Patents by Inventor Thomas Pfenning

Thomas Pfenning 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: 11962694
    Abstract: A computing device, such as a personal computing device (e.g., laptop, smartphone, etc.) or server, is configured to utilize environmental factors in generating public/private key pairs to access restricted data or operations. The environmental factors can include location, time, barometric pressure, acceleration, temperature, humidity, and the like. An initial key pair may be used to encrypt data and enable other conventional security features. A key pair can be subsequently generated based on the same environmental factors as with the initial key pair generation and used to access the data or operations which have been restricted using the initial key pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: David Garfield Thaler, III, Joerg-Thomas Pfenning, Gerardo Diaz-Cuellar
  • Patent number: 11695650
    Abstract: Inducements are provided to customers to regularly connect back to a service provider and report usage that is expressed using a count of requests from a local computing device for cloud-based operations such as packet routing, container instantiation, virtual machine (VM) utilization, calls to a service or application, and the like. The count information is reported within a secure context, such as a trusted execution environment (TEE), using public-private key pair cryptography by which key derivation is dependent on some form of counting. For example, a customer computing device that is subject to a usage license encrypts an operation count and reports it to the service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gerardo Diaz-Cuellar, Stefan Thom, Joerg-Thomas Pfenning
  • Publication number: 20220085995
    Abstract: A computing device, such as a personal computing device (e.g., laptop, smartphone, etc.) or server, is configured to utilize environmental factors in generating public/private key pairs to access restricted data or operations. The environmental factors can include location, time, barometric pressure, acceleration, temperature, humidity, and the like. An initial key pair may be used to encrypt data and enable other conventional security features. A key pair can be subsequently generated based on the same environmental factors as with the initial key pair generation and used to access the data or operations which have been restricted using the initial key pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: David Garfield THALER, III, Joerg-Thomas PFENNING, Gerardo DIAZ-CUELLAR
  • Patent number: 11190352
    Abstract: A computing device, such as a personal computing device (e.g., laptop, smartphone, etc.) or server, is configured to utilize environmental factors in generating public/private key pairs to access restricted data or operations. The environmental factors can include location, time, barometric pressure, acceleration, temperature, humidity, and the like. An initial key pair may be used to encrypt data and enable other conventional security features. A key pair can be subsequently generated based on the same environmental factors as with the initial key pair generation and used to access the data or operations which have been restricted using the initial key pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Garfield Thaler, III, Joerg-Thomas Pfenning, Gerardo Diaz-Cuellar
  • Publication number: 20210176141
    Abstract: Inducements are provided to customers to regularly connect back to a service provider and report usage that is expressed using a count of requests from a local computing device for cloud-based operations such as packet routing, container instantiation, virtual machine (VM) utilization, calls to a service or application, and the like. The count information is reported within a secure context, such as a trusted execution environment (TEE), using public-private key pair cryptography by which key derivation is dependent on some form of counting. For example, a customer computing device that is subject to a usage license encrypts an operation count and reports it to the service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Gerardo DIAZ-CUELLAR, Stefan THOM, Joerg-Thomas PFENNING
  • Patent number: 10965551
    Abstract: Inducements are provided to customers to regularly connect back to a service provider and report usage that is expressed using a count of requests from a local computing device for cloud-based operations such as packet routing, container instantiation, virtual machine (VM) utilization, calls to a service or application, and the like. The count information is reported within a secure context, such as a trusted execution environment (TEE), using public-private key pair cryptography by which key derivation is dependent on some form of counting. For example, a customer computing device that is subject to a usage license encrypts an operation count and reports it to the service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gerardo Diaz-Cuellar, Stefan Thom, Joerg-Thomas Pfenning
  • Publication number: 20200169400
    Abstract: A computing device, such as a personal computing device (e.g., laptop, smartphone, etc.) or server, is configured to utilize environmental factors in generating public/private key pairs to access restricted data or operations. The environmental factors can include location, time, barometric pressure, acceleration, temperature, humidity, and the like. An initial key pair may be used to encrypt data and enable other conventional security features. A key pair can be subsequently generated based on the same environmental factors as with the initial key pair generation and used to access the data or operations which have been restricted using the initial key pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: David Garfield THALER, III, Joerg-Thomas PFENNING, Gerardo DIAZ-CUELLAR
