Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02766457 2012-01-31
MANAGING LINKED CONTACT RECORDS CONTAINING
INFORMATION FROM MULTIPLE SOURCE RECORDS µ/
BACKGROUND
[0001] Personal information manager (PIM) software applications are
computer programs that allow a user to maintain and organize various types of
personal information and which provide electronic mail (email) functionality.
PIM
software applications (or simply "PIM applications") typically maintain
personal
information in distinct information categories. The information categories
that
are maintained usually include an email message inbox, an email message
outbox, a set of previously transmitted email messages or "sent items", an
address book containing contact information, a scheduling calendar (or i.e. a
set
of appointments, notes, and a list of tasks to be completed). PIM applications
may be designed for execution by a wireless communication device.
[0002] In certain personal information management (PIM) applications,
contact information about a user's contacts may be provided to the user via a
user dashboard user interface. It is often the case that information about a
particular contact, whether an individual or a company, can and often does
come
from many sources, including social network sites that have a vast amount of
contact information about people and companies. It would be useful to provide
a way to effectively, selectively and easily manage the presentation of
contact
information from widely disparate sources to users of such applications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described
below with reference to the included drawings such that like reference
numerals
refer to like elements and in which:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communications system, in
accordance with various example embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system, in
accordance with various example embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of managing a linked contact
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, .
record, in accordance with various example embodiments of the present
disclosure; and
[0007] FIGs. 4 to 15 illustrate representative examples of user dashboard
graphical user interfaces, in accordance with various example embodiments of
the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] In accordance with the various example embodiments presented
herein, management of linked contact records containing information from
multiple source records is provided. User interfaces and methodologies for
displaying and managing a linked contact record of a contact allow the linked
contact record to be readily and selectively managed. A user can interact with
a
user interface in order to selectively add, remove, and re-store links to a
linked
contact record of a contact. The user interface is intuitive and easy to use.
[0009] Therefore, in accordance with an example embodiment of the
present disclosure, there is provided a method of managing a linked contact
record representative of contact information from multiple sources, including:
after receiving selection of a linked contact record of a contact, that
includes a
number of linked source contact records of the contact, displaying in a user
interface the linked contact record and a visual indicator that the linked
contact
record has a linked status; and after receiving an input to enter a manage
mode,
entering the manage mode in which the linked contact record of the contact can
be selectively managed.
[0010] In accordance with another example embodiment of the present
disclosure, there is provided a system having a processor and a contacts
database coupled to the processor in which contact information about a number
of contacts is stored, the processor and contacts database configured as
follows.
After receiving selection of a linked contact record of a contact, that
includes a
plurality of linked source contact records of the contact, the linked contact
record and a visual indicator that the linked contact record has a linked
status
are displayed in a user interface. After receiving an input to enter a manage
mode, the manage mode in which the linked contact record of the contact can be
selectively managed is entered.
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[0011] In accordance with a further example embodiment of the present
disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium having
computer-executable instructions for causing a server having a processor and
associated memory to implement the following. After receiving selection of a
linked contact record of a contact, that includes a plurality of linked source
contact records of the contact, displaying in a user interface the linked
contact
record and a visual indicator that the linked contact record has a linked
status.
After receiving an input to enter a manage mode, entering the manage mode in
which the linked contact record of the contact can be selectively managed.
[0012] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, reference numerals may
be
repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
Numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the example
embodiments described herein. The example embodiments may be practiced
without these details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and
components have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the example
embodiments described. The description is not to be considered as limited to
the scope of the example embodiments described herein.
[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a distributed
communications system 100 that includes a service 110 that may be provided
with contact information from third party contact sources 160 and is in
communications with communication device 150 via communications network
140 as shown. As shown, third party contact sources 160 may provide
information about contacts to the communication device 150 and/or the service
110. Although communications network 140 may be the World Wide Web or
Internet, and in fact search various servers/processors 112 associated with
service 110 may reside on the World Wide Web, it is understood that the
service
servers and one or more communication devices 150 may be coupled together
by various types of networks, such as local area networks (LANs), other wide
area networks (WANs) and regional networks accessed over telephone lines,
such as commercial information services. In an example embodiment, service
110 may be included in the communication device 150.
