Patents by Inventor Darren A. Apfel

Darren A. Apfel 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: 10996833
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Publication number: 20200326833
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Patent number: 10671256
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Publication number: 20190346993
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Patent number: 10394433
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Publication number: 20180239518
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Patent number: 9977575
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Patent number: 9628755
    Abstract: A system for automatically tracking movement of a user participating in a video chat application executing in a computing device is disclosed. A capture device connected to the computing device captures a user in a field of view of the capture device and identifies a sub-frame of pixels identifying a position of the head, neck and shoulders of the user in a capture frame of a capture area. The sub-frame of pixels is displayed to a remote user at a remote computing system who is participating in the video chat application with the user. The capture device automatically tracks the position of the head, neck and shoulders of the user as the user moves to a next location within the capture area. A next sub-frame of pixels identifying a position of the head, neck and shoulders of the user in the next location is identified and displayed to the remote user at the remote computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Brian McDowell, Darren Apfel
  • Patent number: 9602611
    Abstract: This document describes tools capable of differentiating a superset of entities from which a user may receive current updates effective to provide current updates for only some of the entities of the superset. In one embodiment, for example, the tools enable a user of a mobile device to select a set of entities from which the user will automatically receive updates that are current, easily accessible, and visible at-a-glance. The tools may forgo providing current updates for entities that are not selected by the user, though the tools may provide these updates when explicitly requested by the user or at particular times or events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Darren A. Apfel, Jon Friedman, Justin Michael Maguire, Matthew James Schoenholz, Rosanna H. Ho, Keith L. Rowe, Sandra I. Vargas, Peter A. Bernard, Matthew Justin Von Bencke
  • Patent number: 9172789
    Abstract: Contextual search by a mobile communications device is described. In an implementation, a search query is a received and a context is detected of a user interface currently being displayed on a display device of a mobile communication device. One or more search results are displayed on a display device of a search performed in the detected context using the search query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Kruzeniski, Darren A. Apfel, Jonathan D. Friedman, Kathleen W. Holmes, David Henry Wykes
  • Publication number: 20150040057
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Publication number: 20150026157
    Abstract: Contextual search by a mobile communications device is described. In an implementation, a search query is a received and a context is detected of a user interface currently being displayed on a display device of a mobile communication device. One or more search results are displayed on a display device of a search performed in the detected context using the search query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Michael J. Kruzeniski, Darren A. Apfel, Jonathan D. Friedman, Kathleen W. Holmes, David Henry Wykes
  • Patent number: 8914072
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Patent number: 8825699
    Abstract: Contextual search by a mobile communications device is described. In an implementation, a search query is a received and a context is detected of a user interface currently being displayed on a display device of a mobile communications device. One or more search results are displayed on a display device of a search performed in the detected context using the search query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: ROVI Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Kruzeniski, Darren A. Apfel, Jonathan D. Friedman, Kathleen W. Holmes, David Henry Wykes
  • Patent number: 8667533
    Abstract: Streaming content customization techniques are described. In an implementation, metadata, that is associated with an element, is synchronized with a stream of content that includes the element. The element is configured to accept an input to access related content that provides context for a scene that includes the element. After the related content is output, playback of the stream of content is resumed from the point at which the input was accepted to access the related content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Darren A. Apfel, Brian C. McDowell, Paolo V. Malabuyo, Mark J. Weinberg
  • Patent number: 8639229
    Abstract: This document describes tools capable of enabling users of mobile communication devices to create communication groups quickly and easily. With such a communication group a user may call, text, or instant message all persons in the group at once by selecting the communication group rather than each person in the group. In one embodiment, the tools enable a user to build a communication group by dragging and dropping indicators for persons he or she knows from one area of a screen into another area. In another embodiment, the tools automatically collect persons from those that the user knows based on one or more criteria. The user may then easily create a communication group of those collected persons, such as by tapping on an area of a mobile device's display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Darren A. Apfel, Jon Friedman, Keith L. Rowe, Rosanna H. Ho, Sandra I. Vargas, Peter A. Bernard, Matthew Justin Von Bencke
  • Patent number: 8385952
    Abstract: A mobile communications device user interface is described. In an implementation, a method is implemented by a mobile communications device that includes outputting a user interface having a portion that is configured to accept content. When an option is selected in relation to the portion to initiate a communication and the content includes one or more contacts, the communication is formed that includes the content and is automatically addressed to the one or more contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Friedman, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Brian M. Wilson, Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Nell H. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120254765
    Abstract: This document describes tools capable of differentiating a superset of entities from which a user may receive current updates effective to provide current updates for only some of the entities of the superset. In one embodiment, for example, the tools enable a user of a mobile device to select a set of entities from which the user will automatically receive updates that are current, easily accessible, and visible at-a-glance. The tools may forgo providing current updates for entities that are not selected by the user, though the tools may provide these updates when explicitly requested by the user or at particular times or events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Darren A. Apfel, Jon Friedman, Justin Michael Maguire, Matthew James Schoenholz, Rosanna H. Ho, Keith L. Rowe, Sandra I. Vargas, Peter A. Bernard, Matthew Justin Von Bencke
  • Publication number: 20120179992
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Patent number: 8214464
    Abstract: This document describes tools capable of differentiating a superset of entities from which a user may receive current updates effective to provide current updates for only some of the entities of the superset. In one embodiment, for example, the tools enable a user of a mobile device to select a set of entities from which the user will automatically receive updates that are current, easily accessible, and visible at-a-glance. The tools may forgo providing current updates for entities that are not selected by the user, though the tools may provide these updates when explicitly requested by the user or at particular times or events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Darren A. Apfel, Jon Friedman, Justin Michael Maguire, Matthew James Schoenholz, Rosanna H. Ho, Keith L. Rowe, Sandra I. Vargas, Peter A. Bernard, Matthew Justin Von Bencke