Patents Assigned to Microsoft Corporation
  • Publication number: 20090181772
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for a trusted proxy to intercept communications between an untrusted computerized gaming system and an online multi-player gaming service that requires games to be trusted, allowing the untrusted computerized gaming system to use the multi-player gaming service. In addition to allowing the untrusted computerized gaming system to use the multi-player gaming service in general, the trusted proxy can also limit the extent of the interaction between the untrusted computerized gaming system and the multi-player gaming service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn Hargreaves, John Mitchell Walker, Richard A. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20090182534
    Abstract: Described is a technology that improves the quality of data collected during computer system monitoring for subsequent analysis via dynamic adjustment, prediction, and/or elapsed collection time considerations. An interval is computed from an actual iteration start time and a desired interval; a subsequent data collection iteration occurs after a sleep time based on the computed interval. The sleep time may be based on an elapsed data collection time that accounts for delays in collecting the data, and/or based on a prediction obtained from historical data such as past iteration start times. When recorded, the elapsed data collection times may be used as a measure of error and/or for estimating an actual read time for a given iteration's counter read, as well as to estimate a number of processor time slices taken to collect the data, which may be used in the time estimate and/or in the measure of error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Charles Z. Loboz
  • Publication number: 20090183157
    Abstract: Coalescing schedules that use a resource to extend battery life. Each of the schedules is defined to execute at a recurrent activation time within a defined tolerance. After receiving notification of an event, the schedules are accessed to identify the schedules that may be executed early based on their activation time and tolerance. The identified schedules are aggregated for execution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anh P. Tran, Lloyd Alfred Moore, Christopher Todd Guillory, Hugh Teegan, John Mark Miller, Adam Sapek, Keith C. Bentley, Poonam Ganesh Hattangady
  • Publication number: 20090183227
    Abstract: Method for ensuring security of online content on a client device. Online content is rendered on a display on the client device and the client device stores one or more policies each defining an execution boundary of a web script content. The execution boundary defines resource access of the web script content, and the web script content is configured to issue an execution invocation to interact with other portions of the online content. The issued execution invocation is intercepted and parameters included in the intercepted execution invocation are identified. The identified parameters request resources from an application or the client device for interacting with the other portions of the online content. The identified parameters are evaluated against the execution boundary of each of the policies stored in the client device. A dynamic resolution is provided to the web script content in response to the evaluating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Isaacs, Stephen Mark Yolleck, Ronald Keith Logan
  • Publication number: 20090180623
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to communication devices which monitor an audio environment at a remote location and convey to a user a representation of that audio environment. The “representation” may be an abstraction of the audio environment at the remote location or may be a measure of decibels or some other quality or parameter of the audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are two-way devices which allow users at remote locations to share an audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are one way devices. In some embodiments, the communication devices may have the form of a window and be arranged to present sound in a manner that mimics sound received through a window. In such embodiments, the more open the window is, the more sound is relayed by the communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Frohlich, Lorna Brown, Abigail Durrant, Sian Lindley, Gerard Oleksik, Dominic Robson, Francis Rumsey, Abigail Sellen, John Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090182802
    Abstract: A mobile device management system is provided. The mobile device management system may include a device management client configured to be executed on a mobile computing device. The device management client may include a client scheduler module configured to contact a device management server via a computer network and download a device management schedule for storage on the mobile computing device. The device management schedule may be generated at the device management server and include one or more schedule items. Each schedule item may include a predefined event and an associated action. The client scheduler module may be configured to monitor the device management schedule, detect the predefined event defined in a schedule item, and perform the associated action associated with the event, to thereby configure software on the mobile computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anh Tran, Hung Dang, Yuhang Zhu, Chris Guillory, Carl Wolz, Nikhil Deore
  • Patent number: 7562305