[0014] Communication device 150 is a two-way electronic communication
device having at least data and possibly also voice communication
capabilities,
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,
, .
and the capability to communicate with other communication devices or
computer systems, for example, via the Internet. A communication device 150
may further be a mobile or handheld electronic device and may be wireless.
Depending on the functionality provided by the communication device 150, in
the various examples described herein, the device may be a data communication
device, a multiple-mode communication device configured for both data and
voice communication, a smartphone, a mobile telephone or a personal digital
assistant PDA (personal digital assistant) enabled for wireless communication,
or
a computer system with a wireless modem. Other examples of communication
devices 150 include mobile, or handheld, wireless communication devices such
as pagers, cellular phones, cellular smart-phones, wireless organizers,
wirelessly
enabled notebook computers, tablet computing devices, and so forth.
Communication device 150 may also be a portable electronic device without
wireless communication capabilities, such as a handheld electronic game
device,
digital photograph album, digital camera, or other device.
[0015] Service 110 may include one or more servers or processors 112, a
memory 114, a contacts database 116, and a contact association element 118,
as shown. The service 110 may be provided by a data center, for example, that
uses a large number of servers/processors 112 in racks. Server 112 of service
110 may have a number of different servers, with each server having one or
more processors, contacts databases 116, and memories 114. The server 112
may be by way of example, and not limitation, a Network Operations Center
(NOC), such as a Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES), or other central server
arrangement that can combine many social networks and manage them
collectively. Load balancing between various servers 112 may be employed in
example configurations.
[0016] While contacts database 116 encompasses the functionality of a
contacts database, it is understood that such databases may reside within one
or
many databases to which the service 110 has access. A contacts database 116
stores contact information available on the Internet, for example. The
contacts
stored in the contacts database may be acquired from a communication device
150 directly (for example, from a PIM application executing on the
communication device), from a third party contact source 160, such as social
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network sites that have a vast amount of contact information, or from a user
of
the communication device 150 electing to provide certain of the user's
contacts
stored on the device. The service 110 can also directly acquire contact
information and store them in the contacts database 116. As will be discussed,
the user of the communication device 150 may be presented with an option to
manage a linked contact record of a contact made up of two or more linked
source contact records.
[0017] In keeping with various examples, service 110 can acquire contacts
from a user's communication device 150 and/or various third party contact
sources 160. The contact association element 118 of service 110 associates
contact information with a user's contacts. User contacts may be obtained
directly from the communication device 150. Contact information may also be
obtained from a variety of sources on the Internet, including but not limited
to
GMAIL, Google contacts, social network contacts (such as Facebook, Twitter,
Linked-In, etc.). This contact association is performed by contact association
element 118 of the service 110.
[0018] The user can decide whether to opt-in to the service provided by
service 110 or it may be provided automatically. A PIM application that
executes
on the communication device 150 may prompt the user to decide whether to
opt-in, or this may occur when the user activates the visual indicator of a
linked
contact record in order to manage the linked contact record, which may include
changing, adding to, or deleting one or more source contact records of the
linked
contact record. This method is further illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 3
and
the graphical user interfaces of FIGs. 4-15 of the drawings, described below.
[0019] To illustrate an example embodiment system architecture, FIG. 2
shows a block diagram of a wireless communication system 200 which includes a
communication device 210, such as a wireless or mobile communication device,
which communicates through a wireless communication network 250, to a server
295. An example wireless implementation of communication device 210 and a
wireless communication network 250 with which it communicates will now be
discussed. Communication device 210 has a display 212, a keyboard 214, and
perhaps one or more auxiliary user interfaces (UI) 216, each of which are
coupled to a controller 218. Controller 218 is also coupled to radio frequency
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,
, .
