Patents by Inventor Christopher M. White
Christopher M. White 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).
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Publication number: 20080196070Abstract: An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Timo Bruck, Lee Mighdoll, Phillip Y. Goldman
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Publication number: 20080189749Abstract: An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television. These include a variety of novel user interfaces, such as automatically saving favorite programs, displaying an electronics programming guide that displays a list of the saved favorite programs on a favorites channel, and automatically overwriting saved programs as space is needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Timo Bruck, Lee Mighdoll, Phillip Y. Goldman
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Publication number: 20080184163Abstract: Methods and systems for scaling down a Web page image enables the image to be displayed on a standard television without horizontal scrolling of the image. A Web page image that initially has a horizontal dimension larger than the horizontal dimension of a television display is received from a web server and subsequently scaled down by a scaling factor that is based only upon the amount of scaling that is necessary to fit the image within the horizontal dimension of the television display. This scaling factor is used to scale the image horizontally and vertically, thus preserving the aspect ratio of the image. When a hyperlink from the scaled down Web page image is selected, coordinates to the hyperlink are scaled up based on the same scaling factor so that they will correspond with the server-side image map of the Web page image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Phillip Y. Goldman, David R. Anderson, Keith R. Ohlfs, Bruce A. Leak
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Publication number: 20080148323Abstract: An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2008Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Timo Bruck, Lee Mighdoll, Phillip Y. Goldman
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Publication number: 20080141120Abstract: A system for accessing the World Wide Web or other information sources using the Internet incorporates scaled-down versions of images associated with recently-viewed documents or documents designated as favorites into a recent menu or a favorites menu, respectively. As a user accesses a Web page, a scaled-down version of the Web page is inserted into a recent menu. The user can view the recent menu and visually determine the identity of the recently-viewed Web pages, which allows the user to conveniently select Web pages to access. This recent menu also enables the user to access recently-viewed documents in any order, which does not need to be in the chronological order in which the pages were originally viewed or in a reverse chronological order. Scaled-down versions of Web pages designated as favorites are stored in the favorites menu, thereby assisting the user in recalling the content of the favorite documents.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2008Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher M. White, Phillip Y. Goldman, David R. Anderson, Keith R. Ohlfs, Bruce A. Leak
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Patent number: 7386874Abstract: An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2004Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Timo Bruck, Lee S. Mighdoll, Phillip Y. Goldman
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Patent number: 7363646Abstract: An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Timo Bruck, Lee S. Mighdoll, Phillip Y. Goldman
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Patent number: 7350155Abstract: Methods and systems for scaling down a Web page image enables the image to be displayed on a standard television without horizontal scrolling of the image. A Web page image that initially has a horizontal dimension larger than the horizontal dimension of a television display is received from a web server and subsequently scaled down by a scaling factor that is based only upon the amount of scaling that is necessary to fit the image within the horizontal dimension of the television display. This scaling factor is used to scale the image horizontally and vertically, thus preserving the aspect ratio of the image. When a hyperlink from the scaled down Web page image is selected, coordinates to the hyperlink are scaled up based on the same scaling factor so that they will correspond with the server-side image map of the Web page image.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2005Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Phillip Y. Goldman, David R. Anderson, Keith R. Ohlfs, Bruce A. Leak
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Patent number: 7293245Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for presenting a plurality of options for selection. Each option is organized into either a category or a sub-category that is associated with a category. The association between categories and sub-categories is independent of time. Categories are displayed along one axis and sub-categories are displayed simultaneously along another orthogonal axis. The axis chosen for categories may depend on the direction that text associated with the categories is written. Categories and sub-categories are available for immediate selection, without first having to highlight or select any option. To account for a large number of options, categories and sub-categories may scroll as needed. The appearance of categories and sub-categories may be distinguished in some way, such as through colors, fonts, or borders.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2006Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: David Hendler Sloo, Daniel Danker, Christopher M. White
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Patent number: 7181756Abstract: A viewer of television programming is alerted to the availability of content related to the programming (e.g. an associated Internet web page) by an icon momentarily displayed on the screen. Using a remote control, the viewer can select the icon. A control panel then appears, superimposed over the television image, and provides additional detail about the related content. By further operating the remote control, the viewer can select the associated content for viewing, or return to watching the television. Various other features and variations are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2000Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Daniel J. Zigmond, David R. Anderson, Christopher M. White, Jeffrey D. Yaksick
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Patent number: 7036092Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for presenting a plurality of options for selection. Each option is organized into either a category or a sub-category that is associated with a category. The association between categories and sub-categories is independent of time. Categories are displayed along one axis and sub-categories are displayed simultaneously along another orthogonal axis. The axis chosen for categories may depend on the direction that text associated with the categories is written. Categories and sub-categories are available for immediate selection, without first having to highlight or select any option. To account for a large number of options, categories and sub-categories may scroll as needed. The appearance of categories and sub-categories may be distinguished in some way, such as through colors, fonts, or borders.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2002Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: David Hendler Sloo, Daniel Danker, Christopher M. White
