Patents by Inventor Alton Kwok
Alton Kwok has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11703994Abstract: A computing system is provided. The computing system includes a head mounted display (HMD) device including a display, a processor configured to execute one or more programs, and associated memory. The processor is configured to display a virtual object at least partially within a field of view of a user on the display, identify a plurality of control points associated with the virtual object, and determine that one or more of the control points associated with the virtual object are further than a predetermined threshold distance from the user. The processor is configured to, based on the determination, invoke a far interaction mode for the virtual object and receive a trigger input from the user. In response to the trigger input in the far interaction mode, the processor is configured to invoke a near interaction mode and display a virtual interaction object within the predetermined threshold distance from the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sheng Kai Tang, Julia Schwarz, Thomas Matthew Gable, Casey Leon Meekhof, Nahil Tawfik Sharkasi, Nicholas Ferianc Kamuda, Joshua Kyle Neff, Alton Kwok
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Patent number: 11620780Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to utilizing image sensor inputs from different devices having different perspectives in physical space to construct an avatar of a first user in a video stream. The avatar comprises a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of a face of the first user texture mapped onto a three-dimensional body simulation that follows actual physical movement of the first user. The three-dimensional body simulation of the first user is generated based on image data received from an imaging device and image sensor data received from a head-mounted display device both associated with the first user. The three-dimensional representation of the face of the first user is generated based on the image data received from the imaging device. The resulting video stream is sent, via a communication network, to a display device associated with a second user.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Austin S. Lee, Kenneth Mitchell Jakubzak, Mathew J. Lamb, Alton Kwok
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Publication number: 20220253199Abstract: A computing system is provided. The computing system includes a head mounted display (HMD) device including a display, a processor configured to execute one or more programs, and associated memory. The processor is configured to display a virtual object at least partially within a field of view of a user on the display, identify a plurality of control points associated with the virtual object, and determine that one or more of the control points associated with the virtual object are further than a predetermined threshold distance from the user. The processor is configured to, based on the determination, invoke a far interaction mode for the virtual object and receive a trigger input from the user. In response to the trigger input in the far interaction mode, the processor is configured to invoke a near interaction mode and display a virtual interaction object within the predetermined threshold distance from the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sheng Kai TANG, Julia SCHWARZ, Thomas Matthew GABLE, Casey Leon MEEKHOF, Nahil Tawfik SHARKASI, Nicholas Ferianc KAMUDA, Joshua Kyle NEFF, Alton KWOK
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Publication number: 20220156998Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to utilizing image sensor inputs from different devices having different perspectives in physical space to construct an avatar of a first user in a video stream. The avatar comprises a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of a face of the first user texture mapped onto a three-dimensional body simulation that follows actual physical movement of the first user. The three-dimensional body simulation of the first user is generated based on image data received from an imaging device and image sensor data received from a head-mounted display device both associated with the first user. The three-dimensional representation of the face of the first user is generated based on the image data received from the imaging device. The resulting video stream is sent, via a communication network, to a display device associated with a second user.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2020Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Austin S. LEE, Kenneth Mitchell JAKUBZAK, Mathew J. LAMB, Alton KWOK
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Patent number: 11320957Abstract: A computing system is provided. The computing system includes a head mounted display (HMD) device including a display, a processor configured to execute one or more programs, and associated memory. The processor is configured to display a virtual object at least partially within a field of view of a user on the display, identify a plurality of control points associated with the virtual object, and determine that one or more of the control points associated with the virtual object are further than a predetermined threshold distance from the user. The processor is configured to, based on the determination, invoke a far interaction mode for the virtual object and receive a trigger input from the user. In response to the trigger input in the far interaction mode, the processor is configured to invoke a near interaction mode and display a virtual interaction object within the predetermined threshold distance from the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sheng Kai Tang, Julia Schwarz, Thomas Matthew Gable, Casey Leon Meekhof, Nahil Tawfik Sharkasi, Nicholas Ferianc Kamuda, Joshua Kyle Neff, Alton Kwok