(RF) transceiver circuitry 220 and an antenna 221. Controller 218 may be
embodied as a central processing unit (CPU) which runs operating system
software in a memory component (not shown). Controller 218 will normally
control overall operation of communication device 210, whereas signal
processing operations associated with communication functions may be
performed in RF transceiver circuitry 220. Controller 218 interfaces with
display
212 to display received information, stored information, user inputs, and the
like. Keyboard 214, which may be a telephone type keypad or full alphanumeric
keyboard, is normally provided for entering data for storage in communication
device 210, information for transmission to wireless communication network
250, a telephone number to place a telephone call, commands to be executed on
electronic communication device 210, and possibly other or different user
inputs.
[0020] Communication device 210 sends communication signals to and
receives communication signals from wireless communication network 250 over
a wireless link via antenna 221. RF transceiver circuitry 220 performs
functions
similar to those of a tower station 270 and a base station controller (BSC)
260,
including for example modulation/demodulation and possibly encoding/decoding
and encryption/decryption. It is also contemplated that RF transceiver
circuitry
220 may perform certain functions in addition to those performed by BSC 260.
It
will be apparent to those skilled in art that RF transceiver circuitry 220
will be
adapted to particular wireless network or networks in which communication
device 210 is intended to operate. When communication device 210 is fully
operational, an RF transmitter of RF transceiver circuitry 220 is typically
keyed
or turned on only when it is sending to network, and is otherwise turned off
to
conserve resources. Similarly, an RF receiver of RF transceiver circuitry 220
is
typically periodically turned off to conserve power until it is needed to
receive
signals or information (if at all) during designated time periods.
[0021] Communication device 210 includes a battery interface 226 for
receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 240. Battery 240 provides
electrical power to electrical circuitry in communication device 210, and
battery
interface 226 provides for a mechanical and electrical connection for battery
240. Battery interface 226 is coupled to a regulator 228 which regulates power
to the device. Communication device 210 may be a handheld portable
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communication device, which includes a housing (e.g. a plastic housing) which
carries and contains the electrical components of communication device 210
including battery 240. Communication device 210 operates using a Subscriber
Identity Module (SIM) 230 which is connected to or inserted in communication
device 210 at a SIM interface 224. SIM 230 is one type of a conventional
"smart
card" used to identify an end user (or subscriber) of communication device 210
and to personalize the device, among other things. Without SIM 230, the
communication device terminal is not fully operational for communication
through wireless communication network 250. By inserting SIM 230 into
communication device 210, an end user can have access to any and all of
his/her subscribed services. SIM 230 generally includes a processor and memory
for storing information. Since SIM 230 is coupled to SIM interface 224, it is
coupled to controller 218 through communication lines 222. In order to
identify
the subscriber, SIM 230 contains some user parameters such as an International
Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An advantage of using SIM 230 is that end
users are not necessarily bound by any single physical mobile communication
device. SIM 230 may store additional user information for the communication
device 210 as well, including datebook (or calendar) information and recent
call
information.
[0022] Communication device 210 may consist of a single unit, such as a
data communication device, a cellular telephone, a multiple-function
communication device with data and voice communication capabilities, a
personal digital assistant (PDA) enabled for wireless communication, or a
computer incorporating an internal modem. Communication device 210 may be
a handheld portable communication device which includes a housing (e.g. a
plastic housing) which carries and contains the electrical components of
communication device 210. Alternatively, communication device 210 may be a
multiple-module unit including a plurality of separate components, including
but
in no way limited to a computer or other device connected to a wireless modem.
In particular, for example, RF transceiver circuitry 220 and antenna 221 may
be
implemented as a radio modem unit that may be inserted into a port on a laptop
computer. In this case, the laptop computer would include display 212,
keyboard
214, one or more auxiliary UIs 216, and controller 218 embodied as the
computer's CPU. It is also contemplated that a computer or other equipment not
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,
,
,
normally capable of wireless communication may be adapted to connect to and
effectively assume control of RF transceiver circuitry 220 and antenna 221 of
a
single-unit device such as one of those described above.
[0023] Communication device 210 communicates in and through wireless
communication network 250. Wireless communication network 250 may be a
cellular telecommunications network. In an example embodiment, wireless
communication network 250 is configured in accordance with General Packet
Radio Service (GPRS) and a Global Systems for Mobile (GSM) technologies.
