Patents Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing
  • Patent number: 9773117
    Abstract: Reducing risk of data loss by automatically background scanning data to detect a plurality of candidate sensitive data items. For at least some of those candidate sensitive data items that are deemed not to concretely classified as sensitive, a dissolvable encryption is applied to the data item to at least temporarily protect the data item. When the user requests access to the data item, the system determines that the data item has been dissolvably encrypted and that the user is authorized to define the sensitivity of the data item. In response, the user is allowed to direct the system as to whether the data item is to be concretely encrypted (such as if the user was to confirm the data item as sensitive), or whether the dissolvable encryption of the data item is to be dissolved (such as if the user was to confirm the data item as not sensitive).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Plastina
  • Patent number: 9772860
    Abstract: Efficient power management of a system with virtual machines is disclosed. In particular, such efficient power management may enable coordination of system-wide power changes with virtual machines. Additionally, such efficient power management may enable coherent power changes in a system with a virtual machine monitor. Furthermore, such efficient power management may enable dynamic control and communication of power state changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian J. Oney, Bryan Mark Willman, Eric P. Traut, Forrest Curtis Foltz, Matthew D. Hendel, Rene Antonio Vega
  • Patent number: 9773170
    Abstract: Embodiments that relate to determining an estimated pupil region of an eye are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes receiving an image of an eye, with the image comprising a plurality of pixels. A rough pupil region is generated using at least a subset of the plurality of pixels. A plurality of pupil boundary point candidates are extracted from the rough pupil region, with each of the candidates weighted based on color values of at least two neighbor pixels. A parametric curve may be fitted to the weighted pupil boundary point candidates to determine the estimated pupil region of the eye of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Milan Vugdelija, Djordje Nijemcevic, David Zachris Nister, Christopher Maurice Mei, Chandra Sekhar Gatla
  • Patent number: 9774852
    Abstract: Various techniques and tools for encoding and decoding (e.g., in a video encoder/decoder) binary information (e.g., skipped macroblock information) are described. In some embodiments, the binary information is arranged in a bit plane, and the bit plane is coded at the picture/frame layer. The encoder and decoder process the binary information and, in some embodiments, switch coding modes. For example, the encoder and decoder use normal, row-skip, column-skip, or differential modes, or other and/or additional modes. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder define a skipped macroblock as a predicted macroblock whose motion is equal to its causally predicted motion and which has zero residual error. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder use a raw coding mode to allow for low-latency applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Sridhar Srinivasan, Pohsiang Hsu
  • Patent number: 9773123
    Abstract: Systems and methods that regulate range of access to personal information of a mobile unit's owner. The access control component can designate granularity for access levels and/or a spectrum of access modes—(as opposed to a binary choice of full access or no access at all). Such access can be based on a spectrum and/or discrete trust relationship between the owner and user of the mobile unit. A profile definition component can exploit an owner's trust relationships to designate levels of security. The profile definition component can further define a profile based on a set of applications, such as entertainment mode, browser mode, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amy Karlson, Alice Jane Bernheim Brush, Stuart Edward Schechter
  • Patent number: 9772826
    Abstract: Build-time resolution and type-enforcing of corresponding references in different code that references the same value. In response to detecting a directive within the code itself that a first reference in first code is to be correlated with a second reference in second code, and in response to detection that the types of the references are the same, a code generation tool generates correlation code that is interpretable to a compiler as allowing a value of a type of the first reference of a compiled-form of the first code to be passed as the same value of the same type of the second reference of a compiled-form of the second code. The first code, the second code, and the generated correlation code may then be compiled. If compilation is successful, this means that the first and second references are already properly resolved as referring to the same value and type-enforced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Wen-Ke Chen, Jinsong Yu, Alexander P. Riemann
  • Patent number: 9774653
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards co-located collaboration/data sharing that is based upon detecting the proxemics of people and/or the proxemics of devices. A federation of devices is established based upon proxemics, such as when the users have entered into a formation based upon distance between them and orientation. User devices may share content with other devices in the federation based upon micro-mobility actions performed on the devices, e.g., tilting and/or otherwise interacting with a sending device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Nicolai Marquardt
  • Patent number: 9775182
