# US 8,543,927 B1 · Methods for simulating icon popout on memory constrained devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,927 B1 - Document ID: US8543927B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/934,060 - Filed: 2007-11-01 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-01 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Joanne McKinley; Zhanna Shamis; Jimmy Shih; Derek Phillips - Inventors: Joanne McKinley; Zhanna Shamis; Jimmy Shih; Derek Phillips - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543927B1 ## CPC - H04M 1/72427: for supporting games or graphical animations - H04M 1/72436: for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Methods for simulating icon popout on memory constrained devices are described. In some embodiments, the client device displays a message status icon where the message status icon represents a first message status of the respective message. In response to a user action, the status of the respective action changes and the visual appearance of the message status icon varies such that the displayed message status icon represents a second message status of the respective message, to identify a status change of the respective message. The message status icon comprises a fixed image having a display background with at least one property that can be varied to achieve the changes in the visual appearance of the message status icon. Other embodiments are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: at a client device having one or more processors and memory storing programs executed by the one or more processors: displaying a list of conversations; displaying, for each conversation in the list of conversations, a respective conversation status icon, wherein each respective conversation status icon includes a fixed image having an opaque border and a display background with one or more properties that can be varied such that, when a respective conversation associated with the respective conversation status icon is not selected, the opaque border is not visually distinct from the display background; detecting selection of a particular conversation from the list of conversations; in response to detecting selection of the particular conversation; varying a visual appearance of the display background, such that the opaque border of a conversation status icon associated with the particular conversation is visually distinct from the display background. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more properties that can be varied include color, pattern, and transparency of a pixel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the client device is a mobile communication device having a wireless interface to communicate with a server. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein conversation identifying information is displayed adjacent the conversation status icon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the conversation status icon is partially transparent, such that when the conversation is selected, the visual properties of the display background are visible through the transparent portions of the conversation status icon. ### Claim 6 A client device, comprising: one or more processors, a display, a memory coupled to the one or more processors; and one or more programs, stored in the memory, configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions to for: displaying a list of conversations; displaying, for each conversation in the list of conversations, a respective conversation status icon, wherein a each respective conversation status icon includes a fixed image having an opaque border and a display background with one or more properties that can be varied; such that, when a respective conversation associated with the respective conversation status icon is not selected, the opaque border is not visually distinct from the display background; detecting selection of a particular conversation from the list of conversations; in response to detecting selection of the particular conversation; varying a visual appearance of the display background, such that the opaque border of a conversation status icon associated with the particular conversation is visually distinct from the display background. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The client device of claim 6 wherein the respective conversation comprises at least one or more messages. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The client device of claim 6 wherein the client device is a mobile communication device having a wireless interface configured to receive the respective conversation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The client device of claim 6 wherein a graphics outline of the conversation status icon does not vary. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The client device of claim 6 further comprising displaying conversation identifying information adjacent the conversation status icon. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The client device of claim 6 wherein the one or more properties of the conversation status icon that can be varied includes the group consisting of color, pattern, and transparency. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The client device of claim 6 wherein the conversation status icon comprises an image having an opaque border surrounding the image. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by an electronic device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for: displaying a list of conversations; displaying, for each conversation in the list of conversations, a respective conversation status icon, wherein each respective conversation status icon includes a fixed image having an opaque border and a display background with one or more properties that can be varied such that, when a respective conversation associated with the respective conversation status icon is not selected, the opaque border is not visually distinct from the display background; detecting selection of a particular conversation from the list of conversations; in response to detecting selection of the particular conversation; varying a visual appearance of the display background, such that the opaque border of a conversation status icon associated with the particular conversation is visually distinct from the display background. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the method is performed at a mobile client device having a wireless interface configured to receive the respective conversation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein a graphics outline of the conversation status icon does not vary. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 further comprising displaying conversation identifying information adjacent the conversation status icon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the one or more properties of the conversation status icon that that can be varied include the group consisting of color, pattern, and transparency.