Enhanced unified messaging system with a quick view facility

Abstract

This invention provides an enhancement to messaging systems by providing a message notification feature which allows a user to manage only new messages for which a notification has not yet been cleared without having to access or download the entire set of messages. This management may be performed in single window that operates in conjunction with an application associated with the messaging system. The notification management permits manipulation of the message notifications without influencing the status of the messages themselves, while providing access to the data contained in these messages. This addresses the needs of those users who frequently check their incoming communications queues and need to determine very quickly which items need urgent attention and which ones can be deferred. The present invention further provides specific functionalities for handling a particular message when it does need urgent attention.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display cause the electronic device to:
 display a user interface comprising:
 a plurality of message notifications, the plurality of message notifications including notifications for new messages, and 
 a user interface element for responding to a respective message of the new messages; 
   detect a selection of the user interface element for responding to the respective message; and   in response to detecting the selection of the user interface element, initiate a process for replying to the respective message.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 20 , wherein the electronic device does not present the entire contents of the respective message to the user before initiating a process for replying to the respective message. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 20 , wherein the respective message is a voice message from a caller, and wherein initiating a process for replying to the respective message comprises initiating a phone call to the caller. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 20 , wherein the respective message is an electronic mail message from a sender, and wherein initiating a process for replying to the respective message comprises initiating a phone call to the sender. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 20 , wherein the respective message is from a sender, and wherein initiating a process for replying to the respective message comprises sending an electronic message to the sender. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the contents of the respective message comprise text. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the contents of the respective message comprise audio data. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 20 , wherein the user interface element is an icon corresponding to the type of the respective message. 
     
     
         28 . A method, comprising:
 at an electronic device with a display:
 displaying a user interface comprising:
 a plurality of message notifications, the plurality of message notifications including notifications for new messages, and 
 
 a user interface element for responding to a respective message of the new messages; 
   detecting a selection of the user interface element for responding to the respective message; and   in response to detecting the selection of the user interface element, initiating a process for replying to the respective message.   
     
     
         29 . An electronic device comprising:
 a display;   one or more processors;   memory; and   one or more programs stored in memory, the one or more programs including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:
 display a user interface comprising: 
 a plurality of message notifications, the plurality of message notifications including notifications for new messages, and 
 a user interface element for responding to a respective message of the new messages; 
   detect a selection of the user interface element for responding to the respective message; and   in response to detecting the selection of the user interface element, initiate a process for replying to the respective message.