Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
  • Patent number: 8352874
    Abstract: A communication icon represents a shared connection allowing members of an online group to interact with each other and participate in different activities together. The icon through which the group interacts resides on each group member's desktop and has many attributes including click activation modes and drag and drop functionality. The icon provides each group member with a representation of the group's shared relationship. Any group member can change the group icon and have that change propagated to the computers of the other members of the group. The icon can be activated for both non-verbal and verbal communications as well as activity sharing. Online members of the group are kept apprised of the group's status and activities via a displayed status bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Melora Zaner, Eugene Mesgar, Neel Ishwar Murarka, Asta Glatzer, Kathleen Mulcahy, Rama Ranganath, Erica Sanders, Cesare John Saretto, Tammy Savage, John Vert, Eugene Zarakhovsky
  • Patent number: 8348371
    Abstract: Customized articles of footwear are produced by providing options and graphics that are selected by a customer when submitting a custom order at a retail facility. The graphics are selected from a catalog while the options, such as a shoe model or a shoe size, are selected at an order interface rendered at a computing device. The computing device processes the order by uploading printing instructions associated with the customer-selected graphic or by converting specifications of the order into the printing instructions. The printing instructions are passed to a printer that is configured to move inkjet nozzles in a pattern and, concurrently, control a timed release of coloring agent from the inkjet nozzles based on the printing instructions. Releasing the coloring agent over the article of footwear physically applies a design thereto, which substantially resembles the customer-selected graphic. An oven typically cures the design via infrared heat over a timeframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Converse Inc.
    Inventors: Sean McDowell, Steve Horn, Dave Powers, Brandon Avery, Bryan Cioffi
  • Patent number: 8352284
    Abstract: Methods, computer storage media, systems and user interfaces for generating and/or managing medication tapers are provided. Medication tapers are generated by receiving medication taper data and calculating a planned regimen that includes a set of orders based upon the received medication taper data. Each order of the set of orders may be modified, captured and/or completed, for instance, by a clinician. After a medication taper has been completed, it may be retrieved and managed as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Schneider, John Q. Deverter, Yegor Faridovich Hanov, Ethan D. Gershon
  • Patent number: 8350862
    Abstract: Systems and methods that provide for a common device enumeration point to a class of software objects, which represent hardware and can emit 2D bitmaps, via a presentation interface component. Such presentation interface component can further include a factory component that centralizes enumeration and creation for any components that control or communicate with the frame buffer of the graphics display subsystems. Accordingly, a smooth transition can be supplied between full screen and window models, within desktop composition systems, wherein applications can readily support such transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. J. Noyle, Craig C. Peeper, Samual Z. Glassenberg
  • Patent number: 8352183
    Abstract: A unique system, method, and user interface are provided that involve an integration of map technology with social networks so that individuals can select members of these communities with which to communicate based at least in part on their location, thus enhancing the communication experience. This can be referred to as geo-based messaging. In particular, a member or user of the system and/or method can include his/her personal location information, for example, when joining an online community or social network. This location information can be employed to generate one or more maps that plot the locations of messages posted by community members. As a result, a user can readily visualize any other users or community members located at any selected distance from him/her or from any selected focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chandrasekhar Thota, Gur Kimchi
  • Patent number: 8343726
    Abstract: The present invention provides assays and devices for detection of substances in liquid samples. The assays and devices utilize passive diffusion between a porous material and a porous membrane containing a specific binding pair member to enable detection of the substance of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Techlab, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Boone, David M. Lyerly, Tracy D. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 8342685
    Abstract: System and methods for testing and/or training a subject's visual perception span and/or speed are provided. More specifically, a method may include testing/training various aspects of the subject's visual perception span/speed through the use of assessments that test the subject's ability to receive and retain information that is flashed in front of them. By using various assessments, an efficient examination may be administered. In accordance with the invention, an individual may be subjected to such a method of testing/training comprising: presenting one or more two-dimensional representations to the subject at a first time; receiving input responses from the subject at a second time; and processing the received input responses to provide a measure of the perception span of the subject; and processing the time between the first time and the second time to provide a measure of the perception speed of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Herb Yoo, Graham B. Erickson, Alan W. Reichow
