Patents by Inventor Gregory C. Hitchcock

Gregory C. Hitchcock 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: 11093100
    Abstract: A virtual reality device can implement varying interactive modes for document viewing and editing by displaying, at an application container level, a current mode view in a view frame of the virtual reality device; and in response to receiving an overview command trigger, determining context, including that the current mode view is at the application container level; expanding to a next level view of, e.g., a task level or an overview level; and displaying, at a next level, the next level view in the view frame of the virtual reality device. The current mode view of the application container level includes a container space of an application and an application container level rule for the container space. Conversely, the virtual reality device can adjust the next level view back to the application container level in response to a focused command trigger and identified region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Bennett, Gregory C. Hitchcock, Jonathan S. Kaufthal, Akshay Bakshi, Sean Shiang-Ning Whelan
  • Publication number: 20190278432
    Abstract: A virtual reality device can implement varying interactive modes for document viewing and editing by displaying, at an application container level, a current mode view in a view frame of the virtual reality device; and in response to receiving an overview command trigger, determining context, including that the current mode view is at the application container level; expanding to a next level view of, e.g., a task level or an overview level; and displaying, at a next level, the next level view in the view frame of the virtual reality device. The current mode view of the application container level includes a container space of an application and an application container level rule for the container space. Conversely, the virtual reality device can adjust the next level view back to the application container level in response to a focused command trigger and identified region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Michael M. Bennett, Gregory C. Hitchcock, Jonathan S. Kaufthal, Akshay Bakshi, Sean Shiang-Ning Whelan
  • Patent number: 8471856
    Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to rendering stroke pairs. A graphical object includes at least a first stroke and a second similarly oriented second stroke collectively representing a stroke pair. A calculated distance between the first stroke and the second stroke is constrained (e.g., to a center line between the strokes) to mitigate the possibility of rounding errors causing the represented stroke pair to be inappropriately rendered. After the stroke pair is constrained, controls points of the individual strokes can be adjusted so that the individual strokes are appropriately rendered at their respective constrained locations. The adjusted stroke pair is constrained between external reference points for appropriate rendering relative to other graphical objects. The graphical object, including the adjusted constrained stroke pair, is rendered at an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Beat Stamm, Michael J. Duggan, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20120320065
    Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to rendering stroke pairs. A graphical object includes at least a first stroke and a second similarly oriented second stroke collectively representing a stroke pair. A calculated distance between the first stroke and the second stroke is constrained (e.g., to a center line between the strokes) to mitigate the possibility of rounding errors causing the represented stroke pair to be inappropriately rendered. After the stroke pair is constrained, controls points of the individual strokes can be adjusted so that the individual strokes are appropriately rendered at their respective constrained locations. The adjusted stroke pair is constrained between external reference points for appropriate rendering relative to other graphical objects. The graphical object, including the adjusted constrained stroke pair, is rendered at an output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Beat Stamm, Michael J. Duggan, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 8253742
    Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to rendering stroke pairs. A graphical object includes at least a first stroke and a second similarly oriented second stroke collectively representing a stroke pair. A calculated distance between the first stroke and the second stroke is constrained (e.g., to a center line between the strokes) to mitigate the possibility of rounding errors causing the represented stroke pair to be inappropriately rendered. After the stroke pair is constrained, controls points of the individual strokes can be adjusted so that the individual strokes are appropriately rendered at their respective constrained locations. The adjusted stroke pair is constrained between external reference points for appropriate rendering relative to other graphical objects. The graphical object, including the adjusted constrained stroke pair, is rendered at an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Beat Stamm, Michael J. Duggan, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 8139066
    Abstract: Generating an error from an error metric quantifying differences between reference objects representing characters and representations of the reference objects. One embodiment includes a method which includes accessing a reference object representing a character. One or more reference object characteristics are quantified. The reference object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of at least a portion of the reference object to generate a reference object metric. A representation object of the reference object is accessed. One or more representation object characteristics are quantified to create a representation object metric. The representation object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of a portion of the representation object of the reference object corresponding to the portion of the reference object. An error is calculated based on a difference between the reference object metric and the representation object metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 8013860
    Abstract: Selectively applying graphical filtering to characters can include the identification of observer characteristics and characteristics associated with different portions of the character. Corresponding filters can then be identified and selectively applied to the characters and, in some instances, without applying the filter to the entire character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 7969441
    Abstract: Selectively applying graphical filtering to a portion of an object can include accessing an object to be rendered and identifying at least one characteristic of a portion of the object. A corresponding filter is then selectively applied to the at least one determined characteristic and, in some instances, without applying the filter to at least one other portion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 7945119
    Abstract: Optimizing objects output to a user. One method includes accessing a reference object of a character representing an idealized output. A different representation of the reference object is accessed. The reference object is compared to the representation of the reference object to generate an error metric. An optimization is applied to the representation of the reference object. The optimization is directed to causing the representation of the reference object to more closely approximate the reference object. Comparing objects and applying optimizations is repeated until an acceptable representation of the reference object is achieved. The acceptable representation of the reference object is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20110096086
