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US5835089A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Application programming interface for shared address book services in a computer system

Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1996-10-25
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Granted: 1998-11-10
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Expires: 2016-10-25
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Abstract

Abstract An application programmers interface for shared address book services in a computer system that provides a register function call that enables a set of client communication application programs executing on the computer system to each register a callback function. The application programmers interface also provides a notify function call that enables an address book application program executing on the computer system to notify the appropriate client communication application program via the appropriate callback function that a user has selected a destination identifier for the corresponding communication type.

Inventors

  • 👤 Rune A. Skarbo
  • 👤 John D. Elliott

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 22:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445; G06F9/44521; H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L61/4555; H04L61/4557

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 168 words
An application programming interface for shared address book services in a computer system, the application programming interface comprising: a register function call that enables a set of client communication application programs executing on the computer system to each register a callback function with a shared address book service, each client communication application program being associated with a communication type, and the shared address book service including an integrated address file having a plurality of addressees with addresses associated with different communication types; and a notify function call that enables an address book application program executing on the computer system to notify the client communication application program having the communication type, through the shared address book service, that a user has selected an address of an addressee associated with the communication type, wherein the notify function call invokes the callback function of the client communication application program having the communication type, which in turn initiates a communication transaction with the addressee of the selected address using the selected address.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 168 words
An application programming interface for shared address book services in a computer system, the application programming interface comprising: a register function call that enables a set of client communication application programs executing on the computer system to each register a callback function with a shared address book service, each client communication application program being associated with a communication type, and the shared address book service including an integrated address file having a plurality of addressees with addresses associated with different communication types; and a notify function call that enables an address book application program executing on the computer system to notify the client communication application program having the communication type, through the shared address book service, that a user has selected an address of an addressee associated with the communication type, wherein the notify function call invokes the callback function of the client communication application program having the communication type, which in turn initiates a communication transaction with the addressee of the selected address using the selected address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The application programming interface of claim 1, wherein the register function calls from the client communication application programs specify the corresponding communication types for the communication application programs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
The application programming interface of claim 1, wherein the communication types include all or selected ones of a fax communication type, a voice communication type, a video communication type and an e-mail communication type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The application programming interface of claim 1, wherein the client communication application program maps to a fax communication type, and comprises a fax communication application program, and wherein the selected address comprises a fax number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
The application programming interface of claim 1, wherein the client communication application program maps to a video communication type, and comprises a video conferencing application program, and wherein the selected address comprises an address on a high speed communication link.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
The application programming interface of claim 1, wherein the client communication application program maps to an e-mail communication type, and comprises an e-mail application program, and wherein the selected address comprises an e-mail address on a network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
The application programming interface of claim 1, wherein the notify function call enables the address book application program to notify a default client communication program for a default communication type of the integrated address file.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 166 words
A method for sharing address book services for each of a set of client communication application programs in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: registering a callback function with a shared address book service for each client communication application program executing on the computer system, each client communication application program servicing one or more of a set of communication types, and the shared address book service including an integrated address file having a plurality of addressees with addresses associated with different communication types; sensing a user selection through an address book application program wherein the user selection specifies one of said addresses with communication types; and invoking the callback function of the requested client communication application program with a communication type that corresponds to the communication type of the selected address, through the shared address book service, wherein the callback function passes the selected address to the requested client communication application program, initiating a communication transaction with the addressee of the selected address.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 166 words
A method for sharing address book services for each of a set of client communication application programs in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: registering a callback function with a shared address book service for each client communication application program executing on the computer system, each client communication application program servicing one or more of a set of communication types, and the shared address book service including an integrated address file having a plurality of addressees with addresses associated with different communication types; sensing a user selection through an address book application program wherein the user selection specifies one of said addresses with communication types; and invoking the callback function of the requested client communication application program with a communication type that corresponds to the communication type of the selected address, through the shared address book service, wherein the callback function passes the selected address to the requested client communication application program, initiating a communication transaction with the addressee of the selected address.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the step of registering a callback function comprises the step of invoking a register function call to an address book service library from each client communication application program such that the register function calls pass the communication types for the client communication application programs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the communication types include a fax communication type, a voice communication type, a video communication type, and an e-mail communication type.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the client communication application program maps to a fax communication type, and comprises a fax communication application program, and wherein the selected address comprises a fax number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the client communication application program maps to a video communication types and comprises a video conferencing application program, and wherein the selected address comprises an address on a high speed communication link.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the client communication application program maps to an e-mail communication type, and comprises an e-mail application program, and wherein the selected address comprises an e-mail address on a network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of invoking a default client communication application program for a communication type specified in an address book information file.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 177 words
An apparatus for sharing address book services for each of a set of client communication application programs in a computer system, the apparatus comprising: means for registering a callback function for each client communication application program executing on the computer system with a shared address book service, each client communication application program servicing one or more of a set of communication types, and the shared address book service including an integrated address file having a plurality of addressees with addresses associated with different communication types; means for sensing a user selection through an address book application program wherein the user selection specifies one of said addresses with communication types; and means for invoking the callback function of a requested client communication application program with a communication type that corresponds to the communication type of the selected address, through the shared address book service, wherein the callback function passes the selected address to the client communication application program being invoked, which in turn initiates a communication transaction with the addressee of the selected address using the selected address.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 177 words
An apparatus for sharing address book services for each of a set of client communication application programs in a computer system, the apparatus comprising: means for registering a callback function for each client communication application program executing on the computer system with a shared address book service, each client communication application program servicing one or more of a set of communication types, and the shared address book service including an integrated address file having a plurality of addressees with addresses associated with different communication types; means for sensing a user selection through an address book application program wherein the user selection specifies one of said addresses with communication types; and means for invoking the callback function of a requested client communication application program with a communication type that corresponds to the communication type of the selected address, through the shared address book service, wherein the callback function passes the selected address to the client communication application program being invoked, which in turn initiates a communication transaction with the addressee of the selected address using the selected address.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 48 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for registering a callback function comprises means for invoking a register function call to an address book service library from each client communication application program such that the register function calls pass the communication types for the communication application programs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the communication types include a fax communication type, a voice communication type, a video communication type, and an e-mail communication type.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the client communication application program maps to the fax communication type and comprises a fax communication application programs and wherein the selected address comprises a fax number.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 38 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the client communication application program maps to the video communication type, and comprises a video conferencing application program, and wherein the selected address comprises an address on a high speed communication link.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 35 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the client communication application program maps to the e-mail communication type, and comprises an e-mail application program and wherein the selected address comprises an e-mail address on a network.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for invoking a default client communication application program for a communication type specified in an address book information file.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-11-09 2002-05-11 2002-11-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-11-09 2006-05-11 2006-11-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-11-09 2010-05-11 2010-11-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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