Patents by Inventor Steven W. Ickman

Steven W. Ickman 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: 11900485
    Abstract: Making an information retrieval process public, so that it can be followed by others, allows capturing of an interest graph that allows people to learn more about shared interests with other people. This also allows items of interest to a trusted resource (such as an expert) to be identified. These items can then be brought to the attention of other users that share the same interest as the expert. In addition, by keeping track of what particular content a user has already seen, the system can bring items of interest to the user's attention, where the user has not yet seen those items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Raskino, Steven W. Ickman, Christopher C. McConnell, Paul A. Steckler, Matthew G. Dyor
  • Publication number: 20230379527
    Abstract: A computer implemented method synchronizes content state on multiple devices that are independently accessing the content. Each device synchronizes their clock and broadcasts an update message that includes an update message timestamp obtained from the clock and a playing state of content being played on the device. Update messages are received from the other devices and the corresponding time stamps are compared to identify the most recent update message and most recent playing state of the content. Each device updates to play the content from the most recent playing state included in the most recent update message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Steven W. Ickman, Ryan Jeffrey BLISS, Siddharth UPPAL, Hal Raphael BOND, Pradeep ANANTHARAMAN, Chandra Prakash JOSHI, Abhishek Kumar PANDEY, SHIVANGI
  • Publication number: 20230379529
    Abstract: A computer implemented method controls a first device to coordinate with other devices in suspending playback of a media stream that is accessed and played by each device. A first wait point identifies a first playback position and is associated with a first action. Upon encountering the first playback position, playback of the first media stream is suspended. Upon detection of completion of the first action by the first device, the suspension is ended and an update message representing a ready to resume state is broadcast to other devices that are playing respective media streams. Playback is resumed by the first device in response to receiving a threshold number of the update messages from the other devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Steven W. Ickman, Ryan Jeffrey BLISS, Siddharth UPPAL, Hal Raphael BOND, Pradeep ANANTHARAMAN
  • Patent number: 11620719
    Abstract: Making an information retrieval process public, so that it can be followed by others, allows capturing of an interest graph that allows people to learn more about shared interests with other people. This also allows items of interest to a trusted resource (such as an expert) to be identified. These items can then be brought to the attention of other users that share the same interest as the expert. In addition, by keeping track of what particular content a user has already seen, the system can bring items of interest to the user's attention, where the user has not yet seen those items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Raskino, Steven W. Ickman, Christopher C. McConnell, Paul A. Steckler, Matthew G. Dyor
  • Publication number: 20230102834
    Abstract: Making an information retrieval process public, so that it can be followed by others, allows capturing of an interest graph that allows people to learn more about shared interests with other people. This also allows items of interest to a trusted resource (such as an expert) to be identified. These items can then be brought to the attention of other users that share the same interest as the expert. In addition, by keeping track of what particular content a user has already seen, the system can bring items of interest to the user's attention, where the user has not yet seen those items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: David A. RASKINO, Steven W. ICKMAN, Christopher C. MCCONNELL, Paul A. STECKLER, Matthew G. DYOR
  • Patent number: 10902533
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for dispatching an incoming event are described. A scoring stack is accessed, the scoring stack comprising an identity of one or more tasks, each task corresponding to one or more scorable functions. A scorable tree is generated based on the one or more scorable functions corresponding to the one or more tasks of the scoring stack and the incoming event is processed using the scorable tree to generate one or more scores. One or more actions identified in the scorable tree are performed based on the one or more scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. McConnell, William L. Portnoy, Steven W. Ickman, Shahin Shayandeh, John Anthony Taylor
  • Patent number: 10860179
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which an interactive timeline user interface shows communication data aggregated from various sources (e.g., a telephone service, a website, an application and/or the like) in time order. To reduce the number of items in the timeline, certain items may be combined into a compressed item, e.g., items from the same source and/or of the same type may be rolled up into a rolled up item. The user may also interact to reply to a data item. For example, an editor may be provided upon interaction with a data item in the timeline, and the type of reply that is sent may automatically match the type of data item, (e.g., a text message reply to a text message).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Ickman, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20200064976
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which an interactive timeline user interface shows communication data aggregated from various sources (e.g., a telephone service, a website, an application and/or the like) in time order. To reduce the number of items in the timeline, certain items may be combined into a compressed item, e.g., items from the same source and/or of the same type may be rolled up into a rolled up item. The user may also interact to reply to a data item. For example, an editor may be provided upon interaction with a data item in the timeline, and the type of reply that is sent may automatically match the type of data item, (e.g., a text message reply to a text message).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Steven W. ICKMAN, Lili CHENG
  • Patent number: 10466864
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which an interactive timeline user interface shows communication data aggregated from various sources (e.g., a telephone service, a website, an application and/or the like) in time order. To reduce the number of items in the timeline, certain items may be combined into a compressed item, e.g., items from the same source and/or of the same type may be rolled up into a rolled up item. The user may also interact to reply to a data item. For example, an editor may be provided upon interaction with a data item in the timeline, and the type of reply that is sent may automatically match the type of data item, (e.g., a text message reply to a text message).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Ickman, Lili Cheng
  • Patent number: 10454864
    Abstract: Many scenarios involve the delivery of messages received from various message sources to recipients, based on subscriptions established between various recipients and message sources. The recipients may be distributively assigned to one or more message servers, either operating independently or as part of an interoperating message server set. Respective message servers may generate a subscription filter indicating whether at least one assigned recipient subscribes to respective message sources, and may utilize the subscription filter to determine, upon receiving a message from a message source, whether to discard the message or store the message for delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Ickman, Thomas M. Laird-McConnell
  • Patent number: 10437907
