Multiple display regions in a unified message inbox

Abstract

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.