Patents by Inventor Joseph Ruff

Joseph Ruff 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).

  • Publication number: 20100185447
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for selecting and utilizing multiple recognizers to process an utterance based on a markup language document. The markup language document and an utterance are received in a computing device. One or more recognizers are selected from among the multiple recognizers for returning a results set for the utterance based on markup language in the markup language document. The results set is received from the one or more selected recognizers in a format determined by a processing method specified in the markup language document. An event is then executed on the computing device in response to receiving the results set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Krumel, Pierre-Alexandre F. Masse, Joseph A. Ruff
  • Publication number: 20100011306
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph RUFF, Robert G. JOHNSTON, JR., Robert ULRICH
  • Patent number: 7609279
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20090112782
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a decision-making process are disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, in response to receiving a request to facilitate a decision making process, the decision-making agent participates in a communications thread where users are attempting to reach a decision regarding a business to frequent and/or an activity to partake. Since group activities are oftentimes scheduled via common communication threads, the decision-making agent can intervene in such communication threads, when requested, and assist the participating users in making a decision or making informed suggestions toward reaching an agreement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Karen M. Cross, Robert P. Starling, Michael D. Trinkala, Joseph Ruff, Brandon W. Porter, Gary Clayton
  • Publication number: 20050190182
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert Johnston, Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6909437
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6710782
    Abstract: A method and system are described for creating and editing a theme associated with a graphical user interface (GUI). In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a theme is selected from a plurality of themes. The theme is edited by modifying information associated with at least one GUI definition object, wherein the at least one GUI definition object is associated with the theme. Information associated with the at least one GUI definition object is stored as part of the theme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6664981
    Abstract: The program code for control objects in a graphical user interface is organized in a multi-level hierarchial structure. At one level of the structure, each different type of control defines a class of objects. The definition of a class includes most, if not all, of the functionality associated with the objects of that class. In addition, the class definition includes the overall structure of the object, such as the relative positions of different elements which make up the object. The actual appearance of these elements is defined by user selectable software that resides at a lower level of the hierarchy. Using this approach, only one instance of the program code which defines the functionality and overall structure of each object is required, resulting in smaller the overall memory requirements of the program code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan B. Ashe, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Joseph A. Ruff, Daniel Clifford
  • Publication number: 20020093523
    Abstract: The program code for control objects in a graphical user interface is organized in a multi-level hierarchial structure. At one level of the structure, each different type of control defines a class of objects. The definition of a class includes most, if not all, of the functionality associated with the objects of that class. In addition, the class definition includes the overall structure of the object, such as the relative positions of different elements which make up the object. The actual appearance of these elements is defined by user selectable software that resides at a lower level of the hierarchy. Using this approach, only one instance of the program code which defines the functionality and overall structure of each object is required, resulting in smaller the overall memory requirements of the program code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Dylan B. Ashe, Robert G. Johnston, Joseph A. Ruff, Daniel Clifford
  • Publication number: 20020085019
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6404433
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20020052721
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6307574
    Abstract: The program code for control objects in a graphical user interface is organized in a multi-level hierarchial structure. At one level of the structure, each different type of control defines a class of objects. The definition of a class includes most, if not all, of the functionality associated with the objects of that class. In addition, the class definition includes the overall structure of the object, such as the relative positions of different elements which make up the object. The actual appearance of these elements is defined by user selectable software that resides at a lower level of the hierarchy. Using this approach, only one instance of the program code which defines the functionality and overall structure of each object is required, resulting in smaller the overall memory requirements of the program code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan B. Ashe, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Joseph A. Ruff, Daniel Clifford
  • Patent number: 6243102
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich