Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Neel Ishwar Murarka

Cesare John Saretto

Kathleen Patricia Mulcahy

John D Vert

Tammy Savage

Melora Zaner

Eugene Mesgar

Rama Ranganath

Erica Sanders

Linda Stone

Asta Glatzer

Dane Alexander Glasgow

Eugene Zarahovsky

Eugene Zarakhovsky

David Dawson

Marek L Gorecki

Heather Ferguson

Charles Cummins

Louis Amadio

Keira L Amos

Eun-Kyung Chung

Hyder Ali

David Anton Walters

Phillip Bensaid

Eddie L Mays

Oliver Hurst-Hiller

Steven Wayne Ickman

Michael A Belshe

Elizabeth I Yang

Srinivasa V Thirumalai-Anandanpillai

A system and method is provided for displaying a display element on a display in which a display element may be displayed responsive to a command, the display element being associated with another display element. Also, in another example, the association between the display elements is also displayed. In one example, the association between the display elements is depicted via an animation.

Association of display elements

Application launching on a computer via indexed data. Based on a search term entered by a user, the computer searches an index containing metadata representative of one or more applications installed on the computer. A user interface on the computer's display has a window for displaying the results of searching the index. In addition, the user interface receives user input to select an application from the search results to be initiated. The computer is responsive to the user input via the user interface for initiating the selected application installed on the computer. A computer-readable medium including a persistent component, an index component, a query component, and an execution component embodies further aspects of the invention.

Application launching via indexed data

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 method and system for customizing a search of a data source linked to a computer in response to a search request from a user. A search tool application (STA) is executed on a client computer in response to the search request received from the user. The STA determines the context of a software application active when the STA is executed. The STA determines a scope of data to search based on the determined context. A user-interface is responsive to a search term received from a user to initiates a search the determined scope of data for content that matches the received search term. The results of the search are displayed in the UI.

Automatic filtering and scoping of search results

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

A method and system are provided for enhancing an initial set of data values generated by a query of one or more data stores. File parameters and file types are retrieved from the initial query and used to generate a second set of searches, actions, and information related to the initial set of data values. The results from the initial query and the secondary query are displayed on a presentation device.

Method and system for performing secondary search actions based on primary search result attributes

Systems and Methods for configuration of a menu for display via a user interface are described. In an implementation, a method includes monitoring text input by a user via a user interface. A menu is configured, based on the monitoring, to display actions to be performed using the text. In another implementation, a method includes examining a plurality of inputs received from a user. The inputs specify text and selection of an action from a menu to be performed on the text. An alternative technique is displayed that may be utilized to enter the text and perform the action.

Systems and methods for configuring a user interface having a menu

Architecture is provided that transcends a division offered by conventional query architectures by providing a query input box in a client application which provides rich look-ahead query results by integrating results from a network-based service with results from the client application. Realtime network-based search results are injected into the query as the user types the query into a client input box. When a user enters a query character into a query input box of a client application, a search is conducted via an Internet-based index service using the existing query character. In response, the search returns suggested results that are then processed to complete the query as presented for selection by the user in the query input box.

Search results injected into client applications

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

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Neel Ishwar Murarka