Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Eric L Van Doren

Mark A Malamud

Daniel F Plastina

David A Barnes

William T Flora

Chris E Tobey

Joyce A Grauman

Renee Marceau

Kevin Michael Schofield

Se-Wai Lee

Virginia E Howlett

David John Brennan

David A Bolnick

Robert Marcus Girling

Jennifer Ruth Mead

Andrew Shuman

Nicholas Paul Duane

Isaac J Heizer

Issac J Heizer

Rosanne M Lehmann

Michael Gene Leu

Roxanne M Lehmann

A form for displaying an electronic message item includes an information object that highlights important information about the message. The information displayed in the information object is automatically derived by examining the message properties that constitute the message item. The examination of the message properties includes applying a series of if-then statements to predetermined message properties. If the results of one or more of the if-then tests are true, the program composes one or more information items that reflect the state of the message item. The program will also examine data external to the message item. The information items are composed in a natural language format and are prioritized prior to being displayed in the information object.

Method for highlighting information contained in an electronic message

A computer system having a video display runs an operating system that provides a desktop environment to a user and a file system. The desktop environment has associated systems settings that affect the desktop environment. In this method, a first set of values for at least a portion of the system settings are stored in a storage device in a computer network so that the first set of values is visible in the file system. A second set of values, for the same portion of the system settings for which values are stored in the first set of values, is also stored in the storage device such that the second set of values is visible in the file system. In response to a choice by the user between the first set of values and the second set of values, the system settings are updated to have the values specified by the chosen set of values.

Aggregation of system settings into objects

A control panel provides controllers for setting the values of system settings. Each controller controls a subset of related system settings. Scheme objects are provided for encapsulating values of system settings for a controller. The current values of system settings controlled by a controller may be updated by applying the values held within a scheme. Grand schemes are provided for aggregating the system settings for multiple controllers. Thus, the system settings controlled by multiple controllers may be updated in a single transaction by applying a grand scheme to the control panel. Easily practiced approaches to applying schemes and grand schemes to the control panel are provided. Moreover, methods for easily creating and editing the contents of schemes and grand schemes are provided.

A system for selectively recording a data structure where one or more external program modules are registered. A group of important actions is selected corresponding to both internal program modules and registered external program modules. The system determines if an action associated with one of the internal program modules or one of the registered external program modules has occurred. If so, the system determines if the action is one of the important actions. If the action is an important action, then information associated with the important action is placed into data fields of a data structure. The data structure containing the information is stored in computer memory. The data structure is maintained within a central container or folder in memory, along with previously recorded data structures. The data structure can be automatically deleted after a predetermined threshold of time. A representation of the data structure can be viewed along with representations of previously recorded data structures along a chronological timeline in related groups. The groups are based upon a particular data field of the data structure.

Desktop information manager for recording and viewing important events

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Eric L Van Doren