Patents by Inventor Michael Merz

Michael Merz 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: 8606804
    Abstract: A programming model for a query service (e.g., web) that supports defining query builders which are bound dynamically at runtime to parameter values. Moreover, the programming model can be used to customize the query execution, for example, by adding pre-processing, post-processing, or dynamic binding to queries (e.g., selecting the query to be executed dynamically at runtime). As a consequence, generalized and parameterized queries can be used (with different runtime values for parameters) in different scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Merz, Alexander N. Samoylenko
  • Patent number: 8370851
    Abstract: A system and method for processing messages in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is provided. A processing service generates a snapshot of a message queue, which contains a plurality of messages to be processed by the ERP system. Each message has an associated conversation, identified by a unique combination of an endpoint, channel, and subconversation identifier. For each conversation, the processing service determines whether messages of the conversation are to be processed in serial or in parallel, based on the subconversation identifier of the conversation. When the messages of the conversation are to be processed in serial, a task is created to process the messages serially. Alternatively, when the messages of the conversation are to be processed in parallel, a task is created for each of the messages. The messages of each task are processed serially by the task, while each task is executed in parallel with other tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok Srinivasan, Michael Merz, Rohit Kapoor, Vinod Kumar
  • Patent number: 8291433
    Abstract: A system and method for generating application code and an external interface for a service class, in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is provided. The system receives a definition of a service class from a user via a user interface tool. The definition of the service class specifies a query for the service class and operations that are to be enabled for the service class. The system automatically generates application code for the service class, which enables the service class to be used by an internal endpoint of the ERP system. The application code is customizable by the user; the user may add additional operations to the service class. In addition, the system automatically generates an external interface for the service class, which enables the service class to be used by an external endpoint of the ERP system without needing knowledge of the application code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok Srinivasan, Alexander N. Samoylenko, Vinod Kumar, Michael Merz
  • Patent number: 8208871
    Abstract: A an apparatus and method for providing a hand held, ergonomic grip removably retaining a portable phone device and sized and shaped to accommodate the distance from the ear to the mouth on a human head. The grip having an ergonomic grip body held in a hand and sized and shaped to accommodate the distance between said ear and said mouth when held in an operating position. An opening within the ergonomic grip body removably retaining the portable phone device therein. An at least one operating control element thereon. An at least one portion of the ergonomic grip body facilitating release of the portable phone device from the ergonomic grip body and an at least one grip element on the ergonomic grip, wherein a user holds the grip element and thereby the grip body the removable retains the portable phone device in the operating position and the ergonomic grip body fits the ergonomic distance from ear to mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Merz
  • Patent number: 8083866
    Abstract: A method for hardening the surfaces of work pieces made from stainless steel includes submerging the work pieces into a molten salt bath having the composition: potassium acetate 60-100 weight %; sodium acetate 0-100 weight %; metal salt 0-2 weight %, and are subjecting the work pieces to the molten salt bath for a period of 24 to 240 hours, during which the temperature of the molten salt bath is maintained less than 400° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Durferrit GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Baudis, Michael Merz
  • Publication number: 20110035396
    Abstract: A programming model for a query service (e.g., web) that supports defining query builders which are bound dynamically at runtime to parameter values. Moreover, the programming model can be used to customize the query execution, for example, by adding pre-processing, post-processing, or dynamic binding to queries (e.g., selecting the query to be executed dynamically at runtime). As a consequence, generalized and parameterized queries can be used (with different runtime values for parameters) in different scenarios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Merz, Alexander N. Samoylenko
  • Publication number: 20100210329
    Abstract: A an apparatus and method for providing a hand held, ergonomic grip removably retaining a portable phone device and sized and shaped to accommodate the distance from the ear to the mouth on a human head. The grip having an ergonomic grip body held in a hand and sized and shaped to accommodate the distance between said ear and said mouth when held in an operating position. An opening within the ergonomic grip body removably retaining the portable phone device therein. An at least one operating control element thereon. An at least one portion of the ergonomic grip body facilitating release of the portable phone device from the ergonomic grip body and an at least one grip element on the ergonomic grip, wherein a user holds the grip element and thereby the grip body the removable retains the portable phone device in the operating position and the ergonomic grip body fits the ergonomic distance from ear to mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Merz
  • Publication number: 20100108198
    Abstract: A method for hardening the surfaces of work pieces made from stainless steel includes submerging the work pieces into a molten salt bath having the composition: potassium acetate 60-100 weight %; sodium acetate 0-100 weight %; metal salt 0-2 weight %, and are subjecting the work pieces to the molten salt bath for a period of 24 to 240 hours, during which the temperature of the molten salt bath is maintained less than 400° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Durferrit GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Baudis, Michael Merz
  • Publication number: 20090328067
    Abstract: A system and method for generating application code and an external interface for a service class in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is provided. The system receives a definition of a service class from a user via a user interface tool. The definition of the service class specifies a query for the service class and operations that are to be enabled for the service class. The system automatically generates application code for the service class, which enables the service class to be used by an internal endpoint of the ERP system. The application code is customizable by the user; the user may add additional operations to the service class. In addition, the system automatically generates an external interface for the service class, which enables the service class to be used by an external endpoint of the ERP system without needing knowledge of the application code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok Srinivasan, Alexander N. Samoylenko, Vinod Kumar, Michael Merz
  • Publication number: 20090306999
