Computer-readable medium, method, and device for associating information with a contact

• US 7,502,606 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Stroupe, Autumn Lee, Flynt, David Wayne, Todd, Marc W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SIMON
• Application Number:
  US11/102,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 4554121-413, 455/466, 4555561-5562, 455/566, 707/3, 707/100, 709217-222, 709/226
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A method, computer-readable medium, and a computing device are provided for associating one or more data objects and other information with one or more contacts. In certain embodiments, an association application operates to access, analyze, and associate one or more data objects and other information with one or more contacts. A user may then examine a contact and utilize data objects and other information associated with the particular contact. Thus, a user can think about information as it relates to a contact, rather than the information type or application that the information relates. The user can now go to one location where information is compiled with respect to a specific contact.

Claims

1. A computer-implement method for accessing a stored non-contact based data object and associating the stored non-contact based data object with a contact card, the method comprising:

providing an association application on a computing device, wherein the association application is configured to associate non-contact card data objects of non-contact card applications with a contact card of a contact card application, wherein the association application is configured to access a plurality of data stores that are associated with the non-contact card applications, wherein the non-contact card data objects include a voicemail message, an email message, a calendar event, and a document;

obtaining, by the association application, metadata for the non-contact card data objects, wherein the metadata is analyzed to determine an identifier that indicates a potential contact associated with the non-contact card data object;

determining whether the identifier that indicates the potential contact indicates a contact in a contact card of the contact card application;

when the identifier that indicates the potential contact indicates the contact in the contact card of the contact card application;

generating a selectable link in the contact card to link the non-contact card data object to the contact card, wherein upon selection of the selectable link, the selectable link causes retrieval of the non-contact card data object from the data store and provides functionality of the non-contact card application associated with the non-contact card data object;

when the identifier that indicates the potential contact does not indicate a contact in the contact card of the contact card application;

creating a temporary contact card,

automatically populating the temporary contact card with metadata from the non-contact card data object, and

providing an option association with the temporary contact card to make the temporary contact card permanent.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identifier that indicates the potential contact includes at least one member of a group comprising:

an email sender identifier, a document author identifier, a meeting attendee identifier, a meeting date identifier, a telephone number, an email address, and an IP address.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the non-contact card data object includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a document associated with a document application, an email associated with an email application, a calendar event associated with a calendar application, a note associated with a note application, a music file associated with a music application, a video file associated with a video application, a call history associated with a phone application, a map associated with a map application, and a photo associated with a photo application.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selectable link includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a file path and a hyperlink.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the contact card includes a pivot option, wherein upon selection of the pivot option a list having the selectable link is displayed.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the pivot option is an events pivot option and the list includes a list of at least one member of a group comprising:

a calendar event link associated with the contact and a scheduling event link associated with the contact.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the pivot option is non-communication document pivot option and the list includes a list of at least one member of a group comprising:

a link to a photo file associated with the contact, a link to a music file associated with the contact, a link to a music file associated with the contact, a link to a video file associated with the contact, a link to a document file associated with the contact, and a link to a task file associated with the contact.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for accessing a stored non-contact card data object and associating the stored non-contact card data object with a contact card, the instructions comprising:

providing an association application on a computing device, wherein the association application is configured to associate non-contact card data objects of non-contact card applications with a contact card of a contact card application, wherein the association application is configured to access a plurality of data stores that are associated with the non-contact card applications;

obtaining, by the association application, metadata for the non-contact card data objects, wherein the metadata is analyzed to determine an identifier that indicates a potential contact associated with the non-contact card data object;

determining whether the identifier that indicates the potential contact indicates a contact in a contact card of the contact card application;

when the identifier that indicates the potential contact indicates the contact in the contact card of the contact card application, generating a selectable link in the contact card to link the non-contact card data object to the contact card, wherein upon selection of the selectable link, the selectable link causes retrieval of the non-contact card data object from the data store and provides functionality of the non-contact card application associated with the non-contact card data object.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the identifier that indicates the potential contact includes at least one member of a group comprising:

an email sender identifier, a document author identifier, a meeting attendee identifier, a meeting date identifier, a telephone number, an email address, and an IP address.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the non-contact card data object includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a document associated with a document application, an email associated with an email application, a calendar event associated with a calendar application, a note associated with a note application, a music file associated with a music application, a video file associated with a video application, a call history associated with a phone application, a map associated with a map application, and a photo associated with a photo application.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the selectable link includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a file path and a hyperlink.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the contact card includes a pivot option, wherein upon selection of the pivot option a list having the selectable link is displayed.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the pivot option is an events pivot option and the list includes a list of at least one member of a group comprising:

a calendar event link associated with the contact and a scheduling event link associated with the contact.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the pivot option is non-communication document pivot option and the list includes a list of at least one member of a group comprising:

a link to a photo file associated with the contact, a link to a music file associated with the contact, a link to a music file associated with the contact, a link to a video file associated with the contact, a link to a document file associated with the contact, and a link to a task file associated with the contact.

15. A system for accessing a stored data object and associating the stored data object with a contact card, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having computer executable instructions for;

providing an association application on a computing device, wherein the association application is configured to associate non-contact card data objects of non-contact card applications with a contact card of a contact card application, wherein the association application is configured to access a plurality of data stores that are associated with the non-contact card applications;

obtaining, by the association application, metadata for the non-contact card data objects, wherein the metadata is analyzed to determine an identifier that indicates a potential contact associated with the non-contact card data object;

determining whether the identifier that indicates the potential contact indicates a contact in a contact card of the contact card application;

when the identifier that indicates the potential contact indicates the contact in the contact card of the contact card application, generating a selectable link in the contact card to link the non-contact card data object to the contact card, wherein upon selection of the selectable link, the selectable link causes retrieval of the non-contact card data object from the data store and provides functionality of the non-contact card application associated with the non-contact card data object;

when the identifier that indicates the potential contact does not indicate a contact in the contact card of the contact card application, automatically populating a temporary contact card with metadata from the non-contact card data object.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the identifier that indicates the potential contact includes at least one member of a group comprising:

an email sender identifier, a document author identifier, a meeting attendee identifier, a meeting date identifier, a telephone number, an email address, and an IP address.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the non-contact card data object includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a document associated with a document application, an email associated with an email application, a calendar event associated with a calendar application, a note associated with a note application, a music file associated with a music application, a video file associated with a video application, a call history associated with a phone application, a map associated with a map application, and a photo associated with a photo application.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the contact card includes a pivot option, wherein upon selection of the pivot option a list having the selectable link is displayed.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the pivot option is an events pivot option and the list includes a list of at least one member of a group comprising:

a calendar event link associated with the contact and a scheduling event link associated with the contact.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the pivot option is non-communication document pivot option and the list includes a list of at least one member of a group comprising:

a link to a photo file associated with the contact, a link to a music file associated with the contact, a link to a music file associated with the contact, a link to a video file associated with the contact, a link to a document file associated with the contact, and a link to a task file associated with the contact.