Patents by Inventor Matthew J. Kotler
Matthew J. Kotler 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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Publication number: 20130067373Abstract: A system and method for implementing an efficient and easy to user interface for a touch screen device. A cursor may be placed by a user using simple inputs. The device operates places the cursor coarsely and refines the cursor placement upon further input from the user. Text may be selected using a gripper associated with the cursor. The user interface allows text selection without occluding the text being selected with the user's finger or the gripper. For selecting text in a multi-line block of text, a dynamic safety zone is implemented to simplify text selection for the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Jeffrey J. Weir, Jennifer L. Anderson, Jennifer Wolfe, Gerrit H. Hofmeester, Jan-Kristian Markiewicz, Andrew R. Brauninger, Stuart J. Stuple, David Earl Washington, Matthew J. Kotler, Ryan Demopoulos, Amish Patel
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Patent number: 8386929Abstract: An electronic personal assistant that uses task information to obtain task performance assistance and help content is provided. Tasks from an electronic tasks application may be utilized by the personal assistant application to search a variety of information sources for task performance functionality and help content related to the tasks. The personal assistant may provide functionality to help a user actually perform a given task. Alternatively, once help content is obtained, a new task may be generated or the related task may be modified to provide the help content or to provide a link to the help content. The personal assistant application may provide the help content in a separate user interface or cause an application from which the help content is obtained to be launched.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Igor Zaika, Ned B. Friend, Erez Kikin-Gil, Matthew J. Kotler, Charles W. Parker, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Marta Rey-Babarro
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Patent number: 8381088Abstract: Generation of a task or reminder in an electronic task list authoring surface from a variety of data or information locations or media without the need for launching a separate task or reminder application and without the need for moving focus away from an information location or media presently in use is provided. Generation of a task or task reminder may be accomplished from a variety of information locations or media. When an information item is flagged or captured and a task/reminder is generated, one or more pieces of metadata may be applied to the flagged information item for enhancing the subsequent use of the associated generated task or reminder.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Erez Kikin-Gil, Ned B. Friend, Matthew J. Kotler, Charles W. Parker, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Igor Zaika, Marta Rey-Babarro
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Patent number: 8375320Abstract: A triggering mechanism for generating task reminders based on contextual information associated with the tasks is provided. Contextual information may be extracted from a variety of sources and may be related to one or more tasks. Based on the contextual information, task reminders may be generated and may be presented in a manner that makes the task reminders more useful to an end user.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Matthew J. Kotler, Ned B. Friend, Erez Kikin-Gil, Charles W. Park, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Igor Zaika
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Patent number: 8370767Abstract: A list authoring surface (LAS) is provided that includes a lightweight user interface component for entering, displaying, manipulating, and providing reminders for one or more tasks that takes the place of hand-written notes, scraps of paper, or “sticky” notes. The list authoring surface may be deployed across a multitude of software applications and may be readily accessed anywhere on a stationary or mobile desktop or display screen. Information may be manually or automatically entered into the list authoring surface user interface. An event timeline that uses a “fuzzy” reminder method allows for reminders to be associated with tasks where some tasks must be accomplished or must occur at hard dates/times, but where other tasks may be accomplished or may occur during soft or “fuzzy” date/time ranges.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Matthew J. Kotler, Ned B. Friend, Erez Kikin-Gil, Charles W. Parker, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Igor Zaika, Marta Rey-Babarro
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Patent number: 8269790Abstract: A method and system for rendering graphics based on user customizations in a computer graphics application are disclosed. The customizations relate to various properties of one or more graphical elements in the graphic. Such properties include positioning, size, formatting and other visual attributes associated with the graphical elements. These properties may be defined as either semantic properties or presentation properties. Semantic properties are persistent across all graphic definitions. Presentation properties are specific to the graphic definition to which each particular graphic belongs. Thus, a customization to a semantic property of a displayed graphic is preserved in memory for application not only to the currently displayed graphic, but also to all other graphic definitions that may be displayed in the future. In contrast, a customization to a presentation property is only preserved for the currently displayed graphic, and thus not preserved for all other graphic definitions.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Karen K. Wong, Scott A. Sherman, Dawn Wright, Matthew J. Kotler, Ilan Berker
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Publication number: 20120127178Abstract: A method and system for rendering graphics based on user customizations in a computer graphics application are disclosed. The customizations relate to various properties of one or more graphical elements in the graphic. Such properties include positioning, size, formatting and other visual attributes associated with the graphical elements. These properties may be defined as either semantic properties or presentation properties. Semantic properties are persistent across all graphic definitions. Presentation properties are specific to the graphic definition to which each particular graphic belongs. Thus, a customization to a semantic property of a displayed graphic is preserved in memory for application not only to the currently displayed graphic, but also to all other graphic definitions that may be displayed in the future. In contrast, a customization to a presentation property is only preserved for the currently displayed graphic, and thus not preserved for all other graphic definitions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Karen K. Wong, Scott A. Sherman, Dawn Wright, Matthew J. Kotler, Ilan Berker
