Contact management
First Claim
1. In a computing system that is in communication with one or more applications that are configured to utilize contact information, a method for providing a contact management system for managing contacts and their corresponding contact information for use by the one or more applications, the method comprising:
- creating one or more contacts having contact information that can be utilized by the one or more applications, such that the one or more applications can utilize the contact information;
storing the contacts in a contact store that is accessible to the computing system;
upon receiving a request from at least one of the applications for access to a contact and corresponding contact information, providing the at least one of the applications access to the contact and corresponding contact information through one or more interfaces;
enabling the at least one of the applications to utilize the contact.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Contacts are created and stored with corresponding contact information in such a way that they can be accessed and utilized by applications from a single contact store. The contact store contains a complete contact definition for each contact so that each of the applications can obtain the appropriate contact information and in the appropriate format from the contact store that is required by the applications. Centralizing the storage of the contact information allows the contact store to incorporate and propagate the changes that are made by the applications to the contact information. Interfaces can also be provided to initiate communications using the contact information and for controlling what contact information will be made accessible to the applications.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. In a computing system that is in communication with one or more applications that are configured to utilize contact information, a method for providing a contact management system for managing contacts and their corresponding contact information for use by the one or more applications, the method comprising:
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creating one or more contacts having contact information that can be utilized by the one or more applications, such that the one or more applications can utilize the contact information;
storing the contacts in a contact store that is accessible to the computing system;
upon receiving a request from at least one of the applications for access to a contact and corresponding contact information, providing the at least one of the applications access to the contact and corresponding contact information through one or more interfaces;
enabling the at least one of the applications to utilize the contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product for use in a computing system that is in communication with one or more heterogeneous applications that are configured to utilize contact information differently, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for providing a contact management system for managing contacts and their corresponding contact information for use by the one or more applications, the method comprising:
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creating one or more contacts having contact information that can be utilized by the one or more applications, such that the one or more applications can utilize the contact information;
storing the contacts in a contact store that is accessible to the computing system;
upon receiving a request from at least one of the applications for access to a contact and corresponding contact information, providing the at least one of the applications access to the contact and corresponding contact information through one or more interfaces;
enabling the at least one of the heterogeneous applications to utilize the contact. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. In a computing system that includes a contact store storing at least one contact, the contact comprising contact information that can be utilized differently by heterogeneous applications that are in communication with the computing system, the heterogeneous applications having application contact directories that are maintained independently of the contact store and that defines the at least one contact, a method for providing a contact management system for managing contacts and their corresponding contact information for use by the heterogeneous applications, the method comprising:
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creating one or more contacts having contact information that can be utilized differently by at least two heterogeneous applications;
storing the contacts in a contact store that is accessible to the computing system;
modifying contact information for at least one of the contacts in the contact store;
upon modifying the contact information, automatically updating corresponding contact information in at least one application contact directory of at least one of the heterogeneous applications to correspond with the modified contact information in the contact store, and such that the at least one application is able to access the updated contact information without having to request the updated contact information from the contact store. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A computer program product for use in a computing system that includes a contact store storing at least one contact, the contact comprising contact information that can be utilized differently by heterogeneous applications that are in communication with the computing system, the heterogeneous applications having application contact directories that are maintained independently of the contact store and that defines the at least one contact, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for providing a contact management system for managing contacts and their corresponding contact information for use by the heterogeneous applications, the method comprising:
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creating one or more contacts having contact information that can be utilized differently by at least two heterogeneous applications;
storing the contacts in a contact store that is accessible to the computing system;
modifying contact information for at least one of the contacts in the contact store;
upon modifying the contact information, automatically updating corresponding contact information in at least one application contact directory of at least one of the heterogeneous applications to correspond with the modified contact information in the contact store, and such that the at least one application is able to access the updated contact information without having to request the updated contact information from the contact store. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. In a computing system that is in communication with at least two heterogeneous applications that are configured to utilize contact information differently, a method for providing a contact management system for managing contacts and their corresponding contact information for use by the at least two heterogeneous applications, the method comprising:
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creating one or more contacts having contact information that can be utilized differently by at least two heterogeneous applications, such that the at least two heterogeneous applications can at least one of utilize different portions of the contact information and utilize the same portions of contact information in different ways;
storing the contacts in a contact store that is accessible to the computing system;
upon receiving a request from at least one of the heterogeneous applications for access to a contact and corresponding contact information, providing the at least one of the heterogeneous applications access to the contact and corresponding contact information through one or more interfaces;
enabling the at least one of the heterogeneous applications to utilize the contact.
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Specification