Patents by Inventor Ralph Sommerer
Ralph Sommerer 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).
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Patent number: 8281259Abstract: A system for navigating among resources includes a target detection module detecting whether a first resource has been branched from to two other different resources and a backward navigation module operable to detect selection of a backward navigation button and cause navigation to the first resource. A method includes designating a target resource accessible via a backward navigation button in a first browser session, detecting selection of the backward navigation button in a second browser session, and navigating to the target resource in the second browser session. The method can involve detecting hovering of a pointer icon over the backward navigation button and responsively presenting a thumbnail of a resource associated with the backward navigation button.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Samuel Gavin Smyth, Kerry Rodden, Ralph Sommerer, Rachel Jones, Alan Frank Blackwell
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Patent number: 8239377Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention leverage search query result page thumbnails and search query result link content evaluations to provide user-dependent enhanced search query results. This provides a simplified means to inform a user of the relevancy of search query results based on the user's preferences, environment, and profile, etc. The present invention allows a user to more adequately determine the value of the search query result via search query result indicators within the thumbnail and in the proximity of a displayed result link. In one embodiment of the present invention, a thumbnail of a query result link is automatically displayed when the link is selected. This provides a tool to view an entire search result page, eliminating the necessity of scrolling through each page to find relevant search terms. In another embodiment of the present invention, indicators are utilized to inform a user of the content of a search result link.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Brett D. Brewer, Eric Watson, Eddie L. Mays, III, Ralph Sommerer
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Publication number: 20100306665Abstract: A system for navigating among resources includes a target detection module detecting whether a first resource has been branched from to two other different resources and a backward navigation module operable to detect selection of a backward navigation button and cause navigation to the first resource. A method includes designating a target resource accessible via a backward navigation button in a first browser session, detecting selection of the backward navigation button in a second browser session, and navigating to the target resource in the second browser session. The method can involve detecting hovering of a pointer icon over the backward navigation button and responsively presenting a thumbnail of a resource associated with the backward navigation button.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: NATASA MILIC-FRAYLING, SAMUEL GAVIN SMYTH, KERRY RODDEN, RALPH SOMMERER, RACHEL JONES, ALAN FRANK BLACKWELL
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Publication number: 20100223257Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention leverage search query result page thumbnails and search query result link content evaluations to provide user-dependent enhanced search query results. This provides a simplified means to inform a user of the relevancy of search query results based on the user's preferences, environment, and profile, etc. The present invention allows a user to more adequately determine the value of the search query result via search query result indicators within the thumbnail and in the proximity of a displayed result link. In one embodiment of the present invention, a thumbnail of a query result link is automatically displayed when the link is selected. This provides a tool to view an entire search result page, eliminating the necessity of scrolling through each page to find relevant search terms. In another embodiment of the present invention, indicators are utilized to inform a user of the content of a search result link.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: NATASA MILIC-FRAYLING, Brett D. Brewer, Eric Watson, Eddie L. Mays, III, Ralph Sommerer
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Patent number: 7774721Abstract: A system for navigating among resources includes a target detection module detecting whether a first resource has been branched from to two other different resources and a backward navigation module operable to detect selection of a backward navigation button and cause navigation to the first resource. A method includes designating a target resource accessible via a backward navigation button in a first browser session, detecting selection of the backward navigation button in a second browser session, and navigating to the target resource in the second browser session. The method can involve detecting hovering of a pointer icon over the backward navigation button and responsively presenting a thumbnail of a resource associated with the backward navigation button.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2004Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Samuel Gavin Smyth, Kerry Rodden, Ralph Sommerer, Rachel Jones, Alan Frank Blackwell
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Patent number: 7747611Abstract: The present invention leverages search query result page thumbnails and/or search query result link content evaluations to provide user-dependent enhanced search query results. This provides a simplified means to inform a user of the relevancy of search query results based on the user's preferences, environment, and/or profile, etc. The present invention allows a user to more adequately determine the value of the search query result via search query result indicators within the thumbnail and/or in the proximity of a displayed result link. In one instance of the present invention, a thumbnail of a query result link is automatically displayed when the link is selected. This provides a means to view an entire search result page, eliminating the necessity of scrolling through each page to find relevant search terms. In another instance of the present invention, indicators are utilized to inform a user of the content of a search result link.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2004Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Brett D. Brewer, Eric Watson, Eddie L. Mays, III, Ralph Sommerer
