Linking selected messages in electronic message threads

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems for linking selected messages in electronic message threads. In one embodiment, related messages are identified and graphic elements associated with a first message are displayed on a user interfaces. Responsive to receiving a user interaction with the graphical element, a second message can be viewed, where the second message either responds to the first message or is responded to by the first message. Displaying graphical elements associated with related messages can eliminate potential confusion between users in group messages.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 identifying, by one or more computer processors, a set of related messages, wherein the set of related messages includes at least a first message and a second message related to the first message;   displaying, by one or more computer processors, in a user interface displaying the first message, a graphical element associated with the first message; and   responsive to receiving a user interaction with the graphical element, displaying, by one or more computer processors, in the user interface, a visual indication that identifies the second message;   wherein the second message is one of the following: a message that responds to the first message or a message that the first message responds to.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, by one or more computer processors, in the user interface, a graphical element associated with the second message;   responsive to receiving a user interaction with the graphical element associated with the second message, displaying, by one or more computer processors, in the user interface, a visual indication that identifies the first message.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the visual indication that identifies the second message includes highlighting the second message in the user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 responsive to receiving a user interaction with the highlighted second message, displaying, by one or more computer processors, a visual indication that identifies the first message.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical element is an icon associated with a respective user corresponding to the second message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 adding, by one or more computer processors, one or more symbols to the first message, wherein each symbol is associated with one of the following: messages that respond to the first message and messages that the first message responds to.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 responsive to receiving a user interaction with one of the symbols, displaying, by one or more computer processors, one or more icons associated with users corresponding to messages related to the first message.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more symbols include at least one of an up arrow and a down arrow, wherein the up arrow is associated with messages that respond to the first message, where the down arrow is associated with messages that the first message responds to. 
     
     
         9 . A computer program product comprising:
 one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
 program instructions to identify a set of related messages, wherein the set of related messages includes at least a first message and a second message related to the first message; 
 program instructions to display in a user interface displaying the first message, a graphical element associated with the first message; and 
 program instructions to, responsive to receiving a user interaction with the graphical element, display a visual indication that identifies the second message; 
 wherein the second message is one of the following: a message that responds to the first message or a message that the first message responds to. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:
 program instructions to display in the user interface, a graphical element associated with the second message;   program instructions to, responsive to receiving a user interaction with the graphical element associated with the second message, display a visual indication that identifies the first message.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the graphical element is an icon associated with a respective user corresponding to the second message. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:
 program instructions to add one or more symbols to the first message, wherein each symbol is associated with one of the following: messages that respond to the first message and messages that the first message responds to.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:
 program instructions to, responsive to receiving a user interaction with one of the symbols, display one or more icons associated with users corresponding to messages related to the first message.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more symbols include at least one of an up arrow and a down arrow, wherein the up arrow is associated with messages that respond to the first message, where the down arrow is associated with messages that the first message responds to. 
     
     
         15 . A computer system comprising:
 one or more computer processors;   one or more computer-readable storage media;   program instructions stored on the computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:
 program instructions to identify a set of related messages, wherein the set of related messages includes at least a first message and a second message related to the first message; 
 program instructions to display in a user interface displaying the first message, a graphical element associated with the first message; and 
 program instructions to, responsive to receiving a user interaction with the graphical element, display a visual indication that identifies the second message; 
 wherein the second message is one of the following: a message that responds to the first message or a message that the first message responds to. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:
 program instructions to display in the user interface, a graphical element associated with the second message;   program instructions to, responsive to receiving a user interaction with the graphical element associated with the second message, display a visual indication that identifies the first message.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the graphical element is an icon associated with a respective user corresponding to the second message. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 17 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:
 program instructions to add one or more symbols to the first message, wherein each symbol is associated with one of the following: messages that respond to the first message and messages that the first message responds to.   
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:
 program instructions to, responsive to receiving a user interaction with one of the symbols, display one or more icons associated with users corresponding to messages related to the first message.   
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more symbols include at least one of an up arrow and a down arrow, wherein the up arrow is associated with messages that respond to the first message, where the down arrow is associated with messages that the first message responds to.