Patents by Inventor Michael J. Patten

Michael J. Patten 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: 10503371
    Abstract: A Web application displays Web content in a user interface (UI) tab having multiple associated virtual tabs. The multiple associated virtual tabs can include a visible tab hosting Web content that is currently visible, one or more hidden tabs each hosting Web content that is not currently visible, and optionally one or more empty tabs each hosting no Web content or only primitive Web content. For each hidden tab, the Web content hosted in the hidden tab is suspended, which refers to ceasing execution of instructions in and/or other operations performed by the Web content. For example, audio/video playback is paused, execution of script instructions ceases, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob S. Rossi, Michael J. Patten, Michael J. Ens
  • Patent number: 10282475
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are described herein that collect and analyze data generated by embedded systems included within a user's devices to generate recommendations for presentation to the user within the context of the user's web browser. The recommendations may comprise, for example, suggested information resources and/or search queries. Such recommendations may be presented to the user as part of a new tab page or within an address bar of the web browser's graphical user interface. In accordance with further embodiments, the user device data is used by a search engine to generate search results, and/or a ranking of search results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Patten, Ritika Kapadia
  • Patent number: 10209880
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a travel log for manipulation of content. In at least some embodiments, the travel log can be presented as a visual element of a web browser and can enable a user to navigate through visited content (e.g., web pages) via manipulation of the content using touch-based and/or touchless gestures. Implementations can facilitate navigation through content by representing the travel log as a visual “time line” of visited content that can be scrolled via manipulation through a web browser user interface. For example, a user can navigate the travel log to older content by manipulating the travel log in one direction, and can navigate the travel log to newer content by manipulating the travel log in a different direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Patten, Paul Armistead Hoover, John Wesley Terrell, Nicholas R. Waggoner
  • Publication number: 20180343215
    Abstract: During web browsing, a plurality of web entities associated with browsing activity of a first browsing identity of a first user are received. One or more of the plurality of web entities are selected for sharing. Further, one or more subscriber browsing identities associated with the first browsing identity are selected based on one or more associated trust relationships, and the selected web entities are sent to the selected subscriber browsing identities. The disclosure enhances social interaction and collaborative aspects of web browsing with respect to web browsing activity, enabling users to share browsing activity easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Swathi GANAPATHI, George KARALIS, Michael J. PATTEN
  • Patent number: 9996622
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are described that enable a web browser to automatically determine that a user thereof is logged into an enterprise network and, based on at least this determination, present the user with a new tab page or similar interface that includes features that facilitate access by the user to enterprise-related content. The enterprise-related content may include, for example, enterprise-related web sites, content shared by colleagues, content trending among team members, documents that the user recently worked on, enterprise-related news, and industry-related news.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Sean O. Lyndersay, Martin J. Hall, Michael J. Patten, Joshua T. Stickler
  • Patent number: 9886430
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for selecting content on a displayed page. A selection mode may be initiated with regard to a displayed document that includes content. The initiation of the selection mode may be detected. Multiple entities in the displayed document are determined, with each entity including a portion of the content of the document. The displayed document is annotated to indicate the determined entities. Content selected by a user in the displayed document may be detected. At least one entity is determined to be associated with the selected content. The determined associated entity/entities are indicated in the displayed document as active entities. The user is enabled to refine the set of active entities. An action is enabled to be performed on the active entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Patten, Joon Chang
  • Patent number: 9880693
    Abstract: Enabling creation of a user-specific storyboard style based on a storyboard edited by a user. Metadata defined by analyzing the editing decisions made by the user and the media content associated with the storyboard represents the user-specific style. The user-specific style may be applied to other media content to produce a fully edited storyboard that matches the style of the example storyboard from which the user-specific style was created. The produced storyboard is combined with the other media content to produce audio/video data for consumption by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Randolph Bruce Oakley, Michael J. Patten, Andrew Kutruff, Russell Scott Randall
  • Patent number: 9747004
