Patents by Inventor Graham A. Wheeler

Graham A. Wheeler 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: 10614077
    Abstract: A system includes a processing device configured to execute instructions including accessing messages sent by a first user and other users. The instructions include identifying a first subset of messages that were sent by the first user and identifying a second subset of messages that are related to a first topic and were sent by the first user. The instructions include determining an authority value based on counts of the first and second subsets. The instructions include identifying a third subset of messages that resulted from the other users forwarding the second subset. The instructions include determining a power value based on a count of users that sent the third subset and computing an impact score for the first user on the first topic based on the authority and power values. The instructions include, based on the impact score, contacting the first user in relation to the first topic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Danny B. Lange, Hung-Chih Yang, Xiong Zhang, Graham A. Wheeler, Jason J. Joyce, David M. Moore, Bhalchandra Pandit
  • Publication number: 20170286429
    Abstract: A system includes a processing device configured to execute instructions including accessing messages sent by a first user and other users. The instructions include identifying a first subset of messages that were sent by the first user and identifying a second subset of messages that are related to a first topic and were sent by the first user. The instructions include determining an authority value based on counts of the first and second subsets. The instructions include identifying a third subset of messages that resulted from the other users forwarding the second subset. The instructions include determining a power value based on a count of users that sent the third subset and computing an impact score for the first user on the first topic based on the authority and power values. The instructions include, based on the impact score, contacting the first user in relation to the first topic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Danny B. LANGE, Hung-Chih YANG, Xiong ZHANG, Graham A. WHEELER, Jason J. JOYCE, David M. MOORE, Bhalchandra PANDIT
  • Patent number: 9672255
    Abstract: This patent relates to a system for identifying influential users of a social network platform. The system may access records of messages sent or received by a plurality of users. The system can determine a power of a user to reach other users based at least in part on the messages. The system can determine an authority of the user on a topic. The system can also compute an impact score that reflects both the power and the authority of the user on the topic. Such scores may be used to select users based on impact as part of social trend analysis, marketing or other functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Danny B. Lange, Hung-Chih Yang, Xiong Zhang, Graham A. Wheeler, Jason J. Joyce, David M. Moore, Bhalchandra Pandit
  • Publication number: 20160188604
    Abstract: A system for identifying influential users of a social network platform. The system may compute a score for each of multiple users. Such a score may be topic-based, leading to a more accurate identification of influential users. Such a topic-based score may indicate authority and/or impact of a user with respect to a topic. The impact may be computed based on authority combined with other factors, such as power of the user. The authority score may be simply computed, in whole or in part, directly from a tweet log without, for example creating a retweet graph. As a result, the scores may be computed, using MapReduce primitives or other constructs that allow the computations to be distributed across multiple parallel processors. Such scores may be used to select users based on impact as part of social trend analysis, marketing or other functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Danny B. LANGE, Hung-Chih YANG, Xiong ZHANG, Graham A. WHEELER, Jason J. JOYCE, David M. MOORE, Bhalchandra PANDIT
  • Patent number: 9294576
    Abstract: A system for identifying influential users of a social network platform. The system may compute a score for each of multiple users. Such a score may be topic-based, leading to a more accurate identification of influential users. Such a topic-based score may indicate authority and/or impact of a user with respect to a topic. The impact may be computed based on authority combined with other factors, such as power of the user. The authority score may be simply computed, in whole or in part, directly from a tweet log without, for example creating a retweet graph. As a result, the scores may be computed, using MapReduce primitives or other constructs that allow the computations to be distributed across multiple parallel processors. Such scores may be used to select users based on impact as part of social trend analysis, marketing or other functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Danny B. Lange, Hung-Chih Yang, Xiong Zhang, Graham A. Wheeler, Jason J. Joyce, David M. Moore, Bhalchandra Pandit
  • Publication number: 20140189000
    Abstract: A system for identifying influential users of a social network platform. The system may compute a score for each of multiple users. Such a score may be topic-based, leading to a more accurate identification of influential users. Such a topic-based score may indicate authority and/or impact of a user with respect to a topic. The impact may be computed based on authority combined with other factors, such as power of the user. The authority score may be simply computed, in whole or in part, directly from a tweet log without, for example creating a retweet graph. As a result, the scores may be computed, using MapReduce primitives or other constructs that allow the computations to be distributed across multiple parallel processors. Such scores may be used to select users based on impact as part of social trend analysis, marketing or other functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiong Zhang, Hung-Chih Yang, Danny B. Lange, Scott J. Counts, David M. Moore, Graham A. Wheeler, Bhalchandra Pandit
