Adaptive contact list

• US 20050289180A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Pouyoul, Eric, Pabla, Kuldipsingh A., Soto, Juan Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method, device and computer accessible medium for an adaptive contact list. An adaptive contact list may maintain one or more contact entries for corresponding identities. An adaptive contact list may detect context information for a user and may identify context appropriate contact entries according to the current context information and may supply the context appropriate contact entries. Context appropriate contact entries may be supplied to other applications or processes. Further, an adaptive contact list may detect, either periodically or on demand, a change in context information for the user, identify different context appropriate contact entries according to the changed context information, and supply the different context appropriate contact entries. Maintained contact entries may be stored in shared identity objects and an adaptive contact list may request and receive contact entries from an identity framework.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

maintaining one or more contact entries;

detecting current context information for a user;

identifying one or more context appropriate contact entries of the maintained contact entries according to the current context information;

providing the context appropriate contact entries;

detecting a change in context information for the user;

identifying one or more different context appropriate contact entries of the maintained contact entries according to the changed context information; and

providing the different context appropriate contact entries.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprises programmatically supplying the context appropriate contact entries to an application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the contact entries comprise contact information, and wherein said programmatically providing comprises programmatically filling in one or more user interface components for the application with the contact information from the context appropriate contact entries.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprises programmatically providing the context appropriate contact entries to an application for user presentation and selection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining comprises maintaining one or more core contact entries, and wherein said providing comprises providing the core contact entries with the context appropriate contact entries.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the current context information comprises a current time of day and wherein said identifying comprises identifying one or more contact entries based on the current time of day.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the current context information comprises a current device identifier and wherein said identifying comprises identifying one or more contact entries based on the current device identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the current context information comprises an active application and wherein said identifying comprises identifying one or more contact entries based on the active application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each contact entry comprises a plurality of contact information and wherein said identifying one or more context appropriate contact entries comprises identifying appropriate contact information from each of the context appropriate contact entries based on the current contact information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the contact entries is stored in a shared identity object.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprising providing an interface to select one or more of the context appropriate contact entries.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an interface to add one or more new contact entries.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an interface to delete one or more of the contact entries.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the current context information comprises one or more user established context categories and wherein said identifying comprising identifying one or more context appropriate contact entries based upon the user established context categories.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing said detecting, said identifying and said providing in response to a request for contact information from an application.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying comprises:

sending a request to an identity framework, wherein the request includes the current context information; and

receiving the one or more context appropriate contact entries from the identity framework.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the identity framework resides on a separate device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein each contact entry comprises historical context information indicating context information associated with the contact entry'"'"'s past usage, wherein said identifying comprises identifying one or more context appropriate contact entries from the context aware contact entries based on the current context information and according to each entry'"'"'s historical context information.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising updating the context based historical usage information for each of the context appropriate contact entries based on the current context information.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the current context information comprises a current time of day and the historical context information of each contact entry comprises information regarding the time of day each entry was historically selected and wherein said identifying comprises identifying one or more contact entries based on each entry'"'"'s historical selection time information and the current time of day.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the current context information comprises a current device identifier and the historical context information of each contact entry comprises information indicating the device that was used when each entry was historically selected and wherein said identifying comprises identifying one or more contact entries based on each entry'"'"'s historical context information and the current device identifier.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the current context information comprises a current active application and wherein the historical context information of each contact entry comprises historical application information regarding an application that was active when the entry was historically selected and wherein said identifying comprises identifying one or more contact entries based on each contact entry'"'"'s historical context information and the current active application.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing an interface to modify the historical context information of one or more of the contact entries.

24. A device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory couple to the processor, wherein the memory comprises program instructions configured to;

maintain one or more context aware contact entries;

detect a user'"'"'s current context information;

identify one or more context appropriate contact entries from the context aware contact entries based upon the current user context information; and

provide the context appropriate contact entries.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein in said providing, the program instructions are configured to programmatically supply the context appropriate contact entries to an application.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein each of the contact entries comprise contact information, and wherein in said programmatically providing the program instructions are configured to programmatically fill one or more user interface components for the application with the contact information from the context appropriate contact entries.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein in said providing the program instructions are configured to programmatically provide the context appropriate contact entries to an application for user presentation and selection.

28. The device of claim 24, wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify one or more context independent contact entries, and wherein in said providing the program instructions are configured to provide the one or more context independent contact entries with the one or more context appropriate contact entries.

29. The device of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further configured to:

detect a change in the user context;

identify one or more different context appropriate contact entries according to changed user context;

provide the different context appropriate contact entries.

30. The device of claim 24, wherein the current context information comprises a current time of day and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify one or more contact entries based on the current time of day.

31. The device of claim 24, wherein the current context information comprises information identifying a current device and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify one or more contact entries based on the current device.

32. The device of claim 24, wherein the current context information comprises information identifying an active application and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify one or more contact entries based on the active application.

33. The device of claim 24, wherein each contact entry comprises a plurality of contact information and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify identifying appropriate contact information from each of the context appropriate contact entries based on the current contact information.

34. The device of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further configured to store each of the contact entries is in shared identity object.

35. The device of claim 24, wherein in said providing the program instructions are configured to provide an interface to select one or more of the context appropriate contact entries.

36. The device of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further configured to provide an interface to add one or more new contact entries.

37. The device of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further configured to provide an interface to delete one or more of the contact entries.

38. The device of claim 24, wherein the current context information comprises one or more user established context categories and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify one or more context appropriate contact entries based upon the user established context categories.

39. The device of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further configured to perform said detecting, said identifying and said providing in response to a request for contact information from an application.

40. The device of claim 24, wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to:

send a request to an identity framework, wherein the request includes the current context information; and

receive the one or more context appropriate contact entries from the identity framework.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein the identity framework resides on a separate device.

42. The device of claim 24, wherein each contact entry comprises historical context information indicating context information associated with the contact entry'"'"'s past usage, wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify one or more context appropriate contact entries from the context aware entries according to each entry'"'"'s historical context information.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the program instructions are further configured to update the context based historical usage information for each of the context appropriate contact entries based on the current context information.

44. The device of claim 42, wherein the current context information comprises a current time of day and the historical context information of each contact entry comprises information regarding the time of day each entry was historically selected and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify one or more contact entries based on each entry'"'"'s historical selection time information and the current time of day.

45. The device of claim 42, wherein the current context information comprises information identifying a current device and the historical context information of each contact entry comprises information indicating the device that was used when each entry was historically selected and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify one or more contact entries based on each entry'"'"'s historical context information and the current device.

46. The device of claim 42, wherein the current context information comprises information identifying a current active application and wherein the historical context information of each contact entry comprises historical application information regarding an application that was active when the entry was historically selected and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to identify one or more contact entries based on each contact entry'"'"'s historical context information and the current active application.

47. The device of claim 42, wherein the program instructions are further configured to provide an interface to modify the historical context information of one or more of the contact entries.

48. A computer accessible medium comprising program instructions configured to implement:

maintaining one or more context aware contact entries;

detecting a user'"'"'s current context information;

identifying one or more context appropriate contact entries from the context aware contact entries based upon the current user context information; and

providing the context appropriate contact entries.

49. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein in said providing the program instructions are configured to implement programmatically supply the context appropriate contact entries to an application.

50. The computer accessible medium of claim 49, wherein each of the contact entries comprise a plurality of contact information, and wherein in said programmatically providing the program instructions are configured to implement programmatically filling in one or more user interface components for the application with the contact information from the context appropriate contact entries.

51. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein in said providing the program instructions are configured to implement programmatically providing the context appropriate contact entries to an application for user presentation and selection.

52. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying one or more context independent contact entries, and wherein in said providing the program instructions are configured to implement providing the one or more context independent contact entries with the one or more context appropriate contact entries.

53. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein the program instructions are further configured to implement:

detecting a change in the user context;

identifying one or more different context appropriate contact entries according to changed user context;

providing the different context appropriate contact entries.

54. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein the current context information comprises a current time of day and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying one or more contact entries based on the current time of day.

55. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein the current context information comprises a current device identifier and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying one or more contact entries based on the current device.

56. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein the current context information comprises an active application and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying one or more contact entries based on the active application.

57. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein each contact entry comprises a plurality of contact information and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying appropriate contact information from each of the context appropriate contact entries based on the current contact information.

58. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein the program instructions are configured to implement storing each of the contact entries in a shared identity object.

59. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein in said providing the program instructions are configured to implement providing an interface to select one or more of the context appropriate contact entries.

60. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein the program instructions are further configured to implement providing an interface to add one or more new contact entries.

61. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein the program instructions are further configured to implement providing an interface to delete one or more of the contact entries.

62. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein the current context information comprises one or more user established context categories and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying one or more context appropriate contact entries based upon the user established context categories.

63. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein the program instructions are further configured to implement performing said detecting, said identifying and said providing in response to a request for contact information from an application.

64. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement:

programmatically sending a request to an identity framework, wherein the request includes the current context information; and

receiving the one or more context appropriate contact entries from the identity framework.

65. The computer accessible medium of claim 64, wherein the identity framework resides on a separate device.

66. The computer accessible medium of claim 48, wherein each contact entry comprises historical context information indicating context information associated with the contact entry'"'"'s past usage, wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying one or more context appropriate contact entries from the context aware contact entries based on the current context information and according to each entry'"'"'s historical context information.

67. The computer accessible medium of claim 66, wherein the program instructions are further configured to implement updating the context based historical usage information for each of the context appropriate contact entries based on the current context information.

68. The computer accessible medium of claim 66, wherein the current context information comprises a current time of day and the historical context information of each contact entry comprises information regarding the time of day each entry was historically selected and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying one or more contact entries based on each entry'"'"'s historical selection time information and the current time of day.

69. The computer accessible medium of claim 66, wherein the current context information comprises a current device identifier and the historical context information of each contact entry comprises information indicating the device that was used when each entry was historically selected and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying one or more contact entries based on each entry'"'"'s historical context information and the current device identifier.

70. The computer accessible medium of claim 66, wherein the current context information comprises a current active application and wherein the historical context information of each contact entry comprises historical application information regarding an application that was active when the entry was historically selected and wherein in said identifying the program instructions are configured to implement identifying one or more contact entries based on each contact entry'"'"'s historical context information and the current active application.

71. The computer accessible medium of claim 66, wherein the program instructions are further configured to implement providing an interface to modify the historical context information of one or more of the contact entries.

72. A system, comprising:

a plurality of applications; and

a shared contact manager;

wherein one or more of the applications are configured to request contact information from the shared contact manager; and

wherein in response to receiving a contact information request from one of the applications, the shared contact manager is configured to;

maintain a contact list comprising one or more context aware contact entries, wherein the contact list further comprising one or more context independent contact entries;

detect a user'"'"'s current context information;

identify one or more context appropriate contact entries from the context aware contact entries based upon the current user context information; and

provide the context appropriate contact entries.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the current context information comprises a current time of day and wherein the shared contact manager is further configured to identify one or more context appropriate contact entries based on the current time of day.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein the current context information comprises a current device identifier and wherein the shared contact manager is further configured to identify one or more context appropriate contact entries based on the current device identifier.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein the shared contact manager is further configured to identify one or more context appropriate contact entries based on the requesting application.