Today, such a mobile communication device may further operate in accordance
with Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) or Enhanced GPRS
(EGPRS), as described in the Background section. In such environment, wireless
communication network 250 includes a base station controller (BSC) 260 with an
associated tower station 270, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 252, a Home
Location Register (HLR) 254, a Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
Support Node (SGSN) 258, and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 256.
MSC 252 is coupled to BSC 260 and to a landline network, such as a Public
Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 280. SGSN 258 is coupled to BSC 260 and
to GGSN 256, which is in turn coupled to a public or private data network 290
(such as the Internet). HLR 254 is coupled to MSC 252, SGSN 258, and GGSN
256.
[0024] Station 270 is a fixed transceiver station, and station 270 and
BSC
260 may be referred to as transceiver equipment. The transceiver equipment
provides wireless network coverage for a particular coverage area commonly
referred to as a "cell". The transceiver equipment transmits communication
signals to and receives communication signals from mobile communication
devices within its cell via station 270. The transceiver equipment normally
performs such functions as modulation and possibly encoding and encryption of
signals to be transmitted to the mobile communication device in accordance
with
particular, usually predetermined, communication protocols and parameters,
under control of its controller. The transceiver equipment similarly
demodulates
and possibly decodes and decrypts, if necessary, any communication signals
received from communication device 210 within its cell. Communication
protocols and parameters may vary between different networks. For example,
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one network may employ a different modulation scheme and operate at different
frequencies than other networks.
[0025] The wireless link shown in communication system 200 of FIG. 2
represents one or more different channels, typically different radio frequency
(RF) channels, and associated protocols used between wireless communication
network 250 and communication device 210. An RF channel is a limited resource
to be conserved, due to limits in overall bandwidth and a limited battery
power
of communication device 210. Those skilled in art will appreciate that a
wireless
network in actual practice may include hundreds of cells, each served by a
station 270 (i.e. or station sector), depending upon desired overall expanse
of
network coverage. All pertinent components may be connected by multiple
switches and routers (not shown), controlled by multiple network controllers.
[0026] For all communication devices 210 registered with a network
operator, permanent data (such as communication device 210 user's profile) as
well as temporary data (such as communication device's 210 current location)
are stored in HLR 254. In case of a voice call to communication device 210,
HLR
254 is queried to determine the current location of communication device 210.
A
Visitor Location Register (VLR) of MSC 252 is responsible for a group of
location
areas and stores the data of those mobile communication devices that are
currently in its area of responsibility. This includes parts of the permanent
communication device data that have been transmitted from HLR 254 to the VLR
for faster access. However, the VLR of MSC 252 may also assign and store local
data, such as temporary identifications. Optionally, the VLR of MSC 252 can be
enhanced for more efficient co-ordination of GPRS and non-GPRS services and
functionality (e.g. paging for circuit-switched calls which can be performed
more
efficiently via SGSN 258, and combined GPRS and non-GPRS location updates).
[0027] Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 258 is at the same hierarchical
level as MSC 252 and keeps track of the individual locations of communication
devices. SGSN 258 also performs security functions and access control. Gateway
GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 256 provides interworking with external packet-
switched networks and is connected with SGSNs (such as SGSN 258) via an IP-
based GPRS backbone network. SGSN 258 performs authentication and cipher
setting procedures based on algorithms, keys, and criteria (e.g. as in
existing
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GSM). In conventional operation, cell selection may be performed autonomously
by communication device 210 or by the transceiver equipment instructing
communication device 210 to select a particular cell. Communication device 210
informs wireless communication network 250 when it reselects another cell or
group of cells, known as a routing area.
[0028] In order to access GPRS services, communication device 210 first
makes its presence known to wireless communication network 250 by
performing what is known as a GPRS "attach". This operation establishes a
logical link between communication device 210 and SGSN 258 and makes
communication device 210 available to receive, for example, pages via SGSN,
notifications of incoming GPRS data, or SMS messages over GPRS. In order to
send and receive GPRS data, communication device 210 assists in activating the
packet data address that it wants to use. This operation makes communication
device 210 known to GGSN 256; interworking with external data networks can
thereafter commence. User data may be transferred transparently between
communication device 210 and the external data networks using, for example,
encapsulation and tunneling. Data packets are equipped with GPRS-specific
protocol information and transferred between communication device 210 and
GGSN 256.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 3, a methodology in accordance with various
example embodiments disclosed herein is provided. In flowchart 300, at Block
310 upon selection of a linked contact record of a contact formed from a
number
of linked source contact records of the contact, display in a user interface
the
linked contact record and a visual indicator of the linked contact record.
