Patents by Inventor Brian R. Meyers

Brian R. Meyers 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: 11580088
    Abstract: Technologies are described for generating, acquiring, transferring, and manipulating sets of interaction representations, where an interaction representation represents user interaction with content on a computer device, typically using a software application. The set can be represented as an interaction representation. To facilitate set creation, including adding items to a set, a request can be sent to an application to provide an interaction representation, such as an interaction representation of a current state of user-content interaction associated with the software application. Sets can be associated with different types, where the set type can determine whether, and what types, of interaction representations can be added to a set. Sets can be associated with expiration events, where the interaction representation for the set, and in some cases the component interaction representations, can be deleted upon the occurrence of the expiration event. In some cases, a set can be designated not to expire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Novak, Brian R. Meyers, Anshul Rawat, Valerie L. Wang, John C. Whytock
  • Patent number: 10853220
    Abstract: Technology related to determining a user engagement with software programs is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method can include receiving a plurality of signals indicating states of the computer and a software application executing on the computer. The method can include combining the signals to determine a user engagement with the software application. The method can include storing a user engagement log based on the determined user engagement with the software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chani A. Doggett, Brian R. Meyers, Colleen E. Hamilton, Kiran Tatapudi, Michael J. Novak, Kenneth M. Tubbs, Sriram Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10732796
    Abstract: Techniques are described for obtaining user activity information and navigational mnemonic information. The activity information and navigational mnemonic information can be used to control information presented in displays in a manner that can assist a user in locating an activity using displayed navigational mnemonics. User activity information can include an application identifier and a content identifier. Navigational mnemonic information can include a resource identifier and a relevance identifier. A user can search for activities based on a relationship between a navigational mnemonic and an activity, such as a temporal relationship. Applications can register both activity information and navigational mnemonic information through an interface, and a navigational mnemonic feed service can provide navigation mnemonics that are not directly related to user activity on user computer devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Alphin, III, Kenneth Lynn Crocker, Colleen E. Hamilton, Brian R. Meyers, Michael J. Novak
  • Patent number: 10693748
    Abstract: Technology related to an activity feed service is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method can include receiving updates to activity streams, where a respective activity stream indicates an engagement of a respective user with applications executing on a respective client device connected to a network. The different activity streams associated with a particular user can be merged to generate a merged activity stream associated with the particular user. The different received activity streams can correspond to different respective client devices. The merged activity stream associated with the particular user can be transmitted over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chani A. Doggett, Brian R. Meyers, John E. Gallardo, Abolade Gbadegesin, Michael J. Novak, Yisheng Yao, Bartosz H. Paliswiat, Kiran Tatapudi, Colleen E. Hamilton, Shawn P. Henry, Kenneth M. Tubbs, Sriram Srinivasan, Mahmut Arslan
  • Patent number: 10671245
    Abstract: Techniques are described for creating and modifying task records and for controlling information displayed to a user in corresponding task representations. The task records are associated with more or more user activities, where each activity is associated with a record having an identifier for the activity, an application identifier that indicates a software application associated with the activity, and a content identifier identifying content associated with the software application and the activity. The activity records can include activation information. A user can select a task representation and resume one or more activities associated with the task. Tasks records can be shared between different computer devices of the user, and with different users. Task and activity records can be associated with navigational mnemonics. Representations of task and activity records can be displayed proximate representations of associated navigational mnemonics to help a user locate tasks and activities of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Alphin, III, Kenneth Lynn Crocker, Brian R. Meyers, Michael J. Novak, Valerie Louise Wang
  • Patent number: 10627995
    Abstract: Techniques are described for creating and modifying task records and for controlling information displayed to a user in corresponding task representations. The task records are associated with more or more user activities, where each activity is associated with a record having an identifier for the activity, an application identifier that indicates a software application associated with the activity, and a content identifier identifying content associated with the software application and the activity. The activity records can include activation information. A user can select a task representation and resume one or more activities associated with the task. Tasks records can be shared between different computer devices of the user, and with different users. Task and activity records can be associated with navigational mnemonics. Representations of task and activity records can be displayed proximate representations of associated navigational mnemonics to help a user locate tasks and activities of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Alphin, III, Kenneth Lynn Crocker, Brian R. Meyers, Michael J. Novak, Valerie Louise Wang