    Abstract: A Web application maintains a record of Web content that has been displayed by the Web application. The user can navigate to different previously displayed Web content by providing various user inputs, such as a swipe across a touchscreen. The Web application detects when a user input has a threshold likelihood of being a navigation input, such as when the user swipes at least a threshold amount across a touchscreen. When a user input has a threshold likelihood of being a navigation input, the Web application begins rendering in an empty tab the Web content that would be navigated to if the user input were a navigation input, the empty tab becoming a prerender tab. If the user continues and the user input results in a navigation input navigating to the Web content rendered in the prerender tab, then the Web application switches to displaying the prerender tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Patten, Michael J. Ens, Ashmi S. Bhanushali, Phu Hoang Le, Shawn M. Woods
  • Publication number: 20170205978
    Abstract: A Web application displays Web content in a user interface (UI) tab having multiple associated virtual tabs. The multiple associated virtual tabs can include a visible tab hosting Web content that is currently visible, one or more hidden tabs each hosting Web content that is not currently visible, and optionally one or more empty tabs each hosting no Web content or only primitive Web content. For each hidden tab, the Web content hosted in the hidden tab is suspended, which refers to ceasing execution of instructions in and/or other operations performed by the Web content. For example, audio/video playback is paused, execution of script instructions ceases, and so forth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob S. Rossi, Michael J. Patten, Michael J. Ens
  • Patent number: 9658747
    Abstract: A Web application displays Web content in a user interface (UI) tab having multiple associated virtual tabs. The multiple associated virtual tabs can include a visible tab hosting Web content that is currently visible, one or more hidden tabs each hosting Web content that is not currently visible, and optionally one or more empty tabs each hosting no Web content or only primitive Web content. For each hidden tab, the Web content hosted in the hidden tab is suspended, which refers to ceasing execution of instructions in and/or other operations performed by the Web content. For example, audio/video playback is paused, execution of script instructions ceases, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob S. Rossi, Michael J. Patten, Michael J. Ens
  • Patent number: 9588679
    Abstract: Various embodiments utilize a layout viewport and a visual viewport separate from the layout viewport. The layout viewport is utilized for such things as page layout operations and reporting Document Object Model values to script. The layout viewport can be thought of as an initial rectangle which is equivalent in size to the initial containing block. The initial containing block is a containing block that contains web content that is initially visible to the user. The visual viewport is separate from the layout viewport and is allowed to be freely manipulated relative to the layout viewport. For example, the visual viewport may “push” the layout viewport around when it collides with the layout viewport boundaries. The visual viewport can be thought of as the rectangle that is visible to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Rakow, Sergey Z. Malkin, Michael J. Ens, Yining Chen, Christian Fortini, Sandra G. Roberts, Michael J. Patten, Nicholas R. Waggoner
  • Publication number: 20160253066
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a travel log for manipulation of content. In at least some embodiments, the travel log can be presented as a visual element of a web browser and can enable a user to navigate through visited content (e.g., web pages) via manipulation of the content using touch-based and/or touchless gestures. Implementations can facilitate navigation through content by representing the travel log as a visual “time line” of visited content that can be scrolled via manipulation through a web browser user interface. For example, a user can navigate the travel log to older content by manipulating the travel log in one direction, and can navigate the travel log to newer content by manipulating the travel log in a different direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Patten, Paul Armistead Hoover, John Wesley Terrell, Nicholas R. Waggoner
  • Publication number: 20160232240
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are described that enable a web browser to automatically determine that a user thereof is logged into an enterprise network and, based on at least this determination, present the user with a new tab page or similar interface that includes features that facilitate access by the user to enterprise-related content. The enterprise-related content may include, for example, enterprise-related web sites, content shared by colleagues, content trending among team members, documents that the user recently worked on, enterprise-related news, and industry-related news.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Sean O. Lyndersay, Martin J. Hall, Michael J. Patten, Joshua T. Stickler
  • Patent number: 9389764
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable target disambiguation and correction. In one or more embodiments, target disambiguation includes an entry mode in which attempts are made to disambiguate one or more targets that have been selected by a user, and an exit mode which exits target disambiguation. Entry mode can be triggered in a number of different ways including, by way of example and not limitation, acquisition of multiple targets, selection latency, a combination of multiple target acquisition and selection latency, and the like. Exit mode can be triggered in a number of different ways including, by way of example and not limitation, movement of a target selection mechanism outside of a defined geometry, speed of movement of the target selection mechanism, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Armistead Hoover, Michael J. Patten, Theresa B. Pittappilly, Jan-Kristian Markiewicz, Adrian J. Garside, Maxim V. Mazeev, Jarrod Lombardo