[0030] As will be shown, selection of the linked contact record may
include
selection of the linked contact record from a contact list displayed in the
user
interface. The linked contact record and the visual indicator of the linked
contact
record may be displayed in a contact detail panel of the user interface upon
selection of the linked contact record. The visual indicator of the linked
contact
record may indicate the number of linked source contact records of the linked
contact record, thus the display may further include displaying a badge of the
visual indicator with the linked contact record in the contact details panel
of the
user interface, where the badge of the visual indicator indicates the number
of
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linked source contact records of the linked contact record. As will be
described,
the visual indicator may be a link icon, as shown in subsequent figures, or
the
visual indicator may be highlighting, outlining, a blinking display, bolding,
text,
etc.
[0031] At Block 320, after receiving an input to enter a manage mode,
such as by activation of the visual indicator, which may be a link icon, of
the
linked contact record in the user interface, a manage mode in which the linked
contact record of the contact can be selectively managed is entered. Entering
a
manage mode may be accomplished in other ways, such as by selecting an
option in a menu or by responding to a prompt to enter into a manage mode. A
linked contact record can be selectively managed by adding linked, removing
links, restoring linked to available but currently unlinked source records for
a
particular contact.
[0032] While the blocks including the methods are shown as occurring in a
particular order, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many
of the
blocks are interchangeable and can occur in different orders than that shown
without materially affecting the end results of the methods.
[0033] Referring now to FIGs. 4 to 15, examples of a user's dashboard
graphical user interface in accordance with various examples are provided. The
user's dashboard graphical user interface may be implemented in a display of
communications device 150 of FIG. 1 or the communication device 210 of FIG.
2.
[0034] In the example embodiment dashboard graphical user interface 400
of FIG. 4, presentation of information about one or more contacts is provided
to
a user. On a display, such as a touch screen display, of a communication
device, the user's dashboard may include a number of contacts displayed in a
contact list 420. The source of contacts displayed may include the user's
contacts database, Facebook, etc., either stored on the user's device, for
example, or obtained by the service 110 from any number of sources, such as
social networking sites, for example, over the Internet. Selection of a given
contact, in this example Julie Palmer, is indicated by the shaded area of
selected
linked contact record 410 in contact list 420, causes the linked contact
record
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440 of Julie Palmer to be displayed in a contact detail panel 430 of the touch
screen display. After receiving selection of the details tab 450, the contact
detail
panel 430 displays information about this selected contact, including address,
phone, chat, and email contact information. Other tabs 451, 452, 453, 454,
455, when selection is received, the contact details panel 420 might show
status, news meetings, people, places, etc., depending upon the selected tab.
Also presented in the contact detail panel 430 is a link icon 460 of the
linked
contact record 440 that indicates that this contact record is in fact a linked
contact record 440 or has a linked status. (In other example embodiments, a
visual indicator other than an icon may be used, such as highlighting or
outlining
the linked contact record 440, "blinking" the display of the linked contact
record
440, making the text at the linked contact record 440 bold, providing text at
or
nearby the linked contact record 440 indicating its linked status, or other
visual
indicators.) Associated with link icon 460 is badge 470, which indicates the
number of automatic or existing links that make up the linked contact record.
[0035] As shown, selection of a contact record may include selection of a
selected linked contact record 410 from a contact list 240 displayed in the
user
interface. The linked contact record 440 and the link icon 460 of the linked
contact record may be displayed in a contact detail panel 430 of the user
interface upon selection of the linked contact record 410 from the contact
list.
The link icon 460 of the linked contact record may indicate the number of
linked
source contact records of the linked contact record, thus the display may
further
include displaying a badge 470 of the link icon with the linked contact record
in
the contact details panel of the user interface, where the badge of the link
icon
indicates the number of linked source contact records of the linked contact
record. In this particular example, it can be seen that the Julie Palmer
linked
contact record is made up of four linked source contact records, as indicated
by
the badge 470 displaying "4."
