Patents by Inventor Lili Cheng

Lili Cheng 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: 20140006372
    Abstract: A topic feed is generated for publication or distribution to a set of followers or recipients who have elected to receive the topic feed from the user or based on the subject matter content of a topic input in the topic feed. The topic feed is distributed and includes the topic input. Experts in subject matter can be identified based on the user's topic input and/or text in the topic feed that the followers interact with.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Ickman, Thomas Matthew Laird-McConnell, William Lawrence Portnoy, Christopher McConnell, Lili Cheng, David Arthur Raskino, Gregory Scott Melander
  • Patent number: 8601598
    Abstract: A system that enables a cloud-based data repository to function as a secure ‘drop-box’ for data that corresponds to a user is provided. The ‘drop box’ can be facilitated through the use of cryptographic keying technologies. For instance, data that is ‘dropped’ by or on behalf of a particular user can be encrypted using a public key that corresponds to a user-specific private key. Thus, although the data resides within the large pool of ‘cloud-based’ data, it is protected since it can only be decrypted by using the private key, which is kept secret. The innovation can further facilitate user-centric secure storage by partitioning the cloud-based repository into multiple partitions, each of which corresponds to specific indexing criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond E Ozzie, William H. Gates, III, Thomas F. Bergstraesser, Lili Cheng, Michael Connolly, Alexander G. Gounares, Henricus Johannes Maria Meijer, Debi P. Mishra, Ira L. Snyder, Jr., Melora Zaner-Godsey
  • Publication number: 20130311305
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can provide configurable entities in connection with electronic archival of print-based media. In accordance therewith, print-based media can be archived electronically (e.g., by imaging or scanning the print-based media) in a remastered form that provides for displaying the original work with readily modifiable entities, such as advertisements. Media or entities can be selected based upon the original advertiser, the original product, or another element or feature of the print-based media, and can also be selected based upon a profile associated with the media consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: GARY W. FLAKE, ERIC J. HORVITZ, LILI CHENG
  • Patent number: 8583603
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to architectures for facilitating network-accessible or local backup or restore features in a manner that leverages event-oriented contextual information associated with one or more users of the data to be backed up or restored. In particular, a first restore-based architecture can interface with an associated second backup-based architecture that hosts or maintains a backup data store in order to retrieve a version of the data file that is desired by a user. Additionally, the first architecture can obtain a log of contextual event descriptions that can be aggregated by the second architecture or obtained independently from, e.g. a social networking service or a calendar application associated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lara M. Sosnosky, Lili Cheng, John D. Mehr, George Moromisato, Elissa E. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8582127
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can provide configurable entities in connection with electronic archival of print-based media. In accordance therewith, print-based media can be archived electronically (e.g., by imaging or scanning the print-based media) in a remastered form that provides for displaying the original work with readily modifiable entities, such as advertisements. Media or entities can be selected based upon the original advertiser, the original product, or another element or feature of the print-based media, and can also be selected based upon a profile associated with the media consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, Eric J. Horvitz, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20130283187
    Abstract: A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a computing event with respect to a file stored in a data repository of a personal computing device. An assignor component automatically assigns a uniform resource identifier to the file responsive to the receiver component receiving the computing event with respect to the file, wherein at least a portion of content of the file is reviewable by way of a web browser through utilization of the uniform resource identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Tom Laird-McConnell, Lili Cheng, Cezary Marcjan, Matthew B. MacLaurin, Steven W. Ickman
  • Patent number: 8549011
    Abstract: When a user enters an information retrieval query, a topic feed is generated for publication or distribution to a set of followers or recipients who have elected to receive the topic feed from the user or based on the subject matter content of the query. The topic feed is distributed and includes the query. Experts in subject matter can be identified based on the user's queries and other text in the topic feed that the followers interact with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Ickman, Thomas Matthew Laird-McConnell, William Lawrence Portnoy, Christopher McConnell, Lili Cheng, David Arthur Raskino, Gregory Scott Melander
  • Publication number: 20130238378
