(19)

(11)

EP 1 264 238 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 10.10.2002 (43) Date of publication: 11.12.2002 Bulletin 2002/50 (21) Application number: 01922463.3 (22) Date of filing: 16.03.2001

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G06F 9/46, H04L 12/58, H04L 12/24, G06F 17/60, G06F 17/30 (86) International application number: PCT/US0108/711 (87) International publication number: WO 0106/9387 (20.09.2001 Gazette 2001/38)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 16.03.2000 US 189801 P 17.06.2000 US 596365 17.06.2000 US 596348 17.06.2000 US 596364 17.06.2000 US 212296 P 17.06.2000 US 212293 P 17.06.2000 US 595401 (71) Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION Redmond, WA 98052 (US)	(72) Inventors: HORVITZ, Eric, J. Kirkland, WA 98033 (US) HOVEL, David, O. Bellevue, WA 98008 (US) JACOBS, Andrew, W. Seattle, WA 98118 (US) KADIE, Carl, M. Bellevue, WA 98008 (US) (74) Representative: Grünecker, Kinkeldey, Stockmair & SchwanhäusserAnwaltssozietät  Maximilianstrasse 58 80538 München 80538 München (DE)