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Patent number: 8170983Abstract: Managing data across a semantic data view and a presentation data view may be provided. A semantic model may be represented in a semantic data view and a presentation model may be represented in a presentation data view. The presentation model may correspond to a graphical representation of the semantic model. In addition, a command may be received directed toward the semantic data view or the presentation data view. The semantic model and the presentation model may be operated upon according to the received command. Furthermore, the semantic model represented in the semantic data view and the presentation model represented in the presentation data view may be updated in response to operating on the semantic model and the presentation model according to the received command. The semantic model and the presentation model may be simultaneously maintained in a volatile memory in a computer.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2010Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Crystal L. Hoyer, Cynthia C. Shelly, Dawn M. Wright, Karen K. Wong, Matthew J. Kotler
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Patent number: 8134575Abstract: A method and system for rendering graphics based on user customizations in a computer graphics application are disclosed. The customizations relate to various properties of one or more graphical elements in the graphic. Such properties include positioning, size, formatting and other visual attributes associated with the graphical elements. These properties may be defined as either semantic properties or presentation properties. Semantic properties are persistent across all graphic definitions. Presentation properties are specific to the graphic definition to which each particular graphic belongs. Thus, a customization to a semantic property of a displayed graphic is preserved in memory for application not only to the currently displayed graphic, but also to all other graphic definitions that may be displayed in the future. In contrast, a customization to a presentation property is only preserved for the currently displayed graphic, and thus not preserved for all other graphic definitions.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Karen K. Wong, Scott A. Sherman, Dawn Wright, Matthew J. Kotler, Ilan Berker
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Patent number: 8117552Abstract: A system and method that enables a designer to build electronic forms and corresponding hierarchical schemas are described. Displays of hierarchical schemas, electronic forms, and components used to build the hierarchical schemas and electronic forms are provided to the designer. The designer selects components and arranges them on a display to visually build an electronic form. As the form is built, the corresponding hierarchical schema is incrementally updated to reflect changes made to the electronic form.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Jean D. Paoli, Laurent Mollicone, Ned B. Friend, Matthew J. Kotler, Thomas R. Lawrence, Shuk-Yan Lai, Sharma K. Hendel, Jason Whitmarsh
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Publication number: 20120035925Abstract: Automatic capture and population of task and list items in an electronic task or list surface via voice or audio input through an audio recording-capable mobile computing device is provided. A voice or audio task or list item may be captured for entry into a task application interface or into a list authoring surface interface for subsequent use as task items, reminders, “to do” items, list items, agenda items, work organization outlines, and the like. Captured voice or audio content may be transcribed locally or remotely, and transcribed content may be populated into a task or list authoring surface user interface that may be displayed on the capturing device (e.g., mobile telephone), or that may be stored remotely and subsequently displayed in association with a number of applications on a number of different computing devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Ned B. Friend, Kanav Arora, Marta Rey-Babarro, David De La Brena Valderrama, Erez Kikin-Gil, Matthew J. Kotler, Charles W. Parker, Maya Rodrig, Igor Zaika
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Publication number: 20120005608Abstract: When using graphical diagrams, cutting and pasting operations may take advantage of predefined relationships to intelligently insert and remove items from the diagram. A text data model may be interpreted sequentially or hierarchically to construct various diagrams. Pasting operations will bring new data into the diagram and data model while conforming the new data to the diagram definition. Cutting operations may cause the data model and diagram to be healed to conform to the diagram definition.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Karen K. Wong, Andrew J. Howe, Brent Gilbert, Crystal L. Hoyer, Matthew J. Kotler, Mikko T. Mannisto
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Publication number: 20110314375Abstract: An electronic personal assistant that uses task information to obtain task performance assistance and help content is provided. Tasks from an electronic tasks application may be utilized by the personal assistant application to search a variety of information sources for task performance functionality and help content related to the tasks. The personal assistant may provide functionality to help a user actually perform a given task. Alternatively, once help content is obtained, a new task may be generated or the related task may be modified to provide the help content or to provide a link to the help content. The personal assistant application may provide the help content in a separate user interface or cause an application from which the help content is obtained to be launched.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Igor Zaika, Ned B. Friend, Erez Kikin-Gil, Matthew J. Kotler, Charles W. Parker, Jesse Clay Satterfield
