Patents by Inventor Frank Blackwell
Frank Blackwell 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: 8281259Abstract: A system for navigating among resources includes a target detection module detecting whether a first resource has been branched from to two other different resources and a backward navigation module operable to detect selection of a backward navigation button and cause navigation to the first resource. A method includes designating a target resource accessible via a backward navigation button in a first browser session, detecting selection of the backward navigation button in a second browser session, and navigating to the target resource in the second browser session. The method can involve detecting hovering of a pointer icon over the backward navigation button and responsively presenting a thumbnail of a resource associated with the backward navigation button.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Samuel Gavin Smyth, Kerry Rodden, Ralph Sommerer, Rachel Jones, Alan Frank Blackwell
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Patent number: 7962843Abstract: A method includes storing one or more resource identifiers identifying one or more associated resources visited using a browser application, and presenting the resource identifiers in an order designated by one of a plurality of history presentation settings and resource navigation context specifications. The history presentation setting and navigation context can be selected by a user. Exemplary history presentation settings include chronological and domain-name grouped. Exemplary navigation context includes resource identifier, such as name, URI, or domain of the currently viewed resource. The method may further include presenting a thumbnail when a pointer icon is positioned over one of the resource identifiers.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2004Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Samuel Gavin Smyth, Kerry Rodden, Rachel Jones, Alan Frank Blackwell
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Publication number: 20100306665Abstract: A system for navigating among resources includes a target detection module detecting whether a first resource has been branched from to two other different resources and a backward navigation module operable to detect selection of a backward navigation button and cause navigation to the first resource. A method includes designating a target resource accessible via a backward navigation button in a first browser session, detecting selection of the backward navigation button in a second browser session, and navigating to the target resource in the second browser session. The method can involve detecting hovering of a pointer icon over the backward navigation button and responsively presenting a thumbnail of a resource associated with the backward navigation button.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: NATASA MILIC-FRAYLING, SAMUEL GAVIN SMYTH, KERRY RODDEN, RALPH SOMMERER, RACHEL JONES, ALAN FRANK BLACKWELL
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Patent number: 7774721Abstract: A system for navigating among resources includes a target detection module detecting whether a first resource has been branched from to two other different resources and a backward navigation module operable to detect selection of a backward navigation button and cause navigation to the first resource. A method includes designating a target resource accessible via a backward navigation button in a first browser session, detecting selection of the backward navigation button in a second browser session, and navigating to the target resource in the second browser session. The method can involve detecting hovering of a pointer icon over the backward navigation button and responsively presenting a thumbnail of a resource associated with the backward navigation button.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2004Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Samuel Gavin Smyth, Kerry Rodden, Ralph Sommerer, Rachel Jones, Alan Frank Blackwell
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Patent number: 7266763Abstract: A method of creating a user-defined function in a spreadsheet application is provided. The user-defined function is callable by a calling label in the spreadsheet application. A formula is received in the spreadsheet application. The formula is transferred to a function sheet of the spreadsheet application to define at least a portion of a function body. An interface is defined by identifying the calling label, an input parameter and a result parameter of the user-defined function. The function body operates on an argument corresponding to the input parameter and generates a result corresponding to the result parameter. The interface is stored in association with the function body to create the user-defined function.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Simon Peyton-Jones, Alan Frank Blackwell, Margaret Myers Burnett
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Publication number: 20050103924Abstract: The Continuous Aimpoint Tracking System is comprised of a position detection device (PDD) and a laser pointing device (LPD) that projects an infrared crosshair onto the PDD. The PDD is coupled to a computer and comprises a multitude of photodiodes and associated circuits, the photodiodes being evenly spaced and arranged to form a frame that can be mounted on the computer so as to surround the computer video display. When a “shot” is fired from the LPD, the crosshair projection is interrupted briefly. The PDD determines the position of the four crosshair intersections and reports them to the computer which, in response, generates the video signals that form the resolved aimpoint on the screen, matching the LPD aimpoint to the video image. Further, the tracking system determines the rotation of the LPD over a range of at least 10 degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: James Skala, Frank Blackwell, Patrick Jungwirth
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Publication number: 20040103366Abstract: User-defined function capabilities in a spreadsheet application allow users to create new named functions that are defined using the spreadsheet formula paradigm. A user may define spreadsheet functions from formulae entered in a worksheet or function sheet of a spreadsheet application. The formula interface is well known to spreadsheet users; therefore, expanding the formula feature to provide encapsulated functions that can be imported, exported, customized, and compiled supplies new power and flexibility to users who do not wish to learn a programming language. Furthermore, the user-defined functions in spreadsheets represent vectors and matrices as “first class” values, similar to Boolean values, numbers, and strings.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Simon Peyton-Jones, Alan Frank Blackwell, Margaret Myers Burnett