    Abstract: A computing device for provisioning a wireless device for connection to a wireless network via a legacy access point. The wireless device supports a wireless protected setup protocol for obtaining the network profile of the network. A user requests the computing device discover wireless devices for provisioning. In response to the user input, the computing device is configured as a soft access point and broadcasts a beacon signal indicating that the access point supports a wireless protected setup protocol, such as Wi-Fi Protected Setup. A request for provisioning is then received by the computing device from the wireless device. A network profile is transmitted from the computing device to the wireless device in accordance with the wireless protected setup protocol. The wireless device may use the profile to connect to the network via the legacy access point using the network profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yatharth Gupta, David A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9773045
    Abstract: Search results may include both objective results and person results. In one example, a search query is evaluated to determine whether it is the type of query that a user might want to ask to a friend. If the query is of such a type, then the search engine may examine a social graph to determine which friends of the user who entered the query may have information that is relevant to answering the query. If such friends exist, then the friends may be displayed along with objective search results, along with an explanation of each friend's relevance to the query. Clicking on a person in the results may cause a conversation to be initiated with that person, thereby allowing the user who entered the query to ask his or her friend about the subject of the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Sandy Wong, Wei Mu, Jun Yin, Rahul Nair, Simon King, Srinivasan Badrinarayanan, Xavier Legros, Michael Ching, Kevin Haas, Shubha Nabar
  • Patent number: 9774623
    Abstract: Anti-Phishing protection assists in protecting against phishing attacks. Any links that are contained within a message that has been identified as a phishing message are disabled. A warning message is shown when the phishing message is accessed. The first time a disabled link within the phishing message is selected a dismissible dialog box is displayed containing information about how to enable links in the message. After the user dismisses the dialog, clicking on a disabled link causes the warning message to flash drawing the user's attention to the potential severity of the problem. The links may be enabled by the user by selecting the warning message and choosing the appropriate option. Once the user enables the links, future displays of the message show the links as enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Xavier, Aime M. Mitchell, Brian J. Tsang, George A. Herbert, Hernan I. Savastano, Lubdha Khandelwal, Robert C. J. Pengelly, Robert Novitskey, Stanley Grant, III
  • Patent number: 9772764
    Abstract: Automatically alternating between input modes on a computing device based on a usage pattern is provided. A first input mode is initiated for interacting with content displayed on the computing device. An input corresponding to a second input mode on the computing is then detected. A transition is then made from the first input mode to the second input mode on the computing device. Upon the detecting a termination of the input on the displayed content the second input mode, a gradual transition is made from the second input mode to the first input mode based on a current sensor state of the computing device and a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Oded Elyada, Jeffrey M. Jo, Shaiket S. Das, Aditya R. Kalro, Zijia Zheng, Karen Master Ben-Dor, Adi Diamant, Inbal Ort Bengal
  • Patent number: 9772822
    Abstract: A development system comprises, in one example, a customization component configured to detect user development inputs to develop elements of a computing system, the elements comprising types modeled in the computing system, a display system configured to generate user interface displays, and a visualization system configured to identify a set of customized elements, a set of non-customized elements, and a customization type for each of the customized elements. The visualization system comprises a display system controller configured to control the display system to generate an integrated view user interface display that visually distinguishes the set of customized elements from the set of non-customized elements and indicates the customization types for the customized elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Suriya Narayanan, Nitinkumar Shah, George Strajan, Zhaoqi Chen, Devin Carraway, Robert Badawy, Ian Beck, Suresh Kumar Reddy Kotapalle, Tomasz Kaminski
  • Publication number: 20170270006
    Abstract: Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure describe utilization of a social graph, created from evaluation of extracted social media data, to generate temporal snapshots related to social media data. The temporal snapshots enable users to explore different levels of interest related to social media data. In one example, a social media identifier is identified. A social graph may be accessed to evaluate the social media identifier. An exemplary social graph includes clustered relationships developed based on analysis of social media data extracted from at least one social networking service. The social graph may be used to generate a temporal snapshot for the social media identifier. The temporal snapshot may be transmitted to an entry point for output of the temporal snapshot. Other examples are also described including navigation between content of temporal snapshots based on selection of linked data, among other examples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Vasileios Kandylas, Serge-Eric Tremblay, Omar Alonso
  • Publication number: 20170269670