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Publication number: 20110314402Abstract: Generation of a task or reminder in an electronic task list authoring surface from a variety of data or information locations or media without the need for launching a separate task or reminder application and without the need for moving focus away from an information location or media presently in use is provided. Generation of a task or task reminder may be accomplished from a variety of information locations or media. When an information item is flagged or captured and a task/reminder is generated, one or more pieces of metadata may be applied to the flagged information item for enhancing the subsequent use of the associated generated task or reminder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Erez Kikin-Gil, Ned B. Friend, Matthew J. Kotler, Charles W. Parker, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Igor Zaika
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Publication number: 20110314418Abstract: A list authoring surface (LAS) is provided that includes a lightweight user interface component for entering, displaying, manipulating, and providing reminders for one or more tasks that takes the place of hand-written notes, scraps of paper, or “sticky” notes. The list authoring surface may be deployed across a multitude of software applications and may be readily accessed anywhere on a stationary or mobile desktop or display screen. Information may be manually or automatically entered into the list authoring surface user interface. An event timeline that uses a “fuzzy” reminder method allows for reminders to be associated with tasks where some tasks must be accomplished or must occur at hard dates/times, but where other tasks may be accomplished or may occur during soft or “fuzzy” date/time ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Matthew J. Kotler, Ned B. Friend, Erez Kikin-Gil, Charles W. Parker, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Igor Zaika
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Publication number: 20110313803Abstract: Providing access to task lists via social communications systems is provided. A user may expose a list authoring surface and associated task lists to other users via one or more social communications systems. When another user attempts to access contents of the list authoring surface, the user attempting access may be required to provide permissions credentials, or the attempting user's social communications account may be designated as a permissioned account from which access to the contents of the list authoring surface may be obtained. Version control management may be applied to the accessed task lists to ensure accessing users receive access to most up-to-date versions of accessed task lists. Once an accessing user obtains access to a given task list, the accessing user may comment on accessed tasks, make changes to accessed tasks and/or collaborate on accessed tasks.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Ned B. Friend, Michael Ivan Borysenko, Owen Braun, Gregory J. Hollobaugh, Erez Kikin-Gil, Matthew J. Kotler, Charles W. Parker, Tara Leigh Roth, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Nathaniel Stott, Igor Zaika
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Publication number: 20110314404Abstract: A triggering mechanism for generating task reminders based on contextual information associated with the tasks is provided. Contextual information may be extracted from a variety of sources and may be related to one or more tasks. Based on the contextual information, task reminders may be generated and may be presented in a manner that makes the task reminders more useful to an end user.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Matthew J. Kotler, Ned B. Friend, Erez Kikin-Gil, Charles W. Parker, Jesse Clay Satterfield, Igor Zaika
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Patent number: 8042065Abstract: When using graphical diagrams, cutting and pasting operations may take advantage of predefined relationships to intelligently insert and remove items from the diagram. A text data model may be interpreted sequentially or hierarchically to construct various diagrams. Pasting operations will bring new data into the diagram and data model while conforming the new data to the diagram definition. Cutting operations may cause the data model and diagram to be healed to conform to the diagram definition.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2005Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Karen K. Wong, Andrew J. Howe, Brent Gilbert, Crystal L. Hoyer, Matthew J. Kotler, Mikko T. Mannisto
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Publication number: 20100275156Abstract: Managing data across a semantic data view and a presentation data view may be provided. A semantic model may be represented in a semantic data view and a presentation model may be represented in a presentation data view. The presentation model may correspond to a graphical representation of the semantic model. In addition, a command may be received directed toward the semantic data view or the presentation data view. The semantic model and the presentation model may be operated upon according to the received command. Furthermore, the semantic model represented in the semantic data view and the presentation model represented in the presentation data view may be updated in response to operating on the semantic model and the presentation model according to the received command. The semantic model and the presentation model may be simultaneously maintained in a volatile memory in a computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Crystal L. Hoyer, Cynthia C. Shelly, Dawn M. Wright, Karen K. Wong, Matthew J. Kotler
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Patent number: 7743325Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium are provided for fitting text to shapes within a graphic. According to the method, initial constraints are defined that comprise initial values describing how a shape and text within the shape should be laid out. Constraint rules are also defined for use in modifying the initial constraints when application of the initial constraints to the text in a shape results in the text overflowing the boundaries of the shape. A change may be detected to the graphic that would affect the size or position of one or more of the shapes or the text within one of the shapes. If such a change causes text to overflow when laid out using the initial constraints, the constraint rules are applied sequentially to modify the constraints. The modified constraints are then reapplied to the shapes to create a new layout for the graphic.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2005Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Ilan Berker, Jason C. Costa, Keywon Chung, Matthew J. Kotler, Janet L. Schorr, Scott A. Sherman, Karen K. Wong