Patents Assigned to Tangis Corporation
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Patent number: 7614001Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating, modifying, categorizing, modeling, distributing, purchasing, selling, and otherwise using themes and theme-related information. Themes can represent various types of contextual aspects or situations, and can model high-level concepts of activities or states not reflected in individual contextual attributes that each model a single aspect of the state of a user, their computing device, the surrounding physical environment, and/or the current cyber-environment. Such themes specify inter-relationships among a set of contextual attributes, and can have associated theme-related information such as theme-specific attributes, theme layouts used to present information and functionality, CSes that provide theme attribute values, and CCs that process theme information. Disclosed techniques can identify one or more themes that currently match the modeled context, select one of the matching themes as a current theme, and provide an appropriate response (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2006Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Tangis Corporation Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts, Johnson Apacible
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Publication number: 20070168502Abstract: Techniques for providing information about a current state modeled with multiple attributes is described. The providing of information can include receiving from a first source an indication of an ability to supply values for one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, and supplying to a client a value for the one attribute received from the first source. After the supplying of the value, the providing can include receiving from a second source a value supplying ability for the one attribute and supplying of a value for the one attribute based on values received for the one attribute from the first and second sources. After the supplying of that value, the providing can include receiving from the first source an indication of a value supplying inability for the one attribute and supplying a value for the one attribute received from the second source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: TANGIS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Abbott, Dan Newell, James Robarts, Ken Swapp, Joshua Freedman
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Publication number: 20070156891Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations the providing includes receiving from a first client an indication of an interest in receiving values for an indicated one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, receiving from a second client an indication of an interest in receiving values for another of the state attributes of the modeled current state, and, in response to receiving a value for the indicated one attribute from a first source, determining that the first client has an interest in receiving the received value and supplying the received value to the first client.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2006Publication date: July 5, 2007Applicant: TANGIS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Abbott, Joshua Freedman, Dan Newell, James Robarts
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Patent number: 7231439Abstract: Techniques for providing information about a current state modeled with multiple attributes is described. The providing of information can include receiving from a first source an indication of an ability to supply values for one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, and supplying to a client a value for the one attribute received from the first source. After the supplying of the value, the providing can include receiving from a second source a value supplying ability for the one attribute and supplying of a value for the one attribute based on values received for the one attribute from the first and second sources. After the supplying of that value, the providing can include receiving from the first source an indication of a value supplying inability for the one attribute and supplying a value for the one attribute received from the second source.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts, Ken Swapp, Joshua Freedman
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Publication number: 20070130524Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from a module a request related to the modeling of the current state with the multiple state attributes. In such situations, the providing further includes, without further intervention related to the request by the module, determining that the request cannot currently be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request cannot currently be satisfied, monitoring at later times after the indicating to determine whether the request can be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request can be satisfied if it is determined at one of the later times that the request can currently be satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2006Publication date: June 7, 2007Applicant: TANGIS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Abbott, Joshua Freedman, Dan Newell, James Robarts
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Patent number: 7225229Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations the providing includes receiving from a first client an indication of an interest in receiving values for an indicated one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, receiving from a second client an indication of an interest in receiving values for another of the state attributes of the modeled current state, and, in response to receiving a value for the indicated one attribute from a first source, determining that the first client has an interest in receiving the received value and supplying the received value to the first client.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts
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Publication number: 20070089067Abstract: The current status of a list of tasks to be performed is dynamically displayed. The tasks may be performed by a user (e.g., data entered by the user, words spoken by the user, actions taken by the user, and so forth) or alternatively by a computer (e.g., the steps it follows in carrying out a programmed task). At least a portion of the list is displayed at any given time along with an indication of which task is the next task to be performed. As the tasks are completed, the current status of the progression through the items on the list is dynamically updated so as to readily inform the user (or someone else) as to what the current task is that needs to be performed, as well as what tasks have already been performed and/or what tasks remain to be performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2006Publication date: April 19, 2007Applicant: TANGIS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Abbott, Dan Newell, James Robarts
