Patents by Inventor Benjamin Edward Rampson

Benjamin Edward Rampson 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).

  • Patent number: 10394440
    Abstract: Inserting a formula at a location on a content surface in a user interface is provided. A user interface showing a status bar which includes one or more predetermined calculations may be displayed on a computer. The computer may receive a selection of a predetermined calculation from the status bar in the user interface. The selected predetermined calculation may then be dragged from the status bar and inserted at a drop location on the content surface in the user interface. The computer may then automatically generate a formula corresponding to the selected predetermined calculation in the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Eric W. Patterson, Karen X. Cheng, Benjamin Edward Rampson
  • Publication number: 20190251158
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein for handing approximate (or uncertain) values in spreadsheet applications. More specifically, the technology describes spreadsheet applications that support arrays or sets of approximate (or uncertain) values as native entities. An approximate (or uncertain) value may be the value of a cell of the spreadsheet that is resolvable by formula, charts and other functionalities. In some implementations, approximate values may include a range of data and a probability distribution that can be automatically created by the spreadsheet application, generated based on context, input by the user, etc. Because the approximate (or uncertain) value is natively available, it can be incorporated in a spreadsheet like other values. Additionally, the approximate (or uncertain) values can automatically propagate through a spreadsheet calculation to obtain a final approximate result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Neil Blunt Toronto, Advait Sarkar, Christian Mendel Canton, Andrew Donald Gordon, Benjamin Edward Rampson, Johnny Campbell, Anusha Iyer
  • Patent number: 10209864
    Abstract: An intuitive user interface for clearing or deleting a structured data element is provided. One or more elements in a data structure may be selected and upon selection of a delete option, the contents of the one or more elements may be cleared. One or more animating panels may be provided which contain elements around the cleared elements. A panel may be moved by a gesture-type action to replace cleared elements. The panels may visually indicate which elements may be moved in place of the cleared elements. The user can visualize how elements may be shifted instead of having to understand terminology in a dialog. Selecting outside the panels may cause the panels to disappear, which may be equivalent to a clear action where other elements are not moved into the place of the deleted elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Karen Cheng, Benjamin Edward Rampson, Chad Barry Rothschiller
  • Publication number: 20190050141
    Abstract: A user interface element is displayed for in place editing of values within a document. For example, in response to selecting a value, a user interface is displayed near the value that receives a slide gesture for adjusting the value in place. The user interface may be configured to select one of the discrete parts of the value in response to changing a level of the slide gesture. For example, a user may move the swipe gesture from a level used for adjusting the day value to the level representing the year value. The user interface displayed and method(s) used to adjust the value may be based on the type of value and the structure and content of the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin Edward Rampson, Karen Xiaoxu Cheng, SR.
  • Patent number: 10204080
    Abstract: Rich formatting may be provided for rich data labels. A rich data label may be created for at least one data point associated with a visualization. The data label may be formatted and displayed on the visualization. The rich data label may bind to a particular data point rather than adhering to conventional index-based anchor logic where a data label is bound to the index of a data point. Accordingly, in response to determining that the location of the data point has changed in the visualization, the location of the rich data label is automatically adjusted to remain attached to its original data point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Doan, Benjamin Edward Rampson, Robin Wakefield
  • Patent number: 10133466
    Abstract: A user interface element is displayed for in place editing of values within a document. For example, in response to selecting a value, a user interface is displayed near the value that receives a slide gesture for adjusting the value in place. The user interface may be configured to select one of the discrete parts of the value in response to changing a level of the slide gesture. For example, a user may move the swipe gesture from a level used for adjusting the day value to the level representing the year value. The user interface displayed and method(s) used to adjust the value may be based on the type of value and the structure and content of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoct Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Edward Rampson, Karen Xiaoxu Cheng, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10114875
