Patents by Inventor Douglas C. Kramer

Douglas C. Kramer 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: 7634544
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for location based messaging. A user at one computer system selects at least on other computer system that is to receive an electronic message. The at least one other computer system is selected based on the location of the at least one other computer system, without having to know an electronic identifier of any users at the at least one other computer system. The computer system refers to a mapping that maps computer systems locations to corresponding electronic addresses. Messages can then be sent to the electronic addresses. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention facilitate at least semi-anonymous electronic communication in a network computing environment and significantly mitigate the perceived need of an immediate response that is often associated with responding to (potentially in person) verbal communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas C. Kramer, Peter O. Vale, Derek Sunday, James Stephens, II, Christian N. Wiswell, Edward N. Price
  • Publication number: 20090003346
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for location based messaging. A user at one computer system selects at least on other computer system that is to receive an electronic message. The at least one other computer system is selected based on the location of the at least one other computer system, without having to know an electronic identifier of any users at the at least one other computer system. The computer system refers to a mapping that maps computer systems locations to corresponding electronic addresses. Messages can then be sent to the electronic addresses. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention facilitate at least semi-anonymous electronic communication in a network computing environment and significantly mitigate the perceived need of an immediate response that is often associated with responding to (potentially in person) verbal communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas C. Kramer, Peter O. Vale, Derek Sunday, James Stephens, II, Christian N. Wiswell, Edward N. Price
  • Patent number: 7467355
    Abstract: An integrated user environment for creating, managing, and organizing components of a project. A user is able to select a predefined project that includes a list of to do items, or can start with a blank project and add to do items. Once a to do item has been added, the user can associate several different functions with the to do item, including a due date, a note, and one of several categories of entities. These entities include a task or template, a document, and a Web link. If the user selects a task or template, Answer Wizard technology returns options that may be relevant to the selected to do item. Since all of the components of the project are accessible by the user from within an integral project environment, it is relatively efficient for the user to manage the project and make any changes that are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Jacob Zukowski, Brian Thomas Albrecht, Douglas C. Kramer, Warren G. Stevens, Benjamin Nicholas Truelove