Patents by Inventor Christopher H. Pratley

Christopher H. Pratley 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: 9483590
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding method) that employs wiki-type models to consider authoring rather than composition in an application environment is provided. The innovation enables collaborative information and templates to be used to enhance quality, productivity, etc. within a software application environment. These wiki-type models can provide features, functions and benefits related to, but not limited to, general information, auto-fills, formats, schema, conversions, preferences, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ajitesh Kishore, Brian Meek, Christopher H. Pratley, Alexander G. Gounares, Lewis Charles Levin
  • Publication number: 20140039868
    Abstract: A system (and corresponding method) that employs wiki-type models to consider authoring rather than composition in an application environment is provided. The innovation enables collaborative information and templates to be used to enhance quality, productivity, etc. within a software application environment. These wiki-type models can provide features, functions and benefits related to, but not limited to, general information, auto-fills, formats, schema, conversions, preferences, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ajitesh Kishore, Brian Meek, Christopher H. Pratley, Alexander G. Gounares, Lewis Charles Levin
  • Patent number: 8024652
    Abstract: Techniques to cross-reference information for application programs are described. An apparatus may comprise a first application program to create notes for an operator, a second application program to display a target document, and a context reference module to generate a context reference for the target document indicating a source for the target document, display the context reference, and associate the context reference with a note. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Rasmussen, Alex J. Simmons, Christopher H. Pratley, Olya Veselova, Peyush Bansal, David Garber, Igor Kofman, Donovan Lange, Emily Pitler
  • Patent number: 7970771
    Abstract: An object tracking module establishes relationships between different types of data objects associated with application programs while a particular activity occurs. Contextual information associated with the data objects and the activity is collected to establish the relationship. The contextual information may include data objects that are accessed or created while the activity is in progress, or any other information associated with the activity. When an event related to the activity occurs, the object tracking module locates data relevant to the event based on the established relationships. The relevant data is presented in the same information space where the event occurs. A user may easily access the relevant information without manually searching for the data. The object tracking module may determine the degree of relevance between the data objects and the event such that only the most relevant objects are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Rasmussen, Christopher H. Pratley, Owen Braun
  • Publication number: 20100223341
    Abstract: Providing for electronic messaging tailored to contexts or interests of one or more participants of electronic communication is described herein. By way of example, a message can be analyzed during or after compilation to determine a context of the message. Message participants can be identified and a context for such participants determined. Based on the message context or participant context, the message can be modified to be consistent with interests, preferences or other context of one or more participants. In some aspects, the message can be modified upon receipt by a recipient's communication device or messaging application. According to other aspects, the message can be modified at compilation, or transmission. In accordance with still other aspects, message modifications can be output as suggested feedback to improve receptivity or utility of a message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dragos A. Manolescu, Matthew Jason Pope, Raymond E. Ozzie, Christopher H. Pratley, Henricus Johannes Maria Meijer, F. David Jones, Mary P. Czerwinski
  • Publication number: 20090327322
    Abstract: A data processing system for data exchange across application boundaries is provided. The system includes a canvas memory in which to open multiple applications. A transform component generates data structures across the canvas memory in at least one application form and automatically transforms the data structures to at least one other application form to mitigate application boundaries between disparate applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gurdeep Singh Pall, Christopher H. Pratley, Ajitesh Kishore, Lewis C. Levin, Parichay Saxena, Patrice Y. Simard
  • Patent number: 7617450
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided for creating, inserting, and reusing document parts in an electronic document. According to a system, a word processing application program receives a selection of a document part category. In response to the selection of the document part category, a gallery of document parts is displayed in a user interface. A selection of a document part from the gallery is received and inserted in the electronic document without the need for additional formatting. The gallery of document parts defines a page layout for the electronic document. Document parts may be created within the user interface by modifying pre-built document parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian M. Jones, Christopher H. Pratley, Eric D. Bailey, Marcin Sawicki, Roberto C. Taboada, Tristan A. Davis
  • Patent number: 7599094
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically adjusting printing settings to optimize the fit of text, data and/or images on printed pages. Once selected text or data is designated for printing, a determination is made as to whether the selected text or data may be printed on a single page or whether multiple pages are required. The best fit of the text or data on a single or multiple pages is accomplished by incrementally adjusting a number of different print settings until an optimum fit of the text or data is achieved on a single page or on a set of pages. Print settings include margins, scale, and orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy D. Sellers, Kwon Nam-Yul, John D. Griffin, Christopher H. Pratley, Owen C. Braun, Peter L. Engrav, Stuart J. Stuple
  • Patent number: 7577914
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for automatically sizing computer-generated workspaces to allow users to enter data anywhere in an available workspace. A calculation is performed to determine the total available workspace displayable by a display device based on the size of the display device. The space required to display user interface objects, such as toolbars and task panes, is subtracted from the total available workspace, and the remaining available workspace is designated as the displayed workspace. The workspace is displayed without the use of scroll bars to create a user experience that the displayed workspace is the total available workspace. Data may be entered anywhere in the displayed workspace without regard to any preformatted page sizes or margins. If data is entered outside the displayed workspace, scroll bars are then displayed to indicate the presence of content outside the displayed workspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart J. Stuple, Owen C. Braun, Christopher H. Pratley, Alex J. Simmons, Timothy D. Sellers
  • Patent number: 7574669
