Patents by Inventor David M. Chickering
David M. Chickering 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).
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Patent number: 9283476Abstract: Systems and methods allow an on-line game to extract information relevant to a specific need of a game platform or service platform. The specific need relates to management and use of digital content, and is addressed by designing and playing an on-line collaborative game. The rules of the game intend to solve a specific task dictated by the specific need. Players' responses to the game generate a wealth of information related to a specific task objective, such as ranking, sorting, and evaluating a set of digital content items. To compel participation in a game, players can be rewarded with monetary value rewards. As a game illustration, an image selection game (ISG) that exploits human contextual inference is described in detail. The information extracted from ISG is a list of key-image associations, relevant for the task of image sorting and ranking.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2007Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Anton Mityagin, Aparna Lakshmiratan, Asela J. Gunawardana, Christopher A. Meek, David M. Chickering, Paul N. Bennett, Timothy S. Paek
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Patent number: 9120017Abstract: A game description language is provided for human computation games, as well as a game platform or generator component that can generate the code base for the game. The game description language and schema framework can be used to represent the game logic and synchronization patterns of a human computation game. The automated code generation tool takes a file, e.g., a file made from the above game description language, or the like, as an input and generates a code base for the corresponding human computation game. These tools allow a prototype of a human computation game to be generated within minutes.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: David M. Chickering, Edith Law, Anton Mityagin
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Patent number: 8922559Abstract: Various embodiments provide techniques for graph clustering. In one or more embodiments, a participation graph is obtained that represents relationships between entities. An auxiliary graph is constructed based on the participation graph. The auxiliary graph may be constructed such that the auxiliary graph is less dense than the participation graph and is therefore computationally less complex to analyze. Clusters in the auxiliary graph are determined by solving an objective function defined for the auxiliary graph. Clusters determined for the auxiliary graph may then be utilized to ascertain clusters in the participation graph that solve a related objective function defined for the participation graph.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Denis X. Charles, David M Chickering, Patrice Y Simard, Reid M Andersen
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Patent number: 8805720Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate verification or feedback in association with consumer transactions. In particular the architecture can image a transaction receipt, translate the image into text-based data, and extract relevant transaction data there from. Such relevant transaction data can be saved to a data store maintained or supervised by the customer and/or transmitted to authorized components that can benefit from data related to transaction histories, verification, and/or feedback.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gary W. Flake, Jeffrey R. Hemmen, Alexander Gounares, David M. Chickering, Eric J. Horvitz, Michael Connolly, Lili Cheng, Kamal Jain, George P. Moromisato
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Publication number: 20130238378Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-storage media are provided for employing environment and resource data to facilitate management of shopper traffic and resource allocation. Shopper traffic information is received from environmental sensors located in or nearby a business establishment. Resource information associated with the business establishment is also received. A traffic modifier is determined based on the shopper traffic information and the resource information; the traffic modifier is used to influence the behavior of shoppers with respect to the business establishment. As well, a resource modifier for the business establishment is also determined based on a projected result of dissemination of the traffic modifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: MICHAEL CONNOLLY, LILI CHENG, DAVID M. CHICKERING, GARY W. FLAKE, ALEXANDER G. GOUNARES, ERIC J. HORVITZ, KAMAL JAIN, CHRISTOPHER A. MEEK
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Patent number: 8516507Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an architecture or extension to a window manager. In particular, the extension can provide for a window rotation feature that can be exposed as a rotate button. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation feature can be activated based upon a diverse set of conditions, events, and/or commands. Upon activation of the rotation feature, the window manager can rotate a window about an axis to expose a secondary surface that can be populated with alternative content that is distinct from the content of the primary surface of the window. In addition, the architecture provides techniques for identifying both double-sided graphical objects and potentially double-sided objects.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2012Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Eric J Horvitz, David M Chickering, Gary W Flake, Lili Cheng, Alexander G Gounares
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Patent number: 8480495Abstract: Useful information is acquired from a community of individuals by way of a game that rewards participants with social information about other participants. Points can be awarded to participants simply for participation and/or as a function of game performance. Such points can subsequently be exchanged to reveal information about game partners or other community members. Among other things, such a reward system can motivate individuals to perform tasks that might not otherwise be compelling and/or enjoyable.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: David M. Chickering, Christopher A. Meek, Bryan N. Culbertson
