Patents by Inventor Gina D. Venolia

Gina D. Venolia 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: 11164418
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for streaming an impromptu community are described herein. In one example, a system for streaming impromptu communities includes a data storage device, a community analyzer, and a publisher. In an example, the data storage device can store a number of incoming data sets, wherein each data set identifies a time and location for the origin of the data, a media instance, and an identification of an origin device or origin user. In an example, the community analyzer can operate from the data storage device to use a processor in order to calculate an IC boundary and generate an impromptu community (IC) indicator based on the proximity and temporality of the number of incoming data sets. In an example, the processor can modify the number of data sets to include the IC indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, John C. Tang, Kori Inkpen, William A. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10609332
    Abstract: According to a disclosed example, a first video stream is captured via a first camera associated with a first communication device engaged in a multi-party video conference. The first video stream includes a plurality of two-dimensional image frames. A subset of pixels corresponding to a first human subject is identified within each image frame of the first video stream. A second video stream is captured via a second camera associated with a second communication device engaged in the multi-party video conference. A composite video stream formed by at least a portion of the second video stream and the subset of pixels of the first video stream is rendered, and the composite video stream is output for display at one or more of the first and/or second communication devices. The composite video stream may provide the appearance of remotely located participants being physically present within the same visual scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Henrik Valdemar Turbell, Matthew Jason Pope, John C. Tang, Gina D. Venolia, David Yuheng Zhao, Kori Marie Inkpen
  • Patent number: 10476968
    Abstract: A communication augmentation agent (CAA) is described herein which presents a shared user experience to at least a first user and a second user. In one manner of operation, the CAA operates by intelligently determining. (1) when to offer a shared user experience to the users; (b) the particular form of the shared user experience; and (c) the manner of delivering the shared user experience to the users. In determining the form of the shared experience, the CAA can optionally customize the shared resource so that it includes common-interest information and, with respect to each user, user-specific information. The CAA also includes a mechanism by which a registered user may invite a non-registered user to take part in the shared user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, John C. Tang, Anoop Gupta
  • Publication number: 20190251782
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for streaming an impromptu community are described herein. In one example, a system for streaming impromptu communities includes a data storage device, a community analyzer, and a publisher. In an example, the data storage device can store a number of incoming data sets, wherein each data set identifies a time and location for the origin of the data, a media instance, and an identification of an origin device or origin user. In an example, the community analyzer can operate from the data storage device to use a processor in order to calculate an IC boundary and generate an impromptu community (IC) indicator based on the proximity and temporality of the number of incoming data sets. In an example, the processor can modify the number of data sets to include the IC indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, John C. Tang, Kori Inkpen, William A. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10270820
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for streaming an impromptu community are described herein. In one example, a system for streaming impromptu communities includes a data storage device, a community analyzer, and a publisher. In an example, the data storage device can store a number of incoming data sets, wherein each data set identifies a time and location for the origin of the data, a media instance, and an identification of an origin device or origin user. In an example, the community analyzer can operate from the data storage device to use a processor in order to calculate an IC boundary and generate an impromptu community (IC) indicator based on the proximity and temporality of the number of incoming data sets. In an example, the processor can modify the number of data sets to include the IC indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, John C. Tang, Kori Inkpen, William A. Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20170054773
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for streaming an impromptu community are described herein. In one example, a system for streaming impromptu communities includes a data storage device, a community analyzer, and a publisher. In an example, the data storage device can store a number of incoming data sets, wherein each data set identifies a time and location for the origin of the data, a media instance, and an identification of an origin device or origin user. In an example, the community analyzer can operate from the data storage device to use a processor in order to calculate an IC boundary and generate an impromptu community (IC) indicator based on the proximity and temporality of the number of incoming data sets. In an example, the processor can modify the number of data sets to include the IC indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, John C. Tang, Kori Inkpen, William A. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 9270936