  • Publication number: 20140189536
    Abstract: A system for identifying influential users of a social network platform. The system may compute a score for each of multiple users. Such a score may be topic-based, leading to a more accurate identification of influential users. Such a topic-based score may indicate authority and/or impact of a user with respect to a topic. The impact may be computed based on authority combined with other factors, such as power of the user. The authority score may be simply computed, in whole or in part, directly from a tweet log without, for example creating a retweet graph. As a result, the scores may be computed, using MapReduce primitives or other constructs that allow the computations to be distributed across multiple parallel processors. Such scores may be used to select users based on impact as part of social trend analysis, marketing or other functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Danny B. Lange, Hung-Chih Yang, Xiong Zhang, Graham A. Wheeler, Jason J. Joyce, David M. Moore, Bhalchandra Pandit
  • Patent number: 8761933
    Abstract: A method is provided for initiating a telepresence session with a person, using a robot. The method includes receiving a request to host a telepresence session at the robot and receiving an identification for a target person for the telepresence session by the robot. The robot then searches a current location for a person. If a person is found, a determination is made regarding whether the person is the target person. If the person found is not the target person, the person is prompted for a location for the target person. The robot moves to the location given by the person in response to the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charles F. Olivier, III, Jean Sebastien Fouillade, Malek Chalabi, Nathaniel T. Clinton, Russell Sanchez, Adrien Felon, Graham Wheeler, Francois Burianek
  • Patent number: 8621056
    Abstract: Functionality is described that allows plural computing devices to share a master account. In one implementation, the functionality allows any candidate device to directly communicate with a communication system using the master account, providing that the candidate device satisfies a prescribed condition with respect to a master device. For example, the functionality can allow the candidate device to communicate with the communication system if it is within a threshold distance of the master device. In another implementation, the functionality instructs the master device and the candidate device to set up a tethering relationship. The functionality can then allow the candidate device to communicate with the communication system, via the master device, using the master account. In one implementation, the functionality can set up the tethering relationship without substantial (or any) involvement of the user (or users) who operate the master device and candidate device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Didier M. Coussemaeker, Graham A. Wheeler, Nicolas Mai
  • Publication number: 20130035790
    Abstract: A method is provided for initiating a telepresence session with a person, using a robot. The method includes receiving a request to host a telepresence session at the robot and receiving an identification for a target person for the telepresence session by the robot. The robot then searches a current location for a person. If a person is found, a determination is made regarding whether the person is the target person. If the person found is not the target person, the person is prompted for a location for the target person. The robot moves to the location given by the person in response to the prompt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles F. Olivier, III, Jean Sebastien Fouillade, Malek Chalabi, Nathaniel T. Clinton, Russell Sanchez, Adrien Felon, Graham Wheeler, Francois Burianek
  • Patent number: 8219699
    Abstract: This disclosure describes data conversion and techniques for sending and receiving data at a mobile device. In one implementation, a proxy server may receive data from a mobile device. The proxy server may convert the data and send the converted data to a network service. In another implementation, a mobile device may convert data and send that data to a network service. The network service may generate data in response and send that data to the mobile device directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Danny Lange, Joseph Futty, Ashley N. Feniello, Graham A. Wheeler, Didier Coussemaeker, Nicolas Mai, Adrien Felon
  • Publication number: 20120143978
    Abstract: Functionality is described that allows plural computing devices to share a master account. In one implementation, the functionality allows any candidate device to directly communicate with a communication system using the master account, providing that the candidate device satisfies a prescribed condition with respect to a master device. For example, the functionality can allow the candidate device to communicate with the communication system if it is within a threshold distance of the master device. In another implementation, the functionality instructs the master device and the candidate device to set up a tethering relationship. The functionality can then allow the candidate device to communicate with the communication system, via the master device, using the master account. In one implementation, the functionality can set up the tethering relationship without substantial (or any) involvement of the user (or users) who operate the master device and candidate device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Didier M. Coussemaeker, Graham A. Wheeler, Nicolas Mai
  • Patent number: 8103441
