Patents Assigned to Microsoft
  • Patent number: 7703037
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method is for enabling a user to efficiently navigate to a portion of a user interface configured to support performance of a particular task. The method includes receiving from the user an input that includes a description of the particular task. A result set is returned to the user and includes a plurality of candidate tasks that correspond to the description. The candidate tasks are displayed relative to an indication of at least one corresponding applet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew John McGlinchey, Brett Alan Waldbaum, Matthew A. Goldberg, Randall Knight Winjum, Mark Richard Ligameri
  • Patent number: 7702678
    Abstract: When a Web-browser user employs a hyperlink, a Web-information manager makes a log entry that includes the URL of the Web page containing the hyperlink and also lists the URL of the target Web page, to which the hyperlink refers. When the user requests that a Web page be captured for later use, the Web-information manager uses the log to find the page at the root of the hyperlink chain that led to that page. It then determines from the root page's URL whether the root page is a search-result page. If it is, the Web-information manager infers the search specification from that URL and associates it with the page to be captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. Teague
  • Patent number: 7703007
    Abstract: Data presented in a hierarchical format is rendered in a form allowing the data to be imported into a spreadsheet document where the data can be modified and new data can be added. A data file containing the hierarchically formatted data is selected for importing. A mapping relating a plurality of elements within the hierarchical data to a plurality of respective locations in the spreadsheet document is accessed. The hierarchical data is rendered in the spreadsheet document according to the mapping. Input is received to modify the hierarchical data rendered in the spreadsheet document. The mapping is updated to include the modifications to the hierarchical data. The modifications to the hierarchical data and the updated mapping are exported for subsequent rendering in a second spreadsheet document according to the updated mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Collie, Chad Rothschiller, Ulrich Homann, Joseph Chirilov, Kelly J. Lynch, Ramakrishnan Natarajan, Eoin Burke, Juha Niemisto, Michael J. McCormack, Parul Dalia, Marise Chan, James Rivera
  • Patent number: 7702924
    Abstract: Reliable end-to-end messaging in which tracking and acknowledgement information are contained in the electronic message that is visible to layers above the transport layer, thereby being independent of what transport protocols, and whether different transport protocols, are used to communicate between the two end points. Furthermore, acknowledgment messages may identify multiple ranges of sequence numbers corresponding to received electronic messages, thereby permitting further flexibility and completeness in acknowledging received messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Langworthy, Christopher G. Kaler, Luis Felipe Cabrera, Patrick J. Helland, Steven E. Lucco, John P. Shewchuk
  • Patent number: 7702408
    Abstract: A system and method for playing audio material is described. The audio material is illustratively downloaded from a network, or from a storage media, each coupled to a loudspeaker through a speaker drive unit. A speaker authorization signal is provided to the speaker drive unit from the network or storage media. The speaker drive unit provides an audio signal to the loudspeaker if the authorization signal indicates that the loudspeaker is authorized to play the audio material. The speaker drive unit does not provide an audio signal to the loudspeaker if the authorization signal indicates that the loudspeaker is not authorized to play the audio material. The system and method includes a monitoring unit to furnish a signal indicating the sound generated by the loudspeaker, to be stored, and to determine whether the loudspeaker has played the audio material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Algie Abrams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7702668
    Abstract: A system and method facilitating asset composition based, at least in part, upon metadata (e.g., asset specification) describing compositional property(ies) of the asset(s) is provided. Asset specification(s) (e.g., metadata) that describe asset(s) to efficiently search and/or match asset(s) are employed. The system can facilitate matching (e.g., automatically) the particular software component to available server(s). Thus, the system can provide a flexible manner of describing asset(s) and an efficient way of locating matching description(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony Bloesch
  • Patent number: 7702778
