Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Lee & Hayes, PLLC
  • Patent number: 8280671
    Abstract: Techniques for data gathering in large-scale wireless sensor networks are described. A data collection device receives aggregate data from at least one sensor node of a group of N sensor nodes. The aggregate data includes M weighted sums. Each of the M weighted sums includes a respective sum of N products each of which being a product of a respective coefficient and a sensor reading from a respective one of the N sensor nodes. M and N are positive integers and M is less than N. Computation is performed on the aggregate data to recover sensor readings from the N sensor nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chong Luo, Feng Wu
  • Patent number: 8281258
    Abstract: Optimized object traversal techniques are presented to move an object focus in an intuitive manner in a display interface using a navigational controller. The optimized object traversal enables two-directional movement (e.g., up, down, left, right, or other direction) of the object focus and not confined to a sequential movement order. The optimized object traversal may vary an order of the object focus selection between objects based on a selection path of a user (e.g., which object previously had the object focus). The optimized object traversal techniques use an edge point on the object having a current object focus to identify a next object to receive the object focus. Objects may be identified based on an orthogonal alignment, a distance from the edge point, a container order (e.g., in tie breaking instances) and/or by a coded assignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Dixon, Donald Ryan Willhoit
  • Patent number: 8280988
    Abstract: A technique in which content is supplied to an electronic reader device is described. A time at which to send content to the electronic reader device is stored in a content server based on user preferences, user electronic reader device interaction or network conditions. The content is transmitted to the electronic reader device at the time for later display. Additional content may be securely supplied to the electronic reader device for purchase. The additional content may be in a format such that when a user later enters a request to purchase the content, the content can be instantly displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jateen P. Parekh, Kenneth P. Kiraly
  • Patent number: 8280923
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to effectively visualize the mapping between two schemas, referred to herein as a source schema (or first schema) and a destination schema (or second schema), regardless of the size or complexity of the schemas and mappings. According to one aspect of the present invention a method for visually representing a mapping between a first schema and a second schema is provided. The method includes receiving a selection of an object, emphasizing the selected object and identifying a plurality of objects that are relevant to the selected object. The objects that are identified as being relevant to the selected object are also emphasized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: George G. Robertson, John E Churchill, Mary P Czerwinski, Prasad Sripathi Panditharadhya, Uday Bhaskara
  • Patent number: 8275984
    Abstract: The prevention of impersonation attacks based on hijacked common gateway interface (CGI) session IDs is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a secured communication channel is formed between a server and a client using an initial transport layer security (TLS) key. Additionally, an authenticated CGI session is formed over the secured communication channel based on an initial CGI session identifier (ID). Further, the initial CGI session ID and the initial TLS key are combined into a pair. Next, incoming data that includes an incoming CGI session ID is received via a secured communication channel. An incoming TLS key of the secured communication channel that carries the incoming CGI session ID is then retrieved. Based on the retrieved incoming TLS key, the incoming data is permitted to execute on the server when the incoming TLS key matches the initial TLS key of the pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Loveless
  • Patent number: 8272743
    Abstract: The techniques described herein provide a surface computing device that includes a surface layer configured to be in a transparent state and a diffuse state. In the diffuse state, an image can be projected onto the surface. In the transparent state, an image can be projected through the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Taylor, Shahram Izadi, Daniel A. Rosenfeld, Stephen Hodges, David Alexander Butler, James Scott, Nicolas Villar
  • Patent number: 8274714
    Abstract: Techniques relating to quantifiable color calibration are described. In one instance, a process quantifiably calibrates a first color peripheral device of a system to a known color standard. The process then leverages the first color peripheral device to calibrate other system color peripheral devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Bourgoin, John F Kieltyka, Jeffery A Meissner, Michael D Stokes
  • Patent number: 8275649
