Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Marc W Todd

David W Flynt

Autumn Lee Stroupe

Peter G Chin

Joel P Dehlin

Jason William Fuller

Susan Elizabeth Pappalardo

Greg A Keyser

Debbie Miu Yan Yau

Joseph K Ollis

Darron Jack Stepanich

Henry Chen

Felix Gti Andrew

Jon Changzheng Xu

The present invention provides a method and system for providing a mobile device with a selected subset of global address list (GAL) contacts. The offline GAL contacts stored on the device are in sync with the master corporate GAL. The GAL contacts are automatically selected based on the user's emails or meetings and are not duplicates of the contacts within the user's personal contact list. The GAL contacts are browsed and searched seamlessly with the user's other contacts.

Offline global address list

Techniques and tools are described for notifications of events, such as receipt of messages, and specifically to tools and techniques related to breakthrough notification profile and status. For example, it is determining whether a profile is active and whether a contact associated with an event is identified as having a status related to the profile. If the profile is active, a notification related to the event is issued only if the sender has the status. If the profile is not active, the notification is issued whether or not the sender has the status.

Notification breakthrough status and profile

The present invention provides a method and system of displaying items that gives the user the ability to easily access recently accessed items. The recent items list includes both incoming and outgoing correspondences that are attempted to be matched to the corresponding contact stored in the device. The user can access the recent contact list and reply using any communication method available. For instance, the user could reply by phone, email, send an instant messenger message, send an SMS message, and the like. The recent items list may also include items such as communications, contacts, folder, files, messages, applications, and the like. A coalesced list of the recently used items is shown so that an item is only shown once in the recent list. Any matched item in the recent list may also be shown in the alphabetical list that appears below the recent list.

Recent contacts and items

Techniques and tools are described for converting incoming and/or outgoing communications to usable and convenient formats. For example, a user selects a desired profile from a group of available profiles, and the selected profile is activated. If a first profile is selected and an incoming communication having a textual component is received while the first profile is active, then the textual component is converting to an audio format and recited. If a second profile is selected and an incoming communication having an audio component is received while the second profile is active, then the audio component is converted to a textual format and displayed.

Communication conversion between text and audio

A method, computer-readable medium, and a computing device are provided for associating one or more data objects and other information with one or more contacts. In certain embodiments, an association application operates to access, analyze, and associate one or more data objects and other information with one or more contacts. A user may then examine a contact and utilize data objects and other information associated with the particular contact. Thus, a user can think about information as it relates to a contact, rather than the information type or application that the information relates. The user can now go to one location where information is compiled with respect to a specific contact.

Computer-readable medium, method, and device for associating information with a contact

The present invention provides a method and system of pinning and displaying pinned items. Pinned items are displayed such that they are visually distinguishable and prioritized higher than related non-pinned items. For example, pinned contacts are displayed at the top of the contact list and are visually distinguishable from the other contacts. A special icon is used to show an item that is 'pinned.' contact. A pinned item is a copy of a contact. The copy helps a user quickly access the items they most commonly communicate with and use and provides an importance to an item.

Method and system for pinning contacts and items

Techniques and tools are described for providing actionable communication reminders. For example, an item representing an original communication is displayed and a command to set up a reminder to respond to the original communication is accepted. The reminder is set up and, at a later time, is displayed. An input mechanism that can be actuated to respond to the communication may be provided at the later time. As another example, a suggested time to display the reminder and suggested contact information for responding to the original communication are displayed while setting up a reminder.

Actionable communication reminders

This invention is directed toward a computer-implemented system and method for creating a note in a mobile communication device. The method includes creating a call note if a phone call is in progress. The call note includes call data that are related to the phone call. The call note is also associated with an entry in a call log. The method may be implemented by computer-executable components loaded into the memory of a mobile communication device.

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Marc W Todd