  • Patent number: 8346572
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing clinical information to clinicians are provided. In embodiments, a patient's electronic health record is accessed to identify that a first clinician has requested a consult with a second clinician. Each clinician is associated with a clinician identifier that is identified by a plurality of sensors. A location for both the first and second clinician is received from the plurality of sensors. A determination is made whether the first and second clinicians are near one another. Upon determining that the first and second clinicians are near one another, a notification is presented to the first clinician. Such tracking of clinician location helps avoid missed opportunities and provides efficient communication among clinicians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Eaton, Jr., David L. Compton, Justin Nelson, Paul Cannon, Mark Allen Nolte
  • Patent number: 8336473
    Abstract: A mattress edge tape machine is provided. More specifically, a workstation for applying a tape edge material about the peripheral side edges of bedding materials such as mattresses or foundation sets is provided. The mattress edge tape machine has a table adapted to support a work piece, at least one conveyor belt coupled to the table, a sewing head mounted directly adjacent to the table for performing a sewing operation on the work piece, and an arcuate turning arm mounted adjacent to the table to selectively turn the work piece on the table. The arcuate arm may include a clamping device for moving and securing the work piece. The machine may also include a guide assembly of actuators, instead of an arcuate turning arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Stanislav Nemec, Stjepan Vadlja
  • Patent number: 8341017
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-accessible medium are provided for optimizing search result listings in a search engine user interface. The system and method provide an automated way of promoting and demoting the placement of a search result listing between more or less desirable locations, based on the listing's performance in a given placement. Promoting and demoting placements is based on a threshold performance for the listing against which the actual performance of a listing is measured. The threshold performance may be advantageously varied to accommodate different revenue and relevance goals for a particular search engine or portion of the search engine's market.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Payne, Eric B. Watson, Sally K. Salas, Sreeram Krishnan
  • Patent number: 8333284
    Abstract: When displayed, greeting cards are typically organized on a display fixture having multiple rows or levels upon which to sit the cards. Each row then has a front wall to hold in the card, yet is short enough to still view a portion of the greeting card above the wall. Because display fixtures are manufactured to have a specified amount of rows or levels at a specified depth, in order to adjust the specifications of a display fixture, other pieces may be used, for example, by attaching to the display fixture a convertible row to add another level or tier between set rows of the display fixture. By providing another row using a convertible row, another set of greeting cards may be displayed between cards displayed on other rows of the original display fixture, increasing the density of the overall display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Todd E. Berry, Shaun P. Arness
  • Patent number: 8335784
    Abstract: Methods, systems, graphical user interfaces, and computer-readable media for visually searching and exploring a set of objects are provided. A computer system executes a method that generates three-dimensional representations or two-dimensional representations for a set of objects in response to a user interaction with an interface that displays the three-dimensional representations or the two-dimensional representations. The interface includes filter controls, sorting controls, and classification controls, which are dynamically altered based on the content of a user query or the attributes of the objects in the three-dimensional representations or two-dimensional representations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary Mark Gutt, Paul Ronald Ray, Rodney Coleman Edwards, Darwin Kengo Yamamoto, Hady Moustafa Abou El Kheir, Brian Whalen MacDonald, Jerry Daniel Bain
  • Patent number: 8332141
    Abstract: A computer system and media for delivering routing information are provided. The computer system includes a routing engine, a database, and routing network that are employed to respond to routing requests and user modifications of routing information received in response to the routing requests. The routing engine receives the routing requests and generates routing information that illustrates a route and metadata for directions that guides a user when navigating the route. A user that is dissatisfied with the routing information may use route modification tools to alter the route in a manner that is consistent with the user's understanding of alternate routes that may supplement the routing information provided by the routing engine. The computer system receives the user modifications, stores the user modifications, and updates the routing network to learn the alternate route provided in the user modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey Darren Couckuyt
  • Patent number: 8322146