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Patent number: 7721192Abstract: A resource search tool provides important context assistance and control for viewing resources on an incompatible display, such as a handheld display. A handheld device, for example, does not provide a large enough display space to provide a quick and comfortable search tool interface for a user. The search tool provides annotated search result pages and search result target pages to signify search hits in one or more documents or logical unites of the individual documents. In addition, progress indicators are provided to inform the user of the progress of the background layout and linguistic processing used to annotate for each search result target page.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2003Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Ralph Sommerer
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Patent number: 7660813Abstract: An information highlighting facility assists the user in evaluating relevance of accessed documents to the user's information need. The accessed documents may, for example, be identified by a search engine in response to a user query. When accessing documents identified as relevant by a search engine from other networked computers, the facility provides information highlighting to assist the user in determining whether the document is relevant. A model of the user's interest, which may include an augmented set of search terms, is used to take into account the general interest of the user as captured by an interest profile and context of use of the computer by the user, or a combination thereof. The model of the user's interest is applied to the document text as the document is accessed from its source.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2005Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Ralph Sommerer
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Patent number: 7502998Abstract: Balanced view generation of pages of electronic documents is disclosed. In one embodiment, balancing the text of a page without forcing any of the text onto previous or subsequent pages is accomplished on a rolling pair of lines-by-rolling pair of lines basis. For each of a series of rolling pairs of lines of the page (for example, lines of text), it is determined whether a first line of the rolling pair is less than a second line of the rolling pair in length. If so, then it is determined whether a last word of the first line would fit as a first word of the second line, and whether so doing would meet a predetermined criteria. If so, then this action is performed.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Ralph Sommerer
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Patent number: 7225407Abstract: A browser sessions search tool allows a user to search through records of previously viewed resource pages, even across multiple browser sessions. Each visit to a resource page results in creation of a visit data structure that references the resource page content. A rich assortment of data is recorded for each visited resource page, such as full text and layout data, time of access and navigation type that lead to the page. In one embodiment, color aspects of each resource page are stored to assist in a search, although other recorded resource page characteristics may additionally or alternatively include without limitation other visual, audio, navigational, or metadata aspects.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Ralph Sommerer, Robert Tucker, Natasa Milic-Frayling, Jurij Leskovec
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Publication number: 20060150096Abstract: Dynamic pagination for electronic documents, such as electronic books, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method first processes a document made up of at least text, as a number of segments. Second, the method determines a number of page breaks within a predetermined segment. This segment, for example, may be entered into the memory of a viewing device, such as an electronic book device. Third, the method renders a predetermined page within the predetermined segment, and finally displays the predetermined page. For example, the page can be displayed on a display device such as a flat-panel display of an electronic book device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2006Publication date: July 6, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Charles Thacker, Ralph Sommerer
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Patent number: 7028258Abstract: Dynamic pagination for electronic documents, such as electronic books, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method first processes a document made up of at least text, as a number of segments. Second, the method determines a number of page breaks within a predetermined segment. This segment, for example, may be entered into the memory of a viewing device, such as an electronic book device. Third, the method renders a predetermined page within the predetermined segment, and finally displays the predetermined page. For example, the page can be displayed on a display device such as a flat-panel display of an electronic book device.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1999Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Charles P. Thacker, Ralph Sommerer
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Publication number: 20060059138Abstract: An information highlighting facility assists the user in evaluating relevance of accessed documents to the user's information need. The accessed documents may, for example, be identified by a search engine in response to a user query. When accessing documents identified as relevant by a search engine from other networked computers, the facility provides information highlighting to assist the user in determining whether the document is relevant. A model of the user's interest, which may include an augmented set of search terms, is used to take into account the general interest of the user as captured by an interest profile and context of use of the computer by the user, or a combination thereof. The model of the user's interest is applied to the document text as the document is accessed from its source.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2005Publication date: March 16, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Ralph Sommerer
