Prior art

A search of the USPTO database for the specific patent number 10009304 confirms its existence.

The most relevant prior art for US patent 10009304, along with their details and potential anticipatory claims, are as follows:

1. US20030093363A1

• Full Citation: US20030093363A1 - Conversational dealing system
• Publication Date: 2003-05-15
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a conversational dealing system.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): Further analysis would be required to determine specific claims, but given the general description of "conversational dealing system," it could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 14 related to providing a discussion interface and handling messages within a conversation.

2. US20050138552A1

• Full Citation: US20050138552A1 - Clustering messages
• Publication Date: 2005-06-23
• Brief Description: This patent application focuses on clustering messages.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference might anticipate elements of claims 1 and 14 concerning the organization and display of messages in a discussion interface, particularly if "clustering messages" involves visual cues or grouping similar to the "correlating conversations" described in US10009304.

3. US20050275662A1

• Full Citation: US20050275662A1 - Developing electronic documents employing multiple display regions
• Publication Date: 2005-12-15
• Brief Description: This patent application describes methods for developing electronic documents using multiple display regions.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 14 related to the provision of a discussion interface and the display of messages within it, especially if the multiple display regions could be interpreted as a way to visually differentiate or group parts of a conversation.

4. US20060248150A1

• Full Citation: US20060248150A1 - Methods and apparatus for managing and distinguishing instant messaging sessions and threads
• Publication Date: 2006-11-02
• Brief Description: This patent application describes methods and apparatus for managing and distinguishing instant messaging sessions and threads.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference appears highly relevant as it explicitly addresses "managing and distinguishing instant messaging sessions and threads." This directly relates to the core invention of US10009304, potentially anticipating claims 1 and 14, particularly the steps involving defining active conversations, associating new messages with them, and using visual cues for differentiation.

5. US7185057B2

• Full Citation: US7185057B2 - Individually specifying message output attributes in a messaging system
• Publication Date: 2007-02-27
• Brief Description: This patent describes individually specifying message output attributes in a messaging system.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This could anticipate the use of "visual cues" (as described in claims 1 and 14) if "individually specifying message output attributes" includes visual differentiations for messages within a conversation.

6. US7200635B2

• Full Citation: US7200635B2 - Smart messenger
• Publication Date: 2007-04-03
• Brief Description: This patent describes a smart messenger system.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): The broad nature of "smart messenger" would require deeper analysis, but it's possible it could touch upon intelligent ways of presenting or managing messages that might relate to the correlation of conversations in claims 1 and 14.

7. US20070203985A1

• Full Citation: US20070203985A1 - Response linking in instant messaging
• Publication Date: 2007-08-30
• Brief Description: This patent application details response linking in instant messaging.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference is very relevant due to its focus on "response linking in instant messaging." This directly addresses the concept of associating responses with previous messages, which is central to claims 1 and 14, especially the steps of receiving an indication that a new message is responsive to a first message and associating new messages with an active conversation.

8. US20080177994A1

• Full Citation: US20080177994A1 - System and method for improving the efficiency, comfort, and/or reliability in Operating Systems, such as for example Windows
• Publication Date: 2008-07-24
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for improving operating system efficiency, comfort, and/or reliability.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This is a very general reference to operating system improvements and is less likely to directly anticipate specific claims of US10009304 related to conversation correlation unless it contains very specific examples of messaging interface enhancements.

9. US7475110B2

• Full Citation: US7475110B2 - Method and interface for multi-threaded conversations in instant messaging
• Publication Date: 2009-01-06
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method and interface for multi-threaded conversations in instant messaging.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference is highly relevant as it explicitly teaches a "method and interface for multi-threaded conversations in instant messaging." This directly addresses the problem US10009304 aims to solve and could anticipate various elements of claims 1 and 14, particularly the provision of a discussion interface, handling multiple conversations, and associating messages.

10. US20100023586A1

• Full Citation: US20100023586A1 - System and method for correlating questions and answers in an instant messaging environment
• Publication Date: 2010-01-28
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for correlating questions and answers in an instant messaging environment.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference is extremely relevant, explicitly teaching "correlating questions and answers in an instant messaging environment." This directly anticipates the core concept of US10009304 and could potentially anticipate all elements of claims 1 and 14, especially those related to identifying responsive messages and displaying them with visual cues.

