Patents by Inventor John Krumm

John Krumm 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: 9612128
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for controlling a travel route planning module associated with a user device. Travel related data, for a user and regarding previously traveled routes by the user, may be indicative of user travel preferences and/or behaviors. The travel related data is evaluated against computed routes derived from different weighting values applied to travel metrics (e.g., a cost associated with a U-turn, a highway, an industrial zone, etc.). For example, weighting values may be iteratively adjusted to generate a plurality of modified computed routes that may be evaluated to identify a target computed route having a similarity to a previously traveled route of the user above a threshold. User preference weighted travel metrics, generated based upon weighted travel metrics of the target computed route, are used to control a travel route planning module to generate a customized travel route for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Delling, Moises Goldszmidt, Andrew V. Goldberg, John Krumm, Renato Fonseca Furquim Werneck
  • Publication number: 20160320200
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for controlling a travel route planning module associated with a user device. Travel related data, for a user and regarding previously traveled routes by the user, may be indicative of user travel preferences and/or behaviors. The travel related data is evaluated against computed routes derived from different weighting values applied to travel metrics (e.g., a cost associated with a U-turn, a highway, an industrial zone, etc.). For example, weighting values may be iteratively adjusted to generate a plurality of modified computed routes that may be evaluated to identify a target computed route having a similarity to a previously traveled route of the user above a threshold. User preference weighted travel metrics, generated based upon weighted travel metrics of the target computed route, are used to control a travel route planning module to generate a customized travel route for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Delling, Moises Goldszmidt, Andrew V. Goldberg, John Krumm, Renato Fonseca Furquim Werneck
  • Patent number: 9086292
    Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed that provide a risk-based assessment for a user based on user location information. Incident data is acquired for incidents that involve potential risks (e.g., to people and/or property) from a plurality of locations and contexts, considering such factors as date, time, weather, traffic, and velocity. The incident data is matched to the user's location and context directly or indirectly to provide one or more potential outcomes of interest (e.g., accidents, injuries, fatalities), and inferences regarding the likelihood of events are made available. These measures are compared to desired risk thresholds for the user. In one embodiment, routes, times, and conditions of travel may be preferred over others routes, times, and conditions. In another embodiment, users may be notified of a condition or a vehicle's maximum velocity may be reduced when the matched incident data meets/exceeds a user's risk threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Horvitz, John Krumm
  • Patent number: 8874361
    Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed that provide for creating an accurate representation of a roadway network, such as for planning vehicle travel routes. Positioning data is obtained, such as GPS data points from a plurality of vehicles, which mark traces of vehicular travel. A location of a trace is clarified using adjustment forces that are related to the traces, for example, to form coherent groups of traces. From these groups of clarified traces, a graph line is created by merging the traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Krumm, Lili Cao
  • Publication number: 20100332131
    Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed that provide a risk-based assessment for a user based on user location information. Incident data is acquired for incidents that involve potential risks (e.g., to people and/or property) from a plurality of locations and contexts, considering such factors as date, time, weather, traffic, and velocity. The incident data is matched to the user's location and context directly or indirectly to provide one or more potential outcomes of interest (e.g., accidents, injuries, fatalities), and inferences regarding the likelihood of events are made available. These measures are compared to desired risk thresholds for the user. In one embodiment, routes, times, and conditions of travel may be preferred over others routes, times, and conditions. In another embodiment, users may be notified of a condition or a vehicle's maximum velocity may be reduced when the matched incident data meets/exceeds a user's risk threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Horvitz, John Krumm
  • Publication number: 20100305850
    Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed that provide for creating an accurate representation of a roadway network, such as for planning vehicle travel routes. Positioning data is obtained, such as GPS data points from a plurality of vehicles, which mark traces of vehicular travel. A location of a trace is clarified using adjustment forces that are related to the traces, for example, to form coherent groups of traces. From these groups of clarified traces, a graph line is created by merging the traces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Krumm, Lili Cao
  • Patent number: 7577294
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining a background model of an image sequence by processing on multiple spatial scales. These multiple spatial scales include a pixel scale, a regional scale and a frame scale. The image sequence undergoes pixel processing that determines a current background model and provides an initial pixel assignment as either a background or a foreground pixel. Region processing further refines the initial pixel assignments by considering relationships between pixels and possibly reassigning pixels. Frame processing further refines the current background model by determining whether a substantial change has occurred in the actual background and, if so, providing a more accurate background model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Toyama, John Krumm, Barry L. Brummitt, Brian R. Meyers
