Patents by Inventor Ross Ward Comer

Ross Ward Comer 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).

  • Method and apparatus for suggesting completions for a partially entered data item based on previously-entered, associated data items
    Patent number: 5845300
    Abstract: A system for improving the efficiency and reliability of entering data into a database or spreadsheet computer program by providing suggested completions to the data entry operator. The operator invokes an edit mode (200) for a particular data area and a dynamic list of possible completions is generated (210) based on other data items associated with the edited data area. The list of possible completions is dynamic because it changes to reflect the status of the current data within the database or spreadsheet. As the operator enters characters of a data item (220), the list of completed data items is searched for an entry that matches the entered data item (230). If a match is found then the matching item is displayed to the data entry operator as a suggested completion (240). The data entry operator can then elect to accept the suggested completion (250) or to continue entering the data item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ross Ward Comer, Adam Brett Stein, David Russell Williams, Jr.
  • Method and apparatus for suggesting completions for a partially entered data item based on previously-entered, associated data items
    Patent number: RE39326
    Abstract: A system for improving the efficiency and reliability of entering data into a database or spreadsheet computer program by providing suggested completions to the data entry operator. The operator invokes an edit mode (200) for a particular data area and a dynamic list of possible completions is generated (210) based on other data items associated with the edited data area. The list of possible completions is dynamic because it changes to reflect the status of the current data within the database or spreadsheet. As the operator enters characters of a data item (220), the list of completed data items is searched for an entry that matches the entered data item (230). If a match is found then the matching item is displayed to the data entry operator as a suggested completion (240). The data entry operator can then elect to accept the suggested completion (250) or to continue entering the data item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ross Ward Comer, Adam Brett Stein, David Russell Williams, Jr.