    Abstract: A user interface control is provided for navigating, selecting, and organizing document pages. The user interface control includes page tabs corresponding to document pages within an electronic document. The page tabs are organized and displayed adjacent to one another in a horizontal or vertical column. When any page tab is selected, such as with a mouse or keyboard, the document page corresponding to the selected page tab is displayed. A first page tab may be selected and a second page tab may be subsequently selected, such as for instance using a mouse or other pointing device. The selection may include dragging a mouse cursor from the first page tab across several page tabs and subsequently to the second page tab. When such a selection is received, the control displays the contents of each of the document pages corresponding to page tabs between the first and second page tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Owen C. Braun, Christopher H. Pratley, Peter L. Engrav, Stuart J. Stuple, Jeffrey T. Krauss
  • Publication number: 20090199079
    Abstract: A system is provided to facilitate documentation processing. The system includes one or more embedded components associated with an application and a linking component to automatically associate the embedded components with one or more related entities to the document. The embedded components are employed to determine other relationships for the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christopher H. Pratley
  • Publication number: 20090119324
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates collecting and organizing electronic documents. An interface component can receive a document. A manager component can automatically file the document into a category based at least in part upon a portion of static metadata associated with the document and a portion of metadata dynamically generated from an inference related to the portion of static metadata associated with the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrice Y. Simard, Lewis C. Levin, Christopher H. Pratley
  • Patent number: 7519579
    Abstract: A summary page provides a current overview of a document. A query may be created or selected to search for a particular type of data in the document. Metadata associated with the document is analyzed to locate the type of data identified in the query. The query result is displayed on the summary page. A user may scan the summary page to determine an overview of the document based on the query result. The summary page may also include a link to the source of the query result in the document. The query or the query results may be stored in a dynamic content container associated with the document. The dynamic quality of the content container causes the summary page to be continuously updated and synchronous with a current state of the document. Thus, modifications to sources of the query result in the document are dynamically updated on the summary page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Yalovsky, Christopher H. Pratley, Julie L. Zhuo
  • Publication number: 20090006448
    Abstract: A model generation system is provided. The system includes a monitor component to determine user actions and gestures during computer operations. A model component automatically infers a model from the user actions and gestures, where the model is employed to generate a schema in order to provide context for an application or data structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gurdeep Singh Pall, Christopher H. Pratley, Lewis C. Levin
  • Patent number: 7454700
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for restricting the application of formatting to the contents of an electronic document. According to the method, a request may be received to perform a formatting operation on a portion of the contents of an electronic document. In response to the request, a determination is made as to whether the requested operation should be permitted. If the requested operation is a direct formatting operation, the request may be denied. If the request operation is the application of a style to a portion of the electronic document, the request may be granted if the style is permitted to be applied to the contents of the electronic document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Jones, Ziyi Wang, Marcin Sawicki, Christopher H. Pratley
  • Publication number: 20080270761
    Abstract: Techniques to generate event contexts for recurring events are described. A computer system may comprise a context management module with an event detection module to detect a first occurrence of an event, a context recording module to record context information for the event, the event detection module to detect a second occurrence of the event, and a context generator module to create an event context for the event with the context information during the second occurrence of the event. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Rasmussen, Alex J. Simmons, Christopher H. Pratley, Olya Veselova, Peyush Bansal, David Garber, Igor Kofman, Donovan Lange, Emily Pitler, Kentaro Urata
  • Publication number: 20080256114
    Abstract: Techniques to cross-reference information for application programs are described. An apparatus may comprise a first application program to create notes for an operator, a second application program to display a target document, and a context generation module to generate a context for a note by displaying a document view for the target document using stored context information when the note is displayed. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Rasmussen, Alex J. Simmons, Christopher H. Pratley, Olya Veselova, Peyush Bansal, David Garber, Igor Kofman, Donovan Lange, Emily Pitler
  • Publication number: 20080256113
    Abstract: Techniques to cross-reference information for application programs are described. An apparatus may comprise a first application program to create notes for an operator, a second application program to display a target document, and a context reference module to generate a context reference for the target document indicating a source for the target document, display the context reference, and associate the context reference with a note. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Rasmussen, Alex J. Simmons, Christopher H. Pratley, Olya Veselova, Peyush Bansal, David Garber, Igor Kofman, Donovan Lange, Emily Pitler
  • Patent number: 7423659
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for inserting an object in a void region in an existing object. A user locates the void region by determining whether the insertion point for the object is outside of an edit region. If the insertion point is outside of the edit region, the user is in a void region. The user then inserts the object in the void region. The size of the void region dynamically changes based on the size of the inserted object. The object may be inserted using a computer keyboard or a pen. The inserted object may be text, ink, or any other type of object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher H. Pratley, Alex J. Simmons, Owen C. Braun, Peter L. Engrav, Stuart J. Stuple
  • Patent number: 7409089
    Abstract: Displaying a writing guide for a free-form document editor by detecting electronic ink, classifying the detected ink as corresponding to handwriting or a drawing, and displaying a handwriting guide or a drawing guide in response to classifying the detected ink as handwriting or a drawing, respectively. The writing guides can provide feedback regarding the classification of the detected ink and can be resized as additional ink is detected. The handwriting guide can comprise a writing area, writing guide portion, bullet guide, indent marker, character notches, gesture guide, or sacrificial guide to create meaningful structure within an outline object of an electronic document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Alex J. Simmons, Kentaro Urata, Peter Loren Engrav, Christopher H. Pratley, Owen C. Braun, Stuart J. Stuple