SIMPLIFYING APPLICATION ACCESS TO SCHEMATIZED CONTACT DATA

• US 20110179367A1
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fisher, Oliver G., Dunn, Melissa W., van Dok, Cornelis K., Park, Vivien, Grossman, Joel K., Brychell, Joseph J. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/767
• 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

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 that includes at least a first data field having contact data displayed therein;

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 contact data control interface;

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

computer-executable instructions for manipulating the contact data control interface in response to the user input received through the menu options that are displayed as a result of the prompt focus being directed at the first data field that is displaying the contact data.

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 that includes at least a first display field having contact data displayed therein;

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 contact data control interface;

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

modifying the display of the contact data control interface in response to the user input received through the menu options that are displayed as a result of the prompt focus being directed at the first display field.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein modifying the display of the contact data comprises expanding the contact data control interface to display additional contact data.

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

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

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

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

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

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein modifying the display of the contact data comprises 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 recited in claim 1, wherein modifying the display of the contact data comprises presenting a pop-up menu with additional options for modifying the contact data.

11. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

18. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, wherein merging the contact data includes adding a second data field that is displayed with the first data field.

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

17-1. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein manipulating contact data includes merging the contact data with new contact data that is identified by user input.

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 that includes at least a first display field having contact data displayed therein;

detecting prompt focus 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 contact data;

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

modifying the display of the contact data in response to the user input received through the menu options.