Contact controls
First Claim
1. In a computing system that is connected with a display device, and that is configured to display one or more contact controls at the display device, wherein the one or more contact controls are hosted by one or more third-party application programs where at least one of which can control the display and interactivity of a contact control, a method for executing actions with or between the one or more third-party application programs utilizing the one or more contact controls displayed at the display device, the method comprising:
- an act of a third party application hosting the contact control displayed at the display device, the contact control being associated with a corresponding contact and with one or more external data sources that are independent of the third party application, such that the data sources can be retrieved from the one or more external data sources when the contact control is selected, the data sources comprising contact information;
an act of receiving a user input that involves the contact control, wherein the user input comprises dragging the contact control onto a third party application icon, dragging a third party application icon onto the contact control, dragging a file icon onto the contact control, or dragging the contact control onto a file icon;
upon receiving the user input, an act of accessing contact information associated with the corresponding contact from the one or more data sources;
determining, based at least in part upon the received user input, an action to be initiated involving at least the corresponding contact;
determining, based at least in part upon the received user input, which contact information is most accurate and appropriate; and
also upon receiving the user input, an act including at least one of initiating a communicative action with the contact and accessing one or more data sources associated with the contact.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One or more contact controls associated with one or more corresponding contacts are displayed by a computing system at a display device. The contact controls can be hosted by any number of third party applications. The contact controls may include static and/or animated images associated with the contact to reflect a desired behavior, emotion, status or action. The contact controls are linked to contact information, such that a selection of the contact controls enables a user to access the contact information and data sources associated with the contact. A communicative action can also be initiated with the contact control by dragging and dropping the contact control onto an icon or object associated with the communication application.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. In a computing system that is connected with a display device, and that is configured to display one or more contact controls at the display device, wherein the one or more contact controls are hosted by one or more third-party application programs where at least one of which can control the display and interactivity of a contact control, a method for executing actions with or between the one or more third-party application programs utilizing the one or more contact controls displayed at the display device, the method comprising:
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an act of a third party application hosting the contact control displayed at the display device, the contact control being associated with a corresponding contact and with one or more external data sources that are independent of the third party application, such that the data sources can be retrieved from the one or more external data sources when the contact control is selected, the data sources comprising contact information; an act of receiving a user input that involves the contact control, wherein the user input comprises dragging the contact control onto a third party application icon, dragging a third party application icon onto the contact control, dragging a file icon onto the contact control, or dragging the contact control onto a file icon; upon receiving the user input, an act of accessing contact information associated with the corresponding contact from the one or more data sources; determining, based at least in part upon the received user input, an action to be initiated involving at least the corresponding contact; determining, based at least in part upon the received user input, which contact information is most accurate and appropriate; and also upon receiving the user input, an act including at least one of initiating a communicative action with the contact and accessing one or more data sources associated with the contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48)
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16. In a computing system that is connected with a display device and that is configured to display one or more contact controls at the display device, wherein the one or more contact controls are hosted by corresponding one or more third-party application programs that can control the display and interactivity of the contact control, a method for utilizing the one or more contact controls displayed at the display device, the method comprising:
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an act of a third party application, distinct from a contact control and independent of the contact control, displaying the contact control at the display device, the contact control being associated with a corresponding contact and linked to an external data source that is independent of the third party application; an act of the third party application, the third party application being distinct from the contact control and independent of the contact control, receiving a user input that involves the contact control; upon receiving the user input, an act of accessing contact information associated with the corresponding contact; determining which of the accessed contact information is accurate and appropriate; an act of initiating a communicative action with the contact when the user input further involves a communication application; and an act of accessing one or more data sources associated with the contact when the user input includes making a selection of the contact control. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 49)
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43. In a computing system that includes a plurality of third party application programs that are accessible through use of one or more contact controls, wherein the computing system is connected with a display device and is configured to display the one or more contact controls at the display device, a method for utilizing the one or more contact controls displayed at the display device to execute functions through the third party application programs, the method comprising:
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an act of a user interface module displaying a contact control, wherein the contact control is associated with a corresponding contact, is enabled to initiate a communicative action with the contact, and is enabled to access contact information associated with the corresponding contact, wherein the contact control is configured to be hosted by a third party application, the third party application being distinct and independent from the user interface module and the contact control, such that the third party application can designate how and where the contact control is to be displayed; an act of displaying a contact control at the display device as specified by the third party application; an act of receiving a user input that involves the contact control; upon receiving the user input, an act of accessing contact information associated with the corresponding contact; determining which of the accessed contact information is accurate and appropriate; and also upon receiving the user input, an act including at least one of initiating a communicative action with the contact and accessing one or more data sources associated with the contact. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 50)
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Specification