  • Publication number: 20200162346
    Abstract: Inducements are provided to customers to regularly connect back to a service provider and report usage that is expressed using a count of requests from a local computing device for cloud-based operations such as packet routing, container instantiation, virtual machine (VM) utilization, calls to a service or application, and the like. The count information is reported within a secure context, such as a trusted execution environment (TEE), using public-private key pair cryptography by which key derivation is dependent on some form of counting. For example, a customer computing device that is subject to a usage license encrypts an operation count and reports it to the service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Gerardo DIAZ-CUELLAR, Stefan THOM, Joerg-Thomas PFENNING
  • Patent number: 8645335
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards changing a file from a fully deduplicated state to a partially deduplicated state in which some of the file data is deduplicated in a chunk store, and some is recalled into the file, that is, in the file's storage volume. A partial recall mechanism such as in a file system filter tracks (e.g., via a bitmap in a file reparse point) whether file data is maintained in the chunk store or has been recalled to the file. Data is recalled from the chunk store as needed, and committed (e.g., flushed) to the file. Also described is efficiently returning the file to a fully deduplicated state by using the tracking information to determine which parts of the file are already deduplicated into the chunk store so as to avoid their further deduplication processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Abhishek Gupta, Ran Kalach, Chun Ho Cheung, James Robert Benton, Joerg-Thomas Pfenning
  • Publication number: 20120158675
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards changing a file from a fully deduplicated state to a partially deduplicated state in which some of the file data is deduplicated in a chunk store, and some is recalled into the file, that is, in the file's storage volume. A partial recall mechanism such as in a file system filter tracks (e.g., via a bitmap in a file reparse point) whether file data is maintained in the chunk store or has been recalled to the file. Data is recalled from the chunk store as needed, and committed (e.g., flushed) to the file. Also described is efficiently returning the file to a fully deduplicated state by using the tracking information to determine which parts of the file are already deduplicated into the chunk store so as to avoid their further deduplication processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abhishek Gupta, Ran Kalach, Chun Ho Cheung, James Robert Benton, Joerg-Thomas Pfenning
  • Publication number: 20110314070
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for end-to-end optimization of data storage and transmission of data. Details of how data is stored within a data store are exposed to clients and applications. Clients and applications are enabled to makes requests to data stores to obtain data as it is actually stored upon within the data store to eliminate redundant processing of the requested data. Compression and de-duplication of data within a data store are leveraged to increase the efficiency and reduce latency of data transmitted over a LAN or WAN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen C. Brown, Thomas E. Jolly, Joerg-Thomas Pfenning
  • Patent number: 7890646
    Abstract: Systems and methods for orchestrating synchronizations between different targets in a synchronization community. The order and nature of synchronizations may depend on multiple factors, including the initiator of the synchronization, the data being synchronized, and other characteristics of the synchronization participants and synchronization community.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Moe Khosravy, Lev Novik, Jorg-Thomas Pfenning, Myron C. Thomas, Michael S. Beckerman, Vladimir Sadovsky, Mark Levy
  • Patent number: 7778282
    Abstract: A sync community may include a group of synchronization endpoints. When two synchronization endpoints of the sync community synchronize with one another, a synchronization data conflict may be detected when the two synchronization endpoints make a change to a same particular data item and the two synchronization endpoints were unaware of the changes to the same particular data item made by the other respective synchronization endpoint at the time the changes were made. Resolution of the detected synchronization data conflict may be delayed and data indicative of the detected synchronization data conflict may be propagated to other synchronization endpoints during a synchronization operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Lee, Michael Scott Beckerman, Michael Ray Clark, Moe Khosravy, Lev Novik, Jörg-Thomas Pfenning
  • Patent number: 7756825
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve synchronization of data between varying types of devices and/or services. A full participant receives a request from another participant to perform a synchronization operation. The synchronization engine determines whether the device or service is a full, partial, or simple participant. The device or service is a simple participant if it has a data store for synchronized data and no knowledge store. The device or service is a partial participant if it has a data store for synchronized data and a knowledge store, but does not understand the knowledge. The device or service is a full participant type if it has a data store for synchronized data and a knowledge store and understands the knowledge. The synchronization engine performs the synchronization operation with the device or service using a set of logic that is appropriate for the type of device or service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Moe Khosravy, Jorg-Thomas Pfenning, Lev Novik, Marc Levy, Michael S. Beckerman, Myron C. Thomas, Vladimir Sadovsky