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for suppressing power spikes. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses determine an available amount of power that a battery is capable of providing while maintaining a particular voltage level and a requisite amount of power that components will consume to perform a task. When the requisite amount of power exceeds the available amount of power, execution of the task or other tasks can be rescheduled effective to enable the battery to maintain the particular voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ranveer Chandra, Stephen E. Hodges, Julia L. Meinershagen, Nissanka Arachchige Bodhi Priyantha, Anirudh Badam, Thomas Moscibroda, Pan Hu, Anthony John Ferrese, Evangelia Skiani
  • Publication number: 20170270289
    Abstract: This document relates to user-authentication gestures. One example can capture multiple biometric features when a user-authentication gesture is performed as a device authentication attempt. The example can compare values of the multiple biometric features to previous values stored for the user. The example can further unlock the computing device in an instance where the values of the multiple biometric features satisfy a similarity threshold relative to the previous values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitrios LYMBEROPOULOS, Jie LIU, He WANG
  • Publication number: 20170265783
    Abstract: Portable devices include environmental sensors that generate metrics about the environment (e.g., accelerometers detecting impulses and vibration, and GPS receivers detecting position and velocity). Such devices often use environmental metrics to extract user input directed at the device by the user, and status information about the device and the environment. Presented herein are techniques for using environmental metrics to infer physical activities performed by the user while attached to the device. For example, jogging may be inferred from regular, strong impulses and typical jogging speed; walking may be inferred from regular, weak impulses and typical walking speed; and riding in a vehicle may be inferred from low-level vibrations and high speed (optionally identifying the type of vehicle ridden by the user). Based on these inferences, the device may automatically present applications and/or or adjust user interfaces suitable for the user's physical activity, rather than responsive to user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Julia Maureen Letchner, Scott Saponas, Alice Jane Brush, Aman Kansal, Daniel Morris
  • Publication number: 20170272695
    Abstract: The local address book of a device can be crawled for contact information, which is communicated to an address clearinghouse. The clearinghouse can indicate whether a contact is a participant in a video calling service. If so, an indication can be stored locally indicating that the contact is a participant. Later, during an audio-only call with the contact, an option to escalate the audio-only call to a video call via the video calling service can be presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Sriraman Krishnamoorthy, Heather Marie LeRoy, Roy Marcus Grenaengen, Johann Gerell, Omobayonle Olatunji, Bo Erik Petter Wiberg
  • Publication number: 20170272755
    Abstract: Innovations in opportunistic frame dropping for variable-frame-rate encoding of digital video are presented. In general, a computing system selectively drops a frame when the cost of encoding the frame (e.g., in terms of use of computational resources and/or power) is expected to outweigh the benefit of encoding the frame (e.g., in terms of better quality). For example, a frame dropping module detects whether there is significant change in a given frame relative to a control frame, which is a previous frame stored in a control frame buffer. If significant change is detected, the frame dropping module stores the given frame in the control frame buffer, thereby replacing the control frame, and passes the given frame to a video encoder. Otherwise, the frame dropping module drops the given frame without replacing the control frame in the control frame buffer and without passing the given frame to the video encoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Holcomb, Shyam Sadhwani, Srinath Reddy
  • Publication number: 20170272303
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for displaying related content associated with browsing a website. For example, a user may access a website to view content provided by the website. As opposed to the user manually searching for interesting content through trial and error, related content that may be interesting to the user may be identified and surfaced to the user. For example, a user profile specifying user interests of the user may be used to identify related content assigned topics corresponding to the user interests (e.g., content provided by the website or other web source). In this way, the related content may be displayed to the user through a content recommendation reader interface. In an example, the content recommendation reader interface may be provided by a web browser so that related content may be identified and/or provided to users of any website from any device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yan KE, Serge SMIRNOV, Qiaolin MAO, Alexander Owen COLL, Ting CAI, Xiaodong FAN, Junaid AHMED
  • Publication number: 20170270113
    Abstract: Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure describe creation and management of a contact associated with a document. A contact for a document in a first application may be created. The contact may be used to add content, from a second application, to the document. The contact may be stored. Contact data for the contact may be transmitted to one or more processing devices. An exemplary created contact may be used to transfer content from one or more applications to a document of another application. Other examples are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Rolf Ebeling, Alan Urdan, Annice Jumani, YuBeen Lee, Shikha Desai, Paul Scudieri, Stephanie Cooper, Taili Feng, Michelle Mao, Allison Whilden, Ruth Kikin-Gil, Alicia Drummond