Patents by Inventor Patrice Y. Simard

Patrice Y. Simard 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: 7844114
    Abstract: A method and system for implementing character recognition is described herein. An input character is received. The input character is composed of one or more logical structures in a particular layout. The layout of the one or more logical structures is identified. One or more of a plurality of classifiers are selected based on the layout of the one or more logical structures in the input character. The entire character is input into the selected classifiers. The selected classifiers classify the logical structures. The outputs from the selected classifiers are then combined to form an output character vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kumar H. Chellapilla, Patrice Y. Simard
  • Patent number: 7764834
    Abstract: A system and method facilitating document image compression utilizing a mask separating a foreground of a document image from a background is provided. The invention includes a pixel energy analyzer adapted to partition regions into a foreground and background. The invention further provides for a merge region component adapted to attempt to merge regions if the merged region would not exceed a threshold energy. Merged regions are partitioned into a new foreground and new background. Thereafter, a mask storage component stores the partitioning information in a binary mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Y. Simard, III, Erin L. Renshaw, James Russell Rinker
  • Patent number: 7720316
    Abstract: A handwriting recognition system interprets handwritten text and produces a typed interpretation of that text. When the initial interpretation of the handwritten text is inaccurate, the handwriting recognition system alters the initial recognition by reinterpreting the handwritten text in view of a correction made by a user and constraints (e.g., derived by assumptions in user behavior). The handwriting recognition system intelligently reinterprets and renews its text recognition each time the user implements a correction. In effect, a single correction can trigger multiple adjustments to the text recognition. Therefore, with the use of a reinterpretation algorithm, the handwriting recognition system helps the user obtain the desired result in fewer correction steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Shilman, Desney S. Tan, Patrice Y. Simard
  • Patent number: 7707248
    Abstract: Distributed computing devices comprising a system for sharing computing resources can provide shared computing resources to users having sufficient resource credits. A user can earn resource credits by reliably offering a computing resource for sharing for a predetermined amount of time. The conversion rate between the amount of credits awarded, and the computing resources provided by a user can be varied to maintain balance within the system, and to foster beneficial user behavior. Once earned, the credits can be used to fund the user's account, joint accounts which include the user and others, or others' accounts that do not provide any access to the user. Computing resources can be exchanged on a peer-to-peer basis, though a centralized mechanism can link relevant peers together. To verify integrity, and protect against maliciousness, offered resources can be periodically tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Y. Simard, Paul Alfred Viola, Jin Li
  • Patent number: 7664323
    Abstract: The subject invention leverages a scalable character glyph hash table to provide an efficient means to identify print characters where the character glyphs are identical over independent presentation. The hash table allows for quick determinations of glyph meta data as, for example, a pre-filter to traditional OCR techniques. The hash table can be trained for a particular environment, user, language, character set (e.g., alphabet), document type, and/or specific document and the like. This permits substantial flexibility and increases in speed in identifying unknown glyphs. The hash table itself can be composed of single or multiple tables that have a specific optimization purpose. In one instance of the subject invention, traditional OCR techniques can be utilized to update the hash tables as needed based on glyph frequency. This keeps the hash tables from growing by limiting updates that reduce its performance, while adding frequently determined glyphs to increase the pre-filter performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kumar H. Chellapilla, Patrice Y. Simard, Radoslav Petrov Nickolov
  • Patent number: 7661065
    Abstract: A computer-implemented word processing system comprises an interface component that receives a features vector associated with an electronic document. An analysis component communicatively coupled to the interface component analyzes the features vector and determines a viewing mode in which to display the electronic document. In accordance with one aspect of the subject invention, the viewing mode can be one of a conventional viewing mode and a viewing mode associated with enhanced readability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Radoslav Petrov Nickolov, Kumar H. Chellapilla, David M. Bargeron, Patrice Y. Simard, Paul A. Viola
  • Patent number: 7653944
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates creating HIP challenges (HIPs) that can be readily segmented and solved by human users but that are too difficult for non-human users. More specifically, the system and method utilize a variety of unique alteration techniques that are segmentation-based. For example, the system and method employ thicker arcs or occlusions that do not intersect characters already placed in the HIP. The thickness of the arc can be measured or determined by the thickness of the characters in the HIP. In addition to increasing the thickness, the arcs can be lengthened because longer arcs tend to resemble pieces of characters and may be harder to erode. Usability maps can be generated and used to selectively place clutter or occlusions and to selectively warp characters or the character sequence to facilitate human recognition of the characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kumar H. Chellapilla, Patrice Y. Simard, Shannon A. Kallin, Erren Dusan Lester, Ismail Cem Paya
  • Publication number: 20090327230
    Abstract: Structured and/or unstructured data is processed with the aid of a data model. The data model provides a conceptual description of source content that can be generated or otherwise modified automatically as a function of data, models, and/or structure associated with the data. Both structured and unstructured data can be viewed in terms of high-level content rather than a lower level physical model. Among other things, this view can be employed to aid search as well as data sharing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lewis Charles Levin, Brian Meek, Patrice Y. Simard
  • Publication number: 20090327896
    Abstract: A presentation system is provided. The presentation system includes a presentation component that provides an electronic data sequence for one or more members of an audience. A monitor component analyzes one or more media streams associated with the electronic data sequence, where a processing component automatically generates a media stream index or a media stream augmentation for the electronic data sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gurdeep Singh Pall, Ajitesh Kishore, Lewis C. Levin, Parichay Saxena, Patrice Y. Simard
  • Publication number: 20090327322
    Abstract: A data processing system for data exchange across application boundaries is provided. The system includes a canvas memory in which to open multiple applications. A transform component generates data structures across the canvas memory in at least one application form and automatically transforms the data structures to at least one other application form to mitigate application boundaries between disparate applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gurdeep Singh Pall, Christopher H. Pratley, Ajitesh Kishore, Lewis C. Levin, Parichay Saxena, Patrice Y. Simard
  • Patent number: 7634137
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate performing feature extraction across multiple received input features to reduce computational overhead associated with feature processing related to, for instance, optical character recognition. Input feature information can be unfolded and concatenated to generate an aggregated input matrix, which can be convolved with a kernel matrix to produce output feature information for multiple output features concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Y. Simard, David W. Steinkraus, Kumar H. Chellapilla
  • Patent number: 7623710
    Abstract: A system that can convert content and structure of a document from an original format into a target format irrespective of the functional specifics of the original format. The system can automatically infer the content and structure of a document via a rendered format thereby restoring the programmatic functionality of the original file (or generating programmatic functionality of a desired target format) through the novel conversion/import process. The system can extract the document structure (e.g., layout) together with the content in order to effectuate the conversion. Heuristics (e.g., logic and/or reasoning) can be employed to make decisions with respect to importing the document into a target format and/or formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Y. Simard, Radoslav Petrov Nickolov
  • Patent number: 7624277
    Abstract: Methods for preventing unauthorized scripting. The invention generates a human interactive proof to distinguish a human from a machine by generating a random set of characters and altering each of the characters individually to inhibit computerized character recognition. The invention also includes concatenating the altered characters into a character string to be rendered to a user as a test. The character string may be altered to further inhibit computerized character recognition. Other aspects of the invention are directed to computer-readable media for use with the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Y. Simard, Richard Stephen Szeliski, Josh Benaloh, Iulian D. Calinov, Julien D. Couvreur
  • Patent number: 7593574
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate normalizing and beautifying digitally generated handwriting, such as can be generated on a tablet PC or via scanning a handwritten document. A classifier can identify extrema in the digital handwriting and label such extrema according to predefined categories (e.g., bottom, baseline, midline, top, other, . . . ). Multi-linear regression, polynomial regression, etc., can be performed to align labeled extrema to respective and corresponding desired points as indicated by the labels. Additionally, displacement techniques can be applied to the regressed handwriting to optimize legibility for reading by a human viewer and/or for character recognition by a handwriting recognition application. The displacement techniques can comprise a “rubber sheet” displacement algorithm in conjunction with a “rubber rod” displacement algorithm, which can collectively preserve spatial features of the handwriting during warping thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Y. Simard, Maneesh Agrawala, David W. Steinkraus
  • Patent number: 7570816
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to facilitating text detection. The invention employs a boosted classifier and a transductive classifier to provide accurate and efficient text detection systems and/or methods. The boosted classifier is trained through features generated from a set of training connected components and labels. The boosted classifier utilizes the features to classify the training connected components, wherein inferred labels are conveyed to a transductive classifier, which generates additional properties. The initial set of features and the properties are utilized to train the transductive classifier. Upon training, the system and/or methods can be utilized to detect text in data under text detection, wherein unlabeled data is received, and connected components are extracted therefrom and utilized to generate corresponding feature vectors, which are employed to classify the connected components using the initial boosted classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David M Bargeron, Patrice Y Simard, Paul A Viola
  • Patent number: 7565409
    Abstract: What is disclosed is acquiring information regarding a web page, without having to commit to downloading that page. In one embodiment, after a current web page is downloaded from one source, and information regarding web pages linked to by links in the current web page are downloaded from a second source, when a user hovers a cursor over a link on a current web page, an informational region is displayed by the link that includes the information from the second source. The informational region may include, for example, a text box that apparently floats by the link. The information in the region can include, for example, keywords in the meta tags of the web page; paragraph headings of the web page; links on the web page to other pages; etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa Heilbron, John C. Platt, Patrice Y. Simard, Bernhard Schoelkopf
  • Patent number: 7548892
    Abstract: A system and method for processing machine learning techniques (such as neural networks) and other non-graphics applications using a graphics processing unit (GPU) to accelerate and optimize the processing. The system and method transfers an architecture that can be used for a wide variety of machine learning techniques from the CPU to the GPU. The transfer of processing to the GPU is accomplished using several novel techniques that overcome the limitations and work well within the framework of the GPU architecture. With these limitations overcome, machine learning techniques are particularly well suited for processing on the GPU because the GPU is typically much more powerful than the typical CPU. Moreover, similar to graphics processing, processing of machine learning techniques involves problems with solving non-trivial solutions and large amounts of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Andrew Buck, Patrice Y. Simard, David W. Steinkraus
  • Publication number: 20090119324
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates collecting and organizing electronic documents. An interface component can receive a document. A manager component can automatically file the document into a category based at least in part upon a portion of static metadata associated with the document and a portion of metadata dynamically generated from an inference related to the portion of static metadata associated with the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrice Y. Simard, Lewis C. Levin, Christopher H. Pratley
  • Publication number: 20090089751
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates exposing a software feature to increase productivity of performing a task. A software component can include a plurality of software features in which the software component can rank and assign a skill level to an entity utilizing at least one software feature. A smart help component can supply the entity with an informative tip based on the skill level rank, wherein the informative tip can assist in utilizing at least one software feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Raikes, Alexander Gounares, Brian Meek, Patrice Y. Simard, Ajitesh Kishore, Derek Burney
  • Patent number: 7512274
    Abstract: A system and method facilitating image retouching is provided. The invention includes an image retoucher having a boundary detector and an image extender. The invention provides for the image retoucher to extend care pixels of at least one of a foreground and a background near a detected spurious boundary by altering the binary mask used for compression of the foreground and/or the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Y. Simard, Henrique S. Malvar