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable an application to obtain information associated with a link to content without navigating to the link. The application can be configured to identify a link, receive input to attain information associated with the link, and send a request to a service for the information. In one or more embodiments, a service can be configured to receive a request for information associated with a link, ascertain one or more sources from which to gather the information, determine appropriate mechanisms by which to obtain the information, and acquire the information. Alternately or additionally, the service can further assemble the information into a consumable format, and return the consumable format to a requesting application or device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: William L. Portnoy, Todd D. Newman, Steven W. Ickman
  • Patent number: 10417039
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for dispatching an incoming event are described. A scorable tree is obtained and the incoming event is submitted to a root node of the scorable tree for processing. The incoming event is augmented with scoring data generated by the root node to create a scoring event and the scoring event is iteratively passed from each parent node of the scorable tree to each corresponding child node of the scorable tree for further processing until each leaf node of each branch of the scorable tree is reached, wherein each child node augments an incoming scoring event with additional scoring data and each leaf node generates an intermediate scoring event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. McConnell, William L. Portnoy, Steven W. Ickman, Shahin Shayandeh, John Anthony Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180357096
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for dispatching an incoming event are described. A scorable tree is obtained and the incoming event is submitted to a root node of the scorable tree for processing. The incoming event is augmented with scoring data generated by the root node to create a scoring event and the scoring event is iteratively passed from each parent node of the scorable tree to each corresponding child node of the scorable tree for further processing until each leaf node of each branch of the scorable tree is reached, wherein each child node augments an incoming scoring event with additional scoring data and each leaf node generates an intermediate scoring event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher C. McConnell, William L. Portnoy, Steven W. Ickman, Shahin Shayandeh, John Anthony Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180358006
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for dispatching an incoming event are described. A scoring stack is accessed, the scoring stack comprising an identity of one or more tasks, each task corresponding to one or more scorable functions. A scorable tree is generated based on the one or more scorable functions corresponding to the one or more tasks of the scoring stack and the incoming event is processed using the scorable tree to generate one or more scores. One or more actions identified in the scorable tree are performed based on the one or more scores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher C. McConnell, William L. Portnoy, Steven W. Ickman, Shahin Shayandeh, John Anthony Taylor
  • Patent number: 9582610
    Abstract: The description relates to visual post builders. One example can receive a user search topic relating to a collage. This example can concurrently present a collage template and search results for the search topic. The collage template can be manifest as a grid of equal sized rectangles. The example can automatically populate a user selection from the search results into one or more rectangles of the collage template. The example can also automatically populate additional user selections into remaining rectangles of the collage template until all of the rectangles of the collage template are populated or the user indicates that the collage is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Rajeev Karunakaran, Richard I. Zaragoza, Steven W. Ickman, Richard D. Marshall, David A. Raskino, William L. Portnoy
  • Patent number: 9515891
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which an interactive timeline user interface shows communication data aggregated from various sources (e.g., a telephone service, a website, an application and/or the like) in time order. To reduce the number of items in the timeline, certain items may be combined into a compressed item, e.g., items from the same source and/or of the same type may be rolled up into a rolled up item. The user may also interact to reply to a data item. For example, an editor may be provided upon interaction with a data item in the timeline, and the type of reply that is sent may automatically match the type of data item, (e.g., a text message reply to a text message).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Ickman, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20160283060
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which an interactive timeline user interface shows communication data aggregated from various sources (e.g., a telephone service, a website, an application and/or the like) in time order. To reduce the number of items in the timeline, certain items may be combined into a compressed item, e.g., items from the same source and/or of the same type may be rolled up into a rolled up item. The user may also interact to reply to a data item. For example, an editor may be provided upon interaction with a data item in the timeline, and the type of reply that is sent may automatically match the type of data item, (e.g., a text message reply to a text message).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Steven W. Ickman, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20140331116
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable an application to obtain information associated with a link to content without navigating to the link. The application can be configured to identify a link, receive input to attain information associated with the link, and send a request to a service for the information. In one or more embodiments, a service can be configured to receive a request for information associated with a link, ascertain one or more sources from which to gather the information, determine appropriate mechanisms by which to obtain the information, and acquire the information. Alternately or additionally, the service can further assemble the information into a consumable format, and return the consumable format to a requesting application or device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: William L. Portnoy, Todd D. Newman, Steven W. Ickman
  • Publication number: 20140280054
    Abstract: The description relates to visual post builders. One example can receive a user search topic relating to a collage. This example can concurrently present a collage template and search results for the search topic. The collage template can be manifest as a grid of equal sized rectangles. The example can automatically populate a user selection from the search results into one or more rectangles of the collage template. The example can also automatically populate additional user selections into remaining rectangles of the collage template until all of the rectangles of the collage template are populated or the user indicates that the collage is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rajeev Karunakaran, Richard I. Zaragoza, Steven W. Ickman, Richard D. Marshall, David A. Raskino, William L. Portnoy
  • Patent number: 8819168
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable an application to obtain information associated with a link to content without navigating to the link. The application can be configured to identify a link, receive input to attain information associated with the link, and send a request to a service for the information. In one or more embodiments, a service can be configured to receive a request for information associated with a link, ascertain one or more sources from which to gather the information, determine appropriate mechanisms by which to obtain the information, and acquire the information. Alternately or additionally, the service can further assemble the information into a consumable format, and return the consumable format to a requesting application or device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Portnoy, Todd D. Newman, Steven W. Ickman