  • Publication number: 20080097688
    Abstract: A route can be optimized according to various constraints, specifically towards non-travel constraints. A number of community activities can take place such that the activities impact traffic. Thus, a route can be produces that lowers an influence the activities have upon a route. Moreover, a route can be produced that improves signal strength, such as strength of a signal used to communicate with a cellular telephone. In addition, a route can be enhanced by taking into account weather conditions, including real-time weather in addition to weather predictions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ivan Tashev, Jeffrey Couckuyt, Neil Black, John Krumm, Ruston Panabaker, Michael Seltzer
  • Publication number: 20080091341
    Abstract: A user can be compensated for taking detours from a projected route. Commonly, the reason for the compensation is that the user will be subjected to advertising, the user will pass by an establishment she is likely to visit, or to ease traffic congestion. Analysis of an area takes place and monetization opportunities are determined based upon the results of the analysis. A route between at least about two locations can be altered such that the user is provided a reward, commonly in an optimized manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ruston Panabaker, John Krumm, Jeffrey Couckuyt, Ivan Tashev, Michael Seltzer, Neil Black
  • Patent number: 7293104
    Abstract: A process for determining the location of entities carrying transmitters (TXs) that transmit TX ID messages to at least one receiver (RX) connected to a computer, in a network of computers. Each RX sends data messages to its associated computer which includes an identifier identifying the TX transmitting the TX ID message, the signal strength of the received TX ID message, and a RX identifier. Each RX computer generates badge hit messages from each data message, and provides them to a centralized computer of the network. The centralized computer generates a badge hit table having a separate entry for each badge hit message, which has fields including the information received in the badge hit message and a hit time indicating the time the entry was added to the table. The badge hit table data is used to determining the location of the TXs, and so the entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Krumm, Gregory Smith, Barrett Brumitt, Stephen Harris
  • Publication number: 20070241963
    Abstract: An architecture for minimizing calibration effort in an IEEE 802.11 device location measurement system. The calibration technique is based upon a regression function that produces adequately accurate location information as a function of signal strength regardless of gaps in the calibration data or minimally available data. The algorithm takes a set of signal strengths from known room locations in a building and generates a function giving (x,y) as a function of signal strength, which function may then be used for the estimation of new locations. Radial basis functions, which are simple to express and compute, are used for regression. The fact that the algorithm maps signal strength to continuous location makes it possible to skip rooms during calibration, yet still evaluate the location in those rooms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Krumm, John Platt
  • Patent number: 7283645
    Abstract: A system and process for recognizing an object in an input image involving first generating training images depicting the object. A set of prototype edge features is created that collectively represent the edge pixel patterns encountered within a sub-window centered on each pixel depicting an edge of the object in the training images. Next, a Hough kernel is defined for each prototype edge feature in the form of a set of offset vectors representing the distance and direction, from each edge pixel having an associated sub-window exhibiting an edge pixel pattern best represented by the prototype edge feature, to a prescribed reference point on a surface of the object. The offset vectors are represented as originating at a central point of the kernel. For each edge pixel in the input image, the prototype edge feature which best represents the edge pixel pattern exhibited within the sub-window centered on the edge pixel is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Krumm, Richard Campbell
  • Publication number: 20070202887
    Abstract: The subject disclosure pertains to systems and methods for determining locations of mobile devices. In particular, a set of regions is defined based upon the relative strength of signals received from one or more base stations within the region. Each region has associated location information (e.g., latitude and longitude). The location of a mobile device can be determined by analyzing the strength of received signals, identifying base stations and generating an ordered list of base stations based upon signal strength. The ordered list can be compared to the set of regions to determine the region in which the mobile device is located. The location information for the retrieved region can be used to estimate the location of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Counts, John Krumm, Jordan Schwartz, Steve Glenner
  • Publication number: 20070085673
    Abstract: Methods and systems that determine automatically the likelihood that a device is inside or outside of a structure or building. The system uses one or more sensors to detect ambient conditions, and make the determination. The inference can be used to save power or suppress services from certain devices, which are irrelevant, cannot be used effectively, or do not function under certain circumstances. In support thereof, the system includes one or more context sensors that measure parameters associated probabilistically with the context of a device. A context computing component considers one or more context sensors and facilitates determination of ideal actions, policies, and situations associated with the device. A service provided by the subject invention is the inference from one or more available observations the probability that the device is inside versus outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Krumm, Eric Horvitz, Ramaswamy Hariharan
