Patents by Inventor Ethan N. Ray

Ethan N. Ray 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: 8005857
    Abstract: A unique object navigation system, user interface, and method that facilitate faster and smoother navigation of objects are provided. For example, the system can generate a plurality of objects that can be rendered on a display space that spans a single page in length, thereby mitigating the need to navigate through multiple pages. The system can determine the length of the page according to the number of objects generated. To view off-screen objects, an infinite scroll component can be employed. The amount of scroll space needed to view the plurality of objects can be determined in part by the length of the page and/or by the number of objects. The objects can also be viewed in a film strip format that is infinitely scrollable. The film strip view allows a view of the objects to be maintained while also viewing a selected object in greater detail at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Julia H. Farago, Hugh E. Williams, James E. Walsh, Nicholas A. Whyte, Kavi J. Goel, Philip Fung, Ariel J. Lazier, Kenneth A. Moss, Ethan N. Ray
  • Patent number: 7730081
    Abstract: While interacting with a messaging interface, keywords or other search criteria are automatically identified and used to perform a search. Search results and sponsored links (or advertisements) are displayed to the user within the messaging interface. To alleviate privacy concerns, this process will not be performed unless the user has explicitly opted-in to the search feature. In another embodiment, the user can highlight keywords in an outbound or inbound message to trigger a search without leaving the messaging interface. In another embodiment, the user can input a search keyword or phrase to trigger a search without leaving the messaging interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kristin D. Bromm, Denise D. Hui, Joshua T. Goodman, Omar H. Shahine, Ethan N. Ray, Matthew S. Carr, Thomas A. Leung, Wende E. Copfer, Aly Valli, Ewa Dominowska, Ying Li, Chun Yu Wong, Paul R. Weber
  • Publication number: 20100083155
    Abstract: A unique object navigation system, user interface, and method that facilitate faster and smoother navigation of objects are provided. For example, the system can generate a plurality of objects that can be rendered on a display space that spans a single page in length, thereby mitigating the need to navigate through multiple pages. The system can determine the length of the page according to the number of objects generated. To view off-screen objects, an infinite scroll component can be employed. The amount of scroll space needed to view the plurality of objects can be determined in part by the length of the page and/or by the number of objects. The objects can also be viewed in a film strip format that is infinitely scrollable. The film strip view allows a view of the objects to be maintained while also viewing a selected object in greater detail at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: JULIA H. FARAGO, HUGH E. WILLIAMS, JAMES E. WALSH, NICHOLAS A. WHYTE, KAVI J. GOEL, PHILIP FUNG, ARIEL J. LAZIER, KENNETH A. MOSS, ETHAN N. RAY
  • Patent number: 7664739
    Abstract: A unique object navigation system, user interface, and method that facilitate faster and smoother navigation of objects are provided. For example, the system can generate a plurality of objects that can be rendered on a display space that spans a single page in length, thereby mitigating the need to navigate through multiple pages. The system can determine the length of the page according to the number of objects generated. To view off-screen objects, an infinite scroll component can be employed. The amount of scroll space needed to view the plurality of objects can be determined in part by the length of the page and/or by the number of objects. The objects can also be viewed in a film strip format that is infinitely scrollable. The film strip view allows a view of the objects to be maintained while also viewing a selected object in greater detail at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Julia H. Farago, Hugh E. Williams, James E. Walsh, Nicholas A. Whyte, Kavi J. Goel, Philip Fung, Ariel J. Lazier, Kenneth A. Moss, Ethan N. Ray