Patents by Inventor Karen M. Cross

Karen M. Cross 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: 20100056100
    Abstract: Systems and methods of rules-based association of a phone number with one or more destination locations are disclosed here. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of associating a phone number with one or more destination locations based on a set of rules and receiving a request from a user using the phone number. The request is associated with accessing a set of directions to at least one of the one or more destination locations. The method may further include, identifying an originating location associated with the request received from the user, and providing the user with at least one of the sets of directions to the one or more destination locations from the originating location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Elman, Karen M. Cross
  • Publication number: 20090125499
    Abstract: Systems and methods of a machine-moderated mobile social networking for managing queries are disclosed here. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of receiving queries from a mobile device and intelligently distributing the queries among users that are deemed suitable to provide useful insight to the queries. The queries are typically questions asked by potential patrons regarding specific venues, patrons looking for specific businesses and/or events that fit their specific criteria, by way of example but not limitation, geography, locale, type of cuisine, ambience, music, etc. In most instances, a consumer can send the query from a portable device (e.g., cell phone, Blackberry, telephone, iPhone, Treo, etc.) in various formats (e.g., SMS text, voice call, USSD message, IM, and/or email, etc.) to a predetermined phone number and/or other types of address identifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Karen M. Cross, Lisa J. Stifelman
  • 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