Patents by Inventor Frank R. Morrison, III

Frank R. Morrison, III 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: 11102290
    Abstract: A method for transferring digital content items in a peer-to-peer network in which a plurality of nodes participate includes receiving requests for receipt of one or more digital content items from a plurality of requesting nodes belonging to the peer-to-peer network. A capacity of the requesting nodes to upload data is assessed. Network resources available to the peer-to-peer network for delivering the digital content items or chunks thereof to the receiving nodes are allocated based at least in part on the capacity of the requesting nodes to upload data. The digital content items or chunks thereof are sent to the requesting nodes over the peer-to-peer network in accordance with the network resources that are allocated to each of the requesting nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon T. Hunt, Alexander Burba, Frank R. Morrison, III
  • Patent number: 11020653
    Abstract: Acquiring an interactive digital content item including a plurality of content portions includes receiving a first set of the content portions that is less than an entirety of the content portions. A partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented using the first set of content portions. A second set of the content portions is received while the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented. Functionality is added to the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item using the second set of content portions without interrupting presentation of the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. Morrison, III, Brandon Hunt, Jeffrey David Henshaw, Michael Gallop, Ivan P. Trindev, Eric Neil Lockard
  • Patent number: 10681124
    Abstract: Obligatorily-acquired digital content items are stored under service control in one or more local storage machines of a computer based on service commands provided by a centralized management service; and voluntarily-acquired digital content items are stored under user control in the one or more local storage machines of the computer based on user commands. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are protected from user-commanded deletion. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on service commands provided by the centralized management service. However, the voluntarily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on user commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Michael Gallop, Scott Rosemund, Frank R. Morrison, III, Mark J. McNulty, Nima Ganjeh
  • Patent number: 10574747
    Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein can be used to improve the distribution of digital content in a peer-to-peer network. In certain embodiments, computing devices are mapped into different groups based on location information, and inter-group information, including historical inter-group information associated with at least one of inter-group data transfer rate information and inter-group availability information, is accessed and used to identify a first group of computing devices to send download requests for digital content, wherein the first group includes a first number of idle and available computer devices greater than a number of idle and available computer devices of another group of the computing devices. The download request for the digital content is effected or recommended to be sent from a second computing device mapped to a second group of the computing devices to a first computing device mapped to the first group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Frank R. Morrison, III
  • Publication number: 20190336854
    Abstract: Acquiring an interactive digital content item including a plurality of content portions includes receiving a first set of the content portions that is less than an entirety of the content portions. A partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented using the first set of content portions. A second set of the content portions is received while the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented. Functionality is added to the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item using the second set of content portions without interrupting presentation of the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. Morrison, III, Brandon Hunt, Jeffrey David Henshaw, Michael Gallop, Ivan P. Trindev, Eric Neil Lockard
  • Patent number: 10391387
    Abstract: Acquiring an interactive digital content item including a plurality of content portions includes receiving a first set of the content portions that is less than an entirety of the content portions. A partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented using the first set of content portions. A second set of the content portions is received while the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented. Functionality is added to the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item using the second set of content portions without interrupting presentation of the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. Morrison, III, Brandon Hunt, Jeffrey David Henshaw, Michael Gallop, Ivan P. Trindev, Eric Neil Lockard
  • Publication number: 20190245913
    Abstract: Obligatorily-acquired digital content items are stored under service control in one or more local storage machines of a computer based on service commands provided by a centralized management service; and voluntarily-acquired digital content items are stored under user control in the one or more local storage machines of the computer based on user commands. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are protected from user-commanded deletion. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on service commands provided by the centralized management service. However, the voluntarily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on user commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Michael Gallop, Scott Rosemund, Frank R. Morrison, III, Mark J. McNulty, Nima Ganjeh
  • Patent number: 10284641
    Abstract: Obligatorily-acquired digital content items are stored under service control in one or more local storage machines of a computer based on service commands provided by a centralized management service; and voluntarily-acquired digital content items are stored under user control in the one or more local storage machines of the computer based on user commands. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are protected from user-commanded deletion. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on service commands provided by the centralized management service. However, the voluntarily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on user commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Michael Gallop, Scott Rosemund, Frank R. Morrison, III, Mark J. McNulty, Nima Ganjeh
  • Publication number: 20190037015
    Abstract: A method for transferring digital content items in a peer-to-peer network in which a plurality of nodes participate includes receiving requests for receipt of one or more digital content items from a plurality of requesting nodes belonging to the peer-to-peer network. A capacity of the requesting nodes to upload data is assessed. Network resources available to the peer-to-peer network for delivering the digital content items or chunks thereof to the receiving nodes are allocated based at least in part on the capacity of the requesting nodes to upload data. The digital content items or chunks thereof are sent to the requesting nodes over the peer-to-peer network in accordance with the network resources that are allocated to each of the requesting nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Brandon T. Hunt, Alexander Burba, Frank R. Morrison, III
  • Patent number: 10129334
    Abstract: Telemetry data from a plurality of peer computers of a peer-to-peer network is aggregated via a computer network. Each of the plurality of peer computers sends telemetry data relating to transfer of a digital content item within the peer-to-peer network. A designated peer computer is quarantined from transferring a digital content item within the peer-to-peer network according to one or more health metrics of the peer-to-peer network derived from the telemetry data aggregated from the plurality of peer computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Mehmet Akkurt, Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Michael Gallop, Nima Ganjeh, Frank R. Morrison, III
