Patents by Inventor Bret P. O'Rourke

Bret P. O'Rourke 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: 11061939
    Abstract: A system for dynamic content delivery is provided. The system includes a control component to determine location, preferences, and state of a user. A delivery component dynamically selects and provides content to the user as a function of the user's location, preferences, and state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Shields, William T. Flora, Bret P. O'Rourke, John Mark Miller, Eric P. Wilfrid, Nigel S. Keam, Steven N. Bathiche, Oliver R. Roup, Zachary L. Russell, Marc Randall Whitten
  • Publication number: 20190278790
    Abstract: A system for dynamic content delivery is provided. The system includes a control component to determine location, preferences, and state of a user. A delivery component dynamically selects and provides content to the user as a function of the user's location, preferences, and state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin T. Shields, William T. Flora, Bret P. O'Rourke, John Mark Miller, Eric P. Wilfrid, Nigel S. Keam, Steven N. Bathiche, Oliver R. Roup, Zachary L. Russell, Jon Marcus Randall Whitten
  • Patent number: 10331708
    Abstract: A system for dynamic content delivery is provided. The system includes a control component to determine location, preferences, and state of a user. A delivery component dynamically selects and provides content to the user as a function of the user's location, preferences, and state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Shields, William T. Flora, Bret P. O'Rourke, John Mark Miller, Eric P. Wilfrid, Nigel S. Keam, Steven N. Bathiche, Oliver R. Roup, Zachary L. Russell, Jon Marcus Randall Whitten
  • Patent number: 8745498
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a media control operable to begin playing a media segment automatically after buffering the media segment, and a host application operable to receive a reference to the media segment, initialize the media control with the media segment, and cause the media control to postpone playing of the media segment after the media segment is buffered. An exemplary method includes receiving a playlist referencing a first media segment and a second media segment, the second media segment operable to play automatically without a prompt after being loaded, presenting the first media segment, and prerolling the second media segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shafiq Ur Rahman, Sohail Baig Mohammed, Khurshed Mazhar, Kevin P. Larkin, Patrick N. Nelson, Bret P. O'Rourke
  • Patent number: 8687021
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding method) that can enhance a user experience by augmenting real-world experiences with virtual world data to is provided. The augmented reality system discloses various techniques to personalize real-world experiences by overlaying or interspersing virtual capabilities (and data) with real world situations. The innovation can also filter, rank, modify or ignore virtual-world information based upon a particular real-world class, user identity or context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven N. Bathiche, Jon Marcus Randall Whitten, John Mark Miller, Matthew B. MacLaurin, Boyd Cannon Multerer, James M. Alkove, Zachary Lewis Russell, Eric P. Wilfrid, Bret P. O'Rourke, Oliver R. Roup
  • Publication number: 20120306920
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding method) that can enhance a user experience by augmenting real-world experiences with virtual world data to is provided. The augmented reality system discloses various techniques to personalize real-world experiences by overlaying or interspersing virtual capabilities (and data) with real world situations. The innovation can also filter, rank, modify or ignore virtual-world information based upon a particular real-world class, user identity or context.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven N. Bathiche, Jon Marcus Randall Whitten, John Mark Miller, Matthew B. MacLaurin, Boyd Cannon Multerer, James M. Alkove, Zachary Lewis Russell, Eric P. Wilfrid, Bret P. O'Rourke, Oliver R. Roup
  • Patent number: 8264505
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding method) that can enhance a user experience by augmenting real-world experiences with virtual world data to is provided. The augmented reality system discloses various techniques to personalize real-world experiences by overlaying or interspersing virtual capabilities (and data) with real world situations. The innovation can also filter, rank, modify or ignore virtual-world information based upon a particular real-world class, user identity or context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven N. Bathiche, Jon Marcus Randall Whitten, John Mark Miller, Matthew B. MacLaurin, Boyd Cannon Multerer, James M. Alkove, Zachary Lewis Russell, Eric Peter Wilfrid, Bret P. O'Rourke, Oliver R. Roup
  • Patent number: 8117094
    Abstract: A system to facilitate royalty tracking is provided. The system includes at least one tag to identify a portion of a creative work. A distribution component tracks the portion of the creative work and a crediting component reports usage of the creative work when the portion is detected in a larger body of work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Boyd Cannon Multerer, William T. Flora, Bret P. O'Rourke, John Mark Miller, Eric Peter Wilfrid, Nigel Stuart Keam, Steven N. Bathiche, Oliver Roup, James Morris Alkove, Zachary Lewis Russell, Jon Marcus Randall Whitten, Andrew David Wilson
  • Patent number: 8108398
    Abstract: A system that facilitates data presentation and management includes at least one database to store a corpus of data relating to one or more topics. The system further includes a summarizer component to automatically determine a subset of the data over the corpus of data relating to at least one of the topic(s), wherein the subset forms a summary of at least one topic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shai Guday, Bret P. O'Rourke, John Mark Miller, James Morris Alkove, Andrew David Wilson
  • Patent number: 8100756
    Abstract: A system that facilitates enhancing a game, game play or playability of a game may include an experience component, a game component and an alteration component. The experience component can collect a portion of data related to a game in which the portion of data indicates at least one of a tip or a tactic for the game. The game component can dynamically incorporate the portion of data into the game during game play to enhance playability of such game for a user with assistance provided by at least one of the tip or the tactic. The alteration component may alter the game during game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bret P. O'Rourke, Eric P. Wilfrid, Nigel S. Keam, Steven Bathiche, James M. Alkove, Zachary L. Russell, Jon Marcus Randall Whitten, Boyd C. Multerer, Andrew D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7912921