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Patent number: 6891553Abstract: Methods and systems for scaling down a Web page image enables the image to be displayed on a standard television without horizontal scrolling of the image. A Web page image that initially has a horizontal dimension larger than the horizontal dimension of a television display is received from a web server and subsequently scaled down by a scaling factor that is based only upon the amount of scaling that is necessary to fit the image within the horizontal dimension of the television display. This scaling factor is used to scale the image horizontally and vertically, thus preserving the aspect ratio of the image. When a hyperlink from the scaled down Web page image is selected, coordinates to the hyperlink are scaled up based on the same scaling factor so that they will correspond with the server side image map of the Web page image.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2001Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Phillip Y. Goldman, David R. Anderson, Keith R. Ohlfs, Bruce A. Leak
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Publication number: 20030218637Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for presenting a plurality of options for selection. Each option is organized into either a category or a sub-category that is associated with a category. The association between categories and sub-categories is independent of time. Categories are displayed along one axis and sub-categories are displayed simultaneously along another orthogonal axis. The axis chosen for categories may depend on the direction that text associated with the categories is written. Categories and sub-categories are available for immediate selection, without first having to highlight or select any option. To account for a large number of options, categories and sub-categories may scroll as needed. The appearance of categories and sub-categories may be distinguished in some way, such as through colors, fonts, or borders.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2002Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventors: David Hendler Sloo, Daniel Danker, Christopher M. White
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Publication number: 20030189587Abstract: An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2003Publication date: October 9, 2003Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Timo Bruck
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Publication number: 20030094833Abstract: A retractable awning combined with an expandable camping trailer includes telescoping support arms and rafter arms that support a roll bar and an awning sheet secured thereto. The support arms and rafter arms automatically extend when the trailer is expanded from a collapsed position and are further extendable into a deployed use position and locked in this position by appropriately manipulating the support and rafter arms and securing them in extended positions with lock mechanisms. The support and rafter arms are conditioned for retraction by releasing the lock mechanisms and positioning the awning adjacent to the side of the trailer such that when the trailer is collapsed by dropping the top of the trailer downwardly toward the bottom of the trailer, the support and rafter arms automatically collapse into nested relationships.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Applicant: Carefree/Scott Fetzer CompanyInventors: Scott P. Thompson, Garret Mauldin, Christopher M. White
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Publication number: 20030094826Abstract: A retractable curtain system is mounted in the roof of a recreational vehicle and adapted to be extended downwardly across the width of the vehicle between a driver compartment and the remaining compartments of the vehicle, which are rearwardly of the driver compartment. The curtain is in the form of a pair of side-by-side barrier sheets that move up and down in unison while being wrapped around operatively connected roll bars, but define a slit or gap therebetween through which individuals can pass through the curtain even when it is extended.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Applicant: Carefree/Scott Fetzer CompanyInventors: Scott P. Thompson, Christopher M. White, Garret Mauldin
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Patent number: 6496205Abstract: Web browser software is implemented in a processing system housed in a set-top box connected to a television and communicating over a wide-area network with one or more servers. The browser allows a user to use a remote control device to navigate between hypertex, anchors in World-Wide Web pages displayed on the television. User inputs are entered from the remote control device using an infrared IR link in order to move a selection between hypertext anchors or various control buttons displayed on the television display. The browser is capable of downloading audio files from Web sites and generating sound through a speaker of the television set based on the audio files. Background music is generated during Web browsing based on audio files downloaded from one of the servers or audio files stored in memory in the set-top box. A background music audio file from a server can be downloaded while another background music audio file is played.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1999Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignee: Webtv Networks, Inc.Inventors: Christopher M. White, Mark H. Krueger, David R. Anderson, Jeffrey D. Yaksick, Joe F. Britt, Jr.
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Publication number: 20020056098Abstract: A system and method provides a way to display images of recently viewed television channels for the user's convenience. Multiple recently accessed television channels are stored in a list. Selecting channels in predefined ways causes the channels to be added to the list in an order in which they were accessed. Small screen images corresponding to a number of recently viewed television channels are displayed in a “recent channel” display screen. The small screen image for the channel being currently viewed is active and displays a live broadcast image, while the remaining small screen images display still images. A focus identifies the screen image of the currently active channel. The focus can be moved among the other small screen images within the recent channel display screen, wherein the channel corresponding to the currently focused image becoming the active channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 1998Publication date: May 9, 2002Inventor: CHRISTOPHER M. WHITE
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Publication number: 20020021308Abstract: Methods and systems for scaling down a Web page image enables the image to be displayed on a standard television without horizontal scrolling of the image. A Web page image that initially has a horizontal dimension larger than the horizontal dimension of a television display is received from a web server and subsequently scaled down by a scaling factor that is based only upon the amount of scaling that is necessary to fit the image within the horizontal dimension of the television display. This scaling factor is used to scale the image horizontally and vertically, thus preserving the aspect ratio of the image. When a hyperlink from the scaled down Web page image is selected, coordinates to the hyperlink are scaled up based on the same scaling factor so that they will correspond with the server side image map of the Web page image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2001Publication date: February 21, 2002Inventors: Christopher M. White, Phillip Y. Goldman, David R. Anderson, Keith R. Ohlfs, Bruce A. Leak
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Publication number: 20010027561Abstract: An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2001Publication date: October 4, 2001Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher M. White, Timo Bruck, Lee Mighdoll, Phillip Y. Goldman