Patents by Inventor Michael Robert Hanson

Michael Robert Hanson 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: 20110040739
    Abstract: An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Borovoy, Michael Graves, Michael Robert Hanson, Nagabhushan Rao Machiraju
  • Patent number: 7769741
    Abstract: An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Borovoy, Michael Graves, Michael Robert Hanson, Nagabhushan Rao Machiraju
  • Publication number: 20100063964
    Abstract: An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Borovoy, Michael Graves, Michael Robert Hanson, Nagabhushan Rao Machiraju
  • Patent number: 7613684
    Abstract: An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Borovoy, Michael Graves, Michael Robert Hanson, Nagabhushan Rao Machiraju
  • Patent number: 7496836
    Abstract: An object comprising a Web document is transferred by a server to a client over a client-server data communications network. Alternatively, the object comprising the Web document can be executed by the server. The object, in turn, causes each object contained therein to execute and output a representation of the object in whatever format is requested by the client. For example, a client can send a request to the server over the data communications network. The requests specifies a particular Web document. The server searches its collection of objects in its object space for the object requested. The server, upon finding the object, and depending upon the nature of the client's request, will transmit the object as is to the client, or execute the object. The object outputs a representation of each object contained within the object in a format specified by the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Hanson, John Lilly
  • Patent number: 7171659
    Abstract: A system and method for the automated provisioning of software applications onto one or more computers. The provisioning system uses a model of the application, which describes the application in terms of its software features and the actions to manipulate the application. The model preferably describes this information in a general way, such that it is independent of any environmental characteristics associated with the computers. The provisioning system also receives as input a set of references to selected ones of the computers onto which the application is to be provisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Eric Becker, Michael Robert Hanson, Alain Jules Mayer, Michael Todd Schroepfer
  • Patent number: 6938205
    Abstract: A desktop publishing system contains an output display device that displays a palette window. The palette window contains a defined objects panel containing a list of defined objects, and an objects panel containing a list of objects. The output display device also displays a view window for displaying a page containing at least one object from one of the list of defined objects and the list of objects. The desktop publishing system also contains an input device that selects the object(s) from one of the list of defined objects and the list of objects for display in the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Hanson, John Lilly
  • Publication number: 20030195921
    Abstract: A system and method for the automated provisioning of software applications onto one or more computers. The provisioning system uses a model of the application, which describes the application in terms of its software features and the actions to manipulate the application. The model preferably describes this information in a general way, such that it is independent of any environmental characteristics associated with the computers. The provisioning system also receives as input a set of references to selected ones of the computers onto which the application is to be provisioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Brian Eric Becker, Michael Robert Hanson, Alain Jules Mayer, Michael Todd Schroepfer
  • Publication number: 20030191755
    Abstract: An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Borovoy, Michael Graves, Michael Robert Hanson, Nagabhushan Rao Machiraju
  • Patent number: 6574620
    Abstract: An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Borovoy, Michael Graves, Michael Robert Hanson, Nagabhushan Rao Machiraju
  • Publication number: 20020143757
    Abstract: An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Borovoy, Michael Graves, Michael Robert Hanson, Nagabhushan Rao Machiraju
  • Patent number: 6418429
    Abstract: An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Borovoy, Michael Graves, Michael Robert Hanson, Nagabhushan Rao Machiraju
  • Patent number: 6101509
    Abstract: An object comprising a Web document is transferred by a server to a client over a client-server data communications network. Alternatively, the object comprising the Web document can be executed by the server. The object, in turn, causes each object contained therein to execute and output a representation of the object in whatever format is requested by the client. For example, a client can send a request to the server over the data communications network. The requests specifies a particular Web document. The server searches its collection of objects in its object space for the object requested. The server, upon finding the object, and depending upon the nature of the client's request, will transmit the object as is to the client, or execute the object. The object outputs a representation of each object contained within the object in a format specified by the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Hanson, John Lilly
  • Patent number: 5956736
    Abstract: An object-oriented HTML based editor for creating Web documents to be published on the World Wide Web. Each HTML command is treated as a unique object having associated properties. A user using an input device, such as a mouse, clicks and drags representations of objects representing HTML commands from a palette window on an output display device. The objects are dropped into a representation of a collection of objects in a view window on the output display device. Each one of the objects in the collection of objects may be edited by way of a context sensitive object editor window to customize the Web document. An object is selected by an input device and dragged to the object editor window, where the properties associated with the object are displayed and may be directly manipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Hanson, John Lilly