Patents by Inventor Christopher Hugh Pratley

Christopher Hugh Pratley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7984035
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methodologies are disclosed that employ ‘context’ of a document upon searching for relevant or desired references/results. The innovation establishes ‘context’ of a document thereby increasing relevance upon returning results to search queries. Context-based searching establishes relationships between terms of a document in order to focus more upon an interpretation of a document rather than merely considering a topic of a document based upon word occurrences, as used by traditional searching mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lewis Charles Levin, Christopher Hugh Pratley
  • Publication number: 20110154266
    Abstract: Techniques for managing a presentation of information in a gesture-based system, where gestures are derived from a user's body position or motion in the physical space, may enable a user to use gestures to control the manner in which the information is presented or to otherwise interact with the gesture-based system. A user may present information to an audience to an audience using gestures that control aspects of the system, or multiple users may work together using gestures to control aspects of the system. Thus, in an example embodiment, a single user can control the presentation of information to the audience via gestures. In another example embodiment, multiple participants can share control of the presentation via gestures captured by a capture device or otherwise interact with the system to control aspects of the presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph F. Friend, Christopher Hugh Pratley, Ashok Kuppusamy, Steven Bathiche, Robert Scott Dietz
  • Publication number: 20090171938
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methodologies are disclosed that employ ‘context’ of a document upon searching for relevant or desired references/results. The innovation establishes ‘context’ of a document thereby increasing relevance upon returning results to search queries. Context-based searching establishes relationships between terms of a document in order to focus more upon an interpretation of a document rather than merely considering a topic of a document based upon word occurrences, as used by traditional searching mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lewis Charles Levin, Christopher Hugh Pratley
  • Publication number: 20090171649
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding method) that employs wiki-type models to consider authoring rather than composition in an application environment is provided. The innovation enables collaborative information and templates to be used to enhance quality, productivity, etc. within a software application environment. These wiki-type models can provide features, functions and benefits related to, but not limited to, general information, auto-fills, formats, schema, conversions, preferences, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ajitesh Kishore, Brian Meek, Christopher Hugh Pratley, Alexander G. Gounares, Lewis Charles Levin
  • Patent number: 6678865
    Abstract: A method and system for inserting a table over text, for splitting a cell with text into two or more cells, for converting a bordered paragraph into a table, and for adding cells to a table. A table drawing tool allows a user to insert a table over existing text in a document, convert a bordered paragraph into a table, split a table cell into multiple cells, and add cells to a table, among other features. To insert a table over existing text, a subset of the plurality of lines of text that the table covers is determined. A determination is made whether the subset of text needs to be placed inside the table. If so, then the subset of text is extracted from the electronic file and the subset is placed inside a paragraph. The table is inserted into the electronic file with a height equal to the height of the extracted subset of text and the paragraph is pasted into the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Hugh Pratley, Katsuhiro Namba
  • Patent number: 6442575
    Abstract: In an electronic document, merging cells in a table, adding an integrated header to a table, and adding a nested table to a table. A table erasing tool allows a user to merge cells in a table. An indication is received to merge certain cells. The indication indicates at least one cell border for deletion. Cells of the table are merged horizontally across each row that includes at least one indicated cell border. Cells of the table are merged vertically across each column that includes at least one indicated cell border. A determination is made whether there are any successful merges and, if so, the merging tasks are repeated until there are no further successful horizontal or vertical merges. A table drawing tool allows a user to add an integrated header row to a table or create a nested table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Hugh Pratley, Katsuhiro Namba
  • Publication number: 20010049699
    Abstract: In an electronic document, merging cells in a table, adding an integrated header to a table, and adding a nested table to a table. A table erasing tool allows a user to merge cells in a table. An indication is received to merge certain cells. The indication indicates at least one cell border for deletion. Cells of the table are merged horizontally across each row that includes at least one indicated cell border. Cells of the table are merged vertically across each column that includes at least one indicated cell border. A determination is made whether there are any successful merges and, if so, the merging tasks are repeated until there are no further successful horizontal or vertical merges. A table drawing tool allows a user to add an integrated header row to a table including a first row and a first column (or any row/column). A second row is added above the first row. The first row is split into a third and a fourth row, so that the table comprises a second row, a third row, and a fourth row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER HUGH PRATLEY, KATSUHIRO NAMBA
  • Patent number: 6112216
    Abstract: A method and system for inserting a table over text, for splitting a cell with text into two or more cells, for converting a bordered paragraph into a table, and for adding cells to a table. A table drawing tool allows a user to insert a table over existing text in a document, convert a bordered paragraph into a table, split a table cell into multiple cells, and add cells to a table, among other features. To insert a table over existing text, a subset of the plurality of lines of text that the table covers is determined. A determination is made whether the subset of text needs to be placed inside the table. If so, then the subset of text is extracted from the electronic file and the subset is placed inside a paragraph. The table is inserted into the electronic file with a height equal to the height of the extracted subset of text and the paragraph is pasted into the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Hugh Pratley, Katsuhiro Namba