Patents by Inventor Ben D Garrison

Ben D Garrison 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).

  • Reducing unsolicited instant messages by tracking communication threads
    Patent number: 7779079
    Abstract: Processes and techniques for reducing spam over instant messaging (SPIM) are described. In one implementation, the number of open instant messaging threads (“chat threads”) that a specific user can have at a given time is limited to prevent a potential spimmer from flooding instant messaging users with SPIM. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a user feedback technique that enables users to inform an instant messaging service or other entity about users that are sending SPIM or other undesirable content. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a text analysis technique that enables an instant messaging service or other entity to analyze text generated by a user to determine if the user is sending SPIM or other undesirable content to other instant messaging users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David A Nichols, Chris G. Parker, Ben D Garrison, Per-Ola A Orvendal, Wendy L Lehman
  • Instant messaging with audio connection formation
    Patent number: 7643473
    Abstract: Instant messaging with audio connection formation is described. In an implementation, a method includes forming a communication to authenticate a client with a proxy during an instant messaging session and forming an invitation by the client for communication to the proxy that identifies another client, with which, to communicate via an audio connection. An acceptance is received from the other client via the proxy to form the audio connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Alexey Kalinichenko, Ben D Garrison, Erik L DeBonte, Jithendra K Veeramachaneni, Keiji Kanazawa, Kitty L Leung, Mark A Gere, Shreedhar Madhavapeddi
  • Reducing Unsolicited Instant Messages by Tracking Communication Threads
    Publication number: 20080307038
    Abstract: Processes and techniques for reducing spam over instant messaging (SPIM) are described. In one implementation, the number of open instant messaging threads (“chat threads”) that a specific user can have at a given time is limited to prevent a potential spimmer from flooding instant messaging users with SPIM. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a user feedback technique that enables users to inform an instant messaging service or other entity about users that are sending SPIM or other undesirable content. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a text analysis technique that enables an instant messaging service or other entity to analyze text generated by a user to determine if the user is sending SPIM or other undesirable content to other instant messaging users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Nichols, Chris G. Parker, Ben D. Garrison, Per-Ola A. Orvendal, Wendy L. Lehman