Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Eugene Mesgar

Kathleen Patricia Mulcahy

Tammy Savage

Melora Zaner

Cesare John Saretto

John D Vert

Neel Ishwar Murarka

Rama Ranganath

Erica Sanders

Linda Stone

Asta Glatzer

Heather Ferguson

Eugene Zarahovsky

Eugene Zarakhovsky

Eun-Kyung Chung

Joseph Walkush

Caroline Rockey

A communication icon represents a shared connection allowing members of an online group to interact with each other and participate in different activities together. The icon through which the group interacts resides on each group member's desktop and has many attributes including click activation modes and drag and drop functionality. The icon provides each group member with a representation of the group's shared relationship. Any group member can change the group icon and have that change propagated to the computers of the other members of the group. The icon can be activated for both non-verbal and verbal communications as well as activity sharing. Online members of the group are kept apprised of the group's status and activities via a displayed status bar.

Visual group interface for group connectivity

A novel application and user interface for facilitating group interactions over a network integrates messaging, file sharing, media playing, journaling, profiles, and gaming into a cohesive environment. The groups facilitated by the invention are persistent and mobile in that a user does not have to recollect and reconfigure the group each time he or she wants to interact with the group online and, while online, the group may be taken from one activity to another without having to disband and reconnect at the second activity. The application is modular so as to be extensible to include other activities and functionalities. In an embodiment, the group interaction application utilizes a peer-to-peer network environment to facilitate network communications between group members.

Integrated experience of vogue system and method for shared integrated online social interaction

Bubble messaging may include creating a bubble message and seamlessly sending the bubble message to one or more recipients. The bubble message may include message text and a bubble message shape specification. As a result of the bubble message being sent, a notification of the bubble message may be received. The notification of the bubble message may be displayed and, in response to recipient interaction with the displayed notification, a bubble message open animation may be displayed that provides a transition to a shape specified by the bubble message shape specification. The bubble message may be displayed with the shape specified by the bubble message shape specification. A bubble message editor may be configured to enable the creation and seamless sending of the bubble message. A bubble message viewer may be configured to enable the display of bubble messages. The bubble message may be unmodifiable after creation.

Interactive electronic bubble messaging

A novel virtual calling card system and method aid in the formation of online relationships, serving as an introduction tool and as a contact mechanism. The calling card is an exchangeable entity that is automatically updated, ensuring that the recipient or viewer sees the most current version of the card. The card may display an aspect ratio that is the same as that of a traditional business card, and has front side and a reverse side. Furthermore, the card provides a number of avenues for the card owner to express themselves, including an array of affiliation symbols, a most recent mood symbol, and a text field. The reverse side of the card can display a representation of the owner's social network, so that recipients of the card may identify common friends and associates. Thus, the server-based card exchange appears to users as an exchange in the physical world.

Virtual calling card system and method

A novel virtual calling card system and method aid in the formation of online relationships, serving as an introduction tool and as a contact mechanism. The calling card is an exchangeable entity that is automatically updated, ensuring that the recipient or viewer sees the most current version of the card. The card may display an aspect ratio that is the same as that of a traditional business card, and has a front side and a reverse side. Furthermore, the card provides a number of avenues for the card owner to express themselves, including an array of affiliation symbols, a most recent mood symbol, and a text field. The reverse side of the card can display a representation of the owner's social network, so that the recipients of the card may identify common friends and associates. Thus, the sewer-based card exchange appears to users as an exchange in the physical world.

System and method for shared integrated online social interaction

A novel virtual calling card system and method aid in the formation of online relationships, serving as an introduction tool and as a contact mechanism. The calling card is an exchangeable entity that is automatically updated, ensuring that the recipient or viewer sees the most current version of the card. The card may display an aspect ratio that is the same as that of a traditional business card, and has a front side and a reverse side. Furthermore, the card provides a number of avenues for the card owner to express themselves, including an array of affiliation symbols, a most recent mood symbol, and a text field. The reverse side of the card can display a representation of the owner's social network, so that the recipients of the card may identify common friends and associates. Thus, the server-based card exchange appears to users as an exchange in the physical world.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Eugene Mesgar