Patents by Inventor Justin A. Hutchings
Justin A. Hutchings 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).
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Patent number: 10229678Abstract: A remote device has an associated natural language description that includes a record of commands supported by the remote device. This record of commands includes command names, the command functions to which those names correspond, and natural language strings that are the natural language words or phrases that correspond to the command. A computing device includes a device control module that obtains the natural language description for the remote device and provides the natural language strings to a natural language assistant on the computing device. The natural language assistant monitors the natural language inputs to the computing device, and notifies the device control module when a natural language input matches one of the natural language strings. The device control module uses the natural language description to determine the command name that corresponds to the matching natural language string, and communicates the command name to the remote device.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Justin A. Hutchings
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Publication number: 20180108349Abstract: A remote device has an associated natural language description that includes a record of commands supported by the remote device. This record of commands includes command names, the command functions to which those names correspond, and natural language strings that are the natural language words or phrases that correspond to the command. A computing device includes a device control module that obtains the natural language description for the remote device and provides the natural language strings to a natural language assistant on the computing device. The natural language assistant monitors the natural language inputs to the computing device, and notifies the device control module when a natural language input matches one of the natural language strings. The device control module uses the natural language description to determine the command name that corresponds to the matching natural language string, and communicates the command name to the remote device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Justin A. Hutchings
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Patent number: 9684610Abstract: Platform neutral device protocol techniques are described in which functionality to customize device interactions through communication busses is made accessible through platform independent script-based infrastructure. Functionality provided by an operating system to manipulate standard protocols of a communication bus used to interact with a connected device is exposed as script-based objects. Script-based protocol definition files associated with connected device may be employed to customize device protocols for the communications using the functionality exposed through the script-based objects. A computing device may acquire a protocol definition file for a particular device in various ways and host the protocol definition file via a suitable run-time platform. Requests for interaction with the particular device may then be handled using the custom protocols defined by the hosted protocol definition file.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2016Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Michael P. Fenelon, Frank Gorgenyi, Justin A. Hutchings, Guillermo Eduardo Guillen, Herman Richard Forrest, III, J. Adrian Lannin
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Patent number: 9659387Abstract: Graphics primitive and color channel techniques are described. In one or more implementations, image data is processed by a computing device to form a plurality of pixels and corresponding one or more color channels usable to define a color for a respective said pixel. A graphics primitive type is identified by the computing device associated with one or more of the pixels in the processed image data. The graphics primitive type is assigned by the computing device to the one or more pixels using at least one color channel.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Feng Yue, Justin A. Hutchings, Pradeep Mayakontla, Erik O. Peterson
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Publication number: 20170004096Abstract: Platform neutral device protocol techniques are described in which functionality to customize device interactions through communication busses is made accessible through platform independent script-based infrastructure. Functionality provided by an operating system to manipulate standard protocols of a communication bus used to interact with a connected device is exposed as script-based objects. Script-based protocol definition files associated with connected device may be employed to customize device protocols for the communications using the functionality exposed through the script-based objects. A computing device may acquire a protocol definition file for a particular device in various ways and host the protocol definition file via a suitable run-time platform. Requests for interaction with the particular device may then be handled using the custom protocols defined by the hosted protocol definition file.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Michael P. Fenelon, Frank Gorgenyi, Justin A. Hutchings, Guillermo Eduardo Guillen, Herman Richard Forrest, III, J. Adrian Lannin
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Patent number: 9411761Abstract: Platform neutral device protocol techniques are described in which functionality to customize device interactions through communication busses is made accessible through platform independent script-based infrastructure. Functionality provided by an operating system to manipulate standard protocols of a communication bus used to interact with a connected device is exposed as script-based objects. Script-based protocol definition files associated with connected device may be employed to customize device protocols for the communications using the functionality exposed through the script-based objects. A computing device may acquire a protocol definition file for a particular device in various ways and host the protocol definition file via a suitable run-time platform. Requests for interaction with the particular device may then be handled using the custom protocols defined by the hosted protocol definition file.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2012Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Michael P. Fenelon, Frank Gorgenyi, Justin Hutchings, Guillermo Eduardo Guillen, Herman Richard Forrest, J. Adrian Lannin
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Patent number: 9311109Abstract: Device association data for peripheral devices, which is data used to connect to the peripheral devices, is maintained and synchronized across multiple computing devices associated with a user account on a service. When a new peripheral device is associated with a computing device, device association data for the new peripheral device is added to the computing device. The device association data for the new peripheral device is also sent to the service, which provides the device association to the other computing devices from which the user logs into his or her account, and those other computing devices in turn automatically associate themselves with the peripheral device. Device use data describing how a user desires to use the peripheral device on one computing device, as well as changes to the device association data on one computing device, can similarly be synchronized across the multiple computing devices.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Justin A. Hutchings, Erik O. Peterson, Arun Babu Nagarajan, Kyle P. Wojtaszek, J. Adrian Lannin, Robert F. Hain, Esaias E. Greeff, Niket A. Sanghvi, Samuel David Adams, David W. Duhon
