Method and apparatus for searching message data in a portable electronic device

1. A method comprising

initiating, at a processor of a device, a search of an index comprising keywords extracted from message data of a threaded inbox;

searching additional message data belonging to a given thread of the threaded inbox, in addition to the index, the additional message data received, via a communication interface of the device, while the search is being performed;

providing, at a display of the device, search results in threads, the search results automatically updated when the additional message data is received and meets search criteria of the search,

wherein the search is initiated subsequent to receipt of a search criteria character; and,

providing search options at the display when receiving the search criteria, the search options comprising options for searching given fields of the message data and wherein the search results comprise only data that meets the search criteria in chosen fields of the message data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the search results comprises providing the additional message data in the given thread.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the given thread further comprises at least one further set of message data associated with the given thread.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the threads in the search results comprise only the message data associated with the search results.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the threads in the search results comprise all message data associated with each respective thread, regardless of whether each message in each respective thread is associated with the search results.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing respective graphic icons for each of the threads in the search results, each of the respective graphic icons indicative of whether an associated thread comprises one message or a plurality of messages.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing respective textual indicators for each of the threads in the search results, each of the respective textual indicators indicative of a total number of messages in each respective thread and at least one of a number of unopened messages and a number of messages associated in each respective thread.

8. A device for searching message data, comprising

a processor, a display, and a communication interface, the processor configured to:

initiate a search of an index comprising keywords extracted from message data of a threaded inbox;

search additional message data belonging to a given thread of the threaded inbox, in addition to the index, the additional message data received, via the communication interface, while the search is being performed;

provide, at the display, search results in threads, the search results automatically updated when the additional message data is received and meets search criteria of the search, wherein the search is initiated subsequent to receipt of a search criteria character; and,

provide search options at the display when receiving the search criteria, the search options comprising options for searching given fields of the message data and wherein the search results comprise only data that meets the search criteria in chosen fields of the message data.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide the search results by providing the additional message data in the given thread.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the given thread further comprises at least one further set of message data associated with the given thread.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein each of the threads in the search results comprise only the message data associated with the search results.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein each of the threads in the search results comprise all message data associated with each respective thread, regardless of whether each message in each respective thread is associated with the search results.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide respective graphic icons for each of the threads in the search results, each of the respective graphic icons indicative of whether an associated thread comprises one message or a plurality of messages.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide respective textual indicators for each of the threads in the search results, each of the respective textual indicators indicative of a total number of messages in each respective thread and at least one of a number of unopened messages and a number of messages associated in each respective thread.

15. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for searching message data in a device comprising a processor interconnected with a memory, a display and a communication interface, comprising

initiating, at a processor of a device, a search of an index comprising keywords extracted from message data of a threaded inbox;

searching additional message data belonging to a given thread of the threaded inbox, in addition to the index, the additional message data received, via a communication interface of the device, while the search is being performed;

providing, at a display of the device, search results in threads, the search results automatically updated when the additional message data is received and meets search criteria of the search, wherein the search is initiated subsequent to receipt of a search criteria character; and,

providing search options at the display when receiving the search criteria, the search options comprising options for searching given fields of the message data and wherein the search results comprise only data that meets the search criteria in chosen fields of the message data.