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-storage media are provided for employing environment and resource data to facilitate management of shopper traffic and resource allocation. Shopper traffic information is received from environmental sensors located in or nearby a business establishment. Resource information associated with the business establishment is also received. A traffic modifier is determined based on the shopper traffic information and the resource information; the traffic modifier is used to influence the behavior of shoppers with respect to the business establishment. As well, a resource modifier for the business establishment is also determined based on a projected result of dissemination of the traffic modifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL CONNOLLY, LILI CHENG, DAVID M. CHICKERING, GARY W. FLAKE, ALEXANDER G. GOUNARES, ERIC J. HORVITZ, KAMAL JAIN, CHRISTOPHER A. MEEK
  • Patent number: 8516507
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an architecture or extension to a window manager. In particular, the extension can provide for a window rotation feature that can be exposed as a rotate button. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation feature can be activated based upon a diverse set of conditions, events, and/or commands. Upon activation of the rotation feature, the window manager can rotate a window about an axis to expose a secondary surface that can be populated with alternative content that is distinct from the content of the primary surface of the window. In addition, the architecture provides techniques for identifying both double-sided graphical objects and potentially double-sided objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J Horvitz, David M Chickering, Gary W Flake, Lili Cheng, Alexander G Gounares
  • Publication number: 20130167034
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which an interactive timeline user interface shows communication data aggregated from various sources (e.g., a telephone service, a website, an application and/or the like) in time order. To reduce the number of items in the timeline, certain items may be combined into a compressed item, e.g., items from the same source and/or of the same type may be rolled up into a rolled up item. The user may also interact to reply to a data item. For example, an editor may be provided upon interaction with a data item in the timeline, and the type of reply that is sent may automatically match the type of data item, (e.g., a text message reply to a text message).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Ickman, Lili Cheng
  • Patent number: 8474027
    Abstract: A user-centric or identity-centric resource licensing system that manages access to ‘cloud-based’ resources (e.g., applications and services) is provided. A ‘cloud’ refers to a collection of resources (e.g., hardware and/or software) provided and maintained by an off-site or off-premise party (e.g., third party), wherein the collection of resources can be accessed by an identified user via a network. In accordance with the user-centric licensing model, the resource license (and subscription) rights can migrate with a user without regard to physical location, device used, or other contextual factors (e.g., activity engaged). Effectively, the rights are mapped (and tracked) as a function of a user identity, which can be a core identity or an identity based upon activity engaged, role, capacity, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Henricus Johannes Maria Meijer, William H. Gates, III, Thomas F. Bergstraesser, Lili Cheng, Nishant V. Dani, Daniel S. Glasser, Ira L. Snyder, Jr., Melora Zaner-Godsey
  • Patent number: 8463740
    Abstract: A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a computing event with respect to a file stored in a data repository of a personal computing device. An assignor component automatically assigns a uniform resource identifier to the file responsive to the receiver component receiving the computing event with respect to the file, wherein at least a portion of content of the file is reviewable by way of a web browser through utilization of the uniform resource identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Laird-McConnell, Lili Cheng, Cezary Marcjan, Matthew B. MacLaurin, Steven W. Ickman
  • Patent number: 8438165
    Abstract: When a user enters an information retrieval query, topic feed is generated for publication or distribution to a set of followers or recipients who have elected to receive the topic feed from the user or based on the subject matter content of the query. The topic feed is distributed and includes the query. The user's interests are tracked based on text in the user's queries and other text in the topic feed that the user interacts with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Ickman, Thomas Matthew Laird-McConnell, William Lawrence Portnoy, Christopher McConnell, Lili Cheng, David Arthur Raskino, Gregory Scott Melander
  • Patent number: 8423088
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which an interactive timeline user interface shows communication data aggregated from various sources (e.g., a telephone service, a website, an application and/or the like) in time order. To reduce the number of items in the timeline, certain items may be combined into a compressed item, e.g., items from the same source and/or of the same type may be rolled up into a rolled up item. The user may also interact to reply to a data item. For example, an editor may be provided upon interaction with a data item in the timeline, and the type of reply that is sent may automatically match the type of data item, (e.g., a text message reply to a text message).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Ickman, Lili Cheng
