MULTIPLE DISPLAY REGIONS IN A UNIFIED MESSAGE INBOX
Various embodiments are provided herein of a method of displaying an inbox window of a message application. The method includes partitioning a display of the inbox window into a first message display region and a second message display region, displaying located messages that satisfy user-defined designation criteria in the first message display region; and displaying remaining messages of the inbox window in the second message display region. The method can be performed by a communications device and can also be stored as program code on a computer readable medium.
1 . A method, comprising:
receiving a plurality of messages;
identifying, from the plurality of messages, messages for display in a first display region, the messages for display in the first display region comprising messages automatically determined to match a first set of designation criteria on receipt and messages designated by a user for the first display region;
identifying, from the plurality of messages, messages for display in a second display region, the messages for display in the second display region comprising messages automatically determined to match a second set of designation criteria on receipt and messages designated by a user for the second display region;
outputting for display, on a communication device display, the first display region comprising a listing of the messages identified for display in the first display region; and
outputting for display, on the communication device display, the second display region comprising a listing of the messages identified for display in the second display region.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first display region and the second display region are concurrently displayed on the communication device display.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after a new message is received:
providing a prompt for user designation of a display region for displaying the new message; and
in response to a user designation of either the first display region or the second display region, associating the new message with the display region thus designated.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising updating the display region thus designated to include the new message.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of designation criteria and the second set of designation criteria are defined with respect to different message attributes.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after a new message is received:
automatically determining whether the incoming message matches the first set of designation criteria or the second set of designation criteria;
when the incoming message matches the first set of designation criteria, associating the new message with the first display region; and
when the incoming message matches the second set of designation criteria, associating the new message with the second display region.
7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising updating the display region thus associated to include the new message.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to a selection of a third set of designation criteria, replacing the displayed first display region with a third display region comprising a listing of messages automatically determined to match the third set of designation criteria, while continuing to display the second display region.
9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first display region and the second display region are concurrently displayed with at least a third display region, the third display region comprising messages automatically determined to match a third set of designation criteria
10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first display region and the second display region are concurrently displayed with at least a third display region, the third display region comprising messages not identified for display in either the first display region or the second display region.
11 . A communication device, including:
a display;
a communication subsystem;
at least one input subsystem; and
a processor in communication with the display and the communication subsystem, the processor being configured to enable:
receiving a plurality of messages using the communication subsystem;
identifying, from the plurality of messages, messages for display in a first display region, the messages for display in the first display region comprising messages automatically determined to match a first set of designation criteria on receipt and messages designated by a user via the at least one input subsystem for the first display region;
identifying, from the plurality of messages, messages for display in a second display region, the messages for display in the second display region comprising messages automatically determined to match a second set of designation criteria on receipt and messages designated by a user a the at least one input subsystem for the second display region;
outputting, using the display, the first display region comprising a listing of the messages identified for display in the first display region; and
outputting, using the display, the second display region comprising a listing of the messages identified for display in the second display region.
12 . The communication device of claim 11 , wherein the first display region and the second display region are concurrently displayed on the display.
13 . The communication device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable, after a new message is received:
providing a prompt for user designation of a display region for displaying the new message; and
in response to a user designation of either the first display region or the second display region, associating the new message with the display region thus designated.
14 . The communication device of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable updating the display region thus designated to include the new message.
15 . The communication device of claim 11 , wherein the first set of designation criteria and the second set of designation criteria are defined with respect to different message attributes.
16 . The communication device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable, after a new message is received:
automatically determining whether the incoming message matches the first set of designation criteria or the second set of designation criteria;
when the incoming message matches the first set of designation criteria, associating the new message with the first display region; and
when the incoming message matches the second set of designation criteria, associating the new message with the second display region.
17 . The communication device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable updating the display region thus associated to include the new message.
18 . The communication device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable, in response to a selection of a third set of designation criteria, replacing the displayed first display region with a third display region comprising a listing of messages automatically determined to match the third set of designation criteria, while continuing to display the second display region.
19 . The communication device of claim 12 , wherein the first display region and the second display region are concurrently displayed with at least a third display region, the third display region comprising messages automatically determined to match a third set of designation criteria.
20 . The communication device of claim 12 , wherein the first display region and the second display region are concurrently displayed with at least a third display region, the third display region comprising messages not identified for display in either the first display region or the second display region.