Multi-modal auto complete function for a connection
First Claim
1. A client device that is configured for use in initiating a communication over a network, comprising:
- a transceiver for receiving and for sending information over the network; and
a messaging client that is arranged to perform actions comprising;
receiving contact information from a plurality of messaging services, each messaging service being associated with a different communication medium and having contact information that includes at least one contact name and an associated address;
integrating the contact information in a unified contact store; and
if at least one character is received;
displaying a list of contact names from the unified contact store based on the at least one received character, each contact name having displayed with it at least one address, wherein for each contact name that is associated with more than one address further displaying the addresses for each contact name contiguously based on a weighted ordering of each address associated based on a frequency of communications using each address,enabling selection of a contact name and address from the displayed list independent of the communication medium associated with the selected contact name and address, andautomatically establishing the communication with the selected contact name using a communication medium associated with the selected address, wherein the communication medium used is independent of the messaging client.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, method, and system are directed to managing a multi-modal communication over a network. In one embodiment, the method, apparatus, and system employ an instant messaging client to perform actions. The actions may include receiving contact information associated with a plurality of communication mediums. The contact information includes contact names and addresses that are integrated into a unified contact store. When a user inputs a character for use in initiating a communication, a dynamic search is performed on the unified contact store. The results of the search may be repeatedly updated based on additional input characters. The results display contact names and addresses, where either the contact name or address includes the input character(s). The user may then select an address, and automatically initiate a communication with a contact name associated with the selected address over a communication medium associated with the address.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A client device that is configured for use in initiating a communication over a network, comprising:
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a transceiver for receiving and for sending information over the network; and a messaging client that is arranged to perform actions comprising; receiving contact information from a plurality of messaging services, each messaging service being associated with a different communication medium and having contact information that includes at least one contact name and an associated address; integrating the contact information in a unified contact store; and if at least one character is received; displaying a list of contact names from the unified contact store based on the at least one received character, each contact name having displayed with it at least one address, wherein for each contact name that is associated with more than one address further displaying the addresses for each contact name contiguously based on a weighted ordering of each address associated based on a frequency of communications using each address, enabling selection of a contact name and address from the displayed list independent of the communication medium associated with the selected contact name and address, and automatically establishing the communication with the selected contact name using a communication medium associated with the selected address, wherein the communication medium used is independent of the messaging client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method operating within a client computing device that is configured to perform actions for initiating a communication over a network, comprising:
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receiving contact information associated with a plurality of communication mediums, the contact information including at least one contact name with an associated address that employs an associated communication medium; and if at least one character is received; displaying through a messaging client a dynamic list of at least one contact name with an associated address, the list being determined based on the at least one received character, wherein for each contact name within the displayed list having more than one associated address displaying the list of addresses for that contact name contiguously using a weighted ordering based on a frequency of communications for each address. enabling selection an address from the dynamic list from within the same messaging client, and automatically initiating the communication using the communications medium associated with the selected address, wherein the communication medium used to initiate the communications is independent of the messaging client. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for use in initiating a communication over a network, the steps comprising:
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receiving contact information associated with a plurality of communication mediums, the contact information including a contact name and address for each of the plurality of communication mediums; integrating the contact information in a unified contact store; and if an input is received comprising at least one character for use in searching; displaying within a multi-modal manager component a list of contact names each contact name having displayed an address, the list being dynamically determined based on the at least one received character, and wherein for each contact name in the displayed list having more than one associated address using a weighted ordering of each address associated with the same contact name contiguously based on a frequency of communications using each address, enabling through the multi-modal manager component selection of an address for a contact name from the list of contact names and addresses, wherein the selection is independent of a respective communication medium, and automatically initiating using the multi-modal manager component the communication using a communication medium associated with the selected address, and wherein the multi-modal manager component is configured to enable the communication to be initiated independent of the communication medium used. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for use in initiating a communication over a network, comprising:
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a plurality of messaging services, wherein each messaging service being associated with a communication medium and having a list of contact names with an address associated with each contact name in the list of contact names; an instant messaging (IM) client that is in communication with the plurality of messaging applications, and is arranged to perform actions, comprising; receiving contact information from the plurality of messaging applications; integrating the contact information in a unified contact store; dynamically searching the unified contact store based on receiving of input characters; displaying a dynamically updated list of contact names, each contact name having displayed with it at least one address, the list being determined based on the dynamic search, wherein for each contact name in the displayed list having more than one address further weight ordering each address for that contact name contiguously based on a frequency of communications using each address; enabling selection of an address from the displayed dynamic list; and automatically initiating the communication to a contact name using a communication medium associated with the selected address, wherein the communication medium is other than an IM communication medium. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification