Patents by Inventor R. Alan Blood

R. Alan Blood 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).

  • Constrained creation of data hierarchies
    Patent number: 7546549
    Abstract: A constrained user interface for selecting and creating categories (e.g., folders, properties) is provided in such a way as to prevent the creation of empty categories, or categories which are not associated with any underlying object or file. The user interface selectively enables and disables a remove category button, and also selectively enables and disables existing categories for selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Danas, Ian Tien, Corey Hulen, R. Alan Blood, Chen-I Lim