  • Patent number: 8418067
    Abstract: A rich communication profile system with notifications. The system is a feedback mechanism that utilizes rich content, e.g., multimedia content, as one or more indicators that represent the status of a remote user. The system includes a state component that receives information relating to state of at least one entity. A notifications component dynamically renders at least one personalized graphical indicia representative of the entity's state. The entity can be a person, group of people, component, place, and object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lili Cheng, David P. Vronay, Ryszard K. Kott, Sean U. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8402110
    Abstract: Remote provisioning of an IT network and/or associated services is provided. Hardware, software, service and/or expertise can be moved from on-premise to a remote location (e.g., central, distributed . . . ). Accordingly, at least a large degree computation can be moved to the center to exploit economies of scale, among other things. In such an architecture, computational resources (e.g., data storage, computation power, cache . . . ) can be pooled, and entities can subscribe to a particular level of resources related to a private entity IT network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Henricus Johannes Maria Meijer, William H. Gates, III, Raymond E. Ozzie, Gary W. Flake, Thomas F. Bergstraesser, Arnold N. Blinn, Christopher W. Brumme, Lili Cheng, Nishant V. Dani, Daniel S. Glasser, Alexander G. Gounares, Galen C. Hunt, James R. Larus, Matthew B. MacLaurin, Debi P. Mishra, Amit Mital, Ira L. Snyder, Jr., Chandramohan A. Thekkath
  • Publication number: 20130066700
    Abstract: A user provides an input to a public stream system indicating that the user desires to conduct a transaction (such as a sale, renting a piece of equipment, etc.). The system identifies a group of other users that may wish to participate in the transaction, and at some point, informs those users of the opportunity to participate in a group transaction. Offers for the group transaction are identified and made available to the users and user acceptance of, and commitment to, the offer is tracked. Incentives can optionally be provided to one or more members of the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Portnoy, Lili Cheng, Paul A. Steckler, David A. Raskino, Matthew G. Dyor
  • Patent number: 8370425
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate creation and management of an event-oriented transient network and can further manage decommission of the transient network. In particular, the architecture can construct temporary communities based upon a particular event, project, or activity; manage (e.g., filter, prioritize, or control) communications and content associated with the community; and disband the community by deconstructing the transient network according to an aging function that controls how the network decays. In addition, the architecture can leverage existing information (e.g. profile data) and content feeds associated with disparate social networking services or communities for the benefit of the temporary community.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lili Cheng, Owen Charles Braun, Alice Jane Bernheim Brush, Mary P. Czerwinski, Alex David Daley, Susan T. Dumais, Dragos A. Manolescu, Henricus Johannes Maria Meijer, Simon Christer Muzio, John Oberon, Rebecca A. Norlander
  • Publication number: 20130006748
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described for systems and methods for facilitating data sharing between a user of a client device and an online service. The system may include a module configured to display a graphical display of data sharing specifications on the client device. The graphical display may include one or more user-adjustable privacy setting selectors configured to receive input of user-selected privacy level selections. Each of the privacy level selections may be associated with a report of the probability that data attributes will be captured and used and/or with other measures such as the size of the set of people that are identifiable from the revelation. Data attributes may include a data type, a data use purpose, a data use timeframe, and a data storage timeframe. The graphical display may further include a consent selector configured to receive consent from the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Horvitz, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20130006754
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described for computerized advertising systems and methods. The system may include an ad server that includes an impression campaign engine configured to associate a target user profile with a plurality of computing devices. The ad server is also configured to receive a multi-step impression plan including a plurality of triggers from an advertiser. Each trigger is associated with a different advertisement to be served to at least one of the plurality of devices. The system also includes an ad serving engine configured to serve a first advertisement to a first device in response to making an inference from sensors or detecting a first trigger, and a second advertisement to a second device in response to a second inference or detecting a second trigger, according to the impression plan. A predictive model developed from machine learning may be used to develop a learning-based multi-step impression plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Horvitz, Lili Cheng, Roger Barga, Xuedong Huang, Zachary Apter, Semiha Ece Kamar