Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

David C Franklin

Jeffrey C Fong

Thamer A Abanami

William J Bliss

David Charles Tuniman

Dean J Hachamovitch

Arthur K T Lam

Todd D Segal

Henry Y T Chen

A communication device and/or applications capable of facilitating communication through different networks are automatically provisioned based on recognition of network environment including network connectivity and characteristics. A user's multiple identities for different networks with varying capabilities and features are accommodated by detecting and prioritizing available network(s), then provisioning the device to enable the user to communicate through one or more of those networks. Communication types and media may vary depending on network type such as cellular, VOIP, and so on. The device may be configured to scan for new networks automatically periodically or based on location change, time change, etc.

Automatic provisioning based on communication network connectivity and characteristics

Improved systems and methods for navigating media via a user interface, such as a user interface provided on a handheld or portable computing device, are provided. The methods for navigating media of the invention extend the navigation experience by allowing bi-axial context shifts, e.g., with respect to substantially orthogonal directions, allowing a user to conceptually preserve context associated with the navigation experience, context that is lost in one-dimensional hierarchical navigation experiences. In one embodiment, the bi-axial navigation mechanism of the invention includes a drill down twist, i.e., the transformation of a parent list of a parent screen from a vertical list to a horizontal band when moving from the parent screen to the child screen and a horizontal browsing mechanism allowing a user to browse multiple lists using a continuous band of headers.

Systems and methods for co-axial navigation of a user interface

Systems and methods for interfacing with playback of media by a media player are provided. By combining the functionality of fast forward and skip forward into a single button control, the invention reduces the numbers of control buttons that need be included on a device, reducing device costs and consumer 'button overload.' In one embodiment, by pressing (and releasing) a forward button, media being rendered by a media player skips to a predetermined location in the media. By pressing and holding (and then releasing) the forward button, the media being rendered is fast forwarded according to algorithms for fast forwarding. A backward button covers skipping backward and fast reversing in a similar fashion. A device including a play/pause button and the described forward and backward buttons advantageously reduces the number of buttons required by two buttons.

Systems and methods for interacting with a user interface of a media player

A screen saver program is provided within a computer system. The screen saver program includes a note facility for generating notes. The notes facility includes a note-taker interface. The screen saver program is run on the computer system and in response to receiving input from a user, the note-taker interface is displayed on a video display of the computer system. In response to input by the user via the note-taker interface, a note is created. Subsequently, the screen saver program is dismissed and the note is displayed on the video display when the screen saver is dismissed.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

David C Franklin