    Abstract: A cache server includes a media serving engine that is capable of distributing media content. A cache engine is coupled to the media serving engine and capable of caching media content. A set of cache policies is accessible by the cache engine to define the operation of the cache engine. The cache server can be configured to operate as either a cache server or an origin server. The cache server also includes a data communication interface coupled to the cache engine and the media serving engine to allow the cache engine to receive media content across a network and to allow the media serving engine to distribute media content across the network. The cache policies include policies for distributing media content from the media server, policies for handling cache misses, and policies for prefetching media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bret P. O'Rourke, Dawson F. Dean, Chih-Kan Wang, Mark D. Van Antwerp, David J. Roth, Chadd B. Knowlton
  • Patent number: 7890534
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding methodology) that dynamically alters a storybook (e.g., literary work). Preferences, policies and contexts can be considered and incorporated into the storyline of the book to enhance interest by creating a rich, personalized experience. By enhancing readability and features (e.g., sensory features), stories become more true-to-life and enjoyable by altering the story over time or to differing context (or content).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven N. Bathiche, Matthew B. MacLaurin, Zachary Lewis Russell, Bret P. O'Rourke, Shai Guday, Boyd Cannon Multerer, Eric P. Wilfrid, Manuel Uris Bronstein Bendayan
  • Patent number: 7802004
    Abstract: Dynamic streaming media management is described. In one aspect, media content is managed by accessing the first playlist that has a non-canonical format. Multiple translators are provided to translate playlists from multiple different native data formats to a canonical data format. One of the translators is invoked to translate the first playlist into the canonical data format. This forms a second playlist that is based on the canonical data format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bret P. O'Rourke, Dawson F. Dean
  • Publication number: 20100235743
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a media control operable to begin playing a media segment automatically after buffering the media segment, and a host application operable to receive a reference to the media segment, initialize the media control with the media segment, and cause the media control to postpone playing of the media segment after the media segment is buffered. An exemplary method includes receiving a playlist referencing a first media segment and a second media segment, the second media segment operable to play automatically without a prompt after being loaded, presenting the first media segment, and prerolling the second media segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shafiq Ur Rahman, Sohail Baig Mohammed, Khurshed Mazhar, Kevin P. Larkin, Patrick N. Nelson, Bret P. O'Rourke
  • Patent number: 7797720
    Abstract: An implementation of trick mode methodology receives a first request to stream media for presentation at a first normal playback rate; streams a first media stream configured to the first normal playback rate; receives a second request to stream the media for presentation at a second greater playback rate; and performs one of the following responsive to receiving the second request: switching from streaming the first media stream to streaming from an appropriate position in a second media stream that corresponds to the second greater playback rate; or in an event that a second media stream corresponding to the second greater playback rate is not available, then streaming the first media stream at a higher bit rate in an attempt to comply with the second request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Palamalai Gopalakrishnan, Christopher G. Knowlton, Bret P. O'Rourke, Ravi Raman
  • Patent number: 7743329
    Abstract: Incorporating interactive media into a playlist allows for media, operable to play automatically without a prompt after being loaded, to be loaded into a playlist and played from the playlist without overlapping playback with other media in the playlist. Incorporating interactive media into a playlist involves employing a playlist, a media wrapper, a media control, and a media player to preroll media, immediately stop playing the prerolled media while other media is playing, signal that media has finished playing in order to seamlessly begin playing the next media in the playlist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shafiq Ur Rahman, Sohail Baig Mohammed, Khurshed Mazhar, Kevin P. Larkin, Patrick N. Nelson, Bret P. O'Rourke
  • Publication number: 20090167787
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding method) that can enhance a user experience by augmenting real-world experiences with virtual world data to is provided. The augmented reality system discloses various techniques to personalize real-world experiences by overlaying or interspersing virtual capabilities (and data) with real world situations. The innovation can also filter, rank, modify or ignore virtual-world information based upon a particular real-world class, user identity or context.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven N. Bathiche, Jon Marcus Randall Whitten, John Mark Miller, Matthew B. MacLaurin, Boyd Cannon Multerer, James M. Alkove, Zachary Lewis Russell, Eric P. Wilfrid, Bret P. O'Rourke, Oliver R. Roup
  • Publication number: 20090172022
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding methodology) that dynamically alters a storybook (e.g., literary work). Preferences, policies and contexts can be considered and incorporated into the storyline of the book to enhance interest by creating a rich, personalized experience. By enhancing readability and features (e.g., sensory features), stories become more true-to-life and enjoyable by altering the story over time or to differing context (or content).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven N. Bathiche, Matthew B. MacLaurin, Zachary Lewis Russell, Bret P. O'Rourke, Shai Guday, Boyd Cannon Multerer, Eric P. Wilfrid, Manuel Uris Bronstein Bendayan
  • Publication number: 20090171902
    Abstract: A system that can automatically capture life experiences of a user across a number of senses or perceptions is provided. Once the data is captured, it can be annotated and saved for subsequent playback. The innovation also enables the data to be synchronized to for playback, for example, audio can be time-synced to a corresponding video with a corresponding smell, etc. Still further, the innovation provides for controls that enable a user to adjust or select granularity for capture as well as playback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew B. MacLaurin, William T. Flora, Steven N. Bathiche, Boyd Cannon Multerer, John Mark Miller, Bret P. O'Rourke
  • Publication number: 20090088233
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates enhancing a game, game play or playability of a game. An experience component can collect a portion of data related to a game in which the portion of data indicates at least one of a tip or a tactic for the game. A game component can dynamically incorporate the portion of data into the game during game play to enhance playability of such game for a user with assistance provided by at least one of the tip or the tactic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bret P. O'Rourke, Eric P. Wilfrid, Nigel S. Keam, Steven Bathiche, James M. Alkove, Zachary L. Russell, Jon Marcus Randall Whitten, Boyd C. Multerer, Andrew D. Wilson