Microsoft Patents Windows Phone Panoramic UI And More Interesting Things

AUTOMATED CALLER IDENTIFIER FROM CONTACT LISTS OF A USER’S CONTACTS

When a call or message is received from an unidentified sender on the user’s communication device, the caller identifier application launches a text-based messaging application and causes it to send an "invisible" text-based message to the user’s contacts. The message includes the metadata (e.g., telephone number) associated with the call or message that the user received. The invisible message is a short message whose headers are programmed in a particular manner so that the receiving mobile phone acknowledges the receipt of the message and the receiving mobile phone displays no behavior perceptible by the user. When the invisible message is received by the corresponding caller identifier application on one of the user’s contact’s mobile phone, the application searches the contact’s contact list maintained in his or hers contact application. If the metadata provided to the contact’s mobile phone is located in the contact list, the contact details (e.g. Name) or the contact card, if available, is sent back to the user’s mobile phone in a second invisible message. Upon receiving the second invisible message, the caller identifier application causes some or all of the contact details to be displayed on the user’s mobile phone or otherwise presented to the user in any appropriate manner.

TOUCHLESS AND TOUCH OPTIMIZED PROCESSING OF RETAIL AND OTHER COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS

A computer implemented method for reducing input performed in a commerce based application is provided. The method includes receiving a sequence of input values from an input device and associating the sequence of input values with an object in the application based on the sequence. A context of the application is determined One or more tasks in the application are automatically performed based on the object, the context and the sequence of input values.

GESTURE DETECTION BASED ON JOINT SKIPPING

A system is disclosed for detecting or confirming gestures performed by a user by identifying a vector formed by non-adjacent joints and identifying the angle the vector forms with a reference point. Thus, the system skips one or more intermediate joints between an end joint and a proximal joint closer to the body core of a user. Skipping one or more intermediate joints results in a more reliable indication of the position or movement performed by the user, and consequently a more reliable indication of a given gesture.

Sensor-based Pointing Device for Natural Input and Interaction

A pointing or input device is generally cylindrical or puck-shaped, and has various sensors for sensing 2D, 3D, and high degree of freedom motion for more natural user interaction.

Details on USER-CENTRIC SOFT KEYBOARD PREDICTIVE TECHNOLOGIES  and Metro UI of Windows OS on WMPoweruser .