    Abstract: Selectively caching content related to routing data in a computing device. Prior to traversing a route, one or more access points to a network are identified. An expected level of access to a network (e.g., signal strength) along the route is determined. Portions of the route are selected based on the expected level of access. Content corresponding to at least one of the selected portions is received and stored for access during traversal of the route. For example, map images for areas expected to have poor network connectivity are cached prior to traversing the route to ensure that routing data is displayed to a user when in those areas. During transversal of the route, content is obtained and cached if a current level of access is less than a defined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Callaghan, Mark Scott Tonkelowitz, Ashley Nathan Feniello, Graham A. Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20110307630
    Abstract: This disclosure describes data conversion and techniques for sending and receiving data at a mobile device. In one implementation, a proxy server may receive data from a mobile device. The proxy server may convert the data and send the converted data to a network service. In another implementation, a mobile device may convert data and send that data to a network service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Danny Lange, Joseph Futty, Ashley N. Feniello, Graham A. Wheeler, Didier Coussemaeker, Nicolas Mai, Adrien Felon
  • Publication number: 20110307522
    Abstract: A transformation engine and transformation processes may reduce computational resources used by a client or a server, such as during the consumption of a document. According to some implementations, a data stream is received in a first format over a network. A mapping template may be associated with the data stream. A forward-traversal of the mapping template may be performed without the accumulation of an intermediate state. Following the traversal of the mapping template, an output stream is emitted in a second format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Futty, Danny Lange, Ashley N. Feniello, Graham A. Wheeler, Fernando P. Zandona
  • Patent number: 8028079
    Abstract: This disclosure describes data conversion and techniques for sending and receiving data at a mobile device. In one implementation, a proxy server may receive data from a mobile device. The proxy server may convert the data and send the converted data to a network service. In another implementation, a mobile device may convert data and send that data to a network service. The network service may generate data in response and send that data to the mobile device directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrien Felon, Danny Lange, Joseph Futty, Ashley N Feniello, Graham A Wheeler, Didier Coussemaeker, Nicolas Mai
  • Publication number: 20110131450
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for using synchronized event types in testing an application configured to be executed on multiple types of networked devices. The method can include playing a macro containing recorded application events to be applied to the application for testing. The recorded application events can be stored in a macro queue during playback. Further, order independent events can be identified in the macro queue, which precede an order dependent event. This enables identified order independent events to be removed. In addition, an order dependent event in the macro queue can be removed after order independent events preceding the order dependent events are removed. Then the order dependent event from the macro queue can be played after the order dependent event has been removed from the macro queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Wheeler, Frederic Mokren, Fernando Zandona, Danny Lange, Joe Futty
  • Publication number: 20100318745
    Abstract: This disclosure provides techniques for dynamic content caching and retrieval. For example, a computing device includes cache memory dedicated to temporarily caching data of one or more applications of the computing device. The computing device also includes storage memory to store data in response to requests by the applications. The storage memory may also temporarily cache data. Further, the computing device includes system software to represent to the applications of the computing device that the portions of the storage memory utilized to cache content are available to store data of the applications. In addition, the computing device includes application programming interfaces to provide content to a requesting application from a cache of the computing device and/or from a remote content source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Graham A. Wheeler, David Abzarian, Todd L. Carpenter, Didier Coussemaeker, Nicolas Mai, Jian Lin, Severan Rault, Danny Lange, Femando P. Zandona, Joseph Futty
  • Publication number: 20100318683
    Abstract: This disclosure describes data conversion and techniques for sending and receiving data at a mobile device. In one implementation, a proxy server may receive data from a mobile device. The proxy server may convert the data and send the converted data to a network service. In another implementation, a mobile device may convert data and send that data to a network service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Danny Lange, Joseph Futty, Ashley N. Feniello, Graham A. Wheeler, Didier Coussemaeker, Nicolas Mai, Adrien Felon
  • Patent number: 7725567
    Abstract: A security infrastructure and methods are presented that inhibit the ability of a malicious node from disrupting the normal operations of a peer-to-peer network. The methods of the invention allow both secure and insecure identities to be used by nodes by making them self-verifying. When necessary or opportunistic, ID ownership is validated by piggybacking the validation on existing messages. The probability of connecting initially to a malicious node is reduced by randomly selecting to which node to connect. Further, information from malicious nodes is identified and can be disregarded by maintaining information about prior communications that will require a future response. Denial of service attacks are inhibited by allowing the node to disregard requests when its resource utilization exceeds a predetermined limit. The ability for a malicious node to remove a valid node is reduced by requiring that revocation certificates be signed by the node to be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rohit Gupta, Alexandru Gavrilescu, John L Miller, Graham A Wheeler