Contact controls

US7360172B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Joel Grossman · Petaling Jaya, MY
• Cornelis K. Van Dok · Bellevue, US
• Jonathan David Perlow · San Francisco, US
• Vivien Park · Seattle, US
• Sean Blagsvedt · Bengaluru, IN
• Debra Weissman · Redmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 2002
• Grant date: Apr 15, 2008
• Expiry date: Feb 14, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/109
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

One or more contact controls associated with one or more corresponding contacts are displayed by a computing system at a display device. The contact controls can be hosted by any number of third party applications. The contact controls may include static and/or animated images associated with the contact to reflect a desired behavior, emotion, status or action. The contact controls are linked to contact information, such that a selection of the contact controls enables a user to access the contact information and data sources associated with the contact. A communicative action can also be initiated with the contact control by dragging and dropping the contact control onto an icon or object associated with the communication application.