Patents by Inventor Michael A. Tavis

Michael A. Tavis 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).

  • Patent number: 9336324
    Abstract: A security trimming system disclosed herein uses intelligent caching of the security trimming information received from a security datastore. The security trimming system uses an access cache to store the security trimming information received from the access datastore together with other parameters associated with such security trimming information. Subsequently, in responding to a request for the security trimming information, the security trimming system uses the cached value of the security trimming information together with the other associated parameters to determine a response to the request from the content providers. In one implementation, if the other parameters associated with a particular security trimming information imply that the security trimming information in the cache is still valid, the cached security trimming information is used in the request response. Otherwise, a new request is sent to the security datastore for an updated value of the security trimming information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lomme, Benjamin Wilde, Michael Tavis, Alexei Evdokimov, Siddharth R. Shah, Puneet Narula
  • Patent number: 9060470
    Abstract: An apparatus for the support of branches and fruit during growth of plants, bushes, and shrubs includes a first rod and a second rod that cooperate for form an upright rod assembly. The first rod includes a hollow elliptical or oval shaped center and the second rod includes an elliptical or oval shaped exterior When the second rod is disposed in the first rod and is rotated, a portion of the exterior of the second rod binds against a portion of the interior of the first rod to secure the first and second rods together. During use, a bottom of the first rod is secured to an upright post and a plant is secured to the upright rod assembly. Alternately, the bottom of the first rod is attached to a soil tip which is then inserted into soil. Various clips for attachment of horizontal members, cords, and wires are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Tavis Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20130111559
    Abstract: A security trimming system disclosed herein uses intelligent caching of the security trimming information received from a security datastore. The security trimming system uses an access cache to store the security trimming information received from the access datastore together with other parameters associated with such security trimming information. Subsequently, in responding to a request for the security trimming information, the security trimming system uses the cached value of the security trimming information together with the other associated parameters to determine a response to the request from the content providers. In one implementation, if the other parameters associated with a particular security trimming information imply that the security trimming information in the cache is still valid, the cached security trimming information is used in the request response. Otherwise, a new request is sent to the security datastore for an updated value of the security trimming information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Lomme, Benjamin Wilde, Michael Tavis, Alexei Evdokimov, Siddharth R. Shah, Puneet Narula
  • Publication number: 20120000123
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting foliage or fruit on plants and bushes includes a base ring assembly. The base ring assembly includes a plurality of base ring sections that are placed around a base of a plant and which snap together around the base, or stem, of the plant. A pivot assembly supports a lower rod that is able to pivot inward toward a line extending vertically upward from a center of the plant support system or to pivot outward away from the line. The lower rod is able to be secured in the desired position. At least one leg is attached to the base ring assembly for insertion into a soil or growing medium. A preferred oval or elliptical hollow center version of the lower rod is described along with an upper rod that are used to provide an extensible variable overall length structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Tavis Donaldson
  • Patent number: 7711775
    Abstract: A component manager receives requests for component updates from a variety of sources, parses the requests and extracts URL information that identifies the location of a file containing the component resources. The component manager presents the URL to a download manager that asynchronously retrieves the component resources from the specified location and places the file in a staging area. Once the component resources have been downloaded, an install manager, also operating asynchronously from the component manager and the download manager, installs the component update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Groove Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Tavis, Jack E. Ozzie
  • Patent number: 7637055
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting plant foliage includes a base assembly that is placed in a growing medium. A plurality of support members are attached to the base assembly and extend radially away from a plant center and vertically. Additional linear extension segments are detachably-attached, as desired, to an upper end of any support member to provide increased vertical height. Additional radius extension segments are similarly detachably-attached to the upper end of any support member to provide increased radial displacement. The linear extension segments can be attached to the upper portion of other extension segments or the upper portion of other radius extension segments. The radius extension segments can be similarly attached. Plant ties that do not over tighten the plants and which permit easy attachment and removal are disclosed. A telescopically extensible top segment that prevents injury to a user is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Tavis Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20090133326
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting plant foliage includes a base assembly that is placed in a growing medium. A plurality of support members are attached to the base assembly and extend radially away from a plant center and vertically. Additional linear extension segments are detachably-attached, as desired, to an upper end of any support member to provide increased vertical height. Additional radius extension segments are similarly detachably-attached to the upper end of any support member to provide increased radial displacement. The linear extension segments can be attached to the upper portion of other extension segments or the upper portion of other radius extension segments. The radius extension segments can be similarly attached. Plant ties that do not over tighten the plants and which permit easy attachment and removal are disclosed. A telescopically extensible top segment that prevents injury to a user is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Tavis Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20030084138
    Abstract: A component manager receives requests for component updates from a variety of sources, parses the requests and extracts URL information that identifies the location of a file containing the component resources. The component manager presents the URL to a download manager that asynchronously retrieves the component resources from the specified location and places the file in a staging area. Once the component resources have been downloaded, an install manager, also operating asynchronously from the component manager and the download manager, installs the component update.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Groove Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Tavis, Jack E. Ozzie