  • Publication number: 20070073477
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate inferring probability distributions over the destinations and/or routes of a user, from observations about context and partial trajectories of a trip. Destinations of a trip are based on at least one of a prior and a likelihood based at least in part on the received input data. The destination estimator component can use one or more of a personal destinations prior, time of day and day of week, a ground cover prior, driving efficiency associated with candidate locations, and a trip time likelihood to probabilistically predict the destination. In addition, data gathered from a population about the likelihood of visiting previously unvisited locations and the spatial configuration of such locations may be used to enhance the predictions of destinations and routes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Krumm, Eric Horvitz
  • Patent number: 7188122
    Abstract: A system and process for making live digital video feeds simultaneously available to multiple applications running on a computing device. This involves using a live image server that maintains a camera directory file containing the names of available feeds, and the name and location of an image file for each feed. The image file includes image data corresponding to a current frame of the feed and an index indicative of a frame sequence number. Each time a new frame becomes available, image data representing the frame is put into its associated image file, in place of previously stored image data. A client application chooses a feed from the camera directory file, then accesses the associated image file and makes a copy of the image data. When the client wants a new frame, it determines if the image file index has changed. If so, the client copies the new image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Greg Smith, John Krumm
  • Publication number: 20070005419
    Abstract: Geospatial collaborative filtering (CF) with spatial (or location) logs and location updates that facilitates recommending location and/or services information to an active user. A location tracking system tracks the user, and is employed in part to determine when the user is associated with the location, if the user pauses at the location and how long the user dwells at the location. Based in part on this data, collaborative filtering of data from others who have visited the location is applied to provide suggestions to the active user. Additionally, new information related to the location, nearby locations, and services can be presented to the user. The information can be related to businesses, weather conditions, what previous users have selected when at that location, and any amount of data desired to be accessed, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Horvitz, John Krumm
  • Publication number: 20070006098
    Abstract: Described are methods that utilize a geographic location technology (e.g., GPS) to determine user location data, and existing network-based websites (e.g., Internet websites) for searching and accessing data related to the location data such that the user context can be developed and stored. A location component is provided that determines location data of a wireless communications device of a user. A context component is provided that accesses context data based on the location data to define a context in which the device is located. Activities, goals, and overall context of a user can be inferred through statistical fusion of multiple sources of evidence. The context data is presented to the user via the wireless device such that the user can make decisions as to where to go, for example. User preferences can be accessed and applied to filter context data according to what the user desires to see and access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Krumm, Eric Horvitz, Ramaswamy Hariharan
  • Publication number: 20070005243
    Abstract: A location-centric signal shadow mapping and storing architecture that creates maps where signals, such as GPS, cannot be seen with ease because of natural or synthetic features such as groups of tall buildings. Such maps are used with other information, such as the dynamics of the sensed velocity that had been seen before the loss of the signals, to reason about the location and likely activities being carried out by one or more people. Inferences can be made based on information about organizations and services associated with structures and locations proximal to the locations where signals were lost. Also, such reasoning can be used to turn off or to reduce the power consumed by the receivers of the location information, potentially with the joint use of accelerometers to identify when significant accelerations occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Horvitz, John Krumm
  • Publication number: 20060265447
    Abstract: A process for determining the location of entities carrying transmitters (TXs) that transmit TX ID messages to at least one receiver (RX) connected to a computer, in a network of computers. Each RX sends data messages to its associated computer which includes an identifier identifying the TX transmitting the TX ID message, the signal strength of the received TX ID message, and a RX identifier. Each RX computer generates badge hit messages from each data message, and provides them to a centralized computer of the network. The centralized computer generates a badge hit table having a separate entry for each badge hit message, which has fields including the information received in the badge hit message and a hit time indicating the time the entry was added to the table. The badge hit table data is used to determining the location of the TXs, and so the entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Krumm, Gregory Smith, Barrett Brumitt, Stephen Harris