Patents by Inventor Robert A. Little

Robert A. Little 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: 10740367
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for indicating a change to content in a document to a user. A document is displayed in a user interface to an application. Content then is introduced into the document from a source external to the document. After the content has been introduced into the document, the source of the content is queried for any changes to the content at the source. If a change has occurred, an indication of the change to the content at the source is introduced in the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Taylor, Robyn Sambo, James S. Masson, Michael Gary Heyns, Victor Poznanski, Ruth Kikin-Gil, Seth Fox, Yibing Zhu, Georges Krinker, Robin Emily Wakefield, Robert A. Little, Ali Taleghani
  • Publication number: 20200081962
    Abstract: A virtual library of content is provided that makes it appear that the content is all of a supported file type for a particular client accessing the virtual library. When the virtual library is displayed at a client device, the content appears as if it is available in the appropriate format for the client device irrespective of the content's actual format. Content selected from a content library interface for the virtual library is provided in the appropriate format for the client device through the automatic invoking of a content access service. The content access service can determine the appropriate consumption format for the client device and convert to a supported file format any content that is in a non-supported format before providing the content to the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, Zeyad Rajabi, Scott M. Stiles
  • Patent number: 10474740
    Abstract: A virtual library of content is provided that makes it appear that the content is all of a supported file type for a particular client accessing the virtual library. When the virtual library is displayed at a client device, the content appears as if it is available in the appropriate format for the client device irrespective of the content's actual format. Content selected from a content library interface for the virtual library is provided in the appropriate format for the client device through the automatic invoking of a content access service. The content access service can determine the appropriate consumption format for the client device and convert to a supported file format any content that is in a non-supported format before providing the content to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, Zeyad Rajabi, Scott M. Stiles
  • Publication number: 20190220539
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for indicating a change to content in a document to a user. A document is displayed in a user interface to an application. Content then is introduced into the document from a source external to the document. After the content has been introduced into the document, the source of the content is queried for any changes to the content at the source. If a change has occurred, an indication of the change to the content at the source is introduced in the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Douglas Taylor, Robyn Sambo, James S. Masson, Michael Gary Heyns, Victor Poznanski, Ruth Kikin-Gil, Seth Fox, Yibing Zhu, Georges Krinker, Robin Emily Wakefield, Robert A. Little, Ali Taleghani
  • Patent number: 10162805
    Abstract: Content curation can be facilitated by an application programming interface (API) for creating an address for a block of content in a document identified through a location identifier as well as APIs for retrieving content from the created address and pushing or merging the content back to the created address. Access services including conversion and merge services can be used to provide the content blocks in a suitable format for various clients. A document view is described in which a plurality of content blocks are presented as a single document even though the content blocks may be retrieved using at least two uniform resource locators (URLs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexandre V. Grigorovitch, Robert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20180196788
    Abstract: Content curation can be facilitated by an application programming interface (API) for creating an address for a block of content in a document identified through a location identifier as well as APIs for retrieving content from the created address and pushing or merging the content back to the created address. Access services including conversion and merge services can be used to provide the content blocks in a suitable format for various clients. A document view is described in which a plurality of content blocks are presented as a single document even though the content blocks may be retrieved using at least two uniform resource locators (URLs).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Alexandre V. Grigorovitch, Robert A. Little
  • Patent number: 9996515
    Abstract: A system is provided in which access to documents and collaboration across varied platforms and feature versions is supported. A conversion and merge services is described that enables a client device to display documents irrespective of the original file format and re-integrate into the original document the modifications of the displayed document. The displayed document (as a whole or in parts) can be imported and converted to the file format of the original document before the changes are compared and merged into the original document. A set of application programming interfaces are also provided that perform certain tasks, such as highlight, comment, or format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, Zeyad Rajabi, Scott M. Stiles
  • Patent number: 9946691
    Abstract: Content curation can be facilitated by an application programming interface (API) for creating an address for a block of content in a document identified through a location identifier as well as APIs for retrieving content from the created address and pushing or merging the content back to the created address. Access services including conversion and merge services can be used to provide the content blocks in a suitable format for various clients. A document view is described in which a plurality of content blocks are presented as a single document even though the content blocks may be retrieved using at least two uniform resource locators (URLs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexandre V. Grigorovitch, Robert A. Little
  • Patent number: 9852115
    Abstract: A virtual library of content is provided that makes it appear that the content is all of a supported file type for a particular client accessing the virtual library. When the virtual library is displayed at a client device, the content appears as if it is available in the appropriate format for the client device irrespective of the content's actual format. Content selected from a content library interface for the virtual library is provided in the appropriate format for the client device through the automatic invoking of a content access service. The content access service can determine the appropriate consumption format for the client device and convert to a supported file format any content that is in a non-supported format before providing the content to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, Zeyad Rajabi, Scott M. Stiles
