Methods and systems for displaying messages in an asynchronous order

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10313287-B2
Application number	US-201615170525-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2016
Priority date	Jun 1, 2016
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for introducing asynchronous messaging concepts into a synchronous messaging system. As a conversation is carried out, different topics may be identified and highlighted as separate threads within the conversation. A new thread may be identified based on a number of factors, including (for example) time between messages, questions raised in a communication, discussions of dates, the inclusion of links, and any mentions of specific names. Further embodiments relate to techniques for navigating in asynchronous message threads. For example, a synchronous message alias may be created that redirects a display to a location of an asynchronous message. An indication may be displayed to designate that the asynchronous message is displayed out-of-order.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
accessing a plurality of messages of a group conversation at a messaging system, the plurality of messages received in a synchronous order and associated with a synchronous ordering representing the synchronous order in which the messages were received;
identifying a subset of the plurality of messages associated with a conversation thread within the group conversation;
determining an asynchronous order for the plurality of messages based at least in part on whether a message of the plurality of messages is within the identified subset of messages, the asynchronous order differing from the synchronous order; and
rearranging the synchronous ordering to display the plurality of messages of the group conversation in accordance with the asynchronous order, the asynchronous order resulting in a grouping of the identified subset of the plurality of messages within the plurality of messages of the group conversation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying an asynchronous message in the conversation thread;
creating a message alias at a synchronous location corresponding to where the asynchronous message would be displayed in the group conversation if the group conversation were arranged synchronously; and
creating a link in the message alias that causes a display to be redirected from the synchronous location to the asynchronous message.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising displaying an indication that the asynchronous message is arranged out of order.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a command to scroll through the messages of the group conversation;
identifying when a majority of messages on a display are associated with the conversation thread; and
causing the messages of the conversation thread to become focused in response to the identifying.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
identifying a parent message associated with conversation thread; and
displaying the parent message in a predetermined location on a display.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving an instruction to transmit a new message while the conversation thread is focused; and
adding the new message to the conversation thread.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a gesture, the gesture being:
a summary gesture that causes one or more highlights of the conversation thread to be displayed while suppressing display of other messages of the conversation thread, or
an expand gesture that expands the conversation thread to make all messages of the conversation thread accessible.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:
cause messaging logic to access a plurality of messages of a group conversation at a messaging system, the plurality of messages received in a synchronous order and associated with a synchronous ordering representing the synchronous order in which the messages were received;
cause threading logic to identify a subset of the plurality of messages associated with a conversation thread within the group conversation;
cause the threading logic to determine an asynchronous order for the plurality of messages based at least in part on whether a message of the plurality of messages is within the identified subset of messages; and
cause display logic to rearrange the synchronous ordering to display the plurality of messages of the group conversation in accordance with the asynchronous order, the asynchronous order resulting in a grouping of the identified subset plurality of messages within the plurality of messages of the group conversation.

9. The medium of claim 8 , further storing instructions to:
identify an asynchronous message in the conversation thread;
create a message alias at a synchronous location corresponding to where the asynchronous message would be displayed in the group conversation if the group conversation were arranged synchronously; and
create a link in the message alias that causes a display to be redirected from the synchronous location to the asynchronous message.

10. The medium of claim 9 , further storing instructions to display an indication that the asynchronous message is arranged out of order.

11. The medium of claim 8 , further storing instructions to:
receive a command to scroll through the messages of the group conversation;
identify when a majority of messages on a display are associated with the conversation thread; and
cause the messages of the conversation thread to become focused in response to the identifying.

12. The medium of claim 11 , further storing instructions to:
identify a parent message associated with conversation thread; and
display the parent message in a predetermined location on a display.

13. The medium of claim 11 , further storing instructions to:
receive an instruction to transmit a new message while the conversation thread is focused; and
add the new message to the conversation thread.

14. The medium of claim 8 , further storing instructions to:
receive a gesture, the gesture being:
a summary gesture that causes one or more highlights of the conversation thread to be displayed while suppressing display of other messages of the conversation thread, or
an expand gesture that expands the conversation thread to make all messages of the conversation thread accessible.

15. An apparatus, comprising:
a processing circuit;
a display device; and
a non-transitory medium configured to store:
a plurality of messages of a group conversation, the plurality of messages associated with a synchronous order and associated with a synchronous ordering representing the synchronous order in which the messages were received,
computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to:
identify a subset of the plurality of messages associated with a conversation thread within the group conversation;
determine an asynchronous order for the plurality of messages based at least in part on whether a message of the plurality of messages is within the identified subset of messages; and
rearrange the synchronous ordering to display the plurality of messages of the group conversation in accordance with the asynchronous order on the display device, the asynchronous order resulting in a grouping of the identified subset of the plurality of messages within the plurality of messages of the group conversation.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the threading logic is further configured to:
identify an asynchronous message in the conversation thread;
create a message alias at a synchronous location corresponding to where the asynchronous message would be displayed in the group conversation if the group conversation were arranged synchronously; and
create a link in the message alias that causes a display to be redirected from the synchronous location to the asynchronous message.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising an interface configured to:
receive a command to scroll through the messages of the group conversation;
identify when a majority of messages on a display are associated with the conversation thread; and
cause the messages of the conversation thread to become focused in response to the identifying.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the interface is further configured to:
identify a parent message associated with conversation thread; and
cause the display to display the parent messag

Assignees

• Facebook Inc

Inventors

• Ertmann Eric Carl
• Deets Jr Charles Donald
• Giuditta Daniel M

Classifications

• H04L51/32

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L51/16 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L51/216 Primary

  Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads · CPC title

• H04L51/52

  for supporting social networking services · CPC title