Combined message boxes

Abstract

The present application relates to message account linking that allows users to selectively link message accounts and customize those linked message accounts. In one embodiment, the user selects a number of message accounts for selective linking. A message application updates a message account database to selectively link the message accounts and create a combined message box. When a user selects the combined message box for display, all messages from the selectively linked message accounts are displayed. In one embodiment, a user can create multiple combined message boxes on a single device, and may assign names to each of the combined message boxes. In yet another embodiment, an icon associated with a combined message box is added to the device's home screen.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 identifying a first combined message box, the first combined message box associated with messages from a first message account and a second message account;   identifying a second combined message box, the second combined message box associated with messages from a third message account and a fourth message account; and   displaying the first combined message box and the second combined message box on a user device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first message account is associated with messages of a first type, and wherein the second message account is associated with messages of a second type, the first type different than the second type. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first message account is one of the following: an email account, a text message account, a social network messaging inbox, or an instant message account. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising displaying a number of messages associated with the first combined message box. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising displaying a number of messages associated with the second combined message box. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising displaying a name of the first combined message box. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising displaying an icon associated with the first combined message box. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the icon comprises a number of messages associated with the first combined message box. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the icon comprises a name of the first combined message box. 
     
     
         30 . A mobile device, comprising:
 a processor; and   one or more computer-readable storage media storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a method comprising:
 identifying a first combined message box, the first combined message box including messages from multiple message accounts in a first group of message accounts; 
 identifying a second combined message box, the second combined message box including messages from multiple message accounts in a second group of message accounts, wherein the first group of message accounts is different from the second group of message accounts; and 
 providing a first icon representing the first combined message box and a second icon representing the second combined message box. 
   
     
     
         31 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the first icon comprises a number of messages associated with the first combined message box. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the first icon comprises a name of the first combined message box. 
     
     
         33 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the first icon comprises an indication of the multiple message accounts in the first group of message accounts. 
     
     
         34 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein at least two of the multiple message accounts in the first group of message accounts are different message account types. 
     
     
         35 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the first combined message box includes at least one email message and at least one of a text message, a social network message, or an instant message. 
     
     
         36 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the method further comprises displaying the first icon and the second icon on a home screen. 
     
     
         37 . At least one computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform a method, the method comprising:
 identifying a first combined message box, the first combined message box including messages from a first group of message accounts;   identifying a second combined message box, the second combined message box including messages from a second group of message accounts, wherein the second group is different from the first group; and   outputting for display a first icon representing the first combined message box and a second icon representing the second combined message box.   
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable memory of  claim 37 , wherein a plurality of message accounts in the first group of message accounts are email accounts. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable memory of  claim 37 , wherein at least one message account in the first group of message accounts is a text message account, a social network messaging inbox, or an instant message account. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable memory of  claim 37 , wherein the first icon comprises a number indicating unread messages in the first combined message box.