# US 9,438,542 B1 · Linking selected messages in electronic message threads

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- Number: US 9,438,542 B1
- Document ID: US9438542B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/977,850
- Filed: 2015-12-22
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-25
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Xiang Chen; Bin Gu; Cheng Fang Wang; Wumi Zhong; Jia Zou
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438542B1

## CPC

- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34)
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 40/134: Hyperlinking
- H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
- H04L 51/216: Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
- H04L 51/42: Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
- H04W 4/08: User group management
- H04W 4/14: Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems for linking selected messages in electronic message threads. In one embodiment, related messages are identified and graphic elements associated with a first message are displayed on a user interfaces. Responsive to receiving a user interaction with the graphical element, a second message can be viewed, where the second message either responds to the first message or is responded to by the first message. Displaying graphical elements associated with related messages can eliminate potential confusion between users in group messages.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
identifying, by one or more computer processors, at least a first message and a second message that responds to the first message, wherein the first message corresponds to a first user and the second message corresponds to a second user;
displaying, by one or more computer processors, in a location of a user interface that corresponds to a location displaying the first message, a first graphical element and a first symbol, wherein the first graphical element is an icon associated with the second user, and wherein the first symbol is a down arrow indicating that the second message is a message that responds to the first message;
displaying, by one or more computer processors, in a location of the user interface that corresponds to a location displaying the second message, a second graphical element and a second symbol, wherein the second graphical element is an icon associated with the first user, and wherein the second symbol is an up arrow indicating that the first message is a message that the second message responds to;
responsive to receiving a user interaction with the first graphical element, displaying, by one or more computer processors, in the user interface, a visual indication that identifies the second message by highlighting the second message in the user interface;
responsive to receiving a user interaction with the second graphical element, displaying, by one or more computer processors, a visual indication that identifies the first message by highlighting the first message in the user interface;
identifying, by one or more computer processors, a third message that responds to the first and the second message, wherein the third message corresponds to a third user;
generating, by one or more computer processors, a display for the first, second, and third message, wherein the display includes a third graphical element associated with the third user, and a third symbol that aggregates graphical elements associated with the first and second message that the third message responds to;
responsive to a user interaction with the third symbol, displaying one or more graphical elements associated with the first and second message that correspond to the first and the second user, respectively; and
responsive to a user selecting a graphical element that corresponds to the first user, displaying the first message associated with the first user.