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Publication number: 20160078644Abstract: Graphics primitive and color channel techniques are described. In one or more implementations, image data is processed by a computing device to form a plurality of pixels and corresponding one or more color channels usable to define a color for a respective said pixel. A graphics primitive type is identified by the computing device associated with one or more of the pixels in the processed image data. The graphics primitive type is assigned by the computing device to the one or more pixels using at least one color channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Feng Yue, Justin A. Hutchings, Pradeep Mayakontla, Erik O. Peterson
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Publication number: 20160048357Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a printer user interface (UI) component configured to handle presentation of information to a user during printing operations. The printer UI component may de-couple the rendering and configuration functionality provided by a printer driver from the presentation of information to end users, thereby reducing the risk that applications may crash or hang due to printer driver malfunction. In some embodiments, a registry of events upon which information should be presented to the user is established, and the printer UI component may be registered for some or all of these events, so that when the specified events occur the printer UI component may be invoked to cause information to be presented to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Justin Hutchings, Frank Gorgenyi, Feng Yue, Darren R. Davis
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Patent number: 9223733Abstract: Bidirectional (bidi) extension techniques for USB and/or other similar busses/connections are described in which an interface is provided to enable bidirectional communication with connected devices. The interface may be implemented as an operating system component to handle bidi communication for devices from multiple different independent hardware vendors (IHVs). Device drivers for different devices can be configured to include extension files in accordance with an established schema for bidi communication. The extension files describe supported bidi attributes, capabilities of the device, and how to make calls into the device. The interface operates to detect the extension files and set-up a corresponding device for bidi communication. Applications then interact through the interface to access, retrieve, and set configuration and status data for connected devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Herman Richard Forrest, III, Michael P. Fenelon, Guillermo Eduardo Guillen, Frank Gorgenyi, Justin A. Hutchings
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Patent number: 9182930Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a printer user interface (UI) component configured to handle presentation of information to a user during printing operations. The printer UI component may de-couple the rendering and configuration functionality provided by a printer driver from the presentation of information to end users, thereby reducing the risk that applications may crash or hang due to printer driver malfunction. In some embodiments, a registry of events upon which information should be presented to the user is established, and the printer UI component may be registered for some or all of these events, so that when the specified events occur the printer UI component may be invoked to cause information to be presented to the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Justin Hutchings, Frank Gorgenyi, Feng Yue, Darren Davis
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Publication number: 20150254081Abstract: Device association data for peripheral devices, which is data used to connect to the peripheral devices, is maintained and synchronized across multiple computing devices associated with a user account on a service. When a new peripheral device is associated with a computing device, device association data for the new peripheral device is added to the computing device. The device association data for the new peripheral device is also sent to the service, which provides the device association to the other computing devices from which the user logs into his or her account, and those other computing devices in turn automatically associate themselves with the peripheral device. Device use data describing how a user desires to use the peripheral device on one computing device, as well as changes to the device association data on one computing device, can similarly be synchronized across the multiple computing devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2015Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Justin A. Hutchings, Erik O. Peterson, Arun Babu Nagarajan, Kyle P. Wojtaszek, J. Adrian Lannin, Robert F. Hain, Esaias E. Greeff, Niket A. Sanghvi, Samuel David Adams, David W. Duhon
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Patent number: 9092164Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a print server can publish, to client devices, capabilities and configurations of one or more print devices utilizing a device-independent “personality.” Client devices can then use an associated device-independent print driver to select print job settings and record print job content for a particular print job, in a device-independent format, that is then to be sent to the print server. The print server can then process the device-independent format that describes the print job, and convert the print job into a print device-specific format that can be consumed by a particular specific print device. In at least some embodiments, the client device can cause a print job to be printed on a print device, via a print server, without downloading, utilizing or otherwise accessing a print driver that is specific to the print device.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Shawn E. Maloney, Justin Hutchings, Frank Gorgenyi, Joshua A. Dersch, Erik O. Peterson, Feng Yue
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Patent number: 9032106Abstract: Device association data for peripheral devices, which is data used to connect to the peripheral devices, is maintained and synchronized across multiple computing devices associated with a user account on a service. When a new peripheral device is associated with a computing device, device association data for the new peripheral device is added to the computing device. The device association data for the new peripheral device is also sent to the service, which provides the device association to the other computing devices from which the user logs into his or her account, and those other computing devices in turn automatically associate themselves with the peripheral device. Device use data describing how a user desires to use the peripheral device on one computing device, as well as changes to the device association data on one computing device, can similarly be synchronized across the multiple computing devices.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Justin A. Hutchings, Erik O. Peterson, Arun Babu Nagarajan, Kyle P. Wojtaszek, J. Adrian Lannin, Robert F. Hain, Esaias E. Greeff, Niket A. Sanghvi, Samuel David Adams, David W. Duhon