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Patent number: 10885715Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling a carry mode for holograms presented in mixed-reality environments and for providing leashing buffers for the holograms. The carry mode enables holograms to be functionally moved within a single mixed-reality environment, and out into one or more different mixed-reality environments. The carry mode can be automatically applied to holograms created within the mixed-reality environment. The carry mode can also be applied responsive to user input applied to world-locked holograms, which triggers a switch from the world-locked mode to the carry mode from. Holograms can also be leashed for persistently displaying holograms associated with or linked to a user in the mixed-reality environment to provide the user increased accessibility to the hologram while navigating within and without a particular mixed-reality environment. Selectable options are presented with a hologram in carry mode for switching from the carry mode to the world-locked mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Alon Farchy, Jenny Kam, Dong Back Kim, Alton Kwok, James Leslie Humphrey, III
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Patent number: 10789952Abstract: A computing system is provided. The computing system includes a processor of a display device configured to execute one or more programs. The processor is configured to receive, from a user, a voice command, a first auxiliary input from a first sensor, and a second auxiliary input from a second sensor. The processor is configured to, for each of a plurality of objects in the user's field of view in an environment, determine a first set of probability factors with respect to the first auxiliary input and a second set of probability factors with respect to the second auxiliary input. Each probability factor in the first and second sets indicates a likelihood that respective auxiliary inputs are directed to one of the plurality of objects. The processor is configured to determine a target object based upon the probability factors and execute the command on the target object.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Luke Cartwright, Richard William Neal, Alton Kwok
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Publication number: 20200225830Abstract: A computing system is provided. The computing system includes a head mounted display (HMD) device including a display, a processor configured to execute one or more programs, and associated memory. The processor is configured to display a virtual object at least partially within a field of view of a user on the display, identify a plurality of control points associated with the virtual object, and determine that one or more of the control points associated with the virtual object are further than a predetermined threshold distance from the user. The processor is configured to, based on the determination, invoke a far interaction mode for the virtual object and receive a trigger input from the user. In response to the trigger input in the far interaction mode, the processor is configured to invoke a near interaction mode and display a virtual interaction object within the predetermined threshold distance from the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2019Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sheng Kai TANG, Julia SCHWARZ, Thomas Matthew GABLE, Casey Leon MEEKHOF, Nahil Tawfik SHARKASI, Nicholas Ferianc KAMUDA, Joshua Kyle NEFF, Alton KWOK
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Publication number: 20200226835Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling a carry mode for holograms presented in mixed-reality environments and for providing leashing buffers for the holograms. The carry mode enables holograms to be functionally moved within a single mixed-reality environment, and out into one or more different mixed-reality environments. The carry mode can be automatically applied to holograms created within the mixed-reality environment. The carry mode can also be applied responsive to user input applied to world-locked holograms, which triggers a switch from the world-locked mode to the carry mode from. Holograms can also be leashed for persistently displaying holograms associated with or linked to a user in the mixed-reality environment to provide the user increased accessibility to the hologram while navigating within and without a particular mixed-reality environment. Selectable options are presented with a hologram in carry mode for switching from the carry mode to the world-locked mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2019Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Alon Farchy, Jenny Kam, Dong Back Kim, Alton Kwok, James Leslie Humphrey, III
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Publication number: 20200202849Abstract: A computing system is provided. The computing system includes a processor of a display device configured to execute one or more programs. The processor is configured to receive, from a user, a voice command, a first auxiliary input from a first sensor, and a second auxiliary input from a second sensor. The processor is configured to, for each of a plurality of objects in the user's field of view in an environment, determine a first set of probability factors with respect to the first auxiliary input and a second set of probability factors with respect to the second auxiliary input. Each probability factor in the first and second sets indicates a likelihood that respective auxiliary inputs are directed to one of the plurality of objects. The processor is configured to determine a target object based upon the probability factors and execute the command on the target object.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Luke CARTWRIGHT, Richard William NEAL, Alton KWOK