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Publication number: 20060047651Abstract: An information highlighting facility assists the user in evaluating relevance of accessed documents to the user's information need. The accessed documents may, for example, be identified by a search engine in response to a user query. When accessing documents identified as relevant by a search engine from other networked computers, the facility provides information highlighting to assist the user in determining whether the document is relevant. A model of the user's interest, which may include an augmented set of search terms, is used to take into account the general interest of the user as captured by an interest profile and context of use of the computer by the user, or a combination thereof. The model of the user's interest is applied to the document text as the document is accessed from its source.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2005Publication date: March 2, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Ralph Sommerer
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Publication number: 20060041530Abstract: An information highlighting facility assists the user in evaluating relevance of accessed documents to the user's information need. The accessed documents may, for example, be identified by a search engine in response to a user query. When accessing documents identified as relevant by a search engine from other networked computers, the facility provides information highlighting to assist the user in determining whether the document is relevant. A model of the user's interest, which may include an augmented set of search terms, is used to take into account the general interest of the user as captured by an interest profile and context of use of the computer by the user, or a combination thereof. The model of the user's interest is applied to the document text as the document is accessed from its source.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2005Publication date: February 23, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Ralph Sommerer
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Publication number: 20050257400Abstract: A resource browser session navigator includes a navigation manager module and a resource page manager module. The navigation manager module detects navigation events indicating visits to a resource pages. The resource page manager module populates a visit data structure representing the visits to the resource page and references in the visit data structure a page data structure that references content of the resource pages.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2005Publication date: November 24, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Ralph Sommerer, Robert Tucker, Natasa Milic-Frayling, Jurij Leskovec
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Patent number: 6968332Abstract: An Information highlighting facility assists the user in evaluating relevance of accessed documents to the user's information need. The accessed documents may, for example, be identified by a search engine in response to a user query. When accessing documents identified as relevant by a search engine from other networked computers, the facility provides information highlighting to assist the user in determining whether the document is relevant. A model of the user's interest, which may include an augmented set of search terms is used to take into account the general interest of the user as captured by an interest profile and context of use of the computer by the user, or a combination thereof. The model of the user's interest is applied to the document text as the document is accessed from its source.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2000Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Ralph Sommerer
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Patent number: 6966026Abstract: Balanced view generation of pages of electronic documents is disclosed. In one embodiment, balancing the text of a page without forcing any of the text onto previous or subsequent pages is accomplished on a rolling pair of lines-by-rolling pair of lines basis. For each of a series of rolling pairs of lines of the page (for example, lines of text), it is determined whether a first line of the rolling pair is less than a second line of the rolling pair in length. If so, then it is determined whether a last word of the first line would fit as a first word of the second line, and whether so doing would meet a predetermined criteria. If so, then this action is performed.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1999Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Ralph Sommerer
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Publication number: 20050240868Abstract: Balanced view generation of pages of electronic documents is disclosed. In one embodiment, balancing the text of a page without forcing any of the text onto previous or subsequent pages is accomplished on a rolling pair of lines-by-rolling pair of lines basis. For each of a series of rolling pairs of lines of the page (for example, lines of text), it is determined whether a first line of the rolling pair is less than a second line of the rolling pair in length. If so, then it is determined whether a last word of the first line would fit as a first word of the second line, and whether so doing would meet a predetermined criteria. If so, then this action is performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2005Publication date: October 27, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Ralph Sommerer
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Publication number: 20050132297Abstract: A system for navigating among resources includes a target detection module detecting whether a first resource has been branched from to two other different resources and a backward navigation module operable to detect selection of a backward navigation button and cause navigation to the first resource. A method includes designating a target resource accessible via a backward navigation button in a first browser session, detecting selection of the backward navigation button in a second browser session, and navigating to the target resource in the second browser session. The method can involve detecting hovering of a pointer icon over the backward navigation button and responsively presenting a thumbnail of a resource associated with the backward navigation button.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2004Publication date: June 16, 2005Inventors: Natasa Milic-Frayling, Samuel Smyth, Kerry Rodden, Ralph Sommerer, Rachel Jones, Alan Blackwell