IP Library Granted Patent US 7,493,567
Granted Patent B2
US 7,493,567 · App. 10/767,463 · Granted Feb 17, 2009

Method and system for pinning contacts and items

Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,493,567
App. No.
10/767,463
Granted
Feb 17, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (30)

1. A method for pinning and displaying items, comprising:

selecting an item to pin;

pinning the item selected by a user;

automatically creating a copy of the item selected to pin; and

automatically displaying the pinned item before non-pinned items such that the pinned item is distinguishable from and prioritized higher than related non-pinned items.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the pinned item further comprises including a visual indicator indicating that the item is pinned.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the item to pin is selected from a group comprising a contact, a folder, a file, a field, an application, and a message.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the pinned item such that the pinned item is distinguishable and prioritized higher than the related non-pinned items further comprises displaying the pinned item at a top of a list view.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising displaying the pinned item with a category view when it is associated with a category.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising managing pinned items such that the pinned item may be moved relative to other pinned items.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein managing the pinned items further comprises deleting a pinned item.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein deleting the pinned item further comprises keeping a corresponding item within an unpinned item list.

9. A system for representing items, comprising:

a display configured to display items; and

a pinned items application that is configured to perform the following actions, including:

pinning an item selected by a user;

automatically create a copy of the item selected to pin to be used as the pinned item; and

automatically instructing the display to display the pinned item before non-pinned items such that the pinned item is distinguishable and prioritized higher than related non-pinned items.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the pinned item includes an icon indicating that it is pinned.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein instructing the display to display the pinned item, further comprises displaying the pinned item only when it is associated with a category view currently being displayed.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the pinned item application is further configured to manage pinned items.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein managing the pinned items further comprises moving the pinned items within the pinned items list.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein managing the pinned items further comprises deleting at least one of the pinned items.

15. A computer-readable storage medium for displaying items, comprising:

selecting an item to pin;

pinning the item selected by a user;

automatically creating a copy of the contact item to pin, wherein the copy is used as the pinned item; and

automatically displaying the pinned item before non-pinned items such that the pinned item is distinguishable and prioritized higher than related non-pinned items.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein displaying the pinned item further comprises including an icon indicating that the item is pinned.

17. A computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein displaying the pinned item, further comprises displaying the pined item at a top of a list view.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034541/0477 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2004
From: OLLIS, JOSEPH KIRK; STEPANICH, DARRON JACK; TODD, MARC W.; FLYNT, DAVID W.; CHEN, HENRY
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014820/0762 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050166157A1 · Jul 28, 2005