IP Library Granted Patent US 11,528,246
Granted Patent B2
US 11,528,246 · App. 17/188,959 · Granted Dec 13, 2022

Graphical user interfaces with indications that electronic messages have been acted upon

Inventors: Russell Speight VanBlon (Raleigh, NC); John Carl Mese (Cary, NC); Mark Patrick Delaney (Raleigh, NC); Arnold S. Weksler (Raleigh, NC); Nathan J. Peterson (Oxford, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
H04L51/234H04L51/224
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,528,246
App. No.
17/188,959
Granted
Dec 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, a first device may include at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage may include instructions executable by the at least one processor to transmit a message to a second device different from the first device and to receive back an indication from the second device that the message has been acted upon beyond simply being read using the second device. The instructions may also be executable to present data related to the indication on a display accessible to the at least one processor. In some examples, email tracking software may be used to receive back the indication.

Claims (36)

1. A first device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

storage accessible to the at least one processor and comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to:

transmit a message to a second device different from the first device;

receive back an indication from the second device that the message has been acted upon beyond being read by a user using the second device;

present a sent folder for a messaging account from which the message was sent, the sent folder indicating the message and comprising a button that is selectable to present, on a display of the first device, data related to the indication; and

based on selection of the button from the sent folder, present the data related to the indication on the display of the first device, the data indicating that the message has been acted upon in a specified way indicated via the indication.

2. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to:

prior to transmission of the message, configure the message to instigate the second device to transmit the indication upon the message being acted upon using the second device.

3. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the indication indicates that the message has been flagged using the second device, wherein flagging the message comprises changing the color, shape, or other appearance of an icon that is associated with the message and that is presented at the second device on or next to one or more of: a message preview, a listing of the message.

4. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the indication indicates that the message has been forwarded to a third party using the second device.

5. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the indication indicates that an entry has been made in an electronic to do list that relates to a subject of the message, the electronic to do list being maintained by a first application that is different from a second application through which the message was received at the second device.

6. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the indication indicates a first amount of text of the message that has been viewed as determined via eye tracking executed using the second device, the first amount of text being less than all of the text of the message.

7. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the indication indicates that a reply to the message has been initiated and is currently located in a folder associated with a messaging account through which the message was received.

8. At least one computer readable storage medium (CRSM) that is not a transitory signal, the computer readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by at least one processor to:

transmit a message from a first device to a second device;

receive back an indication from the second device that the message has been acted upon at the second device;

present a sent folder for a messaging account from which the message was sent, the sent folder indicating the message and comprising a selector that is selectable to present, on a display accessible to the first device, data related to the indication; and

based on selection of the selector from the sent folder, use the display accessible to the first device to present the data related to the indication.

9. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the message is an email.

10. The CRSM of claim 8 wherein the indication indicates that the message has been flagged, wherein flagging the message comprises changing the color, shape, or other appearance of a graphical element associated with the message.

11. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the button is a “get info” button.

12. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the button is presented next to the message itself as residing in the sent folder.

13. The CRSM of claim 8 , wherein the selector comprises a button.

14. The CRSM of claim 8 , wherein the selector is presented next to the message itself as residing in the sent folder.

15. A method, comprising:

transmitting a message from a first device to a second device;

receiving back an indication from the second device that the message has been acted upon at the second device;

presenting a sent folder for a messaging account from which the message was sent, the sent folder indicating the message and comprising a selector that is selectable to present, on a display, data related to the indication; and

based on selection of the selector from the sent folder, using the display to present the data related to the indication.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selector comprises a button.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selector comprises a get info button.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selector is presented next to the message itself as the message is presented via the sent folder.

19. The method of claim 15 , comprising:

prior to transmitting the message, configuring the message to instigate the second device to transmit the indication upon the message being acted upon using the second device.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the message comprises an email.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 070269/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2025
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 070269/0019 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: VANBLON, RUSSELL SPEIGHT; MESE, JOHN CARL; DELANEY, MARK PATRICK; WEKSLER, ARNOLD S.; PETERSON, NATHAN J.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 055507/0318 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220278952A1 · Sep 1, 2022