Simplifying application access to schematized contact data

• US 8,195,711 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Grossman, Joel K., Park, Vivien, van Dok, Cornelis K., Brychell, Joseph J. III, Dunn, Melissa W., Fisher, Oliver G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stevens, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/074,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20110179367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 707/999.1, 707/756, 707/781, 707/802, 715/249, 715/259
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database

Abstract

The present invention is directed to utilizing contact data controls to simplify access to schematized contact data. Contact data controls abstract the formatting of schematized contact data from applications. In some embodiments, applications that lack the configuration to natively access schematized contact data (e.g., lack the functionality to convert between schematized and non-schematized data or are not authorized) forward requests to access schematized contact data to an external contact data control. In other embodiments, applications that lack the configuration to natively access schematized contact data forward non-schematized data, which is to be used to update schematized contact data, to an external contact data control. External contact data controls appropriately interact with the schematized data and can provide user-interface such that an application designer need not have extensive knowledge of contact schemas associated with the schematized contact data.

Claims

1. A method, which is implemented by a computing system having a processor and which has access to contact data stored in one or more storage medium, for modifying a display of the contact data, the method comprising:

displaying a contact data control interface which receives contact data from a data source and that includes at least a first display field, the contact data control interface displaying first contact data within the first display field in a user editable format;

the first display field of the contact data control interface being configured for;

detecting prompt focus being directed at the first display field;

automatically, in response to the prompt focus being directed at the first display field, displaying menu options for manipulating the first display field;

receiving user input selecting at least one option from the menu options; and

modifying the first display field by at least editing, deleting or performing an action related to the first display field; and

presenting a menu control at the contact data control interface which, when selected, displays a plurality of selectable contact options, wherein each of the selectable contact options, when selected, causes a corresponding new display field to be presented within the contact data control interface; and

presenting a second display field within the contact data control interface in response to detecting user input selecting one of the selectable contact options from the menu control, the second display field displaying second contact data simultaneously with the first display field displaying the first contact data.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the method further includes modifying the contact data control interface to display additional contact data.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the method further includes modifying collapsing a portion of the data control interface to display less contact data.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises changing a format of the first contact data.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises changing an ordering of the first contact data.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises resizing the displayed first contact data.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises merging the contact data with new contact data.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the method further includes further changing a quantity of displayed contact data fields.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein changing the quantity of displayed contact data fields includes adding an additional data field to the display of the contact data.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a portion of displayed contact data to cause an action associated with an application to be performed.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the action is placing a telephone call.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second contact data is presented in a user editable format.

13. A computer-readable storage medium having stored computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computing system having a processor, implement a method for modifying a display of contact data, comprising:

computer-executable instructions for displaying a contact data control interface which receives contact data from a data source and that includes at least a first display field, the contact data control interface displaying first contact data within the first display field in a user editable format;

computer-executable instructions for detecting prompt focus being directed at the first data field that is displaying the contact data;

computer-executable instructions for automatically, in response to the prompt focus being directed at the first data field having the contact data, displaying menu options for manipulating the first display field;

computer-executable instructions for receiving user input selecting at least one option from the menu options;

computer-executable instructions for manipulating the first data field that is displaying the contact data by at least editing, deleting or performing an action related to the first display field;

computer-executable instructions for presenting a menu control at the contact data control interface which, when selected, displays a plurality of selectable contact options, wherein each of the selectable contact options, when selected, causes a corresponding new display field to be presented within the contact data control interface; and

presenting a second display field within the contact data control interface in response to detecting user input selecting one of the selectable contact options from the menu control, the second display field displaying second contact data simultaneously with the first display field displaying the first contact data.

14. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein an external contact data control presents tasks associated with the first data field when focus is shifted to the first data field.

15. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein manipulating the first data field includes modifying the first contact data based on a location associated with the first contact data.

16. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein manipulating the first data field includes selecting only a portion of a plurality of the first contact data for display.

17. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein both the first and new data field display contact data of a same type.

18. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein manipulating the first data field includes an act of calling an external contact data control that checks a validity of the first contact data which was received in a non-schematized format.

19. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 18, wherein manipulating the first data field includes merging the first contact data with new contact data that is identified by user input, and wherein merging the contact data comprises adding the new data field that is displayed with the first data field.

20. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media, having stored thereon;

a centralized data store acting as a single data store of contact data for a plurality of applications which access the contact data, wherein the centralized data store stores all contact data for the plurality of applications,

at least one external contact data control that can be executed by the one or more processors, the at least one external contact data control being configured to implement the following;

displaying a contact data control interface which receives contact data from a data source and that includes at least a first display field, the contact data control interface displaying first contact data within the first display field in a user editable format;

the first display field of the contact data control interface being configured for;

detecting prompt focus being directed at the first display field;

automatically, in response to the prompt focus being directed at the first display field, displaying menu options for manipulating the first display field;

receiving user input selecting at least one option from the menu options; and

modifying the first display field by at least editing, deleting or performing an action related to the first display field;

presenting a menu control at the contact data control interface which, when selected, displays a plurality of selectable contact options, wherein each of the selectable contact options, when selected, causes a corresponding new display field to be presented within the contact data control interface; and

presenting a second display field within the contact data control interface in response to detecting user input selecting one of the selectable contact options from the menu control, the second display field displaying second contact data simultaneously with the first display field displaying the first contact data.