    Abstract: A transition duct assembly with a thermally free aft frame and mounting system for use in a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The aft frame is capable of adjusting to thermal gradients while the mounting system provides for at least transverse movement of the transition duct during engine assembly. The mounting system also provides a means for raising the natural frequency of the transition duct outside of the engine's dynamic excitation ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Hany Rizkalla, Stephen W. Jorgensen, Peter Stuttaford, Plazi Ricklin, David John Henriquez
  • Patent number: 8322168
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to a warp-knit fabric and methods of constructing the fabric. The fabric includes a plurality of walewise stitch-loop chains and a weftwise elastomeric thread running in successive courses and held in place by the stitch-loop chains. The fabric may include border segments that have filling yarn disposed weftwise across the stitch-loop chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Steve Young Wall, Roger Tornero
  • Patent number: 8327286
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system, and media for intelligently presenting buttons that correspond to running windows as well as a set of application launchers that launch instances of software applications. One version of the method includes receiving an indication that an instance of a software application has been invoked by a launching mechanism, which leads to creating a windowed process in which to present the instance of the software application; determining that at least one of the application launchers was the launching mechanism; automatically removing the launcher(s) from view; and presenting a button that corresponds to the windowed process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rebecca Jeanette Deutsch, Benjamin Alexander Betz, Stephan Hoefnagels, Chaitanya D. Sareen, Bret P. Anderson, Robert James Jarrett
  • Patent number: 8326842
    Abstract: A table of contents is generated for search results in response to a search query by identifying semantic concepts as topics for inclusion within the table of contents. When a search query is received, a search is performed to identify search results. The search results are compared to an ontology of topics to identify relevant topics. Additionally, search results are compared to an ontology of partial topics to identify relevant partial topics, which are named. Independent key-phrases are further generated from search results and identified as key-phrase topics. The identified topics, named partial topics, and key-phrase topics are ranked, and topics are selected for inclusion within a table of contents. A search results page is returned in response to the search query that includes search results and the generated table of contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Viswanath Vadlamani, Abhinai Srivastava, Tarek Najm, Arungunram Chandrasekaran Surendran
  • Patent number: 8325177
    Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media for displaying two-dimensional objects on a display device are disclosed. Rendering requests are received from an application to render two-dimensionally modeled graphics to a display device. Primitive geometries of drawing calls of the rendering requests are tessellated into sequences of triangles. The vertices of the triangles are mapped to a vertex buffer along with an index to identify associated constant data. Batching operations store and communicate calls and mapped data to a graphics processing unit by way of a three-dimensional rendering application program interface. Constant data associated with the mapped data are indexed and appended together in a constant buffer, thereby allowing drawing calls to be coalesced. A staging buffer and a staging texture are provided for batching text anti-aliasing operations. Shader fragments are precompiled and organized by way of a predetermined lookup table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence, Alexander Stevenson, Jason Hartman, Brett Bloomquist, Robert Brown, Chris Kam Ming Chui, Samrach Tun, Anthony Hodsdon, Thomas Olsen, Miles Cohen, Ben Constable, Bilgem Cakir, Chris Raubacher, Gerhard Schneider, Andrew Precious, Thomas Mulcahy, Kanwal Vedbrat
  • Patent number: 8326791
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed toward methods, systems, and computer-readable media for prioritizing bridge repairs using a risk-based analysis. An overall risk factor is generated for each of a plurality of bridges. The overall risk factor represents the probability of failure times the consequence on failure for the bridge. Repairs to bridges that pose a greater risk may be prioritized before repairs made to bridges posing a lower risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: HNTB Holdings Ltd
    Inventors: Timothy Faye Howerton, Bala Sivakumar, Glen A. Herman
  • Patent number: 8317324
    Abstract: System and methods for testing and/or training a subject's vision and neuro-processing abilities are provided. More specifically, the method may include testing various aspects of the subject's vision and neuro-processing abilities, such as depth perception, anticipation timing, perception speed ability, perception scan ability, etc. By using various tests, an efficient examination may be administered. In accordance with the invention, an individual may be subjected to such a method of testing and/or training at a unitary center capable of presenting such tests to the individual, receiving input from the individual, and processing the received input. Such a unitary test center may further be configurable, so that the tests administered may vary based on the needs of the individual. The received input may then, for example, be used to compute data related to the user's vision and neuro-processing abilities, both overall and for each individual test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Reichow, Ryan C. Coulter