Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
  • Route transfer between devices
    Patent number: 8060297
    Abstract: A user can intend to travel between different locations and employ different traveling manners to reach an intended travel destination. At different points, different devices can be employed for disclosing a route. For instance, as a user walks, a route can be integrated into a personal electronic device, such as a cellular telephone. An evaluation can take place that due to specific route details, for example detailed text, a particular device would be superior for presentment over another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Couckuyt, Neil W. Black, John C. Krumm, Ruston Panabaker, Ivan J. Tashev, Michael Lewis Seltzer
  • Braking mechanism and tape cartridge for tape measure
    Patent number: 8056849
    Abstract: The invention relates to a braking mechanism and tape cartridge for a tape measure. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the tape measure includes a housing, a fixed cylindrical surface located in the housing, a reel supported in the housing for rotation, and at least one braking mechanism located on the reel. The braking mechanism includes a flyweight, a spring, and a rail. The spring and rail allow the flyweight to move between a first position, in which the flyweight is not in contact with the fixed cylindrical surface, and a second position, in which the flyweight is in contact with the fixed cylindrical surface. In another aspect, a tape cartridge is provided that includes two sidewalls and a cylindrical wall, which define a container. The tape cartridge is adapted to support a tape assembly therein, and may be mounted in the tape measure housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin K F Ng, Edward John Huxley
  • Combination sock and shoe
    Patent number: 8056149
    Abstract: A combination sock and shoe includes a shoe sole, an exterior sock that is secured to the shoe sole, an intermediate sock positioned inside the exterior sock, and an interior sock positioned inside the exterior sock and inside the intermediate sock. The intermediate sock is constructed as an anklet having an elastic ankle opening. The exterior and interior socks conceal the intermediate sock from view by sandwiching the intermediate sock between them. When a wearer's foot is inserted into the combination sock and shoe, the elastic ankle opening of the intermediate sock securely engages around the ankle of the wearer's foot and holds the wearer's foot to the shoe sole, thereby preventing the shoe sole from separating away from the heel of the wearer's foot during walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Converse Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Paul Duclos
  • Predictive geo-temporal advertisement targeting
    Patent number: 8060406
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for targeting advertisements to users of mobile devices based on geo-temporal models. Time-stamped location information is collected for a mobile device and a dynamic geo-temporal model is constructed and updated when new data is collected according to a sample design. Using the geo-temporal model, device location and instances of user interaction with the device can be predicted, and advertisements can be provided based on the predicted location. Advertisements can be cached on the mobile device for later presentation, and the sample design can be updated to improve efficiency and accuracy in the modeling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Darrell Blegen
  • Communicating shared electronic calendar modifications
    Patent number: 8051380
    Abstract: A shared electronic calendar modification notice provides calendar users accessing the calendar with notification that a calendar modification has been made by another calendar user. A shared electronic calendar user accessing the shared calendar is identified. Upon identifying a shared electronic calendar user, calendar modifications that are new to the shared electronic calendar user are identified. Modification notices are then output to communicate the new calendar modifications to the calendar user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Eugene Knapp, Doreen Nelson Grieb, Todd Haugen
  • Archery bow sight distance indicator
    Patent number: 8046927
    Abstract: A distance indicating mechanism can be used in combination with a bow sight to quickly determine distances to targets from an elevated position. The distance indicating mechanism has a generally circular, fluid-filled tubular device with one or more adjustable indicators located thereon. The indicators are positionable to correspond with the fluid level in the tubular device to indicate the orientation of the mechanism when aiming at a known distance. Each indicator generally corresponds to a sight pin of a bow site that indicates a corresponding linear distance for which an arrow will be at a desired vertical position when shot by a bow operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Jerrmatt, LLC
    Inventor: Jerry Edmundson
  • Wish lists based on images, references, or third party beneficiaries
    Patent number: 8051079
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can create a wish list based upon a variety of inputs and criteria. In one aspect the architecture can generate a wish list based upon one or more images of an item desired by a user. Accordingly, the architecture can examine the image to identify the desired item and to extract relevant features from the item in order to, e.g., match the imaged item to a catalog item for sale by a vendor. In another aspect, the architecture can access information associated with a third party to build a wish list for a user. Appreciably, according to the particular aspect, the wish list can include items that are designated to a particular beneficiary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lili Cheng, Michael Connolly, Gary W. Flake, Alexander G. Gounares
  • Computerized system and methods of adjudicating medical appropriateness
    Patent number: 8050945
    Abstract: A method for adjudicating and reimbursing a care provider for services provided for a clinical event is provided. The method includes the step of receiving a transaction having a number of clinical data elements. The method also includes the steps of accessing a data store including payer information and determining whether the transaction is eligible for reimbursement by at least one payer. The method also includes the steps of accessing a first knowledge base comprising evidence-based standards for providing medically appropriate care and selectively performing analysis of the clinical data elements of the transaction against at least one standard to determine if the care provided is medically appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc.