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding methodology) by which a user can interact directly with visual data is provided. The system employs associations and relationships between visual data objects to automatically update objects based upon a change in other objects. The innovation also provides specialized controls (e.g., dashboard tools/controls) that facilitate manipulation of visual data. As there can be numerous manners in which a user can interact with visualization data, the innovation enables a specialized set of controls to be identified and provided to a user thereby reducing overwhelming effects of a large number of controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Gur Kimchi, Danyel Aharon Fisher, Brian L. Welcker, Jason J. Weber, Ahmed K. Kamal, Benjamin Edward Rampson, William Guthrie Morein, Morten Holm-Peterson, Bongshin Lee, George G. Robertson, Christian Bernd Schormann, Barry James Givens, Joshua W. Lee, B. Scott Ruble, Jakob Peter Nielsen, Michael V. Ehrenberg, Stella Yick Chan, Murali Krishnan, Christian Olaf Abeln, Roland L. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10082944
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for autoscroll regions. A device establishes a trigger line near an edge of a selectable region of content that is adjacent to a non-selectable region of content. The device detects user input within the selectable region and detects movement of the user input that intersects the trigger line. In response to detecting the user input intersecting the trigger line, the device scrolls a scrollable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Poornima Hanumara, Benjamin Edward Rampson
  • Patent number: 10031906
    Abstract: Systems and methods for associated one or more images with one or more cells of a spreadsheet are described. As described, a plurality of images may be associated with a single cell or a single image may be associated with a range of cells. Additionally, an image and additional data may be associated with the same cell. Upon associating an image with a cell, various parameters of the image may be displayed for viewing and/or customization by a user. Additionally, sort and/or filter operations may be performed on the spreadsheet based on the various parameters of associated images and/or operations (e.g., fit and/or resize operations) may be performed on various parameters of associated images. An associated image may move with a cell when the cell is reordered within the cell table, or an associated image may be allowed to float over the grid but may be referenced by a cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: John Campbell, Carlos Augusto Otero, Christian Canton, John David Sully, Samuel C. Radakovitz, Matthew Hart Fichtner, Benjamin Edward Rampson
  • Patent number: 10019494
    Abstract: Data mapping alternatives for creating a visual representation of a set of data are presented. A set of data is identified for analysis. The identified set of data and properties associated with the identified set of data are analyzed. Based on the analysis, data mapping alternatives for the identified set of data are determined. The determined data mapping alternatives for the identified set of data are ranked. The determined data mapping alternatives are presented in an order according to the ranking of the determined data mapping alternatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Fan, Benjamin Edward Rampson, Nick Chiang, Robin Wakefield
  • Patent number: 9990349
    Abstract: Systems for associating streaming data with cells of a spreadsheet are provided. Both dynamic data and static data may be associated with a single cell of the spreadsheet. Upon association, parameters (including stream attributes, image attributes and audio attributes) may be viewed and/or manipulated by a user, providing stream processing functionality within a spreadsheet. Controls may be provided for playing the streaming data and/or playing the streaming data in response to spreadsheet data satisfying a condition. Spreadsheet operations (e.g., sort and/or filter operations) may also be performed on a range of cells based on parameters of associated streaming data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: John Campbell, Carlos Augusto Otero, Christian Canton, Matthew Hart Fichtner, Samuel C. Radakovitz, Benjamin Edward Rampson
  • Patent number: 9990350
    Abstract: Systems for associating videos with cells of a spreadsheet are provided. Both dynamic data and static data may be associated with a single cell of the spreadsheet. Upon association, parameters (including video attributes, image attributes and audio attributes) may be viewed and/or manipulated by a user, providing video and audio processing functionality within a spreadsheet. Controls may be provided for playing the video and/or playing the video in response to spreadsheet data satisfying a condition. Text transcriptions (e.g., speech-to-text) of an audio track associated with a video file may be inserted as subtitles into the video or a plurality of individual frames for the video. Spreadsheet operations (e.g., sort and/or filter operations) may also be performed on a range of cells based on parameters of an associated video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Johnny S. Campbell, Carlos Augusto Otero, Christian Canton, Matthew Hart Fichtner, Samuel C. Radakovitz, Benjamin Edward Rampson
  • Patent number: 9934331
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for providing query suggestions. In order to provide a query suggestion, access may be detected at a data source. An initial query suggestion for a query of the data source may then be identified based, at least in part, on non-query data. The initial query suggestion may then be returned for display in a user-interface (UI) element. Additional query suggestions might also be provided based upon non-query data in response to a modification of the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Edward Rampson, Nickolas Dwayne Welton, Venkata Srinivas Irava, Mark Alan Mullins, Andrew Grey Carlson
  • Patent number: 9934215
