Reply to most recent message

Abstract

A computer communication system that allows a user to conveniently display the most recent received messages associated with another user, and to directly initiate composition of a reply to a selected one of those displayed messages. When the user selects the disclosed “Reply to Most Recent” user interface element, a user name entry user interface object is generated that allows the user to specify the name of another user. A reply message user interface object is generated directly to the user interface, such that the reply message user interface object includes a message composition window that is automatically loaded with content from a most recent message from the specified user, and recipients for the reply message are loaded from that most recent message.

1 . A method comprising:
 generating a first user interface object;   detecting user selection of said first user interface object;   displaying, responsive to said detection of said user selection of said first user interface object, a second user interface object through which a local user can specify a user name;   inputting, through said second user interface object, a user name specified by said local user through said second user interface object; and   displaying, responsive to said inputting of said user name, a third user interface object for composing a reply message to a most recent message associated with said user name.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, responsive to said inputting of said user name, a list of most recent messages associated with said specified user name;   detecting user selection of a message represented within said list of most recent messages associated with said specified user name; and   wherein said third user interface object is generated responsive to said detecting of said user selection of said message represented within said list of most recent messages associated with said specified user name, and wherein said third user interface object is for composing a reply message to said selected message.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 wherein said first user interface object is simultaneously displayed with a user interface object enabling said local user to create a new message, a user interface object enabling said local user to reply to a currently selected message, and a user interface object enabling said local user to forward a currently selected message.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 wherein said first user interface object, said user interface object enabling said local user to create a new message, said user interface object enabling said local user to reply to a currently selected message, and said user interface object enabling said local user to forward a currently selected message comprise graphical buttons simultaneously displayed within a toolbar portion of a user interface of a computer communication system.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said computer communication system comprises an electronic mail system. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first user interface object comprises a menu item. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting said user selection of said first user interface object comprises detecting said local user clicking on said first user interface object. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first user interface object is displayed within a default screen for a computer communication system. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 wherein said list of most recent messages associated with said specified user name comprises a plurality of list entries; and   wherein each of said list entries represents a message having an address associated with said specified user name in at least one address field.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one address field comprises a source address field. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one address field further comprises a destination address field. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 wherein said list of most recent messages associated with said specified user name comprises a plurality of list entries; and   wherein each of said list entries represents a message thread which a user associated with said specified user name is a participant.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said user associated with said specified user name is a participant in a given message thread only if an address corresponding to said specified user name is contained in at least one address field of at least one message in said message thread. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said detecting said user selection of said message contained within said list of most recently received messages associated with said specified user name comprises detecting said local user clicking on a list entry corresponding to said message. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said displaying said third user interface object for composing a reply to said selected message further comprises loading destination address fields for said reply using addresses from said selected message and loading a message composition portion of said third user interface object with content from said selected message. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specified user name comprises an e-mail address. 
   
   
       17 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor;   computer readable memory accessible by said at least one processor, said memory having stored thereon program code for executing on said at least one processor, said program code including
 program code for generating a first user interface object; 
 program code for detecting user selection of said first user interface object; 
 program code for displaying, responsive to said detection of said user selection of said first user interface object, a second user interface object through which a local user can specify a user name; 
 program code for inputting, through said second user interface object, a user name specified by said local user through said second user interface object; and 
 program code for displaying, responsive to said inputting of said specified user name, a third user interface object for composing a reply message to a most recent message associated with said specified user name. 
   
   
   
       18 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable medium having program code stored thereon including
 program code for generating a first user interface object; 
 program code for detecting user selection of said first user interface object; 
 program code for displaying, responsive to said detection of said user selection of said first user interface object, a second user interface object through which a local user can specify a user name; 
 program code for inputting, through said second user interface object, a user name specified by said local user into said second user interface object; and 
 program code for displaying, responsive to said inputting of said specified user name, a third user interface object for composing a reply message to a most recent message associated with said specified user name. 
   
   
   
       19 . A system comprising:
 means for generating a first user interface object;   means for detecting user selection of said first user interface object;   means for displaying, responsive to said detection of said user selection of said first user interface object, a second user interface object through which a local user can specify a user name;   means for inputting, through said second user interface object, a user name specified by said local user into said second user interface object; and   means for displaying, responsive to said inputting of said user name, a third user interface object for composing a reply message to a most recent message associated with said specified user name.