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Patent number: 7203906Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from a module a request related to the modeling of the current state with the multiple state attributes. In such situations, the providing further includes, without further intervention related to the request by the module, determining that the request cannot currently be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request cannot currently be satisfied, monitoring at later times after the indicating to determine whether the request can be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request can be satisfied if it is determined at one of the later times that the request can currently be satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts
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Publication number: 20070043459Abstract: A system for computer-based storing of information about a current state so that later recall of the information can augment human memories. In particular, when information about a current event of interest is to be stored, a variety of current state information of different types (e.g., video, audio, and textual information) about the environment and about a user can be acquired via sensors and other input devices. The variety of state information can then be associated together as a group and stored for later retrieval. Other information can also be associated with the group, such as one or more recall tags that facilitate later retrieval of the group, or one or more annotations to provide contextual information when the other state information is later retrieved and presented to the user. When information about a past event is to be recalled, one or more identifying recall tags can be received that are used to identify one or more state information groups that match the identifying tags.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2006Publication date: February 22, 2007Applicant: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth Abbott, Dan Newell, James Robarts
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Publication number: 20070022384Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating, modifying, categorizing, modeling, distributing, purchasing, selling, and otherwise using themes and theme-related information. Themes can represent various types of contextual aspects or situations, and can model high-level concepts of activities or states not reflected in individual contextual attributes that each model a single aspect of the state of a user, their computing device, the surrounding physical environment, and/or the current cyber-environment. Such themes specify inter-relationships among a set of contextual attributes, and can have associated theme-related information such as theme-specific attributes, theme layouts used to present information and functionality, CSes that provide theme attribute values, and CCs that process theme information. Disclosed techniques can identify one or more themes that currently match the modeled context, select one of the matching themes as a current theme, and provide an appropriate response (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2006Publication date: January 25, 2007Applicant: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth Abbott, Joshua Freedman, Dan Newell, James Robarts, Johnson Apacible
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Patent number: 7155456Abstract: A system for computer-based storing of information about a current state so that later recall of the information can augment human memories In particular, when information about a current event of interest is to be stored, a variety of current state information of different types (e.g., video, audio, and textual information) about the environment and about a user can be acquired via sensors and other input devices. The variety of state information can then be associated together as a group and stored for later retrieval. Other information can also be associated with the group, such as one or more recall tags that facilitate later retrieval of the group, or one or more annotations to provide contextual information when the other state information is later retrieved and presented to the user. When information about a past event is to be recalled, one or more identifying recall tags can be received that are used to identify one or more state information groups that match the identifying tags.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2003Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, III, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts
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Publication number: 20060277474Abstract: A system filters received messages (e.g., unsolicited advertisements) to determine if they are appropriate for a user based on the non-static, constantly evolving, context of the user. The system can track the user's context by monitoring various environmental parameters, such as related to the user's physical, mental, computing and data environments, and can model the current context of the user based at least in part on the monitoring. The system selects a set of one or more filters to apply to incoming messages based on the user's context, and the selected filters can be updated as the user's context changes. Messages that survive the filters are then evaluated against the user's context to determine whether they should be presented immediately or stored for delayed presentation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2006Publication date: December 7, 2006Applicant: Tangis CorporationInventors: James Robarts, Dan Newell, Kenneth Abbott
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Patent number: 7137069Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating, modifying, categorizing, modeling, distributing, purchasing, selling, and otherwise using themes and theme-related information. Themes can represent various types of contextual aspects or situations, and can model high-level concepts of activities or states not reflected in individual contextual attributes that each model a single aspect of the state of a user, their computing device, the surrounding physical environment, and/or the current cyber-environment. Such themes specify inter-relationships among a set of contextual attributes, and can have associated theme-related information such as theme-specific attributes, theme layouts used to present information and functionality, CSes that provide theme attribute values, and CCs that process theme information. Disclosed techniques can identify one or more themes that currently match the modeled context, select one of the matching themes as a current theme, and provide an appropriate response (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts, Johnson Apacible
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Patent number: 7107539Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating, modifying, categorizing, modeling, distributing, purchasing, selling, and otherwise using themes and theme-related information. Themes can represent various types of contextual aspects or situations, and can model high-level concepts of activities or states not reflected in individual contextual attributes that each model a single aspect of the state of a user, their computing device, the surrounding physical environment, and/or the current cyber-environment. Such themes specify inter-relationships among a set of contextual attributes, and can have associated theme-related information such as theme-specific attributes, theme layouts used to present information and functionality, CSes that provide theme attribute values, and CCs that process theme information. Disclosed techniques can identify one or more themes that currently match the modeled context, select one of the matching themes as a current theme, and provide an appropriate response (e.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts, Johnson Apacible
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Patent number: 7089497Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes. In some situations, the providing includes a first computer receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; and gathering information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from the determined characterization modules so that a value for the indicated one attribute can be generated based on the gathered information.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2001Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts, Joshua M. Freedman
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Patent number: 7080322Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating, modifying, categorizing, modeling, distributing, purchasing, selling, and otherwise using themes and theme-related information. Themes can represent various types of contextual aspects or situations, and can model high-level concepts of activities or states not reflected in individual contextual attributes that each model a single aspect of the state of a user, their computing device, the surrounding physical environment, and/or the current cyber-environment. Such themes specify inter-relationships among a set of contextual attributes, and can have associated theme-related information such as theme-specific attributes, theme layouts used to present information and functionality, CSes that provide theme attribute values, and CCs that process theme information. Disclosed techniques can identify one or more themes that currently match the modeled context, select one of the matching themes as a current theme, and provide an appropriate response (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts, Johnson Apacible
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Patent number: 7076737Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating, modifying, categorizing, modeling, distributing, purchasing, selling, and otherwise using themes and theme-related information. Themes can represent various types of contextual aspects or situations, and can model high-level concepts of activities or states not reflected in individual contextual attributes that each model a single aspect of the state of a user, their computing device, the surrounding physical environment, and/or the current cyber-environment. Such themes specify inter-relationships among a set of contextual attributes, and can have associated theme-related information such as theme-specific attributes, theme layouts used to present information and functionality, CSes that provide theme attribute values, and CCs that process theme information. Disclosed techniques can identify one or more themes that currently match the modeled context, select one of the matching themes as a current theme, and provide an appropriate response (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2001Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts, Johnson Apacible
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Patent number: 7073129Abstract: A system filters received messages (e.g., unsolicited advertisements) to determine if they are appropriate for a user based on the non-static, constantly evolving, context of the user. The system can track the user's context by monitoring various environmental parameters, such as related to the user's physical, mental, computing and data environments, and can model the current context of the user based at least in part on the monitoring. The system selects a set of one or more filters to apply to incoming messages based on the user's context, and the selected filters can be updated as the user's context changes. Messages that survive the filters are then evaluated against the user's context to determine whether they should be presented immediately or stored for delayed presentation.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2001Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: James O. Robarts, Dan Newell, Kenneth H. Abbott
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Publication number: 20060136393Abstract: A user search request is received and context information for the user is identified. The user search request and the context information are then combined to generate search criteria corresponding to the user search request, providing for information solicitation based on a computer user's context.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2005Publication date: June 22, 2006Applicant: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth Abbott, James Robarts, Dan Newell
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Patent number: 7062715Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from a module a request related to the modeling of the current state with the multiple state attributes. In such situations, the providing further includes, without further intervention related to the request by the module, determining that the request cannot currently be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request cannot currently be satisfied, monitoring at later times after the indicating to determine whether the request can be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request can be satisfied if it is determined at one of the later times that the request can currently be satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2001Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Tangis CorporationInventors: Kenneth H. Abbott, Joshua M. Freedman, Dan Newell, James O. Robarts