  • Patent number: 10116740
    Abstract: A method for transferring digital content items in a peer-to-peer network in which a plurality of nodes participate includes receiving requests for receipt of one or more digital content items from a plurality of requesting nodes belonging to the peer-to-peer network. A capacity of the requesting nodes to upload data is assessed. Network resources available to the peer-to-peer network for delivering the digital content items or chunks thereof to the receiving nodes are allocated based at least in part on the capacity of the requesting nodes to upload data. The digital content items or chunks thereof are sent to the requesting nodes over the peer-to-peer network in accordance with the network resources that are allocated to each of the requesting nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon T. Hunt, Alexander Burba, Frank R. Morrison, III
  • Patent number: 10111099
    Abstract: Multiple portions of protected content to host on a device are identified by the device, the multiple portions including one or more portions of each of one or more pieces of protected content. The multiple portions are obtained and stored on the device. The device is one of multiple devices in a managed wireless distribution network that allows portions of protected content to be transferred among the multiple devices via multiple wireless networks hosted by various ones of the multiple devices, and the device is configured to store portions of protected content that can be consumed by a user of the device only if the user of the device has permission to consume the protected content. Participation of the device in the managed wireless distribution network can also be identified, and a reward generated based on the participation of the device in the managed wireless distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon T. Hunt, Alexander Burba, Michael J. Gallop, Frank R. Morrison, III
  • Patent number: 9781056
    Abstract: Telemetry data from a plurality of peer computers of a peer-to-peer network is aggregated via a computer network. Each of the plurality of peer computers sends telemetry data related to transfer of a digital content item within the peer-to-peer network. A content-acquisition request querying for a recommended content source to provide a first digital content item is received from a first peer computer of the peer-to-peer network via the computer network. A response to the content-acquisition request is sent to the first peer computer via the computer network. The response identifies a second peer computer of the peer-to-peer network that has the first digital content item as the recommended content source. The second peer computer is selected according to a peer selection metric derived from the telemetry data aggregated from the plurality of peer computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Matthew Wan, Mehmet Akkurt, Nima Ganjeh, Frank R. Morrison, III, Ivan P. Trindev
  • Publication number: 20170279882
    Abstract: Telemetry data from a plurality of peer computers of a peer-to-peer network is aggregated via a computer network. Each of the plurality of peer computers sends telemetry data relating to transfer of a digital content item within the peer-to-peer network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Mehmet Akkurt, Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Michael Gallop, Nima Ganjeh, Frank R. Morrison, III
  • Publication number: 20170230450
    Abstract: Obligatorily-acquired digital content items are stored under service control in one or more local storage machines of a computer based on service commands provided by a centralized management service; and voluntarily-acquired digital content items are stored under user control in the one or more local storage machines of the computer based on user commands. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are protected from user-commanded deletion. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on service commands provided by the centralized management service. However, the voluntarily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on user commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Michael Gallop, Scott Rosemund, Frank R. Morrison, III, Mark J. McNulty, Nima Ganjeh
  • Patent number: 9716749
    Abstract: Telemetry data from a plurality of peer computers of a peer-to-peer network is aggregated via a computer network. Each of the plurality of peer computers sends telemetry data relating to transfer of a digital content item within the peer-to-peer network. A mitigation operation that modifies transfer of a digital content item between peer computers of the peer-to-peer network is performed according to one or more health metrics of the peer-to-peer network. The one or more health metrics are derived from the telemetry data aggregated from the plurality of peer computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Mehmet Akkurt, Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Michael Gallop, Nima Ganjeh, Frank R. Morrison, III
  • Patent number: 9661072
    Abstract: A plurality of sources storing portions of a digital content item that includes a plurality of pieces is identified. The plurality of sources includes one or more peer computers of a peer-to-peer network. For each piece of the plurality of pieces of the digital content item, that piece is acquired from a source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Michael Gallop, Scott Rosemund, Frank R. Morrison, III, Mark J. McNulty, Nima Ganjeh
  • Patent number: 9596306
    Abstract: A content-acquisition request is sent to a centralized management service computer via a computer network. The content-acquisition request may query the centralized management service computer for a recommended content source to provide a first digital content item. If a response to the content-acquisition request is received via the computer network and identifies a recommended peer computer of a peer-to-peer network as the recommended content source, a request to download the first digital content item is sent to the recommended peer computer via the computer network. If a response to the content-acquisition request is not received, a fallback request to download the first digital content item is automatically sent to a content-delivery network computer via the computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. Morrison, III, Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Matthew Wan
  • Patent number: 9519574
    Abstract: A computing device includes a primary content storage machine configured to selectively store one or more content portions of a digital content item, such as game portions of a video game. The computing device is configured to determine a size of a dynamically changing content access window including one or more content portions usable to provide an above-threshold user experience, such as uninterrupted game play, based on a current access position of the digital content item or video game and historical user-specific play patterns or game play consumption rates of different users. The computing device is configured to dynamically load the primary content storage machine with the content portions or game portions corresponding to the content access window and dynamically unload the content or game portions outside of the content access window from the primary content storage machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. Morrison, III, Brandon Hunt, Alexander Burba
  • Publication number: 20160344805
    Abstract: A plurality of sources storing portions of a digital content item that includes a plurality of pieces is identified. The plurality of sources includes one or more peer computers of a peer-to-peer network. For each piece of the plurality of pieces of the digital content item, that piece is acquired from a source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Burba, Brandon Hunt, Michael Gallop, Scott Rosemund, Frank R. Morrison, III, Mark J. McNulty, Nima Ganjeh