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Patent number: 10198716Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing awareness of user availability. A user may activate a device, and a request to manage an availability status can be sent from the device to a communication service. The communication service may resultantly set up monitoring of the user status, and the availability status of the user can be set to available. If an active status update is not received from the user device, the availability status of the user can be changed from available to away. If an active status update for the user continues not to be received (e.g., for a few hours) and/or device connectivity seems lost, the availability status of the user can be changed from away to offline. This can be done in a resource/power efficient manner by not requiring continual execution of an associated application and/or continual network connectivity of the device.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Vipul Bansal, Jeroen Vanturennout, Ranjib Singh Badh, Eyal Axelrod, Alton Kwok, Ritu Varma, Yosef Firstenberg
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Patent number: 8677251Abstract: Techniques described herein allow for suggesting creation of distribution lists and suggesting use of distribution lists once they have been created. For instance, these techniques may track a frequency with which contacts (e.g., email addresses, phone numbers, screen names, etc.) are used with one another. The techniques may then suggest that a user create a distribution list that includes those contacts. Furthermore, once a contact has been associated with a particular distribution list, these techniques may suggest that a user send a message to this distribution list in response to the user selecting the contact (rather than the list) as a destination of the message.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Alton Kwok, Stephen DeWitt Sisk, Adam C. Czeisler, Steven Karl Abrahams
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Publication number: 20130124642Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing awareness of user availability. A user may activate a device, and a request to manage an availability status can be sent from the device to a communication service. The communication service may resultantly set up monitoring of the user status, and the availability status of the user can be set to available. If an active status update is not received from the user device, the availability status of the user can be changed from available to away. If an active status update for the user continues not to be received (e.g., for a few hours) and/or device connectivity seems lost, the availability status of the user can be changed from away to offline. This can be done in a resource/power efficient manner by not requiring continual execution of an associated application and/or continual network connectivity of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2011Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Vipul Bansal, Jeroen Vanturennout, Ranjib Singh Badh, Eyal Axelrod, Alton Kwok, Ritu Varma, Yoseph Firstenberg
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Publication number: 20120271844Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing relevant information for a term identified in a user message. A user can read or write a message and one or more terms can be identified in the message, where an identified term may comprise one or more words or characters. One or more data structures comprising indications of temporally recognized terms can be stored locally, and the identified terms can be compared against the locally stored data, such as for fast retrieval. If the identified term matches one or more of the temporally recognized terms in the locally stored data, the user may select the temporally recognized term to perform an action assigned to the temporally recognized term. The assigned action can comprise retrieving relevant information for the term, such as finding movie times (e.g., where the term comprises a movie title).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2011Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: John Robert Selbie, Lavinder Singh, Alton Kwok, Aaron Hoi Lam Mok, Ho Wai Poon
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Publication number: 20090300546Abstract: Techniques described herein allow for suggesting creation of distribution lists and suggesting use of distribution lists once they have been created. For instance, these techniques may track a frequency with which contacts (e.g., email addresses, phone numbers, screen names, etc.) are used with one another. The techniques may then suggest that a user create a distribution list that includes those contacts. Furthermore, once a contact has been associated with a particular distribution list, these techniques may suggest that a user send a message to this distribution list in response to the user selecting the contact (rather than the list) as a destination of the message.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Alton Kwok, Stephen DeWitt Sisk, Adam C. Czeisler, Steven Karl Abrahams
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Patent number: D683742Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Lisa Carolyn Cherian, Gerrit Hofmeester, Orry Wijanarko Soegiono, Alton Kwok
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Patent number: D684183Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Orry Wijanarko Soegiono, Hui Chun Ku, Alton Kwok
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Patent number: D690312Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Lisa Carolyn Cherian, Gerrit Hofmeester, Orry Wijanarko Soegiono, Alton Kwok