# US 2014/0208227 A1 · Aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations

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- Number: US 2014/0208227 A1
- Document ID: US20140208227A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/194,935
- Filed: 2014-03-03
- Published: 2014-07-24
- Earliest claimed: 2008-06-27
- Assignees: Microsoft Corporation
- Applicants: Microsoft Corporation
- Inventors: Robert Emmett Mccann; Michael Affronti; Andrew Brauninger; James Edelen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140208227A1

## CPC

- H04L 51/216: Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 16/24575: {using context}
- G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- 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

Techniques for the aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations are described. Some techniques may aggregate items in response to user input identifying a scope for item retrieval. The user input may identify a scope such as selection of a local storage location or a search query for retrieving items. The aggregated items may span multiple storage locations and include items within the identified scope and related items outside the identified scope. A group of aggregated items are presented in a hierarchical display within a user interface. The hierarchical display may visually differentiate items inside and outside of the identified scope, and may identify parent-child relationship between related items. An aggregate header for the group of aggregated items may be displayed indicating total items in the group and a status for items in the group within the identified scope. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
receiving user input identifying a scope for item retrieval;
associating related items;
aggregating items within the identified scope with related items outside of the identified scope; and
presenting a group of aggregated items in a hierarchical display within a user interface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein items outside of the identified scope are visually differentiated from items within the identified scope.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein items outside of the identified scope have different text formatting than items within the identified scope.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical display identifies parent-child relationship between related items.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein a child item is indented from a parent item.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein a child item is graphically connected to a parent item.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the group of aggregated items can be expanded and collapsed within the user interface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an aggregate header for the group of aggregated items, the aggregate header indicating total items in the group and a status of items in the group within the identified scope.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the scope comprises a local storage location; and
the group includes aggregated items from multiple storage locations including the local storage location and one or more additional storage locations.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the scope comprises a search query for retrieving one or more items; and
the group includes items within the identified scope that satisfy the search query and items outside of the identified scope that are related to the items that satisfy the search query.

### Claim 11

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:
aggregate items in response to receiving an identified scope, the aggregated items comprising items within the identified scope and related items outside of the identified scope; and
present a group of aggregated items in a hierarchical display within a user interface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to aggregate items from multiple storage locations.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to visually differentiate items outside of the identified scope from items within the identified scope.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to identify parent-child relationship between related items.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to display an aggregate header for the group of aggregated items, the aggregate header indicating total items in the group and a status for items in the group within the identified scope.

### Claim 16

A method, comprising:
receiving user input identifying a scope for retrieving electronic mail messages;
presenting a user interface for an electronic mail application comprising a list pane displaying a list of electronic mail messages within the identified scope;
receiving user input selecting to arrange the listed electronic mail messages by conversation;
aggregating the electronic mail messages within the identified scope with related electronic mail messages outside of the identified scope; and
presenting a conversation in the list pane comprising a hierarchical display of the aggregated electronic mail messages, the hierarchical display identifying parent-child relationships between related electronic mail messages and visually differentiating electronic mail messages outside of the identified scope from electronic mail messages within the identified scope.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying an aggregate conversation header for the conversation indicating a total number of electronic mail messages in the conversation and a number of unread electronic mail messages in the conversation that are within the identified scope.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein:
the identified scope comprises a selected folder within the user interface of the electronic mail application; and
the conversation includes electronic mail messages within the identified scope that are stored in the selected folder and electronic mail messages outside of the identified scope that are stored in one or more additional folders of the electronic mail application.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein:
the identified scope comprises a search query for retrieving electronic mail message within the electronic mail application; and
the conversation includes electronic mail messages within the identified scope that satisfy the search query and electronic mail messages outside of the identified scope that are related to the electronic mail messages that satisfy the search query.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions causing a computer to perform the method of claim 16.