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Publication number: 20120268489Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an architecture or extension to a window manager. In particular, the extension can provide for a window rotation feature that can be exposed as a rotate button. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation feature can be activated based upon a diverse set of conditions, events, and/or commands. Upon activation of the rotation feature, the window manager can rotate a window about an axis to expose a secondary surface that can be populated with alternative content that is distinct from the content of the primary surface of the window. In addition, the architecture provides techniques for identifying both double-sided graphical objects and potentially double-sided objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: ERIC J. HORVITZ, DAVID M. CHICKERING, GARY W. FLAKE, LILI CHENG, ALEXANDER G. GOUNARES
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Patent number: 8244545Abstract: An architecture is presented that leverages discrepancies between user model predictions and speech recognition results by identifying discrepancies between the predictive data and the speech recognition data and repairing the data based in part on the discrepancy. User model predictions predict what goal or action speech application users are likely to pursue based in part on past user behavior. Speech recognition results indicate what goal speech application users are likely to have spoken based in part on words spoken under specific constraints. Discrepancies between the predictive data and the speech recognition data are identified and a dialog repair is engaged for repairing these discrepancies. By engaging in repairs when there is a discrepancy between the predictive results and the speech recognition results, and utilizing feedback obtained via interaction with a user, the architecture can learn about the reliability of both user model predictions and speech recognition results for future processing.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Timothy S. Paek, David M. Chickering
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Patent number: 8239885Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an architecture or extension to a window manager. In particular, the extension can provide for a window rotation feature that can be exposed as a rotate button. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation feature can be activated based upon a diverse set of conditions, events, and/or commands. Upon activation of the rotation feature, the window manager can rotate a window about an axis to expose a secondary surface that can be populated with alternative content that is distinct from the content of the primary surface of the window. In addition, the architecture provides techniques for identifying both double-sided graphical objects and potentially double-sided objects.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2012Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Eric J. Horvitz, Gary W. Flake, Alexander G. Gounares, Lili Cheng, David M. Chickering
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Computer system and method for bulk auditing, archiving, and selling personal property of a customer
Patent number: 8239293Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate auditing of a customer's possessions in a comprehensive manner. The architecture can facilitate the creation of a media archive of a customer's property, as well as an associated property list extracted based upon, e.g., examination of the archive. The property list can include an entry associated with an item of property and can be transmitted to subsidizing entities to offset the expenses associated with the creation of the archive and the property list.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Alexander Gounares, David M. Chickering, Eric J. Horvitz, Michael Connolly, Lili Cheng, Kamal Jain -
Publication number: 20120135809Abstract: A game description language is provided for human computation games, as well as a game platform or generator component that can generate the code base for the game. The game description language and schema framework can be used to represent the game logic and synchronization patterns of a human computation game. The automated code generation tool takes a file, e.g., a file made from the above game description language, or the like, as an input and generates a code base for the corresponding human computation game. These tools allow a prototype of a human computation game to be generated within minutes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2012Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: David M. Chickering, Edith Law, Anton Mityagin
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Publication number: 20120130820Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an architecture or extension to a window manager. In particular, the extension can provide for a window rotation feature that can be exposed as a rotate button. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation feature can be activated based upon a diverse set of conditions, events, and/or commands. Upon activation of the rotation feature, the window manager can rotate a window about an axis to expose a secondary surface that can be populated with alternative content that is distinct from the content of the primary surface of the window. In addition, the architecture provides techniques for identifying both double-sided graphical objects and potentially double-sided objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2012Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Eric J. Horvitz, David M. Chickering, Gary W. Flake, Lili Cheng, Alexander G. Gounares
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Patent number: 8140569Abstract: A dependency network is created from a training data set utilizing a scalable method. A statistical model (or pattern), such as for example a Bayesian network, is then constructed to allow more convenient inferencing. The model (or pattern) is employed in lieu of the training data set for data access. The computational complexity of the method that produces the model (or pattern) is independent of the size of the original data set. The dependency network directly returns explicitly encoded data in the conditional probability distributions of the dependency network. Non-explicitly encoded data is generated via Gibbs sampling, approximated, or ignored.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2003Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Geoffrey J. Hulten, David M. Chickering, David E. Heckerman
