Patents by Inventor John M. Thornton

John M. Thornton 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).

  • Application programming interface that maps input device controls to software actions
    Patent number: 7116310
    Abstract: A system for using computer input devices with software applications is disclosed. The system includes an input device mapper API, which uses a language of semantics as an interface between input devices and software applications. The input device mapper receives information about which semantics the devices connected to the computer are able to implement, and which semantics correspond to actions that a user can request the software to perform. The input device mapper maps controls on the available devices into user-requestable software actions by matching, as closely as possible, device controls and software actions that correspond to the same semantic. The system thus makes input devices and software applications transparent to each other, and permits a software application to be designed to operate without regard to which input device is being used to control its actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: C. Shane Evans, Marcus J. Andrews, Om K. Sharma, James E. Veres, John M. Thornton
  • Desk-top pen and paper holder
    Patent number: D451962
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: The Quill Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Thornton