Patents by Inventor Gregory H. Parks
Gregory H. Parks 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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Patent number: 9013464Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for controlling a display device for displaying a user interface associated with an application. A processor for controlling peripheral devices and/or the display may be selected based on characteristics of a requested function to be performed. For example, a processor may be selected with a power characteristic corresponding to a power level needed to perform the requested function. Also, an instantiation of a user interface may be switched based on selection of the processor for controlling peripheral devices. In another example, the transition from one instantiation of the user interface to another instantiation of the user interface may be smooth such that a user may be unaware a change has been made.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Erik Michael Geidl, Andrew John Fuller
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Patent number: 9003208Abstract: An apparatus and method provide power to perform functions on a computing device. In one example, the apparatus contains multiple processors that may operate at different power levels to consume different amounts of power. Also, any of the multiple processors may perform different functions. For example, one processor may be a low power processor that may control or operate at least one peripheral device to perform a low capacity function. Control may also switch from the low power processor to a high capacity processor. In one example, the high capacity processor controls the low power processor and further controls the at least one peripheral device through the lower power processor.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Erik Michael Geidl, Andrew John Fuller, Troy Scott Jones
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Patent number: 8719208Abstract: Various embodiments provide a way to decrease the certainty of a piece of information. In at least some embodiments, a certainty factor and a decay rate are associated with the piece of information. The certainty factor indicates the certainty of a piece of information. As time passes, the decay rate is applied to the certainty factor to reduce the certainty factor, thereby providing an indication that the certainty of the information has decreased.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Gregory H. Parks
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Patent number: 8384700Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for controlling a display device for displaying a user interface associated with an application. A processor for controlling peripheral devices and/or the display may be selected based on characteristics of a requested function to be performed. For example, a processor may be selected with a power characteristic corresponding to a power level needed to perform the requested function. Also, an instantiation of a user interface may be switched based on selection of the processor for controlling peripheral devices. In another example, the transition from one instantiation of the user interface to another instantiation of the user interface may be smooth such that a user may be unaware a change has been made.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Erik Michael Geidl, Andrew John Fuller
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Patent number: 8276159Abstract: A service may be provided that reads sensors, and that communicates information based on the sensor readings to applications. In one example, an operating system provides a sensor interface that allows programs that run on a machine to read the values of sensors (such as an accelerometer, light meter, etc.). A service may use the interface to read the value of sensors, and may receive subscriptions to sensor values from other programs. The service may then generate messages that contain the sensor value, and may provide these messages to programs that have subscribed to the messages. The messages may contain raw sensor data. Or, the messages may contain information that is derived from the sensor data and/or from other data.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
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Patent number: 8194001Abstract: Embodiments of mobile computer device display postures are described. In embodiments, a first display is integrated in a first housing of a dual-display mobile computer device, and a second display is integrated in a second housing of the dual-display mobile computer device. Position data can be sensed from a binding that movably connects the first housing and the second housing, and a position angle can be determined between the first housing and the second housing that correlates to a display posture of the first display and the second display.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Michael C. Miller, Gregory H. Parks, Andrew J. Fuller
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Publication number: 20110154082Abstract: An apparatus and method provide power to perform functions on a computing device. In one example, the apparatus contains multiple processors that may operate at different power levels to consume different amounts of power. Also, any of the multiple processors may perform different functions. For example, one processor may be a low power processor that may control or operate at least one peripheral device to perform a low capacity function. Control may also switch from the low power processor to a high capacity processor. In one example, the high capacity processor controls the low power processor and further controls the at least one peripheral device through the lower power processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Erik Michael Geidl, Andrew John Fuller, Troy Scott Jones
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Patent number: 7925900Abstract: An apparatus and method provide power to perform functions on a computing device. In one example, the apparatus contains multiple processors that may operate at different power levels to consume different amounts of power. Also, any of the multiple processors may perform different functions. For example, one processor may be a low power processor that may control or operate at least one peripheral device to perform a low capacity function. Control may also switch from the low power processor to a high capacity processor. In one example, the high capacity processor controls the low power processor and further controls the at least one peripheral device through the lower power processor.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Erik Michael Geidl, Andrew John Fuller, Troy Scott Jones
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Publication number: 20110072441Abstract: A service may be provided that reads sensors, and that communicates information based on the sensor readings to applications. In one example, an operating system provides a sensor interface that allows programs that run on a machine to read the values of sensors (such as an accelerometer, light meter, etc.). A service may use the interface to read the value of sensors, and may receive subscriptions to sensor values from other programs. The service may then generate messages that contain the sensor value, and may provide these messages to programs that have subscribed to the messages. The messages may contain raw sensor data. Or, the messages may contain information that is derived from the sensor data and/or from other data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
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Publication number: 20110071971Abstract: High-order events may be generated and consumed in a cascading computing model. Low level information, such as changes in physical sensor readings, may be communicated to an application in the form of event messages that are generated by an operating system service. In one example, models that implement high level abstractions may also use events to communicate facts that have been inferred from lower level facts. For example, a program might generate events indicating that a particular type of motion (e.g., walking) has started or stopped, where the program infers the walking motion from sensor data about acceleration and position. Another program could consume those events and other data to draw higher level conclusions, such as “Joe is walking to a meeting”. Thus, events may be used in a cascading model in which events are generated and consumed at increasingly high levels of abstraction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Gregory H. Parks, William H. Mitchell, Robert D. Copeland
