Patent US7430719B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7430719B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact text box
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 2004-07-07
•
Granted: 2008-09-30
•
Expires: 2024-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A contact text box interface for resolving user input with contact information selected from contact directories and compared against usage patterns. Users are provided with a list of potentially relevant contacts from which a selection can be made. When a contact is selected, the corresponding and appropriate contact information is automatically provided to the application. Various criteria can be used to identify which contacts will be presented to the user and how they will be presented.
Inventors
- 👤 Fabio Pettinati
- 👤 John-Anthony Owens
- 👤 Jonathan D. Perlow
- 👤 Melissa W. Dunn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 02:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
In a computing system that is connected with a display device and that includes a user interface that is configured to display contact information at the display device, a method for resolving user input received at an application and corresponding to contact information that can be utilized by the application to perform a function, the method comprising: identifying user input that needs to be resolved; opening a contact text box interface configured to display a list of contacts having contact information matching the user input; using at least one resolver from the contact text box to query at least one contact information directory for contacts having contact information matching the user input; applying the user input against at least one usage pattern in the at least one contact information directory; identifying any contacts satisfying the query and having an appropriate usage pattern; and displaying said any contacts within at least two graphically distinguished and separate groupings, and such that contacts having a higher likelihood of selection are displayed in a first grouping that is positioned above contacts in a second grouping having a lower likelihood of selection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a computing system that is connected with a display device and that includes a user interface that is configured to display contact information at the display device, a method for resolving user input received at an application and corresponding to contact information that can be utilized by the application to perform a function, the method comprising: identifying user input that needs to be resolved; opening a contact text box interface configured to display a list of contacts having contact information matching the user input; using at least one resolver from the contact text box to query at least one contact information directory for contacts having contact information matching the user input; applying the user input against at least one usage pattern in the at least one contact information directory; identifying any contacts satisfying the query and having an appropriate usage pattern; and displaying said any contacts within at least two graphically distinguished and separate groupings, and such that contacts having a higher likelihood of selection are displayed in a first grouping that is positioned above contacts in a second grouping having a lower likelihood of selection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: resolving the user input.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein resolving the user input includes: receiving additional user input which indicates that one of the displayed contacts should be selected; and replacing the user input with a corresponding UI object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the additional user input includes a selection of the one of the displayed contacts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the additional user input includes a textual character that limits said any available contacts to a single contact comprising the one of the displayed contacts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the additional user input comprises a delimiting character.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein resolving the user input includes providing contact information corresponding to the one of the displayed contacts to an application.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the method further includes receiving a request to resolve user input from the application prior to opening the contact text box.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the application uses the contact information to perform a function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further including: sending a request to update the usage pattern data corresponding to the one of the displayed contacts at a contact information directory from which the one of the displayed contacts was identified.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the contacts are displayed in an order controlled at least in part by the usage pattern data and wherein the usage pattern includes at least one of a frequency of use, a network proximity, a geographic proximity, a system compatibility, a last selection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the displayed contacts includes at least two contacts and the at least two contacts are displayed in said at least two visually distinguished groupings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the groupings have titles to indicate a significance corresponding to a distinction between the groupings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein each of the groupings corresponds to a different database.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein each of the groupings corresponds to a different contact information directory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein each of the groupings corresponds to a different search criteria used to identify the displayed contacts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further including: receiving additional user input; using at least one resolver from the contact text box to query at least one contact information directory for contacts having contact information matching a combination of the user input and the additional user input; applying the combined user input against at least one usage pattern in the contact information directory; identifying any contacts satisfying the query and having an appropriate usage pattern; and displaying said any contacts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
200 words
One or more computer-readable storage media having stored computer-executable instructions for implementing a method in a computing system that is connected with a display device and that includes a user interface that is configured to display contact information at the display device, wherein the method is for resolving user input received at an application and corresponding to contact information that can be utilized by the application to perform a function, the method comprising: identifying user input that needs to be resolved; opening a contact text box interface configured to display a list of contacts having contact information matching the user input; using at least one resolver from the contact text box to query at least one contact information directory for contacts having contact information matching the user input; applying the user input against at least one usage pattern in the contact information directory; identifying any contacts satisfying the query and having an appropriate usage pattern; and displaying said any contacts within at least two graphically distinguished and separate groupings, and such that contacts having a higher likelihood of selection are displayed in a first grouping that is positioned above contacts in a second grouping having a lower likelihood of selection.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
200 words
One or more computer-readable storage media having stored computer-executable instructions for implementing a method in a computing system that is connected with a display device and that includes a user interface that is configured to display contact information at the display device, wherein the method is for resolving user input received at an application and corresponding to contact information that can be utilized by the application to perform a function, the method comprising: identifying user input that needs to be resolved; opening a contact text box interface configured to display a list of contacts having contact information matching the user input; using at least one resolver from the contact text box to query at least one contact information directory for contacts having contact information matching the user input; applying the user input against at least one usage pattern in the contact information directory; identifying any contacts satisfying the query and having an appropriate usage pattern; and displaying said any contacts within at least two graphically distinguished and separate groupings, and such that contacts having a higher likelihood of selection are displayed in a first grouping that is positioned above contacts in a second grouping having a lower likelihood of selection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 18 , further comprising: resolving the user input.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 19 , wherein resolving the user input includes: receiving additional user input which indicates that one of the displayed contacts should be selected; and replacing the user input with a corresponding UI object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 20 , wherein the additional user input includes a selection of the one of the displayed contacts.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 20 , wherein the additional user input includes a textual character that limits said any available contacts to a single contact comprising the one of the displayed contacts.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 22 , wherein the additional user input comprises a delimiting character.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 19 , wherein resolving the user input includes providing contact information corresponding to the one of the displayed contacts to an application.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 24 , wherein the method further includes receiving a request to resolve user input from the application prior to opening the contact text box.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 25 , wherein the application uses the contact information to perform a function.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 18 , further including: sending a request to update the usage pattern data corresponding to the one of the displayed contacts at a contact information directory from which the one of the displayed contacts was identified.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 18 , wherein the contacts are displayed in an order controlled at least in part by the usage pattern data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 18 , wherein the displayed contacts includes at least two contacts and the at least two contacts are displayed in said at least two visually distinguished groupings.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 29 , wherein the groupings have titles to indicate a significance corresponding to a distinction between the groupings.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 29 , wherein each of the groupings corresponds to a different database.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 29 , wherein each of the groupings corresponds to a different contact information directory.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 29 , wherein each of the groupings corresponds to a different search criteria used to identify the displayed contacts.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
89 words
One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises: receiving additional user input; using at least one resolver from the contact text box to query at least one contact information directory for contacts having contact information matching a combination of the user input and the additional user input; applying the combined user input against at least one usage pattern in the contact information directory; identifying any contacts satisfying the query and having an appropriate usage pattern; and displaying said any contacts.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said method further includes displaying, along with said any contacts satisfying the query and having an appropriate usage pattern, at least one additional contact that is determined to have contact information that does not match the user input, but that corresponds to a particular usage pattern data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a particular contact is displayed in a visually distinct manner than at least one other contact as an indication that said particular contact is associated with a plurality of email addresses.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as recited in claim 36 , wherein the method further includes displaying the plurality of email addresses associated with the particular contact, simultaneously with the display of the particular contact, and in response to hovering a mouse prompt over the particular contact.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second groupings is alphabetized.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the usage pattern includes at least a geographic proximity.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the usage pattern includes at least a system compatibility.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-09-30 | 2012-03-31 | 2012-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-09-30 | 2016-03-31 | 2016-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-09-30 | 2020-03-31 | 2020-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |