STACKS FOR CONTENT ORGANIZATION

• US 20130254710A1
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Banti, Edward Thomas, Murthy, Kartik S., Andaker, Kristian, Nalliah, Selvaraj, Doan, Bethany Kessen, Dyksen, Elroy J., Sherman, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US13/427,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254710A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Stacks that associate different electronic content are created using tags that are associated with electronic content. Stacks may be personal, organizational and/or shared. A tag may be associated with different types of electronic content (e.g. documents, people, contacts, meetings, emails, . . . ) that may be stored in different locations. The tag acts as an identifier that travels with the content as the electronic content is used. Content may be automatically/manually tagged. As the tagged content is used, the different applications that interact with the content (e.g. a messaging application, a content application) can use the tag to perform different actions. Changes to content with a tag may be aggregated such that users looking at the “consolidated” view can see all changes made to content or activity related to that content.

Claims

1. A method for organizing electronic content, comprising:

displaying a stack user interface element that represents a stack that relates electronic content that comprise messages and documents across different applications;

receiving an interaction with the stack UI element that requests a view of the stack to be displayed;

accessing the stack that associates the electronic content using tags; and

displaying a summary of the electronic content that is associated with the stack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content comprises people, calendar events, documents, and electronic messages that is tagged to be associated with at least the stack.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the electronic content that is associated with the stack comprises displaying a single view of the electronic content across different systems.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the different systems comprise an electronic messaging system and a content system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stack comprises a personal stack and a system stack.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the personal stack and the system stack are automatically created.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically synchronizing the stacks.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection to create a stack that indicates electronic content to associate with the stack.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the stack comprises displaying new activities since a last view of the stack, a total number of activities, meeting events and a to-do list.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for organizing electronic content, comprising:

determining when to create a stack that relates electronic content that comprise messages and documents across different applications;

tagging electronic content with a tag to associate with the stack;

receiving a request to interact with the stack;

accessing the stack that associates the electronic content using the tag; and

displaying a view of the stack that includes at least a portion of the electronic content that is associated with the stack.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the electronic content comprises events, documents, and electronic messages.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein displaying the view of the stack comprises displaying a summary view of the electronic content within the stack.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the different applications comprise an electronic messaging system and a content system.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising synchronizing stacks across different applications.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising receiving a selection of content that is used to determine initial electronic content for the stack.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein displaying the stack comprises displaying activities related to the stack, and current interactions with the stack.

17. A system for organizing electronic content, comprising:

a network connection that is coupled to tenants of the multi-tenant service;

a processor and a computer-readable medium;

an operating environment stored on the computer-readable medium and executing on the processor; and

a stack manager operating under the control of the operating environment and operative to actions comprising;

determining when to create a stack that relates electronic content that comprise messages and documents across different applications comprising a messaging system and a content system;

tagging electronic content with a tag to associate with the stack;

receiving a request to interact with the stack;

accessing the stack that associates the electronic content using the tag; and

displaying a view of the stack that includes at least a portion of the electronic content that is associated with the stack.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein displaying the view of the stack comprises displaying a summary view of the electronic content within the stack.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising receiving a selection of content that is used to determine initial electronic content for the stack.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein displaying the stack comprises displaying activities related to the stack, and current interactions with the stack.