    Abstract: Systems for associating audio files with cells of a spreadsheet are provided. Both audio files and data may be associated with a single cell of the spreadsheet. An audio file may be recorded, retrieved from storage, or converted from a document (e.g., using text-to-speech technology) for association with a spreadsheet. Upon association, audio parameters may be viewed and/or manipulated by a user, providing audio processing functionality within a spreadsheet. Controls may be provided for listening to the audio file and/or playing the audio file in response to spreadsheet data satisfying a condition. Text transcriptions (e.g., speech-to-text) of audio files may be inserted into the spreadsheet. For low vision users, audio transcriptions (e.g., text-to-speech) of data may be generated and “played” for the user. Spreadsheet operations (e.g., sort and/or filter operations) may also be performed on a range of cells based on audio parameters of associated audio files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Canton, John Campbell, Samuel C. Radakovitz, Matthew Hart Fichtner, Carlos Augusto Otero, Benjamin Edward Rampson
  • Publication number: 20180005122
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for automatically constructing a new formula based upon an existing formula. Various methods are employed to analyze an existing formula in order to determine an intent. Once the intent is determined, a new formula may be constructed that satisfies the intent of the existing formula. Further aspects relate to validating the new formula to ensure it produces the same result as the existing formula which it is intended to replace. Various user interface elements are also disclosed which may be employed to provide the newly constructed formulas to users of an application. The various aspects to disclosed herein may be performed by an application, such as a spreadsheet application, performed in real-time, or provided as a remote service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph John McDaid, Johnny S. Campbell, Benjamin Edward Rampson
  • Publication number: 20170262423
    Abstract: Tools and techniques are described for linking visual properties of charts to cells within tables. Methods provided by these tools enable users to select visual properties that are associated with graphical displays of chart data, and to link these visual properties to respective cells within the tables. User interfaces provided by these tools may provide representations of visual properties associated with the graphical displays of chart data, with these representations of the visual properties being responsive to user input to link the cells in the tables to the visual properties. These user interfaces may also include representations of the cells that are associated with the representations of the visual properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Edward Rampson, Benjamin Sklar, Anupam Garg, Scott Ruble
  • Publication number: 20170242563
    Abstract: Inserting a formula at a location on a content surface in a user interface is provided. A user interface showing a status bar which includes one or more predetermined calculations may be displayed on a computer. The computer may receive a selection of a predetermined calculation from the status bar in the user interface. The selected predetermined calculation may then be dragged from the status bar and inserted at a drop location on the content surface in the user interface. The computer may then automatically generate a formula corresponding to the selected predetermined calculation in the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Eric W. Patterson, Karen X. Cheng, Benjamin Edward Rampson
  • Publication number: 20170220238
    Abstract: A user interface element is displayed for in place editing of values within a document. For example, in response to selecting a value, a user interface is displayed near the value that receives a slide gesture for adjusting the value in place. The user interface may be configured to select one of the discrete parts of the value in response to changing a level of the slide gesture. For example, a user may move the swipe gesture from a level used for adjusting the day value to the level representing the year value. The user interface displayed and method(s) used to adjust the value may be based on the type of value and the structure and content of the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Edward Rampson, Karen Xiaoxu Cheng, SR.
  • Patent number: 9720583
    Abstract: A user interface element is displayed for in place editing of values within a document. For example, in response to selecting a value, a user interface is displayed near the value that receives a slide gesture for adjusting the value in place. The user interface may be configured to select one of the discrete parts of the value in response to changing a level of the slide gesture. For example, a user may move the swipe gesture from a level used for adjusting the day value to the level representing the year value. The user interface displayed and method(s) used to adjust the value may be based on the type of value and the structure and content of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Edward Rampson, Karen Xiaoxu Cheng
  • Patent number: 9671944
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing a range filter user interface with selectable range controls that toggle between inclusive and exclusive modes. The range controls visually indicate configuration in an inclusive mode or an exclusive mode. Upon selection of a range control, the range control switches between inclusive and exclusive modes, and provides visual indication of the current mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Poornima Hanumara, Avi Samuel Gavlovski, Benjamin Edward Rampson, Robert Alan Meyers, Jeremy Jude Alexi Edwards, Sachin Patney