Patents by Inventor David Ethan Zoller

David Ethan Zoller 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: 11481086
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed toward launching a third party application in a media center module using a contextual link. The media center module is configured to enable the third party application to register with the module and to associate a contextual link corresponding to the third party application with a context provided by the media center module. In response to a request for information related to the context, the media center module is configured to direct to a location associated with the contextual link. The media center module is further configured to provide to the location data that identifies the context. In response to the provided data, the location is populated with the requested information. Thus, the use of conditional link enables a third party application to register to be a context handler for a media center module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh Christopher Vidos, Dean Wayne Talley, David Ethan Zoller
  • Patent number: 9836729
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed toward launching a third party application in a media center module using a conditional link. The media center module is configured to enable the third party application to register with the module and to associate a primary link that serves as the entry point for the application. The media center module also enables the third party application to provide a conditional link that serves as the entry point when a certain condition is met. Under normal circumstances, the media center module provides the primary link as the entry point for a user to launch the third party application. When the media center module receives a notification from the third party application to use the conditional link, the media center application causes the conditional link to be the entry point for the application. Thus, the use of conditional link enables a third party application to specify how the application is launched from the media center module under different conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh Christopher Vidos, Dean Wayne Talley, David Ethan Zoller
  • Patent number: 9424563
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed toward launching a third party application in a media center module using a contextual link. The media center module is configured to enable the third party application to register with the module and to associate a contextual link corresponding to the third party application with a context provided by the media center module. In response to a request for information related to the context, the media center module is configured to direct to a location associated with the contextual link. The media center module is further configured to provide to the location data that identifies the context. In response to the provided data, the location is populated with the requested information. Thus, the use of conditional link enables a third party application to register to be a context handler for a media center module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh Christopher Vidos, Dean Wayne Talley, David Ethan Zoller
  • Patent number: 9336016
    Abstract: An exemplary computer-implementable method includes receiving a call from an application executing on a host computer, the host computer having a collection of graphical user interfaces, and, in response to the call, registering the application whereby the registering comprises providing one or more entry points for the application wherein each entry point corresponds to at least one of the graphical user interfaces of the collection of graphical user interfaces. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: David Ethan Zoller, David R. Fulmer, Dean W. Talley, Hugh C. Vidos, Michael E. Creasy, John Elsbree
  • Publication number: 20160026610
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed toward launching a third party application in a media center module using a contextual link. The media center module is configured to enable the third party application to register with the module and to associate a contextual link corresponding to the third party application with a context provided by the media center module. In response to a request for information related to the context, the media center module is configured to direct to a location associated with the contextual link. The media center module is further configured to provide to the location data that identifies the context. In response to the provided data, the location is populated with the requested information. Thus, the use of conditional link enables a third party application to register to be a context handler for a media center module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh Christopher VIDOS, Dean Wayne TALLEY, David Ethan ZOLLER
  • Patent number: 8307403
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that relate to providing interactive television by synchronizing content to live and/or recorded television shows. Content is synchronized without the use of in-band triggers. A broadcast stream is received, and search/action pairs are received from a transmission path, such as from the Internet or user. When the search criteria are found in the broadcast stream, the associated action is performed and the content is synchronized with the show. An application programming interface is used to facilitate synchronization, and includes a set search method, a search function template method, and a clear search method. The set search method initiates searching of the broadcast stream and registers one or more callback methods for performing the associated action when the match is found. The search function template serves as the template for registering the callback methods. The clear search method clears the system resources from the search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Bradstreet, David Ethan Zoller, John Canning, Luke McCullough, Jan Hofmeyr
  • Publication number: 20120266216
    Abstract: An exemplary computer-implementable method includes receiving a call from an application executing on a host computer, the host computer having a collection of graphical user interfaces, and, in response to the call, registering the application whereby the registering comprises providing one or more entry points for the application wherein each entry point corresponds to at least one of the graphical user interfaces of the collection of graphical user interfaces. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Ethan Zoller, David R. Fulmer, Dean W. Talley, Hugh C. Vidos, Michael E. Creasy, John Elsbree
  • Patent number: 8214754
    Abstract: An exemplary computer-implementable method includes receiving a call from an application executing on a host computer, the host computer having a collection of graphical user interfaces, and, in response to the call, registering the application whereby the registering comprises providing one or more entry points for the application wherein each entry point corresponds to at least one of the graphical user interfaces of the collection of graphical user interfaces. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Ethan Zoller, David R. Fulmer, Dean W Talley, Hugh C. Vidos, Michael E. Creasy, John Elsbree
  • Publication number: 20080147311
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which a virtual location marker (e.g., virtual pushpin or similar placeholder) is determined from the results of a query, in which the virtual location marker corresponds to a first coordinate set (e.g., a latitude, longitude and/or altitude of a business location) to represent a point on a map. Various static and dynamic data may be used to select a result deemed most desirable from among multiple query results. The virtual location marker may be output, e.g., plotted on a map and/or used to provide audio directions. Upon detecting a state change, such as a change in current location, and/or a change in direction, speed, time, a start location or an end destination, the virtual location marker may be automatically re-determined, including changing the virtual location marker to correspond to a second, different coordinate set now deemed most desirable in view of the state change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Ethan Zoller, Tanya L. Swartz
  • Patent number: 7081904
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in local/remote session computing environments. The methods and apparatuses allow users to be more alert as to which graphical user interface (GUI), e.g., local or remotely based, they are viewing and interacting with. When a remote GUI is displayed in full screen mode, one or more identifiers are presented to identify that the GUI is part of a particular local and/or remote program/session. The identifier(s) may be selectively displayed depending on the user's requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Ethan Zoller, Adam J. Overton, Nadim Y. Abdo
  • Publication number: 20030160816
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in local/remote session computing environments. The methods and apparatuses allow users to be more alert as to which graphical user interface (GUI), e.g., local or remotely based, they are viewing and interacting with. When a remote GUI is displayed in full screen mode, one or more identifiers are presented to identify that the GUI is part of a particular local and/or remote program/session. The identifier(s) may be selectively displayed depending on the user's requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: David Ethan Zoller, Adam J. Overton, Nadim Y. Abdo