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Patent number: 8137201Abstract: A game description language is provided for human computation games, as well as a game platform or generator component that can generate the code base for the game. The game description language and schema framework can be used to represent the game logic and synchronization patterns of a human computation game. The automated code generation tool takes a file, e.g., a file made from the above game description language, or the like, as an input and generates a code base for the corresponding human computation game. These tools allow a prototype of a human computation game to be generated within minutes.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2009Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: David M. Chickering, Edith Law, Anton Mityagin
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Patent number: 8112770Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture or extension to a window manager. In particular, the extension can provide for a window rotation feature that can be exposed as a rotate button. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation feature can be activated based upon a diverse set of conditions, events, and/or commands. Upon activation of the rotation feature, the window manager can rotate a window about an axis to expose a secondary surface that can be populated with alternative content that is distinct from the content of the primary surface of the window. In addition, the architecture provides techniques for identifying both double-sided graphical objects and potentially double-sided objects.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2007Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Eric J. Horvitz, David M. Chickering, Gary W. Flake, Lili Cheng, Alexander G. Gounares
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Patent number: 8069179Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system that trains or evaluates ranking techniques by employing or obtaining relative preference judgments. The system can include mechanisms that retrieve a set of documents from a storage device, combine the set of documents with a query or judgment task received via an interface to form a comparative selection panel, and present the comparative selection panel for evaluation by an assessor. The system further requests the assessor to make a selection as to which document included in the set of documents and presented in the comparative selection panel most satisfies the query or judgment task, and thereafter produces a comparative assessment of the set of documents based on the selections elicited from the assessor and associated with the set of documents.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: David M. Chickering, Paul N. Bennett, Susan T. Dumais, Benjamin Austin Carterette
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Publication number: 20110258045Abstract: Various embodiments provide techniques for inventory management. In one or more embodiments, a probabilistic model is constructed to represent an inventory of ad impressions available from a service provider. The probabilistic model can be based on a traffic model that describes historic interaction of clients with the service provider using various attributes that define the ad impressions. The probabilistic model provides a distribution of the attributes and relates the attributes one to another based on dependencies. When an order from an advertiser for ad impressions is booked by the service provider, the probabilistic model is updated to reflect an expected probabilistic decrease in the inventory of ad impressions. The updated probabilistic model can then be employed to determine whether the inventory of ad impressions is sufficient to book subsequent orders for ad impressions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: David M. Chickering, Christopher A. Meek, Denis X. Charles, Robert Elliott Tillman
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Publication number: 20110251889Abstract: Various embodiments provide techniques for inventory clustering. In one or more embodiments, a set of inventory to be processed is placed into an initial cluster. The inventory can be related to impressions for advertising that are defined by values for a set of attributes. Recursive division of the initial cluster is performed by selecting an attribute and deriving child clusters that are constrained by one or more values of the attributes in accordance with one or more clustering algorithms. The clustering algorithms are configured to derive an optimum number of clusters by repetitively generating smaller child clusters and measuring a cost associated with adding additional clusters. Additional child clusters can be formed in this manner until the measured cost to add more clusters outweighs a benefit of adding more clusters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2010Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Patrice Y. Simard, David M. Chickering, Denis X. Charles
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Publication number: 20110246312Abstract: Various embodiments provide techniques for advertisement inventory. In at least some embodiments, a scaled number of impressions can be matched to orders that have scaled impression goals. Impressions can be randomly selected from an offline traffic model and allocated to orders according to a matching algorithm until a number of impression defined by a scale factor is reached. This can occur by sampling the traffic model directly using the scale factor and/or by creating a scaled data set to which the matching algorithm can be applied. The matching algorithm can be configured to identify an order that is farthest away from being complete and then match the randomly selected impression to the identified order. If the scaled orders in the data set can be fulfilled using the scaled number of impressions, a conclusion is made that the original set of orders can be fulfilled using the original impressions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher A. Meek, Denis X. Charles, Nikhil Devanur Rangarajan, David M. Chickering, Manan Sanghi, Kamal Jain