Patents by Inventor Christopher McConnell

Christopher McConnell 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: 7627557
    Abstract: Computer assistance content related to a plurality of software entities is combined into a single assistance content corpus. The corpus may be organized hierarchically. The hierarchical organization can be done using content sets that relate assistance content with associated metadata. Content sets can be related to each other in parent-child relationships. The relationship definitions can be separate from the content set definitions. Scope and bias information can be used to constrain assistance content searching over the corpus and to bias search results based on one or more state variables of the user's computer. A remote assistance server can be used to provide updated or newer assistance content to the user. When the remote assistance server is used, an assistance request from the user is supplemented with scope information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: J. Shane McRoberts, Amit Rai, Christopher McConnell, Dale Rogerson, Kipper York, Scott Whalley, Tom Laird-McConnell, Wenlong Dong
  • Publication number: 20060294070
    Abstract: Computer assistance content related to a plurality of software entities is combined into a single assistance content corpus. The corpus may be organized hierarchically. The hierarchical organization can be done using content sets that relate assistance content with associated metadata. Content sets can be related to each other in parent-child relationships. The relationship definitions can be separate from the content set definitions. Scope and bias information can be used to constrain assistance content searching over the corpus and to bias search results based on one or more state variables of the user's computer. A remote assistance server can be used to provide updated or newer assistance content to the user. When the remote assistance server is used, an assistance request from the user is supplemented with scope information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: J. Shane McRoberts, Amit Rai, Christopher McConnell, Dale Rogerson, Kipper York, Scott Whalley, Tom Laird-McConnell, Wenlong Dong
  • Publication number: 20060276230
    Abstract: A computer-readable medium, a method and a personal computer for enabling a portable communications device to access media content. In the computer-readable medium, media content is accessed using a personal computer, and information contained in the media content is extracted. A signal representative of the extracted information is generated and transmitted to a remote communications device by way of a communication channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventor: Christopher McConnell
  • Publication number: 20060129379
    Abstract: A system for synchronizing a natural language input element and a graphical user interface has a synchronization engine. The synchronization engine is adapted to monitor user interactions with the natural language input element and the graphical user interface and to synchronize the natural language input element and the graphical user interface responsive to the user interactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William Ramsey, Christopher McConnell, David Dawson, Jonas Barklund, Steven Ickman, Thomas Laird-McConnell
  • Publication number: 20060112116
    Abstract: A relational database management system having an XML storage implementation to reduce overhead associated with consuming data from multiple data providers, where each having proprietary database schemas. The XML storage solution allows data from any arbitrary relational database schema to be loaded, rearranged and retrieved. The system is adapted to receive and managing data from external content providers by exposing a predetermined provider content file formats These formats use XPath as a schema reference, as a definition of legal combinations, and as a pattern to match other XPaths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher McConnell
  • Publication number: 20060059150
    Abstract: A system and method for connecting to a set of phrases joining multiple schemas is disclosed. A phrase identifying particular content corresponding to a particular schema is submitted by an affiliated data provider to a portal. The portal matches the phrase to a set identifying particular content corresponding to multiple schemas. The portal may match the phrase to the same set as another phrase identifying the particular content in the particular schema. The portal may match the phrase to a set in a particular group of sets identifying content across common schemas. The portal may match the phrase to a set in the same group as another phrase identifying content in the particular schema. The portal may match the phrase to a previously established set or to a newly established set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher McConnell, David Dawson
  • Publication number: 20060031472
    Abstract: A database stores information about known hosts, the applications or services they host, and the ports (known as confirmed ports) used by the applications/services. A static traffic analyzer analyzes traffic data and identifies packets communicating with (either sent to or received from) confirmed ports on hosts. A dynamic traffic analyzer analyzes the traffic data and identifies packets communicating with unconfirmed ports on hosts. A host identifier uses the resulting static and dynamic traffic to identify hosts for which firewall rules should be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Anand Rajavelu, Christopher McConnell, Ben Choi, Praveen Sampat, Haodong Wu
  • Publication number: 20050272415
    Abstract: A method and system for interacting with a computer is provided. In one embodiment, a communications connection between the computer and a communications device is established. An audio signal from the user is received and processed to determine a desired function. A determination is made as to whether the desired function requires a spoken response and, if so, a spoken response to the user is provided by way of the remote communications device and the desired function is performed. In an alternate embodiment, an entry in a data file is read and a communications connection initiated between the computer and a remote communications device responsive to the entry. An audio notification is generated according to the entry and transmitted by way of the remote communications device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Christopher McConnell, Thomas Pleatman, Jennifer Parker, Chad Billmyer
  • Publication number: 20050256888
