Simplifying application access to schematized contact data
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
163 Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computing system, comprising:
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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.
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Specification