Method and apparatus for dynamic session placeholder for message user interface

Abstract

A method and apparatus for representing a conversation of related messages is provided. In a message collection user interface for displaying messages sent and received by a communications device, a dynamic session placeholder is used for a respective conversation of related messages. The message collection user interface is displayed including any dynamic session placeholders in the list of messages. As messages from the conversation are occasioned, the dynamic session placeholder is updated. When the message collection is displayed, it is displayed in accordance with the updated session placeholder.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 outputting, on an electronic device, a user interface comprising a plurality of dynamic session placeholders, wherein each of the plurality of dynamic session placeholders represents a respective conversation of related messages constituting a messaging communication session, each of the plurality of dynamic session placeholders corresponds to a respective message type, and the plurality of dynamic session placeholders include a first dynamic session placeholder and a second dynamic session placeholder that correspond to different message types;   in response to a new message sent or received in the respective conversation of related messages defined by at least one of the plurality of dynamic session placeholders, reordering the plurality of dynamic session placeholders based on a message time of the new message; and   outputting the reordered list of messages in the user interface.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the different message types comprise at least one of an instant message or a short message service (SMS) message. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first dynamic session placeholder corresponds to an instant message and the second dynamic session placeholder corresponds to a short message service (SMS) message. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 in response to a selection of one of the plurality of the dynamic session placeholders, invoking an application associated with a message type corresponding to the one dynamic session placeholder.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of the dynamic session placeholders comprises a time indication in accordance with a time of a most recent message in the conversation of the respective dynamic session placeholder. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of the dynamic session placeholders comprises an identification of another messaging party in the conversation of the respective dynamic session placeholder. 
     
     
         27 . An electronic device, comprising:
 at least one processor;   one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media coupled to the at least one processor and storing programming instructions for execution by the at least one processor,   wherein the programming instructions, when executed, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:
 outputting, on the electronic device, a user interface comprising a plurality of dynamic session placeholders, wherein each of the plurality of dynamic session placeholders represents a respective conversation of related messages constituting a messaging communication session, each of the plurality of dynamic session placeholders corresponds to a respective message type, and the plurality of dynamic session placeholders include a first dynamic session placeholder and a second dynamic session placeholder that correspond to different message types; 
 in response to a new message sent or received in the respective conversation of related messages defined by at least one of the plurality of dynamic session placeholders, reordering the plurality of dynamic session placeholders based on a message time of the new message; and 
 outputting the reordered list of messages in the user interface. 
   
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the different message types comprise at least one of an instant message or a short message service (SMS) message. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the first dynamic session placeholder corresponds to an instant message and the second dynamic session placeholder corresponds to a short message service (SMS) message. 
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , the operations further comprising:
 in response to a selection of one of the plurality of the dynamic session placeholders, invoking an application associated with a message type corresponding to the one dynamic session placeholder.   
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein each of the plurality of the dynamic session placeholders comprises a time indication in accordance with a time of a most recent message in the conversation of the respective dynamic session placeholder. 
     
     
         31 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein each of the plurality of the dynamic session placeholders comprises an identification of another messaging party in the conversation of the respective dynamic session placeholder. 
     
     
         32 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause an electronic device to perform operations comprising:
 outputting, on the electronic device, a user interface comprising a plurality of dynamic session placeholders, wherein each of the plurality of dynamic session placeholders represents a respective conversation of related messages constituting a messaging communication session, each of the plurality of dynamic session placeholders corresponds to a respective message type, and the plurality of dynamic session placeholders include a first dynamic session placeholder and a second dynamic session placeholder that correspond to different message types;   in response to a new message sent or received in the respective conversation of related messages defined by at least one of the plurality of dynamic session placeholders, reordering the plurality of dynamic session placeholders based on a message time of the new message; and   outputting the reordered list of messages in the user interface.   
     
     
         33 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 32 , wherein the different message types comprise at least one of an instant message or a short message service (SMS) message. 
     
     
         34 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 32 , wherein the first dynamic session placeholder corresponds to an instant message and the second dynamic session placeholder corresponds to a short message service (SMS) message. 
     
     
         35 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 32 , the operations further comprising:
 in response to a selection of one of the plurality of the dynamic session placeholders, invoking an application associated with a message type corresponding to the one dynamic session placeholder.   
     
     
         36 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 32 , wherein each of the plurality of the dynamic session placeholders comprises a time indication in accordance with a time of a most recent message in the conversation of the respective dynamic session placeholder. 
     
     
         37 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 32 , wherein each of the plurality of the dynamic session placeholders comprises an identification of another messaging party in the conversation of the respective dynamic session placeholder.