    Abstract: A method and system for providing system event notifications to clients such as applications. Clients register for notification of one or more types of events with a registration mechanism, and a System Event Notification Service, (SENS), receives system event information and fires event notifications in response thereto. A distribution mechanism selectively communicates the fired event to each client registered for notification thereof based on the type of event. Events include network events, for which the service monitors the connectivity state of the machine, including whether a connection is established or lost, the type of connection (LAN/WAN) and bandwidth information. To monitor a LAN state, the service caches outgoing and incoming network information including errors and packet counts and statistically evaluates this cached information against current information to determine whether the connection is established or lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gopal Parupudi, Mario C. Goertzel, Murthy Srinivas
  • Patent number: 7703086
    Abstract: An integrated circuit card includes a storage device to store one or more code files and one or more data files, and control logic. The control logic implements an ICC runtime environment that executes an applet in response to a command identifying both a code file and a data file received from a host system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gilad Odinak, David Milstein, Eric C. Perlin, Vinay Deo, Scott B. Guthery
  • Patent number: 7701516
    Abstract: A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Potrebic, Geoffrey R Smith
  • Patent number: 7702489
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of constructing recognition models. Under the method, a set of probabilities is estimated for values of a hidden variable. A Fourier transform is determined for the set of probabilities and is used to determine a Fourier transform of an estimated prototype pattern. The inverse Fourier transform is then determined for the Fourier transform of the estimated prototype pattern to form an estimated prototype pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nebojsa Jojic, Brendan J. Frey
  • Patent number: 7702728
    Abstract: Techniques for enabling mobile shared group interaction are described. Members of a group may access, through a user interface, group activities that provide a shared, synchronous, interactive experience. An interface may be provided via a mobile device such as a cellular telephone that enables members who are mobile to participate in group activities with other members who are also mobile or who are logged on via a non-mobile device such as a desktop computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Melora Zaner, Eun-Kyung Chung, Kathleen Mulcahy, Cesare John Saretto, Asta Roseway, Tammy Savage
  • Patent number: 7703036
    Abstract: An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above the software application workspace to allow the user ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level functionality control or selects another object for editing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse Clay Satterfield, Aaron M. Butcher, David A. Morton, Jensen M. Harris, Justin Denney
  • Patent number: 7702997
    Abstract: A system architecture integrates spreadsheet functionality into text. The architecture allows insertion of discrete individual fields, referred to as “free floating fields”, inline with normal textual sentences. In an HTML document, for example, the free floating fields are elements constructed along with text elements and rendered together as an integrated document. Once rendered, the free floating fields present contents that resemble normal text consistent with the surrounding text. The free floating fields offer spreadsheet functionality, including the ability to handle complex formulas, reference values in a separate free floating field or table, and automatically recalculate the formulas when a source value changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Kotler, Alexander G. Gounares, Oliver G. Fisher, Matthew D. Morgan, Christopher Matthew Franklin
  • Patent number: 7703128
    Abstract: One aspect relates to a process and associated device for managing digital ID lifecycles for application programs, and abstracting application programs for multiple types of credentials through a common Digital Identity Management System (DIMS) and Application Programming Interface (API) layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Cross, Philip J. Hallin, Matthew W. Thomlinson, Thomas C. Jones
  • Patent number: 7702006
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to providing flexible and efficient communication by dynamically adjusting a transmit data rate in response to data status feedback. Such feedback may include information regarding data errors and/or latency. A first communication node communicates with a second communication node and sends data at an initial data rate. The transmit data rate is then selectively adjusted based on data status feedback received from the second communication node or other destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kunii, Takayuki Shirahama
  • Patent number: D614137
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Ho Son, Gregory G. Jones, Steven W. Fisher
  • Patent number: D614171
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Ho Son, Gregory G. Jones, Steven W. Fisher
  • Patent number: D614194
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Paula Guntaur, Marina Dukhon, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Keri D. Vandeberghe, Christopher D. Edwards
  • Patent number: D614196
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Paula Guntaur, Marina Dukhon, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Keri D. Vandeberghe, Christopher D. Edwards
  • Patent number: D614223
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Young Soo Kim, Ralf Groene