    Abstract: Generating an error from an error metric quantifying differences between reference objects representing characters and representations of the reference objects. One embodiment includes a method which includes accessing a reference object representing a character. One or more reference object characteristics are quantified. The reference object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of at least a portion of the reference object to generate a reference object metric. A representation object of the reference object is accessed. One or more representation object characteristics are quantified to create a representation object metric. The representation object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of a portion of the representation object of the reference object corresponding to the portion of the reference object. An error is calculated based on a difference between the reference object metric and the representation object metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20110018900
    Abstract: Selectively applying graphical filtering to a portion of an object can include accessing an object to be rendered and identifying at least one characteristic of a portion of the object. A corresponding filter is then selectively applied to the at least one determined characteristic and, in some instances, without applying the filter to at least one other portion of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20110018894
    Abstract: Selectively applying graphical filtering to characters can include the identification of observer characteristics and characteristics associated with different portions of the character. Corresponding filters can then be identified and selectively applied to the characters and, in some instances, without applying the filter to the entire character.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 7872651
    Abstract: Generating an error from an error metric quantifying differences between reference objects representing characters and representations of the reference objects. One embodiment includes a method which includes accessing a reference object representing a character. One or more reference object characteristics are quantified. The reference object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of at least a portion of the reference object to generate a reference object metric. A representation object of the reference object is accessed. One or more representation object characteristics are quantified to create a representation object metric. The representation object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of a portion of the representation object of the reference object corresponding to the portion of the reference object. An error is calculated based on a difference between the reference object metric and the representation object metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 7821524
    Abstract: Selectively applying graphical filtering to a portion of an object. One method described herein includes a method including accessing an object to be rendered. At least one characteristic of a portion of the object is determined. A filter is selected that has been pre-specified for the at least one determined characteristic. The filter is applied to the portion of the object, while not applying the filter to at least one other portion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 7548239
    Abstract: A method and system for matching digital information flow to the human perception system. In various embodiments, multi-monitor (multimon) support is leveraged to take advantage of multiple windowing and window positioning to separate elements of different tasks into information planes (which are based on a concept of “triage and focus”). Triage watches the flow of incoming information and determines the nature of the information. Based on the nature of the information and principles of human perception, Focus (or defocus) displays the information where the information is best viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William Hill, Gregory C. Hitchcock, Kevin Larson
  • Patent number: 7505041
    Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to iteratively solving constraints in a font-hinting language. A computing system accesses a more complex constraint that can not be natively expressed based on the vocabulary of the font-hinting language, the more complex constraint constraining at least a portion of the outline. The computing system decomposes the more complex constraint into a plurality of simpler constraints that can be natively expressed based on the vocabulary of the font-hinting language. The computer system represents each of the simpler constraints in corresponding font-hinting language instructions that can be iteratively processed to at least approximate a solution to the more complex constraint. The font-hinting language instructions are iteratively processed at the computing system or another computing system to cause a graphical object to comply, within a specific tolerance, with the more complex constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Beat Stamm, Gregory C. Hitchcock, Michael J. Duggan
  • Publication number: 20090009529
    Abstract: Selectively applying graphical filtering to a portion of an object. One method described herein includes a method including accessing an object to be rendered. At least one characteristic of a portion of the object is determined. A filter is selected that has been pre-specified for the at least one determined characteristic. The filter is applied to the portion of the object, while not applying the filter to at least one other portion of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20090002374
    Abstract: Generating an error from an error metric quantifying differences between reference objects representing characters and representations of the reference objects. One embodiment includes a method which includes accessing a reference object representing a character. One or more reference object characteristics are quantified. The reference object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of at least a portion of the reference object to generate a reference object metric. A representation object of the reference object is accessed. One or more representation object characteristics are quantified to create a representation object metric. The representation object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of a portion of the representation object of the reference object corresponding to the portion of the reference object. An error is calculated based on a difference between the reference object metric and the representation object metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20090003711
    Abstract: Optimizing objects output to a user. One method includes accessing a reference object of a character representing an idealized output. A different representation of the reference object is accessed. The reference object is compared to the representation of the reference object to generate an error metric. An optimization is applied to the representation of the reference object. The optimization is directed to causing the representation of the reference object to more closely approximate the reference object. Comparing objects and applying optimizations is repeated until an acceptable representation of the reference object is achieved. The acceptable representation of the reference object is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20080165193
    Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to iteratively solving constraints in a font-hinting language. A computing system accesses a more complex constraint that can not be natively expressed based on the vocabulary of the font-hinting language, the more complex constraint constraining at least a portion of the outline. The computing system decomposes the more complex constraint into a plurality of simpler constraints that can be natively expressed based on the vocabulary of the font-hinting language. The computer system represents each of the simpler constraints in corresponding font-hinting language instructions that can be iteratively processed to at least approximate a solution to the more complex constraint. The font-hinting language instructions are iteratively processed at the computing system or another computing system to cause a graphical object to comply, within a specific tolerance, with the more complex constraint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Beat Stamm, Gregory C. Hitchcock, Michael J. Duggan