Patents by Inventor Richard James Cole

Richard James Cole 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: 11349786
    Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering media files in communication sessions are disclosed. User interfaces are displayed on first and second client devices. A media file is selected at the first client device and a representation of the media file is transmitted to the second client device. The representation is selectable within a sent message region of the user interface on the second client device. In response to selecting the representation of the media file, an embedded viewer is launched within the sent message region of the user interface of the second client device that includes embedded selectable controls which, when activated, control viewing or playback of the media file within the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Richard James Cole, Stephanie Robesky, Benjamin Gareth Dove, Natasha Sopieva
  • Publication number: 20210160199
    Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering media files in communication sessions are disclosed. User interfaces are displayed on first and second client devices. A media file is selected at the first client device and a representation of the media file is transmitted to the second client device. The representation is selectable within a sent message region of the user interface on the second client device. In response to selecting the representation of the media file, an embedded viewer is launched within the sent message region of the user interface of the second client device that includes embedded selectable controls which, when activated, control viewing or playback of the media file within the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Richard James Cole, Stephanie Robesky, Benjamin Gareth Dove, Natasha Sopieva
  • Patent number: 10938754
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting an instant messaging communication session are disclosed. A method may include displaying an instant messaging user interface that includes a message composition region for composing an instant messaging communication. The method also includes receiving a selection of media for insertion into the instant messaging communication by receiving a reference to the media. The method may further include generating a link comprising an address of the selected media. The method also includes creating a selectable control with the link embedded therein in the user interface, and detecting selection of a selectable control. The method may further include displaying a video player region within the instant messaging user interface in response to the detected selection of the selectable control, and accessing a network element to play the media within a video player region in response to the detected selection of the selectable control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Richard James Cole, Stephanie Robesky, Benjamin Dove, Natasha Valerie Sopieva
  • Publication number: 20210036776
    Abstract: A system for transmitting data over an optical communication path is configured to receive data to be encoded in a bitstream for transmission using an optical communication path and encodes the received data to obtain a bitstream. The system is further configured to determine that the bitstream includes a sequence of consecutive bits, and obtain a power level at which to transmit a portion of the bitstream based on a count of the consecutive bits in the sequence. The system may be configured to selectively activate a light source at a power level according to a modulation scheme to optically transmit the portion of the bitstream at the power level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Amer Aref Hassan, Richard James Cole, Whitney J Giaimo
  • Patent number: 10911141
    Abstract: A system for transmitting data over an optical communication path is configured to receive data to be encoded in a bitstream for transmission using an optical communication path and encodes the received data to obtain a bitstream. The system is further configured to determine that the bitstream includes a sequence of consecutive bits, and obtain a power level at which to transmit a portion of the bitstream based on a count of the consecutive bits in the sequence. The system may be configured to selectively activate a light source at a power level according to a modulation scheme to optically transmit the portion of the bitstream at the power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer Aref Hassan, Richard James Cole, Whitney J Giaimo
  • Patent number: 10880858
    Abstract: Disclosed in various examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine-readable mediums used for identifying and tracking device and access point geographic locations of wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) networks. In an example, operations performed by an infrastructure system for provisioning location information include: receiving access point identification information (e.g., a MAC address) that identifies an access point of a wireless network; validating the access point identification information in a list of known wireless networks (e.g., a whitelist); determining an assigned location corresponding to the access point; communicating an indication of the assigned location to the device; and facilitating a communication session with the device, using the wireless network, as the communication session uses the indication of the assigned location by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer Aref Hassan, Richard James Cole, Michael J. Davis
  • Patent number: 10757556
    Abstract: Disclosed in various examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine-readable mediums for tracking device and access point geographic locations of wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) networks. In an example, operations performed by a device for association and use of a location include: receiving identification information (e.g., a MAC address) that identifies an access point of a wireless network; comparing the identification information with a list of access points (e.g., a white list) to identify an unvalidated status of the access point; communicating the identification information to the communications service; receiving a validated status for the access point and a geographic location for the wireless network from the communications service; and perforating a communication action with the communication service, using the wireless network, based on the geographic location and the validated status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Richard James Cole, Michael J. Davis
  • Patent number: 10599869
    Abstract: One or more terminals that are coupled to a packet-based network are installed with a first instance and/or a second instance of a communication client application of a first user. At times, the communication client application can be configured to enable the first user to communicate with other users using a first communication system implemented over the packet-based network. In some cases, a controller coupled to the packet-based network can be used to maintain separate privacy settings for each of the first and second instances, and thereby control the privacy of the first user in relation to the other users within the first communication system in dependence on which of the first and second instances is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Barrett-Bowen, Richard James Cole
  • Publication number: 20200092839
    Abstract: Disclosed in various examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine-readable mediums used for identifying and tracking device and access point geographic locations of wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) networks. In an example, operations performed by an infrastructure system for provisioning location information include: receiving access point identification information (e.g., a MAC address) that identifies an access point of a wireless network; validating the access point identification information in a list of known wireless networks (e.g., a whitelist); determining an assigned location corresponding to the access point; communicating an indication of the assigned location to the device; and facilitating a communication session with the device, using the wireless network, as the communication session uses the indication of the assigned location by the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Amer Aref Hassan, Richard James Cole, Michael J. Davis
