Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Keith Lindsey Rowe

Sandra Irene Vargas

Peter Andrew Bernard

Joseph H Matthews, Iii

Darren Alexander Apfel

Rosanna H Ho

Matthew Justin Von Bencke

Frank A Lawler

Jon Friedman

Justin Michael Maguire

Matthew James Schoenholz

Jonathan David Friedman

Peter G Chin

Andrew Royal

Anton O Andrews

JoGene Kapell

Michel Girard

Richard A Gillmann

In implementations of creating a communication group, a mobile device can receive a selection to enable communication of location information between devices that correspond to entities from a group of entities associated with a user of the mobile device. The mobile device can receive location information that describes a physical location or proximity of the devices that correspond to the entities, and present in a user interface on a display device, a visual representation that indicates at least one of the entities is at a location within a pre-set distance of the mobile device. A communication group can be created that includes the entities selected from the group of entities associated with the user of the mobile device. The mobile device can also communicate the location information of the mobile device to all of the devices that correspond to the entities as a group communication based on the communication group.

Creating a communication group

This document describes tools capable of differentiating a superset of entities from which a user may receive current updates effective to provide current updates for only some of the entities of the superset. In one embodiment, for example, the tools enable a user of a mobile device to select a set of entities from which the user will automatically receive updates that are current, easily accessible, and visible at-a-glance. The tools may forgo providing current updates for entities that are not selected by the user, though the tools may provide these updates when explicitly requested by the user or at particular times or events.

Current updates

This document describes tools capable of enabling users of mobile communication devices to create communication groups quickly and easily. With such a communication group a user may call, text, or instant message all persons in the group at once by selecting the communication group rather than each person in the group. In one embodiment, the tools enable a user to build a communication group by dragging and dropping indicators for persons he or she knows from one area of a screen into another area. In another embodiment, the tools automatically collect persons from those that the user knows based on one or more criteria. The user may then easily create a communication group of those collected persons, such as by tapping on an area of a mobile device's display.

A phone content service is described. In embodiment(s), content that is associated with a mobile phone can be stored by a phone content service that is accessible by a computer via a data communication network. An update to the content that is associated with the mobile phone can be received and updated at the phone content service. Updated content can then be synchronized with the mobile phone via a mobile communication network.

Phone content service

A method and apparatus for operating a mobile communication device in a sleep mode. The mobile communication device displays a time in an easily readable format at a low-light intensity, provides an alert to a user at an alarm time in a particular manner specified by the user, changes the buttons on the mobile communication device to operate as snooze buttons, and suppresses a portion of call and message notifications received by the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is in the sleep mode. The sleep mode operation is performed, at least in part, according to sleep-mode user settings chosen by the user.

Sleep mode for mobile communication device

A notification charm for a wireless communication device and a method of operating the wireless device to provide an alert on the charm are presented. The charm may be a bracelet, watch, keychain, ring, or other ornamental device which can generate event and preference based alerts about events occurring on a wireless device.

Smart alert charms for wireless devices

A system for retrieving and displaying programming information in response to selection of a category of programming information. Programming information is presented via a schedule display having a category display, a subcategory category display, and a program display. The category display displays an array of category tiles representing categories of programming information. The subcategory display displays an array of subcategory tiles representing subcategories that are associated with the categories of the category display. The program display displays an array of program tiles that are associated with the subcategories of the subcategory display. A viewing panel extends along each of the displays for displaying one each of the category, subcategory, and program tiles. Classes of programming information are selected by scrolling the tiles of the associated displays until the desired class items are presented within the viewing panel.

System for displaying programming information

A subscriber interface unit for use in conjunction with a television and a remote cable network headend having a plurality of available programs. The available programs include broadcast television channels and executable applications. The executable applications are intended to be received and executed at the subscriber interface unit. The subscriber interface unit maintains a virtual channel table having entries for a plurality of virtual channel numbers. An entry for a particular virtual channel number includes a designation of an available program from the headend which is to be associated with the virtual channel number. The program can be a broadcast channel or an executable application such as an electronic programming guide. The subscriber interface unit has a channel selector which maintains a current virtual channel number and which is responsive to commands by a human viewer to change the current virtual channel number. When a virtual channel is selected, the subscriber interface unit requests associated program from the remote headend and presents it on the video display device. If the selected virtual channel is associated with an executable application, the subscriber interface unit downloads and executes the application.

Virtual channels in subscriber interface units

An interactive television system has a centrally located head end server coupled to service multiple, remotely located set-top boxes. Each set-top box runs an electronic programming guide that provides an on-screen program grid listing program titles in relation to their scheduled viewing times and channel numbers. The viewer is permitted to scroll through the program grid to list titles of past, current, and future programs. A database, resident at the head end server, supplies the program titles and scheduled viewing times of the past, current, and future programs to the electronic programming guide. The head end server transmits real-time video data streams of the available programs to the EPG. A continuous media server, resident at the head end server, stores the video data streams to build a reserve of previously played programs. The media server can also store video preview clips of future programs. When a viewer selects a current program, the real-time video data stream of the current program is displayed by the set-top box. When the viewer selects a past program, the head end server retrieves a stored video data stream of the selected past program and transmits it to the set-top box. When the viewer selects a future program, the head end server retrieves a stored video preview clip of the future program and transmits it to the set-top box.

System and method for calling video on demand using an electronic

A system for displaying a list of items containing information or alternative choices associated with a subscriber service of an interactive network system. At least one item in the list is displayed in its entirety. The items at the border of the list are only partially displayed to give the user an indication that the list extends beyond the borders of the list. Additional list items can be displayed by scrolling the list by manipulating a directional control on a remote control unit that operates in conjunction with a set-top terminal of the interactive system. An item in the list, or another control object on the display screen, is highlighted in a manner to give the user a visible indication that the list can be scrolled, or shifted, within the display to display new items in the list and remove previously displayed items.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Keith Lindsey Rowe