Patents by Inventor David D. Thiel

David D. Thiel 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).

  • Methods, apparatus and data structures for providing a user interface which facilitates decision making
    Patent number: 7263667
    Abstract: A user interface for facilitating a decision making process, such as planning a trip. A unified view of various types of information related to an event may be provided. The unified view may be presented in a simulated three-dimensional environment having different types of information depicted on different windows. Different types of information related to a common event may be visually linked. A window showing a particular type of information may be brought into a focus view for closer inspection by a user. Alternative decisions may be depicted to permit vagueness or uncertainty, particularly at early iterations in the decision making process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tobias Hans Hoellerer, George G. Robertson, David D. Thiel, Daniel C. Robbins, Maarten R. van Dantzich
  • Methods, apparatus and data structures for providing a user interface, which exploits spatial memory, to objects
    Patent number: 6188405
    Abstract: A graphical user interface in which object thumbnails, as scaled images, are rendered on a two-dimensional wall or screen, and which exploits spatial memory. The objects may be moved, continuously, on the surface with a two-dimensional input device. Pop-up title bars may be rendered over active objects. Intelligent help may be provided to the user, as visual indicators, based on proximity clustering or based on matching algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mary Czerwinski, Susan T. Dumais, Susan E. Dziadosz, Daniel C. Robbins, George G. Robertson, David D. Thiel, Maarten Van Dantzich
  • Methods, apparatus and data structures for providing a user interface, which exploits spatial memory in three-dimensions, to objects and which provides spatialized audio
    Patent number: 6054989
    Abstract: A graphical user interface in which object thumbnails are rendered on a simulated three-dimensional surface which (i) exploits spatial memory and (ii) allows more objects to be rendered on a given screen. The objects may be moved, continuously, on the surface with a two-dimensional input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: George G. Robertson, David D. Thiel, Maarten Roderik Van Dantzich