Patents Assigned to Microsoft
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Patent number: 7630964Abstract: A method and system for determining relevance of a document to a query based on identifier match distance is provided. The relevance system analyzes a training set of queries and documents to determine the relationship between identifier match distance and relevance of a document to a query. The identifier match distance indicates the distance from the end of an identifier of a document to an identifier term that matches a query term. The relevance system generates a prior relevance probability that a document with a certain identifier match distance is relevant to a query. The relevance system uses the prior relevance probabilities to determine relevance of documents to queries based on identifier match distance.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Guomao Xin, Ji-Rong Wen, Ruihua Song, Shuming Shi, Wei-Ying Ma
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Patent number: 7630193Abstract: Described is a computer display arm that couples a monitor to a base in a manner facilitates display monitor movement between various positions, including preset positions that may be generally optimized to match typical computer usage modes. In one implementation, an arm, which may be an articulating arm, includes or is otherwise associated with a mechanism that guides the user, if desired, to convenient stopping positions for different types of interaction. For example, preset stopping positions may be provided for conventional (e.g., mouse and keyboard) workstation-like interaction, video (e.g., DVD movie) playback, stand-up (walk-up) touch-screen interaction, and/or for pen input, similar to a tablet computing device. Users are able to position the monitor display screen between the preset positions if desired, and also may vary the positioning at the preset and/or other stopping points, to an extent. Software such as user interface code can change to match the current position.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Carl J. Ledbetter, Adrian M. Chandley, Tarek Z. Elabbady, Steven T. Kaneko, Aditha M. Adams, Fabrice Herpain
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Patent number: 7631259Abstract: A system and related techniques manage the adding of digital images or other media to email messages using a comparatively straightforward insert-and-send scheme. A user may choose to insert or embed comparatively low-resolution versions of images or other media automatically published to a media server into an email message. The recipient of that media-enabled message may receive and view the email text message along with the low-resolution images in typical fashion using an email or other client. The recipient may choose to view one or more of the embedded images in greater resolution by linking or activating those images, for instance by moving a cursor and clicking into the selected image or other object. Activating the image or other media object from within the email pane may seamlessly transport the user to the media server's Web page to view a larger-resolution version of that image, for instance using a media player. Video, audio and other media may likewise be inserted into messages.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kevin Neil Kirn, Steven Gary Frank, Mark A. Nikiel, Tanuja Joshi, Brian Robert Cody, Kurt Alan Weber
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Patent number: 7631309Abstract: The management of computational resources of coprocessors to facilitate efficient execution of multiple applications in a multitasking environment is accomplished by enabling multiple threads of execution to compose command buffers in parallel, submitting those command buffers for scheduling and dispatch by the operating system, and fielding interrupts that notify of completion of command buffers, the system enables multiple applications to efficiently share the computational resources available in the system.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Nicholas P. Wilt, Sameer A. Nene, Joseph S. Beda, III
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Patent number: 7629960Abstract: An input device having a pointing mode and a joystick mode is disclosed. The input device includes a housing, a tracking assembly, and at least one actuator. In some aspects of the invention, a controller is located within the housing to receive input from the tracking assembly and the actuator, and the controller transmits a pointing device recognition signal and a joystick device recognition signal to a host upon connection of the input device to the host. In another aspect of the invention, the actuator may be utilized to switch between a repeat and center mode, wherein the input device repeats a joystick signal when in the pointing mode and the hold mode. Additional aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable media with computer executable instructions.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Nathan C. Sherman
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Patent number: 7631292Abstract: An intrusion-resistant mechanism based on restricted code segments and code individualization is able to thwart significant amounts of known and unknown low-level attacks that inject invalid code, in the form of false data or instructions for execution by a victim application, by varying the locations of code-containing segments within a memory space corresponding to an application.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2003Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Yuqun Chen
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Patent number: 7630975Abstract: A unified user interface is described that allows a user to search, browse, and launch items from the same user interface. For example, a single text input box may be provided that allows the user to perform all these functions by typing in a portion of an item name or an entire item name. The various functions may be selectively performed depending upon the text inputted by the user into the text input box. For example, where the text appears to be the beginning of an item name, then those items matching the input text will dynamically appear as the user types. Or, where the text appears to be the beginning of a file path, then items in that file path may be presented. In addition, advanced items such as system files may be suppressed so that inexperienced users do not accidentally stumble across these items.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Bret P. Anderson, David A. Matthews, Matthew A. Lerner, Song Zou
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Patent number: 7630976Abstract: A method and system for adapting search results of a query to the information needs of the user submitting the query is provided. A search system analyzes click-through triplets indicating that a user submitted a query and that the user selected a document from the results of the query. To overcome the large size and sparseness of the click-through data, the search system when presented with an input triplet comprising a user, a query, and a document determines a probability that the user will find the input document important by smoothing the click-through triplets. The search system then orders documents of the result based on the probability of their importance to the input user.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Benyu Zhang, Gui-Rong Xue, Hua-Jun Zeng, Wei-Ying Ma, Xue-Mei Jiang, Zheng Chen
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Patent number: 7631301Abstract: Customizing a binary content file without having to recompile source code associated with the binary content file. A variable initialization module receives a binary content file and a script file. Included in the binary content file are current values for one or more variables. Included in the script file are updated values for the one or more variables. The variable initialization module processes the script file to overwrite the current values for the one or more variables with the updated values for the one or more variables. Variables are updated directly in the binary content file. Variables included in a script file may be identified from associated map files or by a scanner module that scans binary content files. Script files may include conditional statements for updating values differently depending on the configuration of a destination computing device.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Dominique Fortier
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Patent number: 7631315Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for using subqueues to enhance local message processing. Messages include queue IDs comprised of a parent portion and a suffix portion. The parent portion identifies a parent queue and the suffix portion identifies a subqueue of the parent queue. Message are logically moved between queues by changing suffix values, such as, for example, between subqueues, between the parent queue and a subqueue, and between a subqueue and the parent queue. Applications can examine messages and route messages to specified subqueues based on message content (including message bodies and headers). Suffix values can be changed in place (e.g., while the message remains physically stored in the queue) so as to preserve message sender identity and to avoid prematurely acknowledging delivery (i.e., no return ACK is generated).Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Alexander Dadiomov, Richard D. Hill
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Patent number: 7631015Abstract: A plurality of user-selected annotations are used to define a playlist of media segments corresponding to the annotations. The user-selected annotations and their corresponding media segments are then provided to the user in a seamless manner. A user interface allows the user to alter the playlist and the order of annotations in the playlist. The user interface identifies each annotation by a short subject line.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Anoop Gupta, David M. Bargeron
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Patent number: 7629961Abstract: A computer input device controller dynamically adjusts the rate at which an illumination source is activated, and may also adjust the rate at which other optical tracking system components are activated. As the velocity of optical tracking system movement relative to a tracked surface increases, the controller increases the activation rate(s). As the velocity of relative movement decreases, the controller decreases the activation rate(s). Future displacements of a tracking system relative to a tracked surface are also estimated. In particular, relative tracking system/tracked surface velocity is calculated based on a series of images. Relative displacement is then estimated based on the calculated velocity.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2004Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Mark W. Casebolt, Mark R. Lee, Jeremiah M. Pope, James C. Marshall
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Patent number: 7630936Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to processing payment requests. In aspects, a user of an online system is allowed to pay for goods or services using a combination or one or more payment types including credit card, cash card, gift certificate, purchase order, money order, other payment types, and the like. A payment router determines which payment processor(s) needs to be involved to satisfy each payment request and routes payment requests to each payment processor as needed. Adding new payment methods and changing existing payment methods may be accomplished by changing a table or the like that associates payment methods with payment processors.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Vinod Kumar, Caesar M. Samsi
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Patent number: 7631175Abstract: A control protocol is used to deploy and install an operating system image to a client. The data structure of the protocol includes an operation code corresponding to an operation associated with the deployment and installation of an operating system image to a client. When the server receives a request packet, the server parses the request and sends the parsed request to the provider. The provider then executes the operation associated with the operation code and generates a return value. The return value is sent to the server. The server then composes a rely packet including the return value and transmits the reply packet to the client.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher Scott Dickens, Asad Yaqoob, Saad Syed
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Patent number: 7631038Abstract: Multiple providers of application logic are used to deploy and install an operating system image to a client. Each provider configured with application logic designed to deploy and install an operating system image to a distinct class of clients. When a server receives a request associated with deploying and installing the operating system image from the client, the server sends the request to the provider configured with application logic designed to deploy and install an operating system to the client.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher Scott Dickens, Asad Yaqoob, Saad Syed, Patrick B. Azzarello
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Patent number: 7631257Abstract: A web content management server allows for the automatic creation, management and publication of variant objects from a parent object. The variant object is created as a copy of the corresponding parent object and may then be modified. Each object includes a pages list that identifies all associated objects and the content type of each object listed in the pages list. The relationship between parent and variant objects is maintained regardless of the location where the objects are stored. When changes are made to the parent page, the changes are also implemented in any corresponding variant pages. The parent object tracks any corresponding variant objects with an identifier stored in the pages list. When the parent page is modified, a workflow is triggered to modify the corresponding variant pages identified by the identifier and the content type in the pages list.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2004Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Daniel E. Kogan, Patrick C. Miller
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Patent number: 7631272Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to directing focus to elements of a graphical user interface in response to focus events. In aspects, a program may include multiple focus scopes each of which may include elements capable of receiving keyboard input. When an element receives keyboard focus, information regarding the element is updated to indicate that the element has or had keyboard focus. Thereafter, focus scope may be changed to a focus scope other than the one including the element. When changing the focus scope back to the focus scope that includes the element, the information may be used to give the element keyboard focus.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Jeffrey L. Bodgan, Atanas G. Koralski, Seema L. Ramchandani, Jevan D. Saks, Sundaram Ramani
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Patent number: 7630568Abstract: A “multi-resolution signal renderer” provides a computationally efficient process for generating reduced-resolution versions of a hierarchical transform coded digital signal from the encoded coefficients of that signal. The multi-resolution signal renderer begins by decoding the transform coded signal up to the highest hierarchical resolution not exceeding the desired signal resolution. The multi-resolution signal renderer then operates in one of two modes to generate reduced resolution signals. First, to generate signals at coded hierarchical resolution levels, DC coefficients of the transform coefficients are scaled, and then lowpass filtered to reduce aliasing in the signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Henrique S. Malvar
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Patent number: 7631011Abstract: The subject disclosure pertains to code generation patterns for use in object relational mapping. The code patterns may be used to manage bidirectional relationships and ensure consistency. The code patterns may support on-demand or deferred loading of relational data. Change detection and tracking are also provided. In addition, a default member modifier allows developers to override tool generated source code without directly modifying the generated source code.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Dinesh Chandrakant Kulkarni, Anders Hejlsberg, Matthew J. Warren, Luca Bolognese, Henricus Johannes Maria Meijer, Peter A. Hallam
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Patent number: D605649Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher Kujawski, Peter Bristol