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Publication number: 20150089090Abstract: Bidirectional (bidi) extension techniques for USB and/or other similar busses/connections are described in which an interface is provided to enable bidirectional communication with connected devices. The interface may be implemented as an operating system component to handle bidi communication for devices from multiple different independent hardware vendors (IHVs). Device drivers for different devices can be configured to include extension files in accordance with an established schema for bidi communication. The extension files describe supported bidi attributes, capabilities of the device, and how to make calls into the device. The interface operates to detect the extension files and set-up a corresponding device for bidi communication. Applications then interact through the interface to access, retrieve, and set configuration and status data for connected devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Herman Richard Forrest, III, Michael P. Fenelon, Guillermo Eduardo Guillen, Frank Gorgenyi, Justin A. Hutchings
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Publication number: 20150022859Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques whereby a printer driver may be modified and supplemented over time. For example, a framework may be provided which enables a printer driver's functionality to be supplemented over time to include new and/or enhanced features, such as features relating to the manner in which the capabilities of a printer are configured, print settings are manipulated, information is presented to users, print-related system events are handled, etc. In some embodiments, one or more components (which may be included in a print subsystem provided by an operating system of a computing device, in a printer driver, and/or some other system element) may be configured to automatically seek and acquire configuration data from any of various sources, including the printer device, one or more online sources, and/or other sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Justin Hutchings, Feng Yue, Frank Gorgenyi, Michael Fenelon
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Publication number: 20140359170Abstract: Device association data for peripheral devices, which is data used to connect to the peripheral devices, is maintained and synchronized across multiple computing devices associated with a user account on a service. When a new peripheral device is associated with a computing device, device association data for the new peripheral device is added to the computing device. The device association data for the new peripheral device is also sent to the service, which provides the device association to the other computing devices from which the user logs into his or her account, and those other computing devices in turn automatically associate themselves with the peripheral device. Device use data describing how a user desires to use the peripheral device on one computing device, as well as changes to the device association data on one computing device, can similarly be synchronized across the multiple computing devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Justin A. Hutchings, Erik O. Peterson, Arun Babu Nagarajan, Kyle P. Wojtaszek, J. Adrian Lannin, Robert F. Hain, Esaias E. Greeff, Niket A. Sanghvi, Samuel David Adams, David W. Duhon
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Patent number: 8904048Abstract: Bidirectional (bidi) extension techniques for USB and/or other similar busses/connections are described in which an interface is provided to enable bidirectional communication with connected devices. The interface may be implemented as an operating system component to handle bidi communication for devices from multiple different independent hardware vendors (IHVs). Device drivers for different devices can be configured to include extension files in accordance with an established schema for bidi communication. The extension files describe supported bidi attributes, capabilities of the device, and how to make calls into the device. The interface operates to detect the extension files and set-up a corresponding device for bidi communication. Applications then interact through the interface to access, retrieve, and set configuration and status data for connected devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Herman Richard Forrest, III, Michael P. Fenelon, Guillermo Eduardo Guillen, Frank Gorgenyi, Justin Hutchings
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Patent number: 8891111Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques whereby a printer driver may be modified and supplemented over time. For example, a framework may be provided which enables a printer driver's functionality to be supplemented over time to include new and/or enhanced features, such as features relating to the manner in which the capabilities of a printer are configured, print settings are manipulated, information is presented to users, print-related system events are handled, etc. In some embodiments, one or more components (which may be included in a print subsystem provided by an operating system of a computing device, in a printer driver, and/or some other system element) may be configured to automatically seek and acquire configuration data from any of various sources, including the printer device, one or more online sources, and/or other sources.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Justin Hutchings, Feng Yue, Frank Gorgenyi, Michael Fenelon
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Publication number: 20130346654Abstract: Platform neutral device protocol techniques are described in which functionality to customize device interactions through communication busses is made accessible through platform independent script-based infrastructure. Functionality provided by an operating system to manipulate standard protocols of a communication bus used to interact with a connected device is exposed as script-based objects. Script-based protocol definition files associated with connected device may be employed to customize device protocols for the communications using the functionality exposed through the script-based objects. A computing device may acquire a protocol definition file for a particular device in various ways and host the protocol definition file via a suitable run-time platform. Requests for interaction with the particular device may then be handled using the custom protocols defined by the hosted protocol definition file.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventors: Michael P. Fenelon, Frank Gorgenyi, Justin Hutchings, Guillermo Eduardo Guillen, Herman Richard Forrest, III, J. Adrian Lannin