Patents by Inventor Mikel Howard Thompson

Mikel Howard Thompson 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: 8661557
    Abstract: A method and system for granting access to system and content is provided. A key is provided that allows access by a client computer to content that includes a plurality of resources. A server is accessed and the key is provided to the server. Based on the key, access is granted to the content. A program on the client computer requests a resource of the plurality of resources. If the resource is located locally, the resource is provided to the program. Otherwise, the resource is downloaded from the content server and stored locally. A data structure is modified to indicate that the resource is stored locally and the resource is provided to the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Donald Ellis, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Paul David Jones, Derrick Jason Birum, Harold Michael Dunkle, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Patent number: 8539038
    Abstract: A method and system for preloading data is provided. Resources are preloaded on a client before they are needed by an application. Application hints and static resources lists may be used to indicate resources are needed. The application may begin execution before receiving all of the resources associated with the application. Preloading may be done during execution of an application, or when the application is not executing. Preloading allows an application to run smoothly without consuming more resources than are needed by an application. A prediction graph may be generated that is used in predicting the resources that are likely to be needed by the application. An analyzer may also be used to simulate the system and adjust parameters used in creating the prediction graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Paul David Jones, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Richard Donald Ellis, Derrick Jason Birum, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Publication number: 20120095816
    Abstract: A method and system for granting access to system and content is provided. A key is provided that allows access by a client computer to content that includes a plurality of resources. A server is accessed and the key is provided to the server. Based on the key, access is granted to the content. A program on the client computer requests a resource of the plurality of resources. If the resource is located locally, the resource is provided to the program. Otherwise, the resource is downloaded from the content server and stored locally. A data structure is modified to indicate that the resource is stored locally and the resource is provided to the program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Donald ELLIS, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Paul David Jones, Derrick Jason Birum, Harold Michael Dunkle, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Patent number: 8108687
    Abstract: A method and system for granting access to system and content is provided. A key is provided that allows access by a client computer to content that includes a plurality of resources. A server is accessed and the key is provided to the server. Based on the key, access is granted to the content. A program on the client computer requests a resource of the plurality of resources. If the resource is located locally, the resource is provided to the program. Otherwise, the resource is downloaded from the content server and stored locally. A data structure is modified to indicate that the resource is stored locally and the resource is provided to the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Donald Ellis, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Paul David Jones, Derrick Jason Birum, Harold Michael Dunkle, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Publication number: 20110145362
    Abstract: A method and system for preloading data is provided. Resources are preloaded on a client before they are needed by an application. Application hints and static resources lists may be used to indicate resources are needed. The application may begin execution before receiving all of the resources associated with the application. Preloading may be done during execution of an application, or when the application is not executing. Preloading allows an application to run smoothly without consuming more resources than are needed by an application. A prediction graph may be generated that is used in predicting the resources that are likely to be needed by the application. An analyzer may also be used to simulate the system and adjust parameters used in creating the prediction graph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Valve LLC
    Inventors: Paul David JONES, Christopher Richard NEWCOMBE, Richard Donald ELLIS, Derrick Jason BIRUM, Mikel Howard THOMPSON
  • Patent number: 7895261
    Abstract: A method and system for preloading data is provided. Resources are preloaded on a client before they are needed by an application. Application hints and static resources lists may be used to indicate resources are needed. The application may begin execution before receiving all of the resources associated with the application. Preloading may be done during execution of an application, or when the application is not executing. Preloading allows an application to run smoothly without consuming more resources than are needed by an application. A prediction graph may be generated that is used in predicting the resources that are likely to be needed by the application. An analyzer may also be used to simulate the system and adjust parameters used in creating the prediction graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Paul David Jones, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Richard Donald Ellis, Derrick Jason Birum, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Patent number: 7373406
    Abstract: A method and system for effectively communicating file properties and directory structures within a distributed file system is provided. A manifest that includes properties relating to all of the files used in an application is created. The manifest is distributed to a client before the client has received all of the files or properties associated with an application. The manifest is stored on the client and is used to determine properties and locations of files used within the application. A distributed file system layer is used to receive file and property requests from the application; determine the location of the requested file, or the property using the manifest, and retrieve the property or file using the manifest. A tool may be used to generate the manifest manually or automatically. File system calls within an application may be replaced with calls that use the distributed file system layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Paul David Jones, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Richard Donald Ellis, Derrick Jason Birum, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Patent number: 6996817
    Abstract: A method and system for versioning of applications is provided. A version of an application may be updated or rolled back transparently to the client. A list of resources in a current version of an application is created and compared to the list of resources in a new version. When a resource is not included in the current version but is included in the new version, a notation is made to include the resource in the new version. When an extra resource is in the current version but not in the new version, a notation is made to purge the resource so that it is not included in the new version. These notations may be created in a purge list used by the client to request the resources needed to change versions. No interaction is needed by the client to change versions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Derrick Jason Birum, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Paul David Jones, Richard Donald Ellis, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Publication number: 20030221189
    Abstract: A method and system for versioning of applications is provided. A version of an application may be updated or rolled back transparently to the client. A list of resources in a current version of an application is created and compared to the list of resources in a new version. When a resource is not included in the current version but is included in the new version, a notation is made to include the resource in the new version. When an extra resource is in the current version but not in the new version, a notation is made to purge the resource so that it is not included in the new version. These notations may be created in a purge list used by the client to request the resources needed to change versions. No interaction is needed by the client to change versions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Derrick Jason Birum, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Paul David Jones, Richard Donald Ellis, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Publication number: 20030220984
    Abstract: A method and system for preloading data is provided. Resources are preloaded on a client before they are needed by an application. Application hints and static resources lists may be used to indicate resources are needed. The application may begin execution before receiving all of the resources associated with the application. Preloading may be done during execution of an application, or when the application is not executing. Preloading allows an application to run smoothly without consuming more resources than are needed by an application. A prediction graph may be generated that is used in predicting the resources that are likely to be needed by the application. An analyzer may also be used to simulate the system and adjust parameters used in creating the prediction graph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Paul David Jones, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Richard Donald Ellis, Derrick Jason Birum, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Publication number: 20030221112
    Abstract: A method and system for granting access to system and content is provided. A key is provided that allows access by a client computer to content that includes a plurality of resources. A server is accessed and the key is provided to the server. Based on the key, access is granted to the content. A program on the client computer requests a resource of the plurality of resources. If the resource is located locally, the resource is provided to the program. Otherwise, the resource is downloaded from the content server and stored locally. A data structure is modified to indicate that the resource is stored locally and the resource is provided to the program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Donald Ellis, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Paul David Jones, Derrick Jason Birum, Harold Michael Dunkle, Mikel Howard Thompson
  • Publication number: 20030177178
    Abstract: A method and system for effectively communicating file properties and directory structures within a distributed file system is provided. A manifest that includes properties relating to all of the files used in an application is created. The manifest is distributed to a client before the client has received all of the files or properties associated with an application. The manifest is stored on the client and is used to determine properties and locations of files used within the application. A distributed file system layer is used to receive file and property requests from the application; determine the location of the requested file, or the property using the manifest, and retrieve the property or file using the manifest. A tool may be used to generate the manifest manually or automatically. File system calls within an application may be replaced with calls that use the distributed file system layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: VALVE LLC
    Inventors: Paul David Jones, Christopher Richard Newcombe, Richard Donald Ellis, Derrick Jason Birum, Mikel Howard Thompson