    Abstract: A communication system is described herein which provides an indicator that helps hub participants of a meeting (or other environmental setting) determine a direction of attention of a satellite participant (who is not physically present at the meeting). The indicator can be implemented as a mechanical pointer, a solid-state display mechanism, a rotating display mechanism, a display mechanism which presents visual information that reflects directionality, and so on. The communication system can assess the directionality of the satellite participant based on any combination of control inputs from explicit input mechanism(s) and/or implicit input mechanism(s). The communication system can also choose between explicit and/or implicit control of the indicator based on at least one selection criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, George R. Robertson, John C. Tang, David M. Sirkin, Bongshin Lee
  • Publication number: 20150281369
    Abstract: A communication augmentation agent (CAA) is described herein which presents a shared user experience to at least a first user and a second user. In one manner of operation, the CAA operates by intelligently determining. (1) when to offer a shared user experience to the users; (b) the particular form of the shared user experience; and (c) the manner of delivering the shared user experience to the users. In determining the form of the shared experience, the CAA can optionally customize the shared resource so that it includes common-interest information and, with respect to each user, user-specific information. The CAA also includes a mechanism by which a registered user may invite a non-registered user to take part in the shared user experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, John C. Tang, Anoop Gupta
  • Patent number: 9129038
    Abstract: Software development items can be represented in a graph data structure. Relationships between the represented items can be detected and reflected in the graph data structure. Queries can be run against the data structure to determine which software development items are related to each other. Implicit query can be implemented in a software development context. A graph browser can present panes showing related items. In some embodiments, a set of regular expressions can be used to identify paths in a graph. Probability scores for the identified paths can be computed. Path data for the identified paths, including the probability scores, can be stored in a searchable location accessible by one or more applications. A query of the path data can be processed to return query results associated with at least one of the identified paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew Begel, Thomas Zimmermann, Yit Phang Khoo, Gina D. Venolia
  • Patent number: 8938558
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques and systems that allow modification of functionalities based on distances between a shared device (e.g., a shared display, etc.) and an individual device (e.g., a mobile computing device, etc.). The shared device and the individual device may establish a communication to enable exchange of data. In some embodiments, the shared device or the individual device may measure a distance between the shared device and the individual device. Based on the distance, the individual device may operate in a different mode. In some instances, the shared device may then instruct the individual device to modify a functionality corresponding to the mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Pahud, Kenneth P. Hinckley, William A. S. Buxton, Gina D. Venolia
  • Publication number: 20140250245
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques and systems that allow modification of functionalities based on distances between a shared device (e.g., a shared display, etc.) and an individual device (e.g., a mobile computing device, etc.). The shared device and the individual device may establish a communication to enable exchange of data. In some embodiments, the shared device or the individual device may measure a distance between the shared device and the individual device. Based on the distance, the individual device may operate in a different mode. In some instances, the shared device may then instruct the individual device to modify a functionality corresponding to the mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michel Pahud, Kenneth P. Hinckley, William A.S. Buxton, Gina D. Venolia
  • Patent number: 8554768
    Abstract: This disclosure describes various exemplary application user interfaces, methods, and computer program products for information retrieval or search technology by automatically showing additional relevant search results based on user feedback. The search describes receiving a submitted query from a user, identifying multiple query search results in a relationship to the submitted query, and presenting the multiple query search results in a single structured presentation with a thumbs-up icon, a thumbs-down icon, or an unmarked status to enhance the user experience. Furthermore, the search results illustrate the relationships between each of the multiple query search results and the submitted query in a textual description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Gina D Venolia
  • Publication number: 20130229483
    Abstract: A communication system is described herein which provides an indicator that helps hub participants of a meeting (or other environmental setting) determine a direction of attention of a satellite participant (who is not physically present at the meeting). The indicator can be implemented as a mechanical pointer, a solid-state display mechanism, a rotating display mechanism, a display mechanism which presents visual information that reflects directionality, and so on. The communication system can assess the directionality of the satellite participant based on any combination of control inputs from explicit input mechanism(s) and/or implicit input mechanism(s). The communication system can also choose between explicit and/or implicit control of the indicator based on at least one selection criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, George R. Robertson, John C. Tang, David M. Sirkin, Bongshin Lee