  • Publication number: 20160179962
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are described herein that collect and analyze data generated by embedded systems included within a user's devices to generate recommendations for presentation to the user within the context of the user's web browser. The recommendations may comprise, for example, suggested information resources and/or search queries. Such recommendations may be presented to the user as part of a new tab page or within an address bar of the web browser's graphical user interface. In accordance with further embodiments, the user device data is used by a search engine to generate search results, and/or a ranking of search results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Patten, Ritika Kapadia
  • Publication number: 20160147725
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for selecting content on a displayed page. A selection mode may be initiated with regard to a displayed document that includes content. The initiation of the selection mode may be detected. Multiple entities in the displayed document are determined, with each entity including a portion of the content of the document. The displayed document is annotated to indicate the determined entities. Content selected by a user in the displayed document may be detected. At least one entity is determined to be associated with the selected content. The determined associated entity/entities are indicated in the displayed document as active entities. The user is enabled to refine the set of active entities. An action is enabled to be performed on the active entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Patten, Joon Chang
  • Publication number: 20160147400
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for sharing browser content. A first browser tab is invoked within a web browser operating in a first computing device. The first browser tab displays first content. A selection of a first contact with which to share the first browser tab is received at a user interface of the first computing device. A share notification is transmitted to the first contact. An acceptance indication is received from a second computing device on behalf of the first contact. Display of the first browser tab at the second computing device is enabled. The first contact is enabled to interact with the first content of the first browser tab at the second computing device. Interactions by the first contact with the first content at the second computing device are displayed in the first browser tab at the first computing device. Display of a screen of the first computing device at the second computing device is confined to the first browser tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventor: Michael J. Patten
  • Patent number: 9342280
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a travel log for manipulation of content. In at least some embodiments, the travel log can be presented as a visual element of a web browser and can enable a user to navigate through visited content (e.g., web pages) via manipulation of the content using touch-based and/or touchless gestures. Implementations can facilitate navigation through content by representing the travel log as a visual “time line” of visited content that can be scrolled via manipulation through a web browser user interface. For example, a user can navigate the travel log to older content by manipulating the travel log in one direction, and can navigate the travel log to newer content by manipulating the travel log in a different direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licesning, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Patten, Paul Armistead Hoover, John Wesley Terrell, Nicholas R. Waggoner
  • Publication number: 20160110090
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for gesture-based content-object zooming. In some embodiments, the techniques receive a gesture made to a user interface displaying multiple content objects, determine which content object to zoom, determine an appropriate size for the content object based on bounds of the object and the size of the user interface, and zoom the object to the appropriate size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Patten, Paul Armistead Hoover, Jan-Kristian Markiewicz
  • Patent number: 9058396
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a flip ahead input, such as a gesture, provides touch users with an ability to easily navigate various websites. The flip ahead input can be utilized to advance to the next portion of relevant content. In at least some embodiments, the flip ahead input resides in the form of a forward swipe. In one or more embodiments, the flip ahead input is configured to be utilized in association with an aggregated browsing history from multiple users. The aggregated browsing history is analyzed to generate rules that are then downloaded to a client device and used by a suitably-configured web browser to ascertain the next portion of content when a flip ahead input is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jane T. Kim, John B. Bravenec, Anthony T. Chor, Yi Lang Mok, Habtamu M Feyessa, Sarah J. Bowers, Warren G. Stevens, Robert J. Mauceri, Jr., Michael J. Patten, Aaron M. Butcher, Vikas Rajvanshy, Jaime Martin Sanchez Lopez, Mark H. Schmidt, David B. Flink, Yan Ke, Louis A. Martinez