[0036] In FIG. 5, the example embodiment graphical user interface 500
again displays the selected linked contact record for Julie Palmer. In this
screenshot, it can be seen that the link icon 460 of linked contact record 440
is
activated by being selected on the touch screen of the display. This
activation
510 is indicated by the cross-hatched circle surrounding link icon 460. In
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response to activation 510 of the link icon of the linked contact record in
the
user interface, a manage mode in which the linked contact record of the
contact
can be selectively managed can now be entered, as shown in FIGs. 6-15.
Moreover, activation of the link icon in FIG. 5, results in entry into the
manage
mode, in which the linked source contacts that make up the linked contact
record are displayed, and even source contact records that are not linked or
no
longer linked to the linked contact record may be displayed, as will be shown.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 6, the example embodiment graphical user
interface 600 illustrates the user interface in the manage mode. It can be
seen
that contact detail panel 430 in which the details of linked contact record
440
are displayed, has moved to the left of the touch screen display. Linked
profile
panel 610 is on the right side of the display and is labelled "Linked
Profiles" in
this example. The linked profile panel 610 displays a number of
representations,
including linked contact record representation 620, representative of the
linked
contact record 440, and a number, four in this example, of source contact
record
representations 630, representative of the four linked source contact records
that make up linked contact record 440. Available contact pictures from each
source contact record may also be illustrated in the source contact record
representations 630, as shown. In addition, badges from the sources, such as
social network sites or services such as Facebook and Twitter, may also be
included in the source contact record representations 630, as shown. The
source contact record representations 630 are shown as indented under linked
contact record representation 620, although this is not a requirement.
[0038] In addition, the link status of a source contact record
represented
by a source contact record representation 630 is indicated by the link icon
640 of
a particular source contact record representation. The link status of a source
contact record to the linked contact record may be linked or unlinked. In this
particular user interface 600, it can be seen that the linked status of each
of the
four source contact records represented by the source contact record
representations 630 is indicated as "linked" by the link icons 640. It is
noted
that selection of the link icon 640 of any source contact representation 630
will
allow the link status of selected source contact record to be changed, such as
from linked to unlinked. This is further illustrated in FIG. 12.
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[0039] It can be seen that in the manage mode following activation of the
visual indicator of a linked contact record, a linked contact record
representation
of the linked contact record and a number of source contact record
representations corresponding to source contact records that make up the
linked
contact record are displayed in the user interface. Thus, for contacts with
multiple linked profiles or data sources, the individual linked source contact
records making up the linked contact record are displayed. The source contact
records representations corresponding to the source contact records may be
displayed as indented under the linked contact record representation, though
this is not required. Further, as illustrated in this particular example, the
linked
contact record representation and the plurality of source contact record
representations may be displayed in a linked profile panel of the user
interface.
Moreover, it can be seen for that each source contact record representation a
source contact record representation link icon that indicates a link status of
the
source contact record represented by the source contact record representation
to the linked contact record can be displayed as well. The link status of the
source contact record representation link icon for each linked source contact
record is linked in this particular example, but may also be unlinked, as is
the
case where a source contact record has been unlinked from the linked contact
record, as shown in FIG. 13, for example.
[0040] The linked profile panel 610 additionally has an add link icon 650
that allows a source contact record to be added to the linked contact record,
as
will be described in connection with FIGs. 7 to 11. A user may select or tap
the
add link icon 650 to add a link in the manage mode. This selection or tap is
represented by the hatched circular representation 710 over the "Add Link"
term
in the example embodiment shown in graphical user interface 700 of FIG. 7. As
will be described, activation 710 of the add link icon 650 allows a user to
search
for additional source contact records of a particular contact to be added to a
linked contact record for that contact.
