Patents by Inventor Donald E Bradford

Donald E Bradford 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: 7660779
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique system and method that can employ machine learning techniques to automatically fill one or more fields across a diverse array of web forms. In particular, one or more instrumented tools can collect input or entries of form fields. Machine learning can be used to learn what data corresponds to which fields or types of fields. The input can be sent to a central repository where other databases can be aggregated as well. This input can be provided to a machine learning system to learn how to predict the desired outputs. Alternatively or in addition, learning can be performed in part by observing entries and then adapting the autofill component accordingly. Furthermore, a number of features of database fields as well as constraints can be employed to facilitate assignments of database entries to form values—particularly when the web form has never been seen before by the autofill system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua T Goodman, Carl M Kadie, David M Chickering, Donald E Bradford, Dane A Glasgow
  • Publication number: 20090271374
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enhance the search experience of a user by looking at the search history of one or more buddies to provide search enhancements to the user. Examples of search enhancements include an annotation or graphic adjacent to a search result indicating the search result has been visited by one of the user's buddies. In another embodiment, the relevance score assigned to a search result is increased if the search result has been visited by a buddy. In another aspect, alternative queries from the buddies' search history may be suggested to the user during the search session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David S. Korn, Donald E. Bradford
  • Patent number: 7254569
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique system and method that can employ machine learning techniques to automatically fill one or more fields across a diverse array of web forms. In particular, one or more instrumented tools can collect input or entries of form fields. Machine learning can be used to learn what data corresponds to which fields or types of fields. The input can be sent to a central repository where other databases can be aggregated as well. This input can be provided to a machine learning system to learn how to predict the desired outputs. Alternatively or in addition, learning can be performed in part by observing entries and then adapting the autofill component accordingly. Furthermore, a number of features of database fields as well as constraints can be employed to facilitate assignments of database entries to form values—particularly when the web form has never been seen before by the autofill system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua T Goodman, Carl M Kadie, David M Chickering, Donald E Bradford, Dane A Glasgow