    Abstract: A system and method for processing messages in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is provided. A processing service generates a snapshot of a message queue, which contains a plurality of messages to be processed by the ERP system. Each message has an associated conversation, identified by a unique combination of an endpoint, channel, and subconversation identifier. For each conversation, the processing service determines whether messages of the conversation are to be processed in serial or in parallel, based on the subconversation identifier of the conversation. When the messages of the conversation are to be processed in serial, a task is created to process the messages serially. Alternatively, when the messages of the conversation are to be processed in parallel, a task is created for each of the messages. The messages of each task are processed serially by the task, while each task is executed in parallel with other tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok Srinivasan, Michael Merz, Rohit Kapoor, Vinod Kumar
  • Patent number: 7337691
    Abstract: A parallel kinematics mechanism is provided for uses such as robotics or machining. The mechanism has various limbs designed as elbow-linkages, at least some of which are actuatable, for moving an end component with multiple degrees of freedom. The mechanism advantageously facilitates an improved workspace-to-footprint ratio and a closed-form solution for the forward kinematics. The mechanism comprises a joint assembly having a plurality of revolute joints for connecting to at least three limbs. In various embodiments of the invention, the end component has three, four, five and six degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventors: Shambhu Nath Roy, Michael Merz
  • Patent number: 7331750
    Abstract: A parallel robot or parallel kinematics mechanism is provided for uses such as robotics or machining. The mechanism comprises a fixed base, a main arm, and a first and second support arm to position and orient an object in a cylindrical space with at least three degrees of freedom and retained inclination. The main arm includes an end component for supporting the object and linkage means to retain the inclination of the end component with respect to the base for all positions and orientations of the end component. The mechanism advantageously provides a large cylindrical workspace and a small footprint and is capable of moving an object at high accelerations and speeds. The mechanism can be equipped with an additional motor to orient an object, thereby providing the mobility of a SCARA robot. Alternatively, it can be equipped with passive transmission means that allow for an object to be displaced in parallel to itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Merz, Shambhu Nath Roy
  • Publication number: 20060245894
    Abstract: A parallel robot or parallel kinematics mechanism is provided for uses such as robotics or machining. The mechanism comprises a fixed base, a main arm, and a first and second support arm to position and orient an object in a cylindrical space with at least three degrees of freedom and retained inclination. The main arm includes an end component for supporting the object and linkage means to retain the inclination of the end component with respect to the base for all positions and orientations of the end component. The mechanism advantageously provides a large cylindrical workspace and a small footprint and is capable of moving an object at high accelerations and speeds. The mechanism can be equipped with an additional motor to orient an object, thereby providing the mobility of a SCARA robot. Alternatively, it can be equipped with passive transmission means that allow for an object to be displaced in parallel to itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Merz, Shambhu Roy
  • Publication number: 20050032662
    Abstract: The invention relates to catalytically bleaching substrates, especially laundry fabrics, with atmospheric oxygen or air. A method of bleaching a substrate is provided that comprises applying to the substrate, in an aqueous medium, a specified ligand from a selected class which forms a complex with a transition metal, the complex catalysing bleaching of the substrate by atmospheric oxygen. Also provided is an aqueous bleaching composition substantially devoid of peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or -generating bleach system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Heidi Boerzel, Peter Comba, Ronald Hage, Marion Kerscher, Joachim Lienke, Michael Merz
  • Patent number: 6818149
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bleaching composition comprising a [3.3.1] bicyclo compound carrying at least one tertiary amine group the bleaching composition substantially devoid of a peroxygen source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Heidi Boerzel, Peter Comba, Ronald Hage, Marion Kerscher, Joachim Lienke, Michael Merz
  • Publication number: 20040211284
    Abstract: A parallel kinematics mechanism is provided for uses such as robotics or machining. The mechanism has various limbs designed as elbow-linkages, at least some of which are actuatable, for moving an end component with multiple degrees of freedom. The mechanism advantageously facilitates an improved workspace-to-footprint ratio and a closed-form solution for the forward kinematics. The mechanism comprises a joint assembly having a plurality of revolute joints for connecting to at least three limbs. In various embodiments of the invention, the end component has three, four, five and six degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Shambhu Nath Roy, Michael Merz
  • Publication number: 20040014625
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ligand, L, and transition metal complex thereof having the formula (I): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Comba, Jean Hypolites Koek, Joachim Lienke, Michael Merz, Lydmyla Tsymbal
  • Publication number: 20040013509
    Abstract: A parallel kinematics mechanism is provided for uses such as robotics or machining. The mechanism has various limbs designed as elbow-linkages, at least some of which are actuatable, for moving an end component with multiple degrees of freedom. The mechanism advantageously facilitates an improved workspace-to-footprint ratio and a closed-form solution for the forward kinematics. The mechanism comprises a joint assembly having a plurality of revolute joints for connecting to at least three limbs, the joints having axes which intersect at a common point. In various embodiments of the invention, the end component has three, four, five and six degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Shambhu Nath Roy, Michael Merz
  • Patent number: 6648583
    Abstract: A parallel kinematics mechanism is provided for uses such as robotics or machining. The mechanism has various limbs, at least some of which are actuatable, for moving an end component with multiple degrees of freedom. The mechanism advantageously facilitates a closed-form solution for the forward kinematics. A joint assembly is provided for use in the parallel kinematics mechanism, the joint assembly having a plurality of revolute joints for connecting to at least three limbs, the joints having non-parallel axes, which intersect at a common point. In various embodiments of the invention, the end component has three, four, five and six degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventors: Shambhu Nath Roy, Michael Merz
  • Patent number: PP21239
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Cortaderia plant named ‘Golden Goblin’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly arching plant habit; green and yellow variegated leaves; early flowering habit; and good garden performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Merz