  • Publication number: 20200037140
    Abstract: Disclosed in various examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine-readable mediums for tracking device and access point geographic locations of wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) networks. In an example, operations performed by a device for association and use of a location include: receiving identification information (e.g., a MAC address) that identifies an access point of a wireless network; comparing the identification information with a list of access points (e.g., a white list) to identify an unvalidated status of the access point; communicating the identification information to the communications service; receiving a validated status for the access point and a geographic location for the wireless network from the communications service; and perforating a communication action with the communication service, using the wireless network, based on the geographic location and the validated status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Richard James Cole, Michael J. Davis
  • Patent number: 10512058
    Abstract: Disclosed in various examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine-readable mediums used for identifying and tracking device and access point geographic locations of wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) networks. In an example, operations performed by an infrastructure system for provisioning location information include: receiving access point identification information (e.g., a MAC address) that identifies an access point of a wireless network; validating the access point identification information in a list of known wireless networks (e.g., a whitelist); determining an assigned location corresponding to the access point; communicating an indication of the assigned location to the device; and facilitating a communication session with the device, using the wireless network, as the communication session uses the indication of the assigned location by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Richard James Cole, Michael J. Davis
  • Publication number: 20190245815
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting an instant messaging communication session are disclosed. A method may include displaying an instant messaging user interface that includes a message composition region for composing an instant messaging communication. The method also includes receiving a selection of media for insertion into the instant messaging communication by receiving a reference to the media. The method may further include generating a link comprising an address of the selected media. The method also includes creating a selectable control with the link embedded therein in the user interface, and detecting selection of a selectable control. The method may further include displaying a video player region within the instant messaging user interface in response to the detected selection of the selectable control, and accessing a network element to play the media within a video player region in response to the detected selection of the selectable control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Richard James Cole, Stephanie Robesky, Benjamin Gareth Dove, Natasha Sopieva
  • Patent number: 10291558
    Abstract: A method of providing instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SKYPE
    Inventors: Richard James Cole, Stephanie Robesky, Benjamin Dove, Natasha Valerie Sopieva
  • Publication number: 20180247077
    Abstract: One or more terminals that are coupled to a packet-based network are installed with a first instance and/or a second instance of a communication client application of a first user. At times, the communication client application can be configured to enable the first user to communicate with other users using a first communication system implemented over the packet-based network. In some cases, a controller coupled to the packet-based network can be used to maintain separate privacy settings for each of the first and second instances, and thereby control the privacy of the first user in relation to the other users within the first communication system in dependence on which of the first and second instances is active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Neil Barrett-Bowen, Richard James Cole
  • Patent number: 9977919
    Abstract: One or more terminals that are coupled to a packet-based network are installed with a first instance and/or a second instance of a communication client application of a first user. At times, the communication client application can be configured to enable the first user to communicate with other users using a first communication system implemented over the packet-based network. In some cases, a controller coupled to the packet-based network can be used to maintain separate privacy settings for each of the first and second instances, and thereby control the privacy of the first user in relation to the other users within the first communication system in dependence on which of the first and second instances is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Barrett-Bowen, Richard James Cole
  • Publication number: 20180124561
    Abstract: Techniques for location based number management are described. Generally, a number refers to a set of characters that can be used to initiate communication with a particular resource. In at least some implementations, a number refers to a telephone number that can be dialed to participate in a call between different users. According to various implementations, techniques described herein enable various policies pertaining to the use of telephone numbers at different locations to be enforced. For instance, techniques for location based number management enable a location of a client device to be tracked, and the location to be used for enforcing application location-based policies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer Aref Hassan, Michael Travis Gilbert, Bradford R. Clark, Richard James Cole
  • Publication number: 20170134315
    Abstract: A method of providing instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Skype
    Inventors: Richard James Cole, Stephanie Robesky, Benjamin Dove, Natasha Valerie Sopieva
  • Patent number: 9483277
    Abstract: A method of providing instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Skype
    Inventors: Richard James Cole, Stephanie Robesky, Benjamin Dove, Natasha Valerie Sopieva
  • Publication number: 20160085990
    Abstract: One or more terminals that are coupled to a packet-based network are installed with a first instance and/or a second instance of a communication client application of a first user. At times, the communication client application can be configured to enable the first user to communicate with other users using a first communication system implemented over the packet-based network. In some cases, a controller coupled to the packet-based network can be used to maintain separate privacy settings for each of the first and second instances, and thereby control the privacy of the first user in relation to the other users within the first communication system in dependence on which of the first and second instances is active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Neil Barrett-Bowen, Richard James Cole
  • Patent number: 9240987
    Abstract: One or more terminals that are coupled to a packet-based network are installed with a first instance and/or a second instance of a communication client application of a first user. At times, the communication client application can be configured to enable the first user to communicate with other users using a first communication system implemented over the packet-based network. In some cases, a controller coupled to the packet-based network can be used to maintain separate privacy settings for each of the first and second instances, and thereby control the privacy of the first user in relation to the other users within the first communication system in dependence on which of the first and second instances is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Barrett-Bowen, Richard James Cole