  • Patent number: 8520052
    Abstract: A communication system is described herein which provides an indicator that helps hub participants of a meeting (or other environmental setting) determine a direction of attention of a satellite participant (who is not physically present at the meeting). The indicator can be implemented as a mechanical pointer, a solid-state display mechanism, a rotating display mechanism, a display mechanism which presents visual information that reflects directionality, and so on. The communication system can assess the directionality of the satellite participant based on any combination of control inputs from explicit input mechanism(s) and/or implicit input mechanism(s). The communication system can also choose between explicit and/or implicit control of the indicator based on at least one selection criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, George G. Robertson, John C. Tang, David M. Sirkin, Bongshin Lee
  • Patent number: 8352445
    Abstract: Instructions within an instruction set (such as source code for a software application) may be documented within many separate tools, such as a development environment, a version control system, and a bug report database. However, it may be inefficient to search for such information in many locations and through many interfaces while investigating the version history of an instruction. Instead, the development environment may be configured to retrieve relevant information (such as bug reports, versioning, and version release notes) and to display the version history information for a selected instruction together within the development environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew B. Begel, Gina D. Venolia, Reid T. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8341600
    Abstract: A tool facilitating organizing code review via tagging changes in the code such that developer reasoning and reviewer comments are captured during the development process; thus documenting the development process. The tool providing intuitive presentation of changes and change sets based on the purpose of the change. The tool enabling retrieval of the information documenting developer and reviewer rationale during development and after development is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Sutherland, Gina D Venolia
  • Publication number: 20120194631
    Abstract: A communication system is described herein which provides an indicator that helps hub participants of a meeting (or other environmental setting) determine a direction of attention of a satellite participant (who is not physically present at the meeting). The indicator can be implemented as a mechanical pointer, a solid-state display mechanism, a rotating display mechanism, a display mechanism which presents visual information that reflects directionality, and so on. The communication system can assess the directionality of the satellite participant based on any combination of control inputs from explicit input mechanism(s) and/or implicit input mechanism(s). The communication system can also choose between explicit and/or implicit control of the indicator based on at least one selection criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gina D. Venolia, George G. Robertson, John C. Tang, David M. Sirkin, Bongshin Lee
  • Patent number: 8161050
    Abstract: Generating and displaying an enhanced list of search results appropriate for web searching are described. A method for generating an enhanced list of search results includes identifying web pages that are relevant to a query, identifying other web pages hyperlinked to the relevant web pages, creating a graph of the web pages and connecting hyperlinks, and displaying a list of search results ordered in part by the connecting hyperlinks and showing the connecting hyperlinks as part of the list. The method also includes the ability to regenerate the list based on an indication of subjective relevance of a one of the list items. The method enhances the experience of a user in World Wide Web searching and browsing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Gina D Venolia
  • Patent number: RE44241
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for producing a translucent image over a base image created on the display screen of a computer system by a selected first application program, and conducting image operations either on the base image created by the selected application program with reference to the translucent image produced, or conducting image operations on the translucent image with reference to the base image of the first application program. The first application program runs on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image, and another application program referred to as the overlay program is run to produce the translucent image such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the translucent image. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Gough, Joseph J. MacDougald, Gina D. Venolia, Thomas S. Gilley, Greg M. Robbins, Daniel J. Hansen, Jr., Abhay Oswal
  • Patent number: RE45630
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for producing a translucent image over a base image created on the display screen of a computer system by a selected first application program, and conducting image operations either on the base image created by the selected application program with reference to the translucent image produced, or conducting image operations on the translucent image with reference to the base image of the first application program. The first application program runs on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image, and another application program referred to as the overlay program is run to produce the translucent image such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the translucent image. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Gough, Joseph J. MacDougald, Gina D. Venolia, Thomas S. Gilley, Greg M. Robbins, Daniel J. Hansen, Jr., Abhay Oswal