  • Patent number: 10511654
    Abstract: A collaborative phone-based file exchange technique that wirelessly synchronizes a user's work context with his or her mobile phone and makes this context readily available and sharable in collaborative situations. When the user is away from their desk, collaboration with others is possible by sharing/downloading between the mobile phone and a paired PC, which may be a colleague's computer or a meeting room workstation/computer. When the user returns to their office, any recently downloaded files are automatically synchronized back to their office PC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amy Kathleen Karlson, George G. Robertson, Brian R. Meyers, Gregory Smith, Mary Czerwinski
  • Patent number: 10467230
    Abstract: Techniques are described for obtaining and displaying user activity information. For example, user activity information can include an application identifier, a content identifier, and a relevance identifier. A summary display is rendered for display that presents user activity information for user activities meeting relevance criteria. A user can select to view an activity details view, presenting information regarding all of their activity over a time period. A user can search for activities meeting particular criteria, and can view past activities along with applications currently being executed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Alphin, III, Kenneth Lynn Crocker, Brian R. Meyers, Michael J. Novak
  • Publication number: 20180302302
    Abstract: Technology related to an activity feed service is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method can include receiving updates to activity streams, where a respective activity stream indicates an engagement of a respective user with applications executing on a respective client device connected to a network. The different activity streams associated with a particular user can be merged to generate a merged activity stream associated with the particular user. The different received activity streams can correspond to different respective client devices. The merged activity stream associated with the particular user can be transmitted over the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chani A. Doggett, Brian R. Meyers, John E. Gallardo, Abolade Gbadegesin, Michael J. Novak, Yisheng Yao, Bartosz H. Paliswiat, Kiran Tatapudi, Colleen E. Hamilton, Shawn P. Henry, Kenneth M. Tubbs, Sriram Srinivasan, Mahmut Arslan
  • Publication number: 20180300217
    Abstract: Technology related to determining a user engagement with software programs is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method can include receiving a plurality of signals indicating states of the computer and a software application executing on the computer. The method can include combining the signals to determine a user engagement with the software application. The method can include storing a user engagement log based on the determined user engagement with the software application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chani A. Doggett, Brian R. Meyers, Colleen E. Hamilton, Kiran Tatapudi, Michael J. Novak, Kenneth M. Tubbs, Sriram Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20180284958
    Abstract: Techniques are described for obtaining user activity information and navigational mnemonic information. The activity information and navigational mnemonic information can be used to control information presented in displays in a manner that can assist a user in locating an activity using displayed navigational mnemonics. User activity information can include an application identifier and a content identifier. Navigational mnemonic information can include a resource identifier and a relevance identifier. A user can search for activities based on a relationship between a navigational mnemonic and an activity, such as a temporal relationship. Applications can register both activity information and navigational mnemonic information through an interface, and a navigational mnemonic feed service can provide navigation mnemonics that are not directly related to user activity on user computer devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Alphin, III, Kenneth Lynn Crocker, Colleen E. Hamilton, Brian R. Meyers, Michael J. Novak
  • Publication number: 20180284959
    Abstract: Techniques are described for creating and modifying task records and for controlling information displayed to a user in corresponding task representations. The task records are associated with more or more user activities, where each activity is associated with a record having an identifier for the activity, an application identifier that indicates a software application associated with the activity, and a content identifier identifying content associated with the software application and the activity. The activity records can include activation information. A user can select a task representation and resume one or more activities associated with the task. Tasks records can be shared between different computer devices of the user, and with different users. Task and activity records can be associated with navigational mnemonics. Representations of task and activity records can be displayed proximate representations of associated navigational mnemonics to help a user locate tasks and activities of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Alphin, III, Kenneth Lynn Crocker, Brian R. Meyers, Michael J. Novak, Valerie Louise Wang
  • Publication number: 20180246937
    Abstract: Techniques are described for obtaining and displaying user activity information. For example, user activity information can include an application identifier, a content identifier, and a relevance identifier. A summary display is rendered for display that presents user activity information for user activities meeting relevance criteria. A user can select to view an activity details view, presenting information regarding all of their activity over a time period. A user can search for activities meeting particular criteria, and can view past activities along with applications currently being executed by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Alphin, III, Kenneth Lynn Crocker, Brian R. Meyers, Michael J. Novak
  • Publication number: 20170374132
