs further including instructions for: receiving a request to display the plurality of representations of messages; and in response to receiving the request to display the plurality of representations of messages, displaying the plurality of representations of messages, wherein: the plurality of representations of messages includes an entry for a conversation that includes the first message. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electronic device of claim 14, the one or more programs further including instructions for: receiving user input selection of the entry for the conversation that includes the first message; and in response to receiving the receiving user input selection of the entry for the conversation that includes the first message: displaying a set of messages of the conversation, in chronological order, including at least a portion of the first message; and marking the first message as read. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein forgoing marking the first message as read includes marking the first message as unread. ### Claim 17 A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a device with a touch screen display: while displaying a non-messaging application: receiving a first message from a first sender; in response to receiving the first message from the first sender, displaying, on the touch screen display, a notification that includes a representation of at least a portion of the first message that is overlaid on top of the non-messaging application, wherein the notification is different from a messaging application associated with the first message; in accordance with marking criteria being met for the first message, the marking criteria including a requirement that a user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message was detected on the touch screen display, marking the first message as read; and in accordance with the marking criteria not being met for the first message, forgoing marking the first message as read; and subsequent to displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message, displaying, on the touch screen display, the messaging application including: a plurality of representations of messages including representations of a plurality of messages including the first message, wherein one or more messages in the plurality of messages are marked as read and one or more messages in the plurality of messages are not marked as read, and wherein messages that have been marked as read are visually distinguished from messages that have not been marked as read in the plurality of representations of messages; and a selectable user interface element that, when selected, initiates a process for sending a message to one or more recipients other than the first sender, wherein the selectable user interface element is not included in the notification corresponding to the messaging application that is displayed overlaid on top of the non-messaging application. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the first message comprises receiving the first message while the device is unlocked. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the first message comprises receiving the first message while the device is locked. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message comprises displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message while the device is locked. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the marking criteria is not met for the first message if the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message has not been detected on the touch screen display. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: receiving a touch, on the touch screen display, at a location visually associated with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message; and in response to receiving the touch at the location visually associated with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message, determining that the device has received the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message and that the marking criteria has been met for the first message, and marking the first message as read. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message comprises concurrently displaying, on the touch screen display: the at least a portion of the first message, and one or more icons visually associated with the representation of the at least a portion of the first message, further comprising: receiving user input selection, on the touch screen display, of an icon of the one or more icons; and in response to receiving the user input selection of the icon of the one or more icons, determining that the device has received the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message and that the marking criteria has been met for the first message, and marking the first message as read. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more icons include: a close icon that, when selected, causes the representation of the at least a portion of the first message to cease to be displayed; and a reply icon that, when selected, causes display of a set of messages, in chronological order, between the user of the device and the sender of the first message; and wherein user input selection of either the close icon or the reply icon causes a determination that the device has received the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message and that the marking criteria has been met for the first message. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message comprises: in accordance with a determination that the first message is longer than a predefined length, displaying a portion of the first message, wherein the portion is less than an entirety of the first message; and in accordance with a determination that the first message is equal to or less than the predefined length, displaying the first message in its entirety. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the first message is longer than the predefined length, and wherein the marking criteria further include a requirement that a request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message was received prior to receiving the user input interaction, wherein the marking criteria is not met for the first message if a request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message was not received prior to receiving the user input interaction. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message is a request to scroll the first message. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message is a request that causes the remainder of the first message that has not been displayed to be displayed. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising: further in accordance with a determination that the first message is longer than a predefined length, concurrently displaying the portion of the first message, and a long-message indicia. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: receiving a request to display the plurality of representations of messages; and in response to receiving the request to display the plurality of representations of messages, displaying the plurality of representations of messages, wherein: the plurality of representations of messages includes an entry for a conversation that includes the first message. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, further comprising: receiving user input selection of the entry for the conversation that includes the first message; and in response to receiving the receiving user input selection of the entry for the conversation that includes the first message: displaying a set of messages of the conversation, in chronological order, including at least a portion of the first message; and marking the first message as read. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein forgoing marking the first message as read includes marking the first message as unread. ### Claim 33 A storage device storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a touch screen display, the one or more programs including instructions for: while displaying a non-messaging application: receiving a first message from a first sender; in response to receiving the first message from the first sender, displaying, on the touch screen display, a notification that includes a representation of at least a portion of the first message that is overlaid on top of the non-messaging application, wherein the notification is different from a messaging application associated with the first message; in accordance with marking criteria being met for the first message, the marking criteria including a requirement that a user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message was detected on the touch screen display, marking the first message as read; and in accordance with the marking criteria not being met for the first message, forgoing marking the first message as read; and subsequent to displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message, displaying, on the touch screen display, the messaging application including: a plurality of representations of messages including representations of a plurality of messages including the first message, wherein one or more messages in the plurality of messages are marked as read and one or more messages in the plurality of messages are not marked as read, and wherein messages that have been marked as read are visually distinguished from messages that have not been marked as read in the plurality of representations of messages; and a selectable user interface element that, when selected, initiates a process for sending a message to one or more recipients other than the first sender, wherein the selectable user interface element is not included in the notification corresponding to the messaging application that is displayed overlaid on top of the non-messaging application. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The storage device of claim 33, wherein receiving the first message comprises receiving the first message while the device is unlocked. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The storage device of claim 33, wherein receiving the first message comprises receiving the first message while the device is locked. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The storage device of claim 35, wherein displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message comprises displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message while the device is locked. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The storage device of claim 33, wherein the marking criteria is not met for the first message if the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message has not been detected on the touch screen display. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The storage device of claim 33, the one or more programs further including instructions for: receiving a touch, on the touch screen display, at a location visually associated with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message; and in response to receiving the touch at the location visually associated with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message, determining that the device has received the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message and that the marking criteria has been met for the first message, and marking the first message as read. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) The storage device of claim 33, wherein displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message comprises concurrently displaying, on the touch screen display: the at least a portion of the first message, and one or more icons visually associated with the representation of the at least a portion of the first message, and wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for: receiving user input selection, on the touch screen display, of an icon of the one or more icons; and in response to receiving the user input selection of the icon of the one or more icons, determining that the device has received the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message and that the marking criteria has been met for the first message, and marking the first message as read. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The storage device of claim 39, wherein the one or more icons include: a close icon that, when selected, causes the representation of the at least a portion of the first message to cease to be displayed; and a reply icon that, when selected, causes display of a set of messages, in chronological order, between the user of the device and the sender of the first message; and wherein user input selection of either the close icon or the reply icon causes a determination that the device has received the user input interaction with the displayed representation of the at least a portion of the first message and that the marking criteria has been met for the first message. ### Claim 41 (depends on 33) The storage device of claim 33, wherein displaying the representation of the at least a portion of the first message comprises: in accordance with a determination that the first message is longer than a predefined length, displaying a portion of the first message, wherein the portion is less than an entirety of the first message; and in accordance with a determination that the first message is equal to or less than the predefined length, displaying the first message in its entirety. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The storage device of claim 41, wherein the first message is longer than the predefined length, and wherein the marking criteria further include a requirement that a request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message was received prior to receiving the user input interaction, wherein the marking criteria is not met for the first message if a request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message was not received prior to receiving the user input interaction. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The storage device of claim 42, wherein the request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message is a request to scroll the first message. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The storage device of claim 42, wherein the request to display a non-displayed portion of the first message is a request that causes the remainder of the first message that has not been displayed to be displayed. ### Claim 45 (depends on 41) The storage device of claim 41, the one or more programs further including instructions for: further in accordance with a determination that the first message is longer than a predefined length, concurrently displaying the portion of the first message, and a long-message indicia. ### Claim 46 (depends on 33) The storage device of claim 33, the one or more programs further including instructions for: receiving a request to display the plurality of representations of messages; and in response to receiving the request to display the plurality of representations of messages, displaying the plurality of representations of messages, wherein: the plurality of representations of messages includes an entry for a conversation that includes the first message. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The storage device of claim 46, the one or more programs further including instructions for: receiving user input selection of the entry for the conversation that includes the first message; and in response to receiving the receiving user input selection of the entry for the conversation that includes the first message: displaying a set of messages of the conversation, in chronological order, including at least a portion of the first message; and marking the first message as read. ### Claim 48 (depends on 33) The storage device of claim 33, wherein forgoing marking the first message as read includes marking the first message as unread.