    Inventor: Neal L. Patterson
  • Data validation using signatures and sampling
    Patent number: 8051288
    Abstract: Architecture that facilitates validation of a data mapping of data from a data source to a data target. There is included a signature generation component that generates a source signature of all or a portion of the data source and a target signature of all or a corresponding portion of the data target, and a sampling component that obtains a sample of the source data a corresponding sample of the target data. The data signatures and data samples are compared respectively and processed with a processing component to determine the status of the validation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Neeraj Garg, Cale D. Carter, Kulothungan Rajasekaran, Deuane J. Martin, Pankaj K. Singh
  • Group communication through broadcast channels
    Patent number: 8045557
    Abstract: Methods, media, and systems are provided for optimizing the use of broadcast channels for group communication streams on a wireless telecommunications data network. Transmission proxy servers associated with base stations are used to determine whether a broadcast channel or unicast channel is most efficient for transmission of a group communication stream. Transmission proxy servers examine factors such as number of users, movement, duration and bandwidth required to make the channel determination. A contact management server coordinates the authentication across multiple access networks in coordination with the transmission proxy servers. Delivery can be more flexible, higher service levels can be more easily guaranteed, and secure but seamless handoffs are possible utilizing the claimed embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Clear Wireless LLC
    Inventors: Yaojun Sun, Jing Qu
  • Collecting and modeling object simulation data
    Patent number: 8046204
    Abstract: A system and method for collecting and modeling simulated movement data on a graphical display is provided. Simulated movement data from a simulation is accessed from a database. The simulated movement data comprises each location of an object on a graphical display for multiple points in time of the simulation. A three-dimensional representation is associated with the object and the three-dimensional representation is displayed at each location on the graphical display for each point in time of the simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: HNTB Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian William Trotta, Christopher Charles Wills
  • Collecting and transporting simulation data
    Patent number: 8046205
    Abstract: A system and method for receiving and displaying simulated movement data on a graphical display in real-time is provided. Simulated movement data from a simulation is received. The type and location of each object to be displayed on a graphical display for a time step is extracted from the simulated movement data. The extracted data is transferred to an application for determining an appropriate three-dimensional representation to associate with each type of object in the first point in time. Each three-dimensional representation is displayed according the location of each object for the first point in time of the simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: HNTB Holdings Ltd
    Inventors: Brian William Trotta, Christopher Charles Wills
  • Domain collapsing of search results
    Patent number: 8041709
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and graphical user interfaces for presenting search results having collapsed domains are provided. A search result obtaining module obtains search results based upon a received query. Upon obtaining the search results, search results having the same domain are associated with one another. Thereafter, search result clusters of associated search results are formed. In some embodiments, the search result clusters may be formatted to include desired search result cluster attributes. The search result clusters are presented such that two or more associated search results form a single cluster of search results rather than being presented individually. In some embodiments, an option to view more search results with the same domain may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Pratibha Permandla, Gaurav Sareen, Girish Kumar, Junhua Wang, Rohit V. Wad, William D. Ramsey
  • System and method for filtering and organizing items based on common elements
    Patent number: 8037104
    Abstract: A system and method for filtering and organizing items in a computer system based on common elements is provided. A graphical user interface includes a plurality of display objects, each display object representing one or more items and a metadata property control corresponding to a metadata property. Selection of the metadata property control causes a list of filter terms to be presented on the display and also may cause a list of check box controls to be presented on the display, each check box control being adjacent to a respective one of the filter terms. The list of filter terms may be presented in a drop down menu. Selection of a check box control causes each item that satisfies the corresponding filter term to be presented on the display. The filters may be dynamically generated based on the properties of the separate items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David G. De Vorchik, Patrice L. Miner, Kenneth M. Tubbs, Paul A. Gusmorino, Colin Anthony, Cornelis K. Van Dok
  • Method and system for valuing advertising content
    Patent number: 8036932
    Abstract: Methods and media are provided for objectively valuing advertising content (or the potential viewer impact thereof) that occur during the course of an event or other presentation (such as TV sitcom). In one embodiment the method includes receiving a source of media, indexing a set of sponsorship images within the media to provide a set of indices, and providing valuation factors by aggregating the indices so that valuation factors can be derived that indicate a viewer's potential awareness of the advertising content or images therein. The valuation factors can be used in connection with a benchmark, such as the 30-second spot rate or time, to determine a value associated with the media source, including a monetary value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Repucom America, LLC
    Inventors: William Russell Cline, Jr., Gerald Bruce Williams, David Thomas Feyerabend, Jasvindarjit Singh, Neal Arjuna Sharma
  • Location enabled bookmark and profile
    Patent number: 8032666
    Abstract: Location based profiles are used to modify the configuration of a computing device based on a detected location. The location based profiles allow features such as cameras to be enabled and disabled. Physical and logical data storage partitions can also be mounted and unmounted, and the home screen displayed by a device can be modified. Location bookmarks can be used to further customize the appearance and function of a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sridhar Srinivansan, Ye Gu, Johnny Liu
  • Recommending similar content identified with a neural network
    Patent number: 8032469
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer-readable media for finding similarities between visual objects by evaluating user interactions with a collection of visual objects are provided. Using a neural network, human interactions with a collection of visual objects are evaluated to ascertain relationships or connections between visual objects. The relationship between visual objects indicates that the visual objects are similar. Once relationships between visual objects are identified, a user may select one or more visual objects and receive suggested visual objects that are similar to the one or more visual objects selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Antoine J Atallah
  • Microphone
    Patent number: D647082
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Lucrecia Rawson, Terence L. O'Reagan
  • Chair mechanism housing
    Patent number: D647736
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Massimo Costaglia
  • Chair mechanism housing
    Patent number: D647737
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Massimo Costaglia