11. US20100115426A1

• Full Citation: US20100115426A1 - Avatar environments
• Publication Date: 2010-05-06
• Brief Description: This patent application describes avatar environments.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference seems less directly relevant to conversation correlation as described in US10009304, focusing on "avatar environments." It's unlikely to anticipate the core claims unless it describes the use of avatars as visual cues for conversation threads, which would require more specific analysis.

12. US20100125791A1

• Full Citation: US20100125791A1 - User interface for a telecommunication and multimedia management system and method
• Publication Date: 2010-05-20
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a user interface for a telecommunication and multimedia management system and method.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This general reference to a "user interface for a telecommunication and multimedia management system" could potentially anticipate the provision of a discussion interface (claims 1 and 14) but would need to specifically address the correlation of conversations with visual cues to be more directly anticipatory.

13. WO2011005641A2

• Full Citation: WO2011005641A2 - Communication mode swapping for telecommunications devices
• Publication Date: 2011-01-13
• Brief Description: This international patent application describes communication mode swapping for telecommunications devices.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference focuses on "communication mode swapping," which is not directly related to conversation correlation. It's unlikely to anticipate the core claims of US10009304.

14. US7885641B2

• Full Citation: US7885641B2 - Method and system for using subjects in instant messaging sessions on a mobile device
• Publication Date: 2011-02-08
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method and system for using subjects in instant messaging sessions on a mobile device.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference, by teaching "using subjects in instant messaging sessions," could anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 14 where a "subject" might serve a similar function to an "active conversation" or a "visual cue" for grouping messages.

15. US8001184B2

• Full Citation: US8001184B2 - System and method for managing an instant messaging conversation
• Publication Date: 2011-08-16
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for managing an instant messaging conversation.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This is another highly relevant reference due to its focus on "managing an instant messaging conversation." This directly relates to the capabilities described in US10009304 and could anticipate elements of claims 1 and 14, especially those related to providing a discussion interface and handling messages within a conversation.

16. US8024412B2

• Full Citation: US8024412B2 - User interface reading email conversations
• Publication Date: 2011-09-20
• Brief Description: This patent describes a user interface for reading email conversations.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference is relevant because it concerns "reading email conversations" in a user interface, a messaging environment explicitly covered in US10009304. It could anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 14 related to providing a discussion interface and displaying messages in a conversational context.

17. US8312095B2

• Full Citation: US8312095B2 - Tracking interactive text-message communications
• Publication Date: 2012-11-13
• Brief Description: This patent describes tracking interactive text-message communications.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): The concept of "tracking interactive text-message communications" could encompass the identification and correlation of conversation threads, potentially anticipating elements of claims 1 and 14 related to defining active conversations and associating messages.

18. US20130090138A1

• Full Citation: US20130090138A1 - Processing messages based on a destination device
• Publication Date: 2013-04-11
• Brief Description: This patent application describes processing messages based on a destination device.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference primarily focuses on message routing based on the destination device, which is less directly related to the conversation correlation features of US10009304. It's unlikely to anticipate the core claims.

19. US20130115581A1

• Full Citation: US20130115581A1 - Multi-level color based communication system and method
• Publication Date: 2013-05-09
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a multi-level color based communication system and method.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference is highly relevant due to its explicit mention of "multi-level color based communication system and method." This directly relates to the use of "visual cues" (specifically color) as described in claims 1, 3, 4, and 14 of US10009304 for correlating conversations.

20. US8473553B2

• Full Citation: US8473553B2 - Management of multiple synchronous responses to single question in community-based instant messaging
• Publication Date: 2013-06-25
• Brief Description: This patent describes the management of multiple synchronous responses to a single question in community-based instant messaging.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference is highly relevant as it addresses "management of multiple synchronous responses to single question in community-based instant messaging." This directly aligns with the problem US10009304 aims to solve and could anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 14 relating to handling multiple replies within a conversation, defining active conversations, and displaying responsive messages.