    Abstract: A commanding system for a computer. The system includes a memory storing a binding table that connects input to associated action, at least one binding in the binding table including an interface binding. The system also includes a processor in data communication with the memory, the processor programmed to query each binding in the binding table, receive the interface binding associated with the binding; and generate a command interface based on the interface binding. The command interface is dynamically generated based on the information provided by the interface binding. Examples of command interfaces include toolbars and menus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dwayne Need, Gregory Cavanaugh Franklin, Kevin B. Gjerstad, Nicholas M. Kramer, Yutaka Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7562095
    Abstract: The application programming interfaces described herein are directed at property management mechanisms that operate within an on-demand property system. The property management mechanisms support the caching of property values on an as needed basis, allow a plurality of object instances to utilize the same property via attached properties, overriding default information associated with a property on a per type basis, obtaining values for a property from an external source, and the like. In addition, the on-demand property system provides validation and control for each property instance. The property management mechanisms minimize the storage requirements and provide flexibility without requiring additional code from the developers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Namita Gupta, Mark J. Finocchio, Michael J. Hillberg, Jeffrey L. Bogdan
  • Patent number: 7562296
    Abstract: A correction tool that displays a correction widget when a user acts to correct text is provided. More particularly, if the user places an insertion point in or to the immediate left of the text, or selects the text, the tool displays the correction widget immediately to the left of the selected text. The user can then quickly access a correction interface for correcting the text simply by moving the pointer the short distance from the insertion point to the correction widget. When the user activates the correction widget, the tool displays the correction interface immediately proximal to the correction widget. Thus, the user need only move the pointer a small distance further to then correct the text using the correction interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ravipal Soin, Adrian J. Garside, David V. Winkler, Luis M. Huapaya, Marieke Iwema
  • Patent number: 7562185
    Abstract: A method and system for accessing a storage medium that factors in read statistics of previous reads of the storage medium is provided. An access system tracks read statistics generated from previous attempts to read data of the storage medium, which may be stored on a per-unit basis. When the access system receives a request to read data of the storage device, the access system may generate a read plan for the read based on analysis of the read statistics. A read plan may specify the initial speed of the attempt to read the data. The access system uses the read statistics to help reduce the time needed to read a unit of data from the storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Hakuro Matsuda, John M. Harding
  • Patent number: 7562211
    Abstract: Encrypted communications between peers are inspected by a proxy server, for bugs, viruses, malicious software and the like, while the proxy server is prevented from modifying the encrypted communications. A proxy server functioning as a gateway processor between the peers includes a security processor. The security processor is coupled to one of the peers via a channel that is separate from the channel carrying the encrypted communications between the peers. Cryptographic keys needed to decrypt the encrypted communications are provided via the separate channel to the security processor prior to commencement of encrypted communications. The security processor monitors the encrypted communications. The security processor decrypts the monitored encrypted communications without perturbing the encrypted communications. The security processor decrypts the encrypted communications utilizing the previously provided cryptographic keys. The security processor inspects the decrypted communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Cem Paya, Opher Dubrovsky
  • Patent number: 7562056
    Abstract: A system for learning an attention model for an image based on user navigation actions while viewing the image is provided. An attention model learning system generates an initial attention model based on static features derived from the image. The learning system logs the actions of users as they view the image. The learning system identifies from the actions of the users those areas of the image that may be of user interest: After the learning system identifies areas that may be of user interest, the learning system attempts to identify attention objects based on those identified areas. After identifying the user attention objects, the learning system updates the attention model for the image to reflect the additional information provided by the user attention objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ying Ma, Xing Xie
  • Patent number: 7561166
    Abstract: A reflection image and an environment map are loaded into memory. During rendering of an object, an environment texture sample is retrieved from the environment map based on a reflection vector stored in a pixel of the reflection image. The retrieved environment texture sample is then applied to the object. The object thus rendered is stored in a frame buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Jeffrey Ungar
  • Patent number: 7562086
