Electronic device and method for selectively applying message actions

Abstract

An electronic device and method are provided for automatically identifying a message in a message thread to which a selected single-message action is to be applied, without requiring display of individual messages in a separate listing. Each single-message action is associated with one or more message attributes. When a single-message action is selected, a message in the thread having matching attributes is selected. While the selected message may be the most recent message in the thread having those attributes, but may not be the most recently received or most recently sent message in the thread.

1 . A method implemented at an electronic device for applying a single-message action to an email message, the method comprising:
 displaying a listing of message threads;   while said listing of message threads is displayed,
 detecting selection of one of the message threads, said message thread comprising a plurality of email messages; and 
 detecting selection of a single-message action to be applied to a single email message, the selected single-message action being associated with at least one message attribute; 
   identifying one of the plurality of email messages comprising said at least one message attribute; and   applying the selected single-message action to said identified email message.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selection of one of the message threads comprises selection of a graphical user interface element displayed at the electronic device, the graphical user interface element corresponding to said one of the message threads, and said selection of the single-message action is carried out while said graphical user interface element is selected. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the one of the plurality of email messages comprises identifying a most recent one of the plurality of email messages comprising said at least one message attribute. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one message attribute comprises the message being marked opened. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the selected single-message action comprises displaying a message composition interface comprising content from the identified email message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the selected single-message action comprises a reply action, and the at least one message attribute comprises the message being a received message; or   the selected single-message action comprises a reply to all action, and the at least one message attribute comprises the message being a received message and the message having a plurality of recipients.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected single-message action comprises a forward action, and the at least one message attribute comprises the message being a received message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected single-message action comprises a send action, and the at least one message attribute comprises the message being a draft message having at least one designated recipient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected single-message action comprises a flag action, and the at least one message attribute comprises either the message being a received message, the message having an attachment, or the message both being a received message and having an attachment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identified email message is not a most recent message in the selected message thread. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic device for handling messages and for applying single-message actions to an email message, the electronic device comprising:
 a display interface; and   a processor in communication with the display interface, the processor being configured to:
 display a listing of message threads via the display interface; 
 while said listing of message threads is displayed,
 detect selection of one of the message threads, said message thread comprising a plurality of email messages; and 
 detect selection of a single-message action to be applied to a single email message, the selected single-message action being associated with at least one message attribute; 
 
 identify one of the plurality of email messages comprising said at least one message attribute; and 
 apply the selected single-message action to said identified email message. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein selection of one of the message threads comprises selection of a graphical user interface element displayed at the electronic device, the graphical user interface element corresponding to said one of the message threads, and said selection of the single-message action is carried out while said graphical user interface element is selected. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to identify the one of the plurality of email messages by identifying a most recent one of the plurality of email messages comprising said at least one message attribute. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one message attribute comprises the message being marked opened. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to apply the selected single-message action by displaying via the display interface a message composition interface comprising content from the identified email message. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the selected single-message action comprises a reply action, and the at least one message attribute comprises the message being a received message; or   the selected single-message action comprises a reply to all action, and the at least one message attribute comprises the message being a received message and the message having a plurality of recipients.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the selected single-message action comprises a forward action, and the at least one message attribute comprises the message being a received message. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the selected single-message action comprises a send action, and the at least one message attribute comprises the message being a draft message having at least one designated recipient. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the selected single-message action comprises a flag action, and the at least one message attribute comprises either the message being a received message, the message having an attachment, or the message both being a received message and having an attachment. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the identified email message is not a most recent message in the selected message thread.