    Abstract: An authoring tool (or process) to facilitate the performance of an annotation function and an indexing function. The annotation function may generate informational annotations and word annotations to a database design schema (e.g., an entity-relationship diagram or “ERD”). The indexing function may analyze the words of the annotations by classifying the words in accordance with a concordance and dictionary, and assign a normalized weight to each word of each of the annotations based on the classification(s) of the word(s) of the annotation. A query translator (or query translation process) to (i) accept a natural language query from a user interface process, (ii) convert the natural language query to a formal command query (e.g., an SQL query) using the indexed annotations generated by the authoring tool and the database design schema, and (iii) present the formal command query to a database management process for interrogating the relational database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher McConnell
  • Publication number: 20050256889
    Abstract: An authoring tool (or process) to facilitate the performance of an annotation function and an indexing function. The annotation function may generate informational annotations and word annotations to a database design schema (e.g., an entity-relationship diagram or “ERD”). The indexing function may analyze the words of the annotations by classifying the words in accordance with a concordance and dictionary, and assign a normalized weight to each word of each of the annotations based on the classification(s) of the word(s) of the annotation. A query translator (or query translation process) to (i) accept a natural language query from a user interface process, (ii) convert the natural language query to a formal command query (e.g., an SQL query) using the indexed annotations generated by the authoring tool and the database design schema, and (iii) present the formal command query to a database management process for interrogating the relational database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher McConnell
  • Publication number: 20050197828
    Abstract: An authoring tool (or process) to facilitate the performance of an annotation function and an indexing function. The annotation function may generate informational annotations and word annotations to a database design schema (e.g., an entity-relationship diagram or “ERD”). The indexing function may analyze the words of the annotations by classifying the words in accordance with a concordance and dictionary, and assign a normalized weight to each word of each of the annotations based on the classification(s) of the word(s) of the annotation. A query translator (or query translation process) to (i) accept a natural language query from a user interface process, (ii) convert the natural language query to a formal command query (e.g., an SQL query) using the indexed annotations generated by the authoring tool and the database design schema, and (iii) present the formal command query to a database management process for interrogating the relational database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher McConnell, Par Barklund
  • Publication number: 20050180464
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a first communications channel with a user is established and an audio user request to establish a second communications channel to enable communications with a party is received. The audio user request is recognized, and the second communications channel is established. In another embodiment, a communications channel between a computer and a user communications device is established, and a user input having an audio request is detected and stored. A user profile is accessed and a first grammar is selected based on the user profile. An attempt is made to recognize the audio request using the first, active grammar. If the audio request is not recognized, the first grammar is deactivated, a second grammar is activated and an attempt is made to recognize the audio request using the second grammar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: Adondo Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher McConnell, Thomas Pleatman
  • Publication number: 20050154711
    Abstract: A method and system which allow the addition of context into a search involves the use of state monitors in the computing environment. The state monitors record information such as the installed hardware, software, user preferences, and operating modes. The state information is used to modify information gathered via a user search to make the search results more relevant to the user in the context of his computing environment. The monitors, along with logical operators and variables, assess the current state of the machine and modify the displayed search results by excluding irrelevant information, biasing up information relevant to the computing environment and biasing down other information less relevant to the computing environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventor: Christopher McConnell
  • Patent number: 6491763
    Abstract: A process for treating an electronic component wherein the electronic component is exposed to a heated solvent and subsequently exposed to an ozonated process fluid. The electronic component is optionally exposed to the heated solvent by exposing the electronic component to a passing layer of heated solvent. An apparatus for treating electronic components with a heated solvent and an ozonated process fluid is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Mattson Technology IP
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, Lewis Liu, Alan Walter, C. Wade Sheen, Christopher McConnell
  • Publication number: 20020033186
    Abstract: A process for treating an electronic component wherein the electronic component is exposed to a heated solvent and subsequently exposed to an ozonated process fluid. The electronic component is optionally exposed to the heated solvent by exposing the electronic component to a passing layer of heated solvent. An apparatus for treating electronic components with a heated solvent and an ozonated process fluid is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, Lewis Liu, Alan Walter, C. Wade Sheen, Christopher McConnell
  • Patent number: 6176337
    Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle having front and rear chassis members interconnected by a locking means. The rear chassis member includes alignment means for aligning the rear chassis with a suspension assembly of the front chassis. An adjustable seat assembly supports a user while preventing accidental disengagement of the locking means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Golden Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Christopher McConnell, Fred Kiwak, Chad Morgan