    Abstract: A collaborative phone-based file exchange technique that wirelessly synchronizes a user's work context with his or her mobile phone and makes this context readily available and sharable in collaborative situations. When the user is away from their desk, collaboration with others is possible by sharing/downloading between the mobile phone and a paired PC, which may be a colleague's computer or a meeting room workstation/computer. When the user returns to their office, any recently downloaded files are automatically synchronized back to their office PC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Amy Kathleen Karlson, George G. Robertson, Brian R. Meyers, Gregory Smith, Mary Czerwinski
  • Patent number: 9762650
    Abstract: A collaborative phone-based file exchange technique that wirelessly synchronizes a user's work context with his or her mobile phone and makes this context readily available and sharable in collaborative situations. When the user is away from their desk, collaboration with others is possible by sharing/downloading between the mobile phone and a paired PC, which may be a colleague's computer or a meeting room workstation/computer. When the user returns to their office, any recently downloaded files are automatically synchronized back to their office PC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amy Kathleen Karlson, George G. Robertson, Brian R. Meyers, Gregory Smith, Mary Czerwinski
  • Patent number: 9697500
    Abstract: A resource reference is detected in a base resource, such as a web page or an email message. The resource reference refers to a target resource, such as another webpage or another email message. An appropriate activity-based resource type for the resource reference is then identified. The resource reference is then linked to an activity-based resource such that when the base resource is displayed and a user interacts with the resource reference, the activity-based resource is displayed to the user. The activity-based resource comprises a calculated field that has a value that indicates how one or more users have interacted with one or more resources. The value of the calculated field is calculated using activity data indicating how users interacted with the resources. The activity data is generated without receiving input of the activity data from the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ilya Tumanov, George Perantatos, John Surapunt Wana, Brian R. Meyers
  • Patent number: 9671922
    Abstract: Some examples relate to facilitating multi-tasking in a computing environment. A focus area component defines a focus area within a display space—the focus area occupying a subset area of the display space area. A scaling component scales display objects as a function of proximity to the focus area, and a behavior modification component modifies respective behavior of the display objects as a function their location of the display space. Some implementations provide for interaction technique(s) and user interface(s) in connection with managing display objects on a display surface. Further, some examples define a central focus area, such that the display objects are displayed and behave as usual. Also included is a periphery outside the focus area where the display objects are reduced in size based on their location, getting smaller as the display objects near an edge of the display surface with many more objects visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: George G. Robertson, Dugald R. Hutchings, Brian R. Meyers, Gregory R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9477574
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the collection of data within a computer network (especially an intranet) while complying with applicable privacy laws and regulations, as well as individual organizations' rules addressing intranet users' privacy are disclosed. Such systems, methods and computer program products allow for the collecting of activity information related to computer-based activities performed by users while logged into an organization's intranet. Such activity includes navigating to URLs, opening and editing documents, writing, opening and reading email and instant messages, and the like. The collecting, consolidating, storing and exposing of such activity information—while ensuring privacy requirements—serves as a basis for high-value services (e.g., augmenting documents with extra information, improving search results, automatic news feeds, social networking announcements, etc.) to be offered and provisioned to such users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ilya Tumanov, John Wana, George Perantatos, Brian R. Meyers, Gary Caldwell
  • Patent number: 9176485
    Abstract: Methods and systems for occupancy prediction using historical occupancy patterns are described. In an embodiment, an occupancy probability is computed by comparing a recent occupancy pattern to historic occupancy patterns. Sensor data for a room, or other space, is used to generate a table of past occupancy which comprises these historic occupancy patterns. The comparison which is performed identifies a number of similar historic occupancy patterns and data from these similar historic occupancy patterns is combined to generate an occupancy probability for a time in the future. In an example, time may be divided into discrete slots and binary values may be used to indicate occupancy or non-occupancy in each slot. An occupancy probability for a defined future time slot then comprises a combination of the binary values for corresponding time slots from each of the identified similar occupancy patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: John Charles Krumm, James W. Scott, Alice Jane Bernheim Brush, Brian R. Meyers, Stephen Edward Hodges
  • Publication number: 20140297814
    Abstract: A collaborative phone-based file exchange technique that wirelessly synchronizes a user's work context with his or her mobile phone and makes this context readily available and sharable in collaborative situations. When the user is away from their desk, collaboration with others is possible by sharing/downloading between the mobile phone and a paired PC, which may be a colleague's computer or a meeting room workstation/computer. When the user returns to their office, any recently downloaded files are automatically synchronized back to their office PC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Amy Kathleen Karlson, George G. Robertson, Brian R. Meyers, Gregory Smith, Mary Czerwinski