Strongly typed tags

• US 7,912,860 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Thornton, John M., Flaks, Jason S., Kabir, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jami; Hares
• Application Number:
  US11/821,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20080320027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/3, 707/10, 707100-102, 707/661, 707/665, 707/803, 707/790, 707/791, 707/802, 707/999.1, 715/700, 715/705, 715/713
• US Class Current: 707/790
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, a tag is provided and includes a property that associates a strongly typed variable with the tag. Strongly typed variables can include any suitable types. For example, in at least some embodiments, the strongly typed variable is a people type that allows the tag to be associated with an individual person or group of people by virtue of a unique identification that is associated with the person or group. Strongly typed tags can then serve as a foundation upon which various other types of information and services can be provided to enhance the user experience.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting a user interface that enables a user to create a tag that is to be used to tag one or more digital objects;

defining a tag using the user interface;

strongly typing the tag by providing a unique ID that is associated with an individual or group of people, wherein the tag is configured to associate a changeable property with the unique ID, the changeable property being a name, wherein different names associated with a same unique ID are automatically resolved to the same unique ID independent of the user resolving the different names;

using the tag to present multiple user-selectable communication options to a user that the user can select, via a cursor, to cause initiation of a communication with a tagged entity, responsive to the user interacting with the one or more digital objects; and

presenting the tag in a navigation tree that is displayed on the user interface and which includes a tag node that is expandable to expose a list of previously created tags.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating the tag with one or more digital objects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises one that is presented via a photo viewing application.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the tag to provide one or more services to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the user-selectable communication options comprises an instant messaging service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the user-selectable communication options comprises an email service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique ID comprises an email address.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique ID comprises an instant messaging ID.

9. One or more computer-readable storage media devices having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

providing an application that is not primarily an instant messaging application or email application;

providing, through the application, one or more objects having at least one strongly typed tag and at least one changeable property, the at least one changeable property being a name, wherein different names associated with a same unique ID are automatically resolved to the same unique ID independent of a user resolving the different names, wherein strongly typed tags uniquely associate tags with an individual or group of people;

presenting, through the application, a navigation tree comprising a tag node that is expandable to expose a list of previously created tags which are usable to tag the one or more objects; and

using one or more strongly typed tags from within the application to provide at least an instant messaging functionality or an email functionality for the user, wherein provision of the instant messaging functionality or the email functionality is accomplished by presenting a user interface element that gives the user a choice to select between functionalities including the instant messaging functionality or the email functionality.

10. The one or more computer-readable storage media devices of claim 9, wherein the act of using is performed by providing said functionality responsive to a user selection via the application.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage media devices of claim 9, wherein the act of using is performed by providing the user with an option to initiate an instant messaging session.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage media devices of claim 9, wherein the act of using is performed by displaying instant messaging presence information in a user interface of the application.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage media devices of claim 9, wherein at least some of the objects comprise photos.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media devices of claim 9, wherein said application comprises a photo viewing application.