Patents by Inventor Neil W. Black

Neil W. Black 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: 20090157307
    Abstract: When users travel to an intended destination, a plurality of information can be beneficial to assist their travel. If a person is traveling to a crowded event, then information can be provided such that congested traffic areas can be provided. There can be financial opportunities available in relation to providing information concerning an intended destination. An advertiser can pay money to have information played about the advertiser when it relates to the intended destination. Furthermore, a user can pay money for detailed data concerning an intended location, such as where cheapest parking is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Krumm, Ruston Panabaker, Jeffrey D. Couckuyt, Ivan J. Tashev, Michael Lewis Seltzer, Neil W. Black
  • Publication number: 20090157540
    Abstract: In order to provide advertising to a user concerning an intended travel destination, an auction takes place where multiple companies place bids to have an advertisement disclosed. Bid selection can take place according to various parameters, including matching a user interest, a bidder that offers a highest price, etc. Bids can be solicited and then received—once a bid is selected for presentation, the advertisement can be received, evaluated, and then presented to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil W. Black, Ruston Panabaker, John C. Krumm, Jeffrey D. Couckuyt, Ivan J. Tashev, Michael Lewis Seltzer
  • Publication number: 20090157498
    Abstract: A direction set can be augmented with up-to-date information such that a route to be taken by a user is changed. A user can request a direction set to take a user along a long route that minimizes cost to a user. A route can be generated using a set of known fuel prices; however, as the user travels, fuel prices can change. New fuel information can be gathered and the route can be modified based upon the gathered information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Lewis Seltzer, John C. Krumm, Jeffrey D. Couckuyt, Ivan J. Tashev, Ruston Panabaker, Neil W. Black
  • Patent number: 7475075
    Abstract: A rich client view of server data is integrated within a server presentation of data provided by a portal server application. The rich client view of data is included with other web based views provided according to the server presentation of data when the rich client view is created. The rich client view is integrated among the web based views such that the rich client view and web based views are organized together. A separate application is launched to render the rich client view in response to a selection to render the rich client view. The selection to render the rich client view is integrated within the server presentation of data such that rich client view is provided seamlessly within the server presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory S. Lindhorst, Andrew R. Miller, Cyrus R. Balsara, Jason A. Bould, Jianlan Song, Neil W. Black, Paul D. Bishop
  • Patent number: 7219077
    Abstract: A system and method for creating portfolio is disclosed. A user is presented with an efficient method of creating a portfolio using predefined options. Through using the predefined options, the user may quickly create a portfolio that may be used to monitor a market.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Neil W. Black, Peter Hansen, Jon D. Markman
  • Patent number: 7206796
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently synchronizing multiple databases stored on multiple computing devices. The method and system provides a duplicated database configuration where a database can either be stored only on a plurality of client computers, or on at least a client computer and a server computer. This duplicated database configuration allows users to access a database from a plurality of client computers that are communicatively connected to a server computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: J. Peter Hansen, Vincent H. Curley, Neil W. Black, Jennifer R. Mead
  • Patent number: 7013316
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently synchronizing multiple databases stored on multiple computing devices. The method and system provides a duplicated database configuration where a database can either be stored only on a plurality of client computers, or on at least client computer and a server computer. This duplicated database configuration allows users to access a database from a plurality of client computers that are communicatively connected to a server computer. In one embodiment, the method and system synchronizes the databases of a client computer to the database of a server computer by downloading selected database objects from the server computer database, thereby minimizing the amount of data transferred between the client and server computers. The synchronization routine selectively downloads database objects based on a comparison of server access time indicators stored in the databases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: J. Peter Hansen, Vincent H. Curley, Neil W. Black, Jennifer R. Mead
  • Patent number: 6285998
    Abstract: An improved user interface and query method permits a computer user to quickly specify field names, operators, and desired values for a database query. One or more of the desired values can be specified as an “ask me” value that will cause the user to be prompted (each time the query is to be executed) for a desired value prior to executing the query. A “wizard-like” set of dialog boxes guides the user through prompts to supply values for all such “ask me” values in a compound query. Rather than presenting the user with arcane logical operators and a formalistic query language, logical operators are converted into ordinary English phrases. The user can save the query for later re-use or modification. Another feature prompts the user with a constrained list of possible values that a field can assume, forcing the user to select from among the constrained values rather than requiring the entry of a discrete value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Neil W. Black, Walter Kennamer, Dan Morrow