  • Patent number: 7653640
    Abstract: Synchronization of a web syndication item over a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) format between a publisher and a subscriber. The publisher creates the web syndication item by including a media content associated therewith. The synchronization metadata is defined to include a first virtual clock value associated with the created web syndication item. The first virtual clock value indicates when the web syndication item was last updated. A request for subscribing the published web syndication item is received from the subscriber. In response to the received request, the published web syndication item is transmitted to a location remote from the publisher and accessible by the subscriber. The first virtual clock value is provided to the subscriber for use by the subscriber to modify the first virtual clock value when the subscriber modifies the media content associated with the web syndication item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Moe Khosravy, Michael R. Clark, Oliver Lee, Lev Novik, Thomas Pfenning
  • Patent number: 7620659
    Abstract: A variety of flexible conflict resolution policies are provided for loosely coupled devices to implement according to a variety of different synchronization scenarios. Choosing a conflict resolution policy, such as “Most Frequent Updater,” “Priority,” “PerCent Change,” “Arbiter Deadlock Resolution,” etc., enables devices to select how and when to resolve such synchronization conflicts. In addition, with reference to a conflict log, a user or synchronizing application can roll back synchronization state to a time before a conflict may have arisen, so that the user or application can undo a resolution of a conflict and/or the user or application can apply an alternative conflict resolution policy moving forward from that time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lev Novik, Michael Scott Beckerman, Michael Ray Clark, Moe Khosravy, Sean Michael Kelley, Jörg-Thomas Pfenning
  • Publication number: 20080195759
    Abstract: A variety of flexible conflict resolution policies are provided for loosely coupled devices to implement according to a variety of different synchronization scenarios. Choosing a conflict resolution policy, such as “Most Frequent Updater,” “Priority,” “PerCent Change,” “Arbiter Deadlock Resolution,” etc., enables devices to select how and when to resolve such synchronization conflicts. In addition, with reference to a conflict log, a user or synchronizing application can roll back synchronization state to a time before a conflict may have arisen, so that the user or application can undo a resolution of a conflict and/or the user or application can apply an alternative conflict resolution policy moving forward from that time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lev Novik, Michael Scott Beckerman, Michael Ray Clark, Moe Khosravy, Sean Michael Kelley, Jorg-Thomas Pfenning
  • Publication number: 20080144669
    Abstract: A sync community may include a group of synchronization endpoints. When two synchronization endpoints of the sync community synchronize with one another, a synchronization data conflict may be detected when the two synchronization endpoints make a change to a same particular data item and the two synchronization endpoints were unaware of the changes to the same particular data item made by the other respective synchronization endpoint at the time the changes were made. Resolution of the detected synchronization data conflict may be delayed and data indicative of the detected synchronization data conflict may be propagated to other synchronization endpoints during a synchronization operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Lee, Michael Scott Beckerman, Michael Ray Clark, Moe Khosravy, Lev Novik, Jorg-Thomas Pfenning
  • Publication number: 20080126364
    Abstract: Synchronization of a web syndication item over a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) format between a publisher and a subscriber. The publisher creates the web syndication item by including a media content associated therewith. The synchronization metadata is defined to include a first virtual clock value associated with the created web syndication item. The first virtual clock value indicates when the web syndication item was last updated. A request for subscribing the published web syndication item is received from the subscriber. In response to the received request, the published web syndication item is transmitted to a location remote from the publisher and accessible by the subscriber. The first virtual clock value is provided to the subscriber for use by the subscriber to modify the first virtual clock value when the subscriber modifies the media content associated with the web syndication item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Moe Khosravy, Michael R. Clark, Oliver Lee, Lev Novik, Thomas Pfenning
  • Publication number: 20070255854
    Abstract: Systems and methods for orchestrating synchronizations between different targets in a synchronization community. The order and nature of synchronizations may depend on multiple factors, including the initiator of the synchronization, the data being synchronized, and other characteristics of the synchronization participants and synchronization community.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Moe Khosravy, Lev Novik, Jorg-Thomas Pfenning, Myron Thomas, Michael Beckerman, Vladimir Sadovsky, Marc Levy