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Publication number: 20110063192Abstract: In embodiments of mobile computer device binding feedback, an application interface for a device application is displayed on a first display that is integrated in a dual-display mobile device. The application interface can also be displayed on a second display that is integrated in the dual-display mobile device. Binding position data is received from a binding system that movably couples the first display to the second display. Application context data that is associated with the device application is also received. Feedback can then be generated based on the binding position data and the application context data, where the feedback can be generated as audio feedback, video feedback, display feedback, and/or haptic feedback.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Inventors: Michael C. Miller, Gregory H. Parks, Andrew J. Fuller, Steven P. Dodge
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Patent number: 7898500Abstract: An auxiliary processing state of a computing device provides an auxiliary display within a primary display device of the computing device. As such, a computing device can switch from a primary processing state (e.g., full power, full operating system, full functionality) to an auxiliary processing state and yet still provide a user interface through the primary display device. The auxiliary processing state may employ a different processor than the primary processing state. Alternatively, auxiliary processing state and the primary processing state may employ different processing modes of the same processor. Transitions between the auxiliary display of the auxiliary processing state and the primary display of the primary processing state may be transitioned to preserve some consistency between the two displays.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Fuller, Matthew P. Rhoten, Niels Van Dongen, Gregory H. Parks
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Patent number: 7864517Abstract: Embodiments of mobile computer device binding feedback are described. In embodiments, an application interface for a device application is displayed on a first display that is integrated in a first housing of a dual-display mobile computer device. The application interface can also be displayed on a second display that is integrated in a second housing of the dual-display mobile computer device. Binding position data is received that is associated with a binding system that movably connects the first housing and the second housing. Application context data that is associated with the device application is also received. Feedback can then be generated that correlates to the binding position data and to the application context data.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2009Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Michael C. Miller, Gregory H. Parks, Andrew J. Fuller, Steven P. Dodge
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Patent number: 7831850Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or techniques (“tools”) for hybrid operating systems for battery powered computing systems are described herein. The hybrid operating systems (OS) may include a full-power OS component that enables the computing system to operate in a full-power mode, and a low-power OS component that enables the computing system to operate in a low-power mode. In the full-power mode, the computing system consumes a first amount of electrical power, while in the low-power mode, the computing system consumes less electrical power. The computing system may include a processor that consumes a given power amount of power, and a low-power core processor that consumes less power than the processor.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Shawn R. LeProwse, Erik M. Geidl, Andrew J. Fuller, Gregory H. Parks
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Publication number: 20100245209Abstract: Embodiments of mobile computer device display postures are described. In embodiments, a first display is integrated in a first housing of a dual-display mobile computer device, and a second display is integrated in a second housing of the dual-display mobile computer device. Position data can be sensed from a binding that movably connects the first housing and the second housing, and a position angle can be determined between the first housing and the second housing that correlates to a display posture of the first display and the second display.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Michael C. Miller, Gregory H. Parks, Andrew J. Fuller
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Publication number: 20100245106Abstract: Embodiments of mobile computer device binding feedback are described. In embodiments, an application interface for a device application is displayed on a first display that is integrated in a first housing of a dual-display mobile computer device. The application interface can also be displayed on a second display that is integrated in a second housing of the dual-display mobile computer device. Binding position data is received that is associated with a binding system that movably connects the first housing and the second housing. Application context data that is associated with the device application is also received. Feedback can then be generated that correlates to the binding position data and to the application context data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Michael C. Miller, Gregory H. Parks, Andrew J. Fuller, Steven P. Dodge
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Publication number: 20100106673Abstract: Various embodiments provide a way to decrease the certainty of a piece of information. In at least some embodiments, a certainty factor and a decay rate are associated with the piece of information. The certainty factor indicates the certainty of a piece of information. As time passes, the decay rate is applied to the certainty factor to reduce the certainty factor, thereby providing an indication that the certainty of the information has decreased.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Gregory H. Parks
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Publication number: 20080244289Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or techniques (“tools”) for hybrid operating systems for battery powered computing systems are described herein. The hybrid operating systems (OS) may include a full-power OS component that enables the computing system to operate in a full-power mode, and a low-power OS component that enables the computing system to operate in a low-power mode. In the full-power mode, the computing system consumes a first amount of electrical power, while in the low-power mode, the computing system consumes less electrical power. The computing system may include a processor that consumes a given power amount of power, and a low-power core processor that consumes less power than the processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Shawn R. LeProwse, Erik M. Geidl, Andrew J. Fuller, Gregory H. Parks
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Publication number: 20080182630Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for controlling a display device for displaying a user interface associated with an application. A processor for controlling peripheral devices and/or the display may be selected based on characteristics of a requested function to be performed. For example, a processor may be selected with a power characteristic corresponding to a power level needed to perform the requested function. Also, an instantiation of a user interface may be switched based on selection of the processor for controlling peripheral devices. In another example, the transition from one instantiation of the user interface to another instantiation of the user interface may be smooth such that a user may be unaware a change has been made.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Erik Michael Geidl, Andrew John Fuller
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Publication number: 20080184042Abstract: An apparatus and method provide power to perform functions on a computing device. In one example, the apparatus contains multiple processors that may operate at different power levels to consume different amounts of power. Also, any of the multiple processors may perform different functions. For example, one processor may be a low power processor that may control or operate at least one peripheral device to perform a low capacity function. Control may also switch from the low power processor to a high capacity processor. In one example, the high capacity processor controls the low power processor and further controls the at least one peripheral device through the lower power processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Erik Michael Geidl, Andrew John Fuller, Troy Scott Jones