Patents by Inventor Hugh E. Williams

Hugh E. Williams 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: 11915045
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, a store-type operation is received and buffered within a store queue entry of a store queue associated with a cache memory of a processor core capable of executing multiple simultaneous hardware threads. A thread identifier indicating a particular hardware thread among the multiple hardware threads that issued the store-type operation is recorded. An indication of whether the store queue entry is a most recently allocated store queue entry for buffering store-type operations of the hardware thread is also maintained. While the indication indicates the store queue entry is a most recently allocated store queue entry for buffering store-type operations of the particular hardware thread, the store queue extends a duration of a store gathering window applicable to the store queue entry. For example, the duration may be extended by decreasing a rate at which the store gathering window applicable to the store queue entry ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derek E. Williams, Guy L. Guthrie, Hugh Shen
  • Patent number: 10853374
    Abstract: A method and media are provided for managing feedback data that will be used for ranking search results. A plurality of user feedback data from more than one user can be aggregated into a search index. The user feedback data can be associated with one or more documents within the index such that the one or more documents can be ranked based on the type of feedback data that is aggregated. Once the documents have been ranked, the ranked documents can be provided to a requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: James Dai, Julia H. Farago, Natala J. Menezes, Ramez Naam, Saleel Sathe, Hugh E. Williams
  • Patent number: 8959104
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining query suggestions based upon content items are provided. Content items may include, without limitation, a search query result item, e.g., displayed on a search results web page, an advertisement, and a query-based query suggestion. Once determined content-item-based query suggestions are presented to the user. If desired, such presentation may be dynamically exposed in response to a user action, for instance, in response to a user hovering over a portion of the associated content item for at least a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ariel J. Lazier, Hugh E. Williams, Timothy C. Hoad
  • Patent number: 8503523
    Abstract: Functionality is described for forming a summary representation of a video item to help a user decide whether to obtain a full version of the video item. The functionality operates by: (a) receiving a video item; (b) dividing the video item into a plurality of segments; (c) extracting at least one key frame from each of the plurality of segments to form a plurality of key frames; and (d) organizing the video segments into one or more groups corresponding to one or more respective scenes based on the plurality of key frames, to thereby form the representation of the video item. The functionality can be used to communicate search results to a user, to provide a sample of the video item in a message, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Hugh E. Williams, Xian-Sheng Hua, Hong-Qiao Li, Xiaodong Fan, Richard Qian
  • Patent number: 8103967
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer storage media for generating a virtual workspace that references online media content of interest, facilitates re-visitation of encountered instances of content, and shares those instances with other software applications are provided. Upon receiving an indication that an online media content item has been selected, at least a reference thereto is copied to a virtual workspace where it may be accessed at a later time. The virtual workspace may be organized into content collections via the use of reference groupings, folders, categories, tags, labels, and the like and may be accessible in the context of a plurality of applications. In embodiments, the virtual workspace is associated with a display area that is presented concurrently with an application being utilized so that the virtual workspace may be accessed and utilized without leaving the context of an active application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ariel J. Lazier, Hugh E. Williams, Timothy C. Hoad, Joshua Edward Smith
  • Patent number: 8005857
    Abstract: A unique object navigation system, user interface, and method that facilitate faster and smoother navigation of objects are provided. For example, the system can generate a plurality of objects that can be rendered on a display space that spans a single page in length, thereby mitigating the need to navigate through multiple pages. The system can determine the length of the page according to the number of objects generated. To view off-screen objects, an infinite scroll component can be employed. The amount of scroll space needed to view the plurality of objects can be determined in part by the length of the page and/or by the number of objects. The objects can also be viewed in a film strip format that is infinitely scrollable. The film strip view allows a view of the objects to be maintained while also viewing a selected object in greater detail at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Julia H. Farago, Hugh E. Williams, James E. Walsh, Nicholas A. Whyte, Kavi J. Goel, Philip Fung, Ariel J. Lazier, Kenneth A. Moss, Ethan N. Ray
  • Patent number: 7774339
    Abstract: It has been found that user navigation that follows search engine interactions provides implicit endorsement of resources (such as web resources) that are preferred by users, and which may be particularly valuable for exploratory search tasks. Thus, a combination of past searching and browsing user behavior is analyzed to identify additional information that augments search results delivered by a search engine. The additional information may include a display of hyperlinks to locations which are derived from the past searching and browsing user behavior, given a specific input query. The additional information may be provided to supplement web search results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ryen W. White, Mikhail Bilenko, Nicholas E. Craswell, Michael M. Cameron, Hugh E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20100083155
    Abstract: A unique object navigation system, user interface, and method that facilitate faster and smoother navigation of objects are provided. For example, the system can generate a plurality of objects that can be rendered on a display space that spans a single page in length, thereby mitigating the need to navigate through multiple pages. The system can determine the length of the page according to the number of objects generated. To view off-screen objects, an infinite scroll component can be employed. The amount of scroll space needed to view the plurality of objects can be determined in part by the length of the page and/or by the number of objects. The objects can also be viewed in a film strip format that is infinitely scrollable. The film strip view allows a view of the objects to be maintained while also viewing a selected object in greater detail at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: JULIA H. FARAGO, HUGH E. WILLIAMS, JAMES E. WALSH, NICHOLAS A. WHYTE, KAVI J. GOEL, PHILIP FUNG, ARIEL J. LAZIER, KENNETH A. MOSS, ETHAN N. RAY
  • Patent number: 7664739
    Abstract: A unique object navigation system, user interface, and method that facilitate faster and smoother navigation of objects are provided. For example, the system can generate a plurality of objects that can be rendered on a display space that spans a single page in length, thereby mitigating the need to navigate through multiple pages. The system can determine the length of the page according to the number of objects generated. To view off-screen objects, an infinite scroll component can be employed. The amount of scroll space needed to view the plurality of objects can be determined in part by the length of the page and/or by the number of objects. The objects can also be viewed in a film strip format that is infinitely scrollable. The film strip view allows a view of the objects to be maintained while also viewing a selected object in greater detail at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Julia H. Farago, Hugh E. Williams, James E. Walsh, Nicholas A. Whyte, Kavi J. Goel, Philip Fung, Ariel J. Lazier, Kenneth A. Moss, Ethan N. Ray