[0041] In FIG. 8, the example embodiment graphical user interface 800
illustrates that in response to selection or activation of the add link icon
650, a
search window 810 with a search field 820 and a touch screen keypad 830 will
appear in the user interface. The user may use the touch screen keypad 830 to
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,
. .
enter a search term that will be used to search for other source contact
records
of the particular contact, in this case Julie Palmer, which may be added to
the
linked contact record for Julie Palmer if selected. FIG. 8, then, shows the
search
window provided to the user in the graphical user interface so that the user
can
enter a search. In particular, reference number 840 indicates a user selecting
the letter "j" of touch screen keyboard 830, shown in the search field 820 of
FIG.
9.
[0042] In the example embodiment graphical user interface 900 of FIG. 9,
it can be seen that has a user starts to enter a search term 910 in search
field
820, possible matches to the search term will be illustrated in the search
window. In particular, three possible matches as listed as source contact
record
representations 920 each with a source contact record representation 930
indicating the link status of a particular source contact record that is
represented. In this example, entry by the user of the search term "j" in
search
field 820 causes three source contact record representations to be listed:
Jeanette deBoer, Julie P, and Justin Jones. Only one of the three, Julie P via
LinkedIn, is a source contact record representation of a source record for the
desired contact, Julie Palmer. The user can make a selection 940 of this
source
contact representation 920 to view the source contact record. LinkedIn is an
example of a social networking service/site and is referred to herein as
LinkedIn.
[0043] The selected source contact record, Julie P via LinkedIn, is
viewed
in the example embodiment graphical user interface 1000 of FIG. 10. In
addition to search window 810, the user interface has a search result detail
panel 1010 in which details 1020 of the selected new source contact record
Julie
P are displayed. It can be seen that the source contact record representation
920 of the selected new source contact record Julie P has a link icon that can
be
selected, as indicated by the encircled hatched area 1030, in order to add
information of the new contact source record to the linked contact record. In
this particular example, it can be seen that the work email address
jpalmer@pnx.com, designated by 1040, is new information not currently in the
linked contact record (440 of FIGs. 4 and 7) of Julie Palmer. Adding the new
source contact source record makes it a new linked source contact record of
the
linked contact record for Julie Palmer.
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[0044] The linked contact record for Julie Palmer will now have five
linked
source contact records, counting the newly added source contact record. The
badge of the link icon for Julie Palmer will be updated to reflect five (5)
links.
This is illustrated in example embodiment graphical user interface 1100 of
FIG.
11. In contact detail panel 430, a new linked contact record 1110 of the
updated Julie Palmer linked contact is illustrated. It can be seen that the
new
work email address jpalmer@pnx.com, designated by 1040, in included in the
new linked record. In linked profile panel 610, the linked contact record
representation 620 of the new linked contact record 1110 now reflects five (5)
linked profiles or records for this contact, which are displayed in linked
profile
panel 610 as source contact record representations 630. Each of the source
contact record representations 630 has a link icon 640 conveying the linked
status as "linked." An individual source contact record, such as the newly
added
Julie P via LinkedIn, may be selected by the user making a selection 1120 of
the
desired indicated source contact record representation 630, as shown.
[0045] Selection 1120 of the Julie P via LinkedIn source contact record
representation in FIG. 11 causes detail of the source contact record of the
Julie P
LinkedIn source record to be displayed 1210 as shown in the example
embodiment graphical user interface 1200 of FIG. 12. The user can then select
any of the link icons 640 of the listed source contact record representations
630
if desired to change the link status displayed by link icon 640. In this
example,
a user has made a selection 1220 the link icon 640 of the Julie P via LinkedIn
source contact record representation 630. Since the status indicated by the
link
icon 640 of the Julie P via LinkedIn source contact record is linked,
selecting the
link icon will remove this source contact record from the linked contact
record for
Julie Palmer. This is illustrated by the unlinked status indicated by the
broken
link icon 1310 of example embodiment graphical user interface 1300 of FIG. 13
that is associated with Julie P via LinkedIn contact source record
representation.