    Abstract: Techniques for providing mining life pattern are described. This disclosure describes mining a life pattern of an individual, for example, by identifying places visited during the individual's daily activities. Mining the individual life pattern includes collecting location data for the individual and predicting behaviors and preferences of the individual based at least in part on a location history. The location history of the individual is represented with a sequence of geographical regions that have been visited by the individual with corresponding arrival and departure times for each region. Once the life pattern is predicted from the location history, information is recommended to the individual based at least in part on the life pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Zheng, Yang Ye, Xing Xie
  • Patent number: 8275604
    Abstract: Embodiments for the adaptive learning of translation layout patterns to mine bilingual data are disclosed. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the adaptive learning of patterns to mine bilingual data includes processing a bilingual web page into a Document Object Model (DOM) tree. The embodiment further includes linking the bilingual snippet pairs of each node into a plurality bilingual snippet pairs. The embodiment also includes determining one or more best fit candidate patterns based on the plurality of translation snippets via a Support Vector Machine classifier. The embodiment additionally includes mining one or more translation pairs from the bilingual web page using the one or more best fit candidate patterns. The translation pairs are further stored in a data storage. The one or more translation pairs including at least one of a term pair, a phrase pair, or a sentence pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Long Jiang, Shiquan Yang, Ming Zhou, Xiaohua Liu
  • Patent number: 8275873
    Abstract: An exemplary architecture is for an Internet Location Coordinate enhanced Domain Name System (DNS). An exemplary method includes requesting information for a plurality of servers associated with a network domain name of a Domain Name System (DNS) where the information includes information based in part on packets transmitted by each of the plurality of servers to a plurality of network beacons; receiving the requested information from a name server associated with the Domain Name System (DNS); and, based in part on the received information, selecting an optimal server for the network domain name. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Arne Josefsberg, Alastair Wolman, Mark D. Acheibel, John D. Dunagan
  • Patent number: 8269725
    Abstract: Performance of automated touch data injection into a stack of software objects is provided. Previously stored data from a touch data file is received and transformed based upon a touch property. The transformed retrieved data is then injected into a lowermost layer of a stack of software objects. A computer-readable medium tool allows a user, such as a software developer, to create data that can consistently be employed to simulate the operation of movement of a user's finger across a touch input area. A buffer management module retrieves data from a touch data file. A data transformation module transforms the retrieved data based upon a touch property. A device management module injects transformed retrieved data into a human interface layer of a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Cornelius J. Hall, Olumuyiwa Durojaiye, Sumit Mehrotra
  • Patent number: 8271404
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generating complex invariants in a program using a Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) solver. In one embodiment, the generated invariants may be used to validate assert statements in a program. Additionally or alternatively, a weakest pre-condition invariant may be generated such that parameters passed to the program that satisfy the weakest pre-condition are guaranteed to satisfy the program's assert statements. Additionally or alternatively, a strongest post-condition may be generated, determining what is guaranteed to be true about the state of the program upon completion of the program. In one embodiment, the SMT solver generates invariants by mapping predicates onto unknown variables in a template. The template may comprise unknown variables related by logical structures defined with disjunctions, universal quantifiers, and existential quantifiers. The predicates may comprise equalities and inequalities between program variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sumit Gulwani, Ramarathnam Venkatesan, Saurabh Srivastava
  • Patent number: 8270772
    Abstract: Image resizing for web-based searching is described. In one implementation, a system resizes a user-selected thumbnail image into a larger version of the image that emulates the quality of a large, original image, but without downloading the original image. First, the system extracts resizing parameters when each thumbnail image is created. Then, the system creates a codebook of primitive visual elements extracted from a collection of training images. The primitive visual elements in the codebook provide universal visual parts for reconstructing images. The codebook and a resizing plug-in can be sent once to the user over a background channel. When the user selects a thumbnail image for enlargement, the system resizes the thumbnail image via interpolation and then refines the enlarged image with primitive visual elements from the codebook. The refinement creates an enlarged image that emulates the quality of the large, original image, without downloading the original image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yan Lu, Feng Wu, Richard J. Qian, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Patent number: 8269746
    Abstract: A touch panel is arranged to enable communication using infrared signals with nearby devices. The touch panel includes an array of infrared sensors, arranged parallel to the touchable surface of the panel and at least one of the sensors is capable of detecting an infrared signal received from a nearby device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Hodges, Shahram Izadi, David Alexander Butler, Alban Rrustemi
  • Patent number: 8270338
    Abstract: Implementation of opportunistic use of stations in a wireless network as repeaters is described. In one implementation, a station detects the existence of rate anomaly in a wireless network. In response to the rate anomaly, the station may transform into a software repeater for certain other neighboring stations. The repeater function allows for the relaying of packets sent by these neighboring stations to the access point and vice versa. The other neighboring stations, owing to their relative proximity to the repeater station, transmit data at a higher rate to the repeater station. Thus, the removal of the slower stations reduces clogging of the access point and increases the overall data rate within the wireless network. Further, a zero-overhead network coding protocol may be implemented in conjunction with the repeater function to increase capacity of the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ranveer Chandra, Paramvir Bahl, Jitendra D. Padhye, Yan Yu
  • Patent number: 8271516
    Abstract: A social network service provides trusted, timely and managed communications between a querying individual and an informed individual by optimizing distribution of queries to reflect a requisite amount of expertise necessary (i.e., interest, background, education, demographic attribute, etc.). Those candidate recipients with a rare level of expertise or specialization can specify a desired level of participation, which is respected. In order not to exhaust their availability, those who are less qualified or part of a larger demographic category appropriate for the query are selected to handle queries of lesser difficulty or less specialization. Anonymity if desired by the recipient party can be supported by increasing the pool of candidate recipients so that the querying party cannot reasonably ascertain who is responding. Timeliness of response, as well as satisfaction in the response, is tracked in order to affect redirection of a query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. Gounares, Eric J. Horvitz, Kenneth D. Ray, Oren Rosenbloom, Hubert Van Hoof, Chris Demetrios Karkanias
  • Patent number: 8270410
    Abstract: Embodiments of sampling techniques for server farms are described herein. In an implementation, the sampling techniques may be performed to find a range of values, in which, a quality of service measurement belongs. Each range is thought of as a “bucket” and may include a corresponding counter that is incremented for each quality of service measurement that falls within the bucket. The countes may then be converted into measurement curves which are published at periodic intervals for examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J Rogers, William R Hoffman, Marc A Power
  • Patent number: 8267726
    Abstract: A modular telecommunications device that may be configured with a variety of connector types that enable any telecommunications equipment to route signals through the telecommunications device. The device includes a quad jack frame, a main printed circuit board and an interchangeable back plate that can be replaced by another interchangeable back plate that includes a different connector type. A secondary printed circuit board is included in the interchangeable back plate. The incoming power to the device is provided to the main printed circuit that distributes power throughout the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Telect Inc.
    Inventors: Grayling A. Love, II, Bradley Fuller, Paul A. Knight
  • Patent number: 8271595
    Abstract: Sharing data within an instant messaging session is described. A user participating in an instant messaging session may request a data access key. The key, which provides access to data associated with the user, may then be transmitted via the instant messaging session to one or more other participants in the instant messaging session. The other instant messaging session participants can then use the key to access, via the instant messaging session, the data associated with the user. Users may be granted various levels of access to another user's data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Imran Qureshi, Evan Gridley
  • Patent number: 8270965
    Abstract: Techniques for increasing the battery life on a mobile device by decreasing the energy consumption of the mobile device's wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface are described. In one embodiment, the mobile device's Wi-Fi interface is automatically disabled when the device is not engaged in a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call via the Wi-Fi interface. When a VoIP call is initiated on the device, or when the device receives a wake up call from a server via its Cellular interface, the Wi-Fi interface is automatically enabled. Using its Wi-Fi interface, the mobile device then connects to an IP-based network via a Wi-Fi access point. The server then initiates a direct call, wherein VoIP technology is used by the mobile device, between the mobile device and a VoIP calling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Paramvir Bahl, Ranveer Chandra, Kevin Chin, Alastair Wolman, Yuvraj Agarwal