    Abstract: Custom grouping for dimension members of an On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) cube is facilitated by an interface component that receives a grouping from a user. A modification component alters an attribute of a session OLAP data cube or a virtual OLAP multi-dimensional data cube so that the change becomes readily available without the time-consuming delay associated with rebuilding or reprocessing the underlying structure. A data scheme generation component produces a data definition language (DDL) definition of a user defined attribute executed by an execution component to affect the change to a data cube. Custom groupings can provide an intermediate dimension level for drill down and/or drill up or roll-up between a level with few members and a level with numerous members. A separate dimensional attribute or level can be created and a group defined comprising or mapping a set or collection of discrete members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Akshai M. Mirchandani, Alexander Berger, Thomas P. Conlon, Edward Melomed
  • Patent number: 7559834
    Abstract: A squad-based shooter video game allows players to dynamically join and leave the game, while that game is in progress, without the players having to save and restart the game. When a new player joins an in-progress game, a new squad member is allocated to the new player and the screen is split to present a viewing panel for the new player that depicts scenes from the perspective of the new squad member. When an existing player leaves the game, the screen is unsplit to remove the viewing panel for the exiting player and that player's squad member becomes part of the squad being controlled by the remaining player(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: James R. J. York
  • Patent number: 7562228
    Abstract: The subject matter includes systems, engines, methods, and schemata for embedding spread-spectrum fingerprints in multimedia content: a first fingerprint to identify a recipient of the multimedia content and a second fingerprint at a location in the first fingerprint that represents a subset of a much larger group of recipients. By locating the second fingerprint, the search for a media pirate is immediately narrowed down to the subset, thus immensely speeding up pirate identification. In one implementation, chips of the second fingerprint can be made small and embedded sparsely, making alteration difficult. Systems, engines, methods, and schemata for synchronizing a pirated copy with original multimedia content to facilitate fingerprint recovery are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Darko Kirovski, Daniel Schonberg
  • Patent number: 7561696
    Abstract: Various embodiments permit policy updates, such as DRM policy updates, to be delivered and updated for a given piece of protected content. In at least some embodiments, various protocols can be extended to permit policy updates to be represented and carried by the protocol. In one embodiment, Hypertext Transport Protocol or HTTP is utilized to carry the policy updates. In another embodiment, Real Time Streaming Protocol or RTSP is used to carry policy updates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eduardo P. Oliveira, James M. Alkove, Anders E. Klemets
  • Patent number: 7562357
    Abstract: Techniques for managing multiple versions of relational database schema data are described. Schema data associated with multiple versions of a relational database are maintained according to a database schema version management structure. Laws of set theory are applied to the structured database schema data to identify data definition language (DDL) and data manipulation language (DML) scripts that are associated with a particular version of the relational database. The identified scripts are then copied into an installation file that can be executed to create a full install of the particular version of the relational database. Similarly, laws of set theory are applied to the structured database schema data to identify DDL scripts, DML scripts, and drop scripts that are to be applied to upgrade from one version of the relational database to a newer version of the relational database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Leela S. Tamma, Krishna Vitaldevara
  • Patent number: 7562151
    Abstract: Transferring data using peer-to-peer protocols. A method may be practiced, for example, at a computer system in a computer network. The computer network may include one or more networked agents formed into a peer group of peers using at least one peer-to-peer connection. The method includes an act of receiving a computer readable message from a peer-to-peer network. The computer readable message is a centric message enveloped in a peer-to-peer message. The centric message is extracted. The centric message is delivered to an agent configured for centric type communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher G. Kaler
  • Patent number: 7562378
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide accurate EPG lineup construction and PVR scheduling for users, regardless of their geographic location. In accordance with the described embodiments, the guide retrieves and aggregates data from multiple available sources, particularly in-band scanning and EPG metadata download. Services are then identified and sorted into logically equivalent groups. Once the services are grouped, in accordance with one embodiment, an analysis is conducted the outcome of which is directed to selecting which services to use for tuning and which services to use for scheduling on a given channel/preset. In addition, various embodiments can, in an automated fashion, assign services to presets/channels, as well as provide a user interface and methods for editing a lineup, modifying tuning information and personalizing presets/channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Silverberg, Alan E. Shield, Christopher F. Pezzee, Glenn A. Curtis, Mark D. Schwesinger, Shawn E. Pickett, Thaddeus C. Pritchett