Patents by Inventor Miller Thomas Abel

Miller Thomas Abel 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: 20120143758
    Abstract: Account transfer techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a user interface is output by a mobile communication device that describes funds in an account. The account is usable by the mobile communication device to purchase goods or service and the purchase performable at least in part using credentials stored in a secure element implemented in hardware of the mobile communication device. An input is received via interaction with the user interface to authorize a transfer of funds from the account associated with the mobile communication device to another account usable by another mobile communication device to purchase goods or services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anoop Anantha, Murali R. Krishnan, Miller Thomas Abel, Rupali Jain
  • Publication number: 20120099727
    Abstract: Provisioning techniques are described. In implementations, a particular one of a plurality of public keys are located using an identifier included in a request received via a network. The located public key is communicated via the network, the public key configured to encrypt data that is to be decrypted by a secure element of a mobile communication device, the secure element implemented using hardware and including a private key that is configured to decrypt the data that was encrypted using the public key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan L. Marshall, Kamran Rajabi Zargahi, Miller Thomas Abel, Murali Krishnan, Anoop Anantha
  • Publication number: 20120035989
    Abstract: An accessory for personalizing a mobile communication device includes an accessory body that is configured to adorn the mobile communication device and at least partially cover its exterior. At least one graphic design is disposed on the exterior surface of the accessory body to convey a theme. A data tag is secured to the accessory. The data tag stores data that facilitates personalization of at least one functionality of the mobile communication device in support of the theme. The data tag being configured so that the data is accessible via a short-range wireless protocol such as the Near-Field Communication (NFC) protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Shai Guday
  • Publication number: 20110269445
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and technologies for defining and administering device manners policy (“DMP”), propagating DMP, reception and recognition of, and compliance with DMP. Such policy may be used to communicate to various mobile and other devices the “manners” with which compliance is expected or required. Similar to some of the social manners honored among people, such as with “no smoking” or “employees only” zones, “no swimming” or “no flash photography” areas, and scenarios for “please wash your hands” or “no talking out loud”, devices may recognize and comply with analogous “device manners” policy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Shai Guday, Michael Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20110269444
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and technologies for defining and administering device manners policy (“DMP”), propagating DMP, reception and recognition of, and compliance with DMP. Such policy may be used to communicate to various mobile and other devices the “manners” with which compliance is expected or required. Similar to some of the social manners honored among people, such as with “no smoking” or “employees only” zones, “no swimming” or “no flash photography” areas, and scenarios for “please wash your hands” or “no talking out loud”, devices may recognize and comply with analogous “device manners” policy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Shai Guday, Michael Sinclair
  • Patent number: 8000692
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and technologies for defining and administering device manners policy (“DMP”), propagating DMP, reception and recognition of, and compliance with DMP. Such policy may be used to communicate to various mobile and other devices the “manners” with which compliance is expected or required. Similar to some of the social manners honored among people, such as with “no smoking” or “employees only” zones, “no swimming” or “no flash photography” areas, and scenarios for “please wash your hands” or “no talking out loud”, devices may recognize and comply with analogous “device manners” policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Shai Guday, Michael Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20110131172
    Abstract: Determining geospatial patterns from device data collected from a plurality of computing devices. The devices represent, for example, a plurality of sources providing the device data. The device data describes the computing devices and/or environments thereof. Some embodiments present the determined patterns to users for editing, update maps with the edited patterns, and distribute the maps to the users. The maps are stored to create a searchable map library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shai Herzog, Jyh-Han Lin, Miller Thomas Abel, Moe Khosravy, Katrika Woodcock, Karon A. Weber, James Kai Yu Lau
  • Publication number: 20110093318
    Abstract: Distributing and tracking electronic coupons based on proximity. Upon detecting recipients proximate to a computing device, one or more electronic coupons are selected and transmitted to the detected recipients. The transmittal occurs via a wireless connection in some embodiments. Coupon properties associated with the transmitted coupons are adjusted (e.g., values decreased, expiration conditions modified, location of transmittal, etc.). Distribution data for the transmitted coupons is stored to maintain a distribution history.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shai Guday, Miller Thomas Abel
  • Patent number: 7751340
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for determining reliability of data from a network or federated device. In one example, data from different devices in the network are compared and a relationship between the devices is determined. The reliability may be based on the relationship of the devices and/or similarity of data from the devices. In another example, reliability of devices and/or data from the devices may be based on a historical reliability of the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott C. Forbes, Alexander Frank, Shai Guday, Miller Thomas Abel, Johannes Klein, William Jefferson Westerinen
  • Patent number: 7603436
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for capturing data from a population of device users with network access. A requestor may request a data capture. The requested data may include, for example, a geographical location or a desired subject matter. Devices capable of providing the requested data capture are identified and requested to provide the data. The devices may be identified based on location, capabilities, availability, etc. The data capture from the identified federated devices may be sent to the requestor. The data may be exchanged for a fee, determined by prearrangement or via an economic model such as a competitive auction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ruston John David Panabaker, Eric Horvitz, Gregory Baribault, Miller Thomas Abel, Feng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20080125102
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and technologies for defining and administering device manners policy (“DMP”), propagating DMP, reception and recognition of, and compliance with DMP. Such policy may be used to communicate to various mobile and other devices the “manners” with which compliance is expected or required. Similar to some of the social manners honored among people, such as with “no smoking” or “employees only” zones, “no swimming” or “no flash photography” areas, and scenarios for “please wash your hands” or “no talking out loud”, devices may recognize and comply with analogous “device manners” policy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Miller Thomas Abel, Shai Guday, Michael Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20080120306
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for capturing data from a population of device users with network access. A requestor may request a data capture. The requested data may include, for example, a geographical location or a desired subject matter. Devices capable of providing the requested data capture are identified and requested to provide the data. The devices may be identified based on location, capabilities, availability, etc. The data capture from the identified federated devices may be sent to the requestor. The data may be exchanged for a fee, determined by prearrangement or via an economic model such as a competitive auction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ruston John David Panabaker, Eric Horvitz, Gregory Baribault, Miller Thomas Abel, Feng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20080107037
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for determining reliability of data from a network or federated device. In one example, data from different devices in the network are compared and a relationship between the devices is determined. The reliability may be based on the relationship of the devices and/or similarity of data from the devices. In another example, reliability of devices and/or data from the devices may be based on a historical reliability of the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott C. Forbes, Alexander Frank, Shai Guday, Miller Thomas Abel, Johannes Klein, William Jefferson Westerinen
  • Publication number: 20080087729
    Abstract: Technology for use with computing devices, particularly mobile devices and wireless networks supporting federation, enabling people, devices, systems, or the like to join together in electronic federations for purposes of voting or the like. The votes in such voting situations may be weighted based on various criteria associated with the voter, the subject of the vote, and/or other criteria relevant to the voting scenario. The technology also enables users to monitor a voting scenario in real-time and tailor their own voting or decisions or the like to the scenario, even as it unfolds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dawson Yee, Scott C. Forbes, Shai Guday, Miller Thomas Abel