Contact user interface
First Claim
1. 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 displaying aggregate contact information from a plurality of separate and distinct contact information directories, the method comprising:
- an act of searching a plurality of separate and distinct contact information directories for contact information, wherein each of the separate and distinct contact information directories independently store contact information corresponding to one or more contacts;
an act of mapping the contact information from the separate and distinct contact information directories according to a single unifying schema;
an act of displaying, at the display device, a plurality of directory links, each directory link corresponding to a separate and distinct contact information directory,the directory links operably and correspondingly connecting the user interface with each of the plurality of separate and distinct contact information directories,the user interface being configured to display requested contact information for any contacts identified within a contact information directory corresponding to a selected directory link,the displayed contact information being organized in accordance with the single unifying schema used to map the contact information from the separate and distinct contact information directories for presentation at the user interface, andthe contact information from the separate and distinct contact directories being aggregated for simultaneous presentation at the user interface and simultaneously made directly accessible from the separate and distinct contact information directories through the user-interface; and
an act of providing a frame at the display device that is configured for simultaneously displaying the aggregated contact information from the separate and distinct contact information directories in one of a plurality of selectable views that each correspond to a different pattern that is identifiable within the displayed contact information, wherein at least one view of the selectable views graphically distinguishes different groupings of contacts within said at least one view.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface for enabling different contact information for a plurality of different contacts to be aggregated from numerous data stores into a single contact management system includes a window frame for displaying the contact information in a variety of rich views that graphically illustrate patterns existent within the contact information. Some of the available views include hierarchical, organizational, chronological, social, geographical and operational views of the contact information. The interface also enables a user to search through the aggregate contact information by search term and by filter. The interface also includes another window frame for displaying exploded, detailed, or additional information about selected directories and contacts.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. 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 displaying aggregate contact information from a plurality of separate and distinct contact information directories, the method comprising:
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an act of searching a plurality of separate and distinct contact information directories for contact information, wherein each of the separate and distinct contact information directories independently store contact information corresponding to one or more contacts; an act of mapping the contact information from the separate and distinct contact information directories according to a single unifying schema; an act of displaying, at the display device, a plurality of directory links, each directory link corresponding to a separate and distinct contact information directory, the directory links operably and correspondingly connecting the user interface with each of the plurality of separate and distinct contact information directories, the user interface being configured to display requested contact information for any contacts identified within a contact information directory corresponding to a selected directory link, the displayed contact information being organized in accordance with the single unifying schema used to map the contact information from the separate and distinct contact information directories for presentation at the user interface, and the contact information from the separate and distinct contact directories being aggregated for simultaneous presentation at the user interface and simultaneously made directly accessible from the separate and distinct contact information directories through the user-interface; and an act of providing a frame at the display device that is configured for simultaneously displaying the aggregated contact information from the separate and distinct contact information directories in one of a plurality of selectable views that each correspond to a different pattern that is identifiable within the displayed contact information, wherein at least one view of the selectable views graphically distinguishes different groupings of contacts within said at least one view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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21. 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 displaying aggregate contact information from a plurality of separate and distinct contact information directories, the method comprising:
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an act of displaying, at the display device, a plurality of directory links, the directory links operably and correspondingly connecting the user interface with each of a plurality of separate and distinct contact information directories; an act of providing a frame at the display device that is configured for simultaneously displaying aggregated contact information from separate and distinct contact information directories in a designated view, the aggregated contact information being mapped according to a single unifying schema into categories and classifications that can be recognized by the user interface for display; an act of providing means for selectably changing the designated view of the displayed contact information to another one of a plurality of views, each view corresponding to a different pattern that is identifiable within the displayed contact information, and wherein the plurality of views include at least two of the following views; (a) an event view that graphically associates a plurality of different contacts with one or more events and that graphically distinguishes different events within the event view, (b) a location view that graphically associates a plurality of different contacts with one or more locations and that graphically distinguishes different locations within the location view, or (c) an operability view that graphically associates a plurality of different contacts with one or more system capabilities associated with systems available to the plurality of different contacts and that graphically distinguishes different system capabilities within the operability view. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 40)
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Specification