Removing a link of a source contact record to the linked contact record does
not
delete the source contact record information; rather, it is just not linked to
the
linked contact record. Additionally, the number of linked profiles is updated
from
five to four (4), as indicated by reference number 1320. It can be seen that
the
linked contact record 440 of Julie Palmer displayed in contact detail panel
430 no
longer contains work address jpalmer@pnx.com (1040 of FIG. 11) from the
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=
unlinked source record. A user may re-select the link icon associated with
Julie
P via LinkedIn at any time to re-link this source contact record to the linked
contact record for Julie Palmer.
[0046] As illustrated in example embodiment graphical user interface 1400
of FIG. 14, the user may select the save icon 1410 to save the new linked
contact record for Julie Palmer. The manage mode is exited, and the saved new
linked contact record for Julie Palmer is displayed as saved linked contact
record
440 with changes applied in contact detail panel 430 in graphical user
interface
1500 of FIG. 15. Also shown in the non-manage mode is the selected linked
contact record 410 in contact list 420.
[0047] It can be seen from the foregoing description that activation of
an
add link icon displayed in the user interface while in the manage mode, allows
a
user to search for and select a new source contact record of a particular
contact
so that a new linked contact record containing new information may be added to
the linked contact record. In response to a received search term a search for
additionally available source contact records for a contact is performed. In
response to selection of the new source contact record returned by the search,
a
link to the new source contact record may be added to create a new linked
contact record of the contact. The received search term and selection of the
new source contact record may be received in a search window of the user
interface as discussed above. Additionally, a visual indicator, such as a link
icon,
of the new linked contact record is updated to reflect linkage of the new
source
contact record in the new linked contact record of the contact. This may
include
updating a badge of the visual indicator of the new linked contact record.
[0048] In addition to adding a new link to a linked contact record,
removing a link of a linked source contact record to the linked contact record
while in the manage mode has been described. Removal of the link of the linked
source contact record to the linked contact record may include in a linked
profile
panel of the user interface in which a linked contact record representation of
the
linked contact record and linked source contact record representations
corresponding to the linked source contact records of the linked contact
record
are displayed with each linked source contact record representation having a
displayed corresponding source contact record representation link icon that
43034-CA-PAT 17
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. .
indicates the linked status of it respective linked source contact record. In
response to selection of a source contact record representation link icon of a
linked source contact record representation corresponding to a linked source
contact record of the linked contact record, the link of the selected source
contact record to the linked contact record is removed. Removing the link of
the
selected source contact record to the linked contact record does not delete
the
unlinked source contact record. Following removal of a link, the linked status
of
the unlinked source contact record is updated to unlinked, and the updated
source contact record representation link icon displayed. Further, in response
to
selection of the updated source contact record representation link icon of the
previously unlinked source contact record, the link to the linked contact
record of
the previously unlinked source contact record can be restored, and the linked
status of the source contact record representation link icon of the restored
source contact record updated to linked.
[0049] Saving changes to a linked contact record of a contact made in
the
manage mode creates a changed linked contact record. The changed linked
contact record and a visual indicator of the changed linked contact record can
be
displayed, and may be displayed in a contact detail panel of the user
interface.
This may further include displaying a badge of the visual indicator of the
changed linked contact record in the contact details panel of the user
interface
that indicates the number of source contact records that make up the changed
linked contact record
[0050] The implementations of the present disclosure described above are
intended to be examples only. Those of skill in the art can effect
alterations,
modifications and variations to the particular example embodiments herein
without departing from the intended scope of the present disclosure. Moreover,
selected features from one or more of the above-described example
embodiments can be combined to create alternative example embodiments not
explicitly described herein.
[0051] It will be appreciated that any module or component disclosed
herein that executes instructions may include or otherwise have access to non-
transient and tangible computer readable media such as storage media,
computer storage media, or data storage devices (removable or non-removable)
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such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape data storage.
Computer storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and
non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of
information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program
modules, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include RAM,
ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital
versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic
tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other
medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be
accessed by an application, module, or both. Any such computer storage media
may be part of the server, any component of or related to the network,
backend,
etc., or accessible or connectable thereto. Any application or module herein
described may be implemented using computer readable/executable instructions
that may be stored or otherwise held by such computer readable media.
[0052] The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described
example embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative
and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by
the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that
come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within their scope.
[0053] What is claimed is:
43034-CA-PAT 19
