Patents by Inventor David L. Stearns

David L. Stearns 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: 6529217
    Abstract: A method for graphically displaying a set of data fields includes creating a graphical display of a set of data fields through the use of icons and drop areas. To graphically display the data fields, a user first selects a range of data points, grouped into data fields, to be included in the graphical display. A list of icons corresponding to each of the data fields is then generated. A graph template is displayed, comprising a set of drop areas and a field list. The icons are displayed within the field list. Each drop area displays a watermark and may receive a number of icons. A user may drag and drop an icon from the field list into any one of the drop areas, which causes the data field associated with that icon to be graphically displayed in a manner dependent on the drop area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Justin M. Maguire, III, David L. Stearns, Jeanell D. Sullivan, Andrew J. Verprauskus, Wenli Zhu