CONTACT MANAGEMENT

摘要

Contacts are created and stored (420) with corresponding contact information (140) in such a way that they can be accessed (430) and utilized (440) by applications from a single contact store (100). The contact store (100) contains a complete contact definition (140) for each contact so that each o f the applications can obtain (430) the appropriate contact information and in the appropriate format from the contact store (100) that is required by the applications. Centralizing the storage of the contact information (140) allo ws the contact store to incorporate and propagate the changes that are made by the applications to the contact information. Interfaces can also be provided to initiate communications (480) using the contact information (140) and for controlling what contact information (140) will be made accessible to the applications.