  • Publication number: 20090240683
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining query suggestions based upon content items are provided. Content items may include, without limitation, a search query result item, e.g., displayed on a search results web page, an advertisement, and a query-based query suggestion. Once determined content-item-based query suggestions are presented to the user. If desired, such presentation may be dynamically exposed in response to a user action, for instance, in response to a user hovering over a portion of the associated content item for at least a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ariel J. Lazier, Hugh E. Williams, Timothy C. Hoad
  • Publication number: 20090198676
    Abstract: Information retrieval systems such as web search systems locate documents amongst millions and even billions of possible documents on the basis of query terms. In order to achieve this document indexes are created. We propose creating new fields in the documents to store feedback information. This information comprises query terms used in a particular search as well as information about whether a particular document retrieved is given positive or negative feedback for example. Indexes are created on the basis of this feedback information in addition to other available information. As a result relevance of search results is improved. Multiple fields of information are available for given documents (such as abstract fields, title fields, anchor text fields as well as our feedback fields). Any search algorithm which deals with multiple fields as well as multiple query terms and which provides for differential weighting of document fields is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Taylor, Stephen Robertson, Hugh E. Williams, Nicholas E. Craswell
  • Publication number: 20090157612
    Abstract: An economy is created where users compete to get their search lists shown based on a set of criteria. The search lists can be displayed after the users pay a rent associated with a query. The search lists continue to be displayed if search lists are popular with the public. If a search list is popular, it earns revenue for the creator of the list. If the search list is not popular, it is removed from being displayed and receives no further consideration. The creator initially creates a search list for a low-valued query and moves up to creating a search list for a higher-valued query if the creator can pay the higher rent associated with the higher-valued query. The creator earns more revenue when targeting higher-valued queries. The creator continues to create search lists until the highest-valued queries are reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Phillip T. Su, Eric Burns, Hugh E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20090150784
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and user interfaces for presenting video search results are provided. Representations of video search results are presented to the user. Each representation may include a video preview of the video item. If desired, the preview may be dynamically executed in response to a user action, for instance, in response to a user hovering over a portion of the associated video representation for at least a predetermined period of time. Another embodiment in accordance with the present invention relates to a user interface for presenting video search results in response to an input query. The user interface includes a video item representation display area and a video item display area. The video item representation display area displays a representation of each of the video items, and if desired, the representation is dynamically executed in response to a user action. The video item display area may display the one or more video items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: JUSTIN S. DENNEY, TIMOTHY C. HOAD, HUGH E. WILLIAMS, RICHARD J. QIAN
  • Publication number: 20090064007
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer storage media for generating a virtual workspace that references online media content of interest, facilitates re-visitation of encountered instances of content, and shares those instances with other software applications are provided. Upon receiving an indication that an online media content item has been selected, at least a reference thereto is copied to a virtual workspace where it may be accessed at a later time. The virtual workspace may be organized into content collections via the use of reference groupings, folders, categories, tags, labels, and the like and may be accessible in the context of a plurality of applications. In embodiments, the virtual workspace is associated with a display area that is presented concurrently with an application being utilized so that the virtual workspace may be accessed and utilized without leaving the context of an active application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ariel J. Lazier, Hugh E. Williams, Timothy C. Hoad, Joshua E. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090007202
    Abstract: Functionality is described for forming a summary representation of a video item to help a user decide whether to obtain a full version of the video item. The functionality operates by: (a) receiving a video item; (b) dividing the video item into a plurality of segments; (c) extracting at least one key frame from each of the plurality of segments to form a plurality of key frames; and (d) organizing the video segments into one or more groups corresponding to one or more respective scenes based on the plurality of key frames, to thereby form the representation of the video item. The functionality can be used to communicate search results to a user, to provide a sample of the video item in a message, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Hugh E. Williams, Xian-Sheng Hua, Hong-Qiao Li, Xiaodong Fan, Richard Qian
  • Publication number: 20080306937
    Abstract: It has been found that user navigation that follows search engine interactions provides implicit endorsement of resources (such as web resources) that are preferred by users, and which may be particularly valuable for exploratory search tasks. Thus, a combination of past searching and browsing user behavior is analyzed to identify additional information that augments search results delivered by a search engine. The additional information may include a display of hyperlinks to locations which are derived from the past searching and browsing user behavior, given a specific input query. The additional information may be provided to supplement web search results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ryen W. Whilte, Mikhail Bilenko, Nicholas E. Craswell, Michael M. Cameron, Hugh E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20080208831
    Abstract: Computer readable media, systems, and methods for controlling search indexing are described. In embodiments, a search index control instruction is received and, if permitted by the search index control instruction, content pertaining to the received instruction is indexed and presented in accordance therewith. In one embodiment, receiving the search index control instruction includes traversing the Internet with a web crawler and analyzing one or both of a robots.txt file and source code associated with a website of interest to locate instructions. Search index control instructions may include, by way of example only, exclusionary instructions (e.g., excluding specified domains from linking to portions of the content associated with a website) and modification instructions (e.g., permitting indexing and presentation of content associated with a website but only in a modified form to reduce the risk of content theft).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julia H. Farago, Hugh E. Williams, Darren A. Shakib, Nicholas A. Whyte, Srinath R. Aaleti