  • Publication number: 20170351649
    Abstract: A virtual library of content is provided that makes it appear that the content is all of a supported file type for a particular client accessing the virtual library. When the virtual library is displayed at a client device, the content appears as if it is available in the appropriate format for the client device irrespective of the content's actual format. Content selected from a content library interface for the virtual library is provided in the appropriate format for the client device through the automatic invoking of a content access service. The content access service can determine the appropriate consumption format for the client device and convert to a supported file format any content that is in a non-supported format before providing the content to the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, Zeyad Rajabi, Scott M. Stiles
  • Publication number: 20170004117
    Abstract: A system is provided in which access to documents and collaboration across varied platforms and feature versions is supported. A conversion and merge services is described that enables a client device to display documents irrespective of the original file format and re-integrate into the original document the modifications of the displayed document. The displayed document (as a whole or in parts) can be imported and converted to the file format of the original document before the changes are compared and merged into the original document. A set of application programming interfaces are also provided that perform certain tasks, such as highlight, comment, or format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, Zeyad Rajabi, Scott M. Stiles
  • Patent number: 9471556
    Abstract: A system is provided in which access to documents and collaboration across varied platforms and feature versions is supported. A conversion and merge services is described that enables a client device to display documents irrespective of the original file format and re-integrate into the original document the modifications of the displayed document. The displayed document (as a whole or in parts) can be imported and converted to the file format of the original document before the changes are compared and merged into the original document. A set of application programming interfaces are also provided that perform certain tasks, such as highlight, comment, or format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, Zeyad Rajabi, Scott M. Stiles
  • Publication number: 20150317289
    Abstract: An extensible markup language (“XML”) schema is provided for defining a content region which displays specific types of content in an electronic document created in a word processing application program. The schema includes structural elements for defining the content region in the electronic document. The structural elements include a properties element for defining properties associated with the content to be displayed in the content region and a content element for receiving the content to be displayed according to the defined properties. The properties element and the content element define the content region in the electronic document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. Jones, E. Mark Sunderland, Marcin Sawicki, Robert A. Little, Tristan A. Davis
  • Patent number: 9110877
    Abstract: An extensible markup language (“XML”) schema is provided for defining a content region which displays specific types of content in an electronic document created in a word processing application program. The schema includes structural elements for defining the content region in the electronic document. The structural elements include a properties element for defining properties associated with the content to be displayed in the content region and a content element for receiving the content to be displayed according to the defined properties. The properties element and the content element define the content region in the electronic document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. Jones, E. Mark Sunderland, Marcin Sawicki, Robert A. Little, Tristan A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20140215391
    Abstract: A virtual library of content is provided that makes it appear that the content is all of a supported file type for a particular client accessing the virtual library. When the virtual library is displayed at a client device, the content appears as if it is available in the appropriate format for the client device irrespective of the content's actual format. Content selected from a content library interface for the virtual library is provided in the appropriate format for the client device through the automatic invoking of a content access service. The content access service can determine the appropriate consumption format for the client device and convert to a supported file format any content that is in a non-supported format before providing the content to the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, Zeyad Rajabi, Scott M. Stiles
  • Publication number: 20140215303
    Abstract: Content curation can be facilitated by an application programming interface (API) for creating an address for a block of content in a document identified through a location identifier as well as APIs for retrieving content from the created address and pushing or merging the content back to the created address. Access services including conversion and merge services can be used to provide the content blocks in a suitable format for various clients. A document view is described in which a plurality of content blocks are presented as a single document even though the content blocks may be retrieved using at least two uniform resource locators (URLs).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Alexandre V. Grigorovitch, Robert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20140215302
    Abstract: A system is provided in which access to documents and collaboration across varied platforms and feature versions is supported. A conversion and merge services is described that enables a client device to display documents irrespective of the original file format and re-integrate into the original document the modifications of the displayed document. The displayed document (as a whole or in parts) can be imported and converted to the file format of the original document before the changes are compared and merged into the original document. A set of application programming interfaces are also provided that perform certain tasks, such as highlight, comment, or format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, Zeyad Rajabi, Scott M. Stiles
  • Publication number: 20140136578
    Abstract: Techniques to manage virtual files are described. An apparatus may comprise a processor circuit and a virtual file application operative on the processor circuit to manage file operations for a virtual file, the virtual file comprising a set of calls to one or more file services arranged to manage file information for the virtual file, the file information comprising a content block or content block instructions for a content block associated with the virtual file. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Wood, Robert A. Little, Jonathan Becket Bailor
  • Patent number: 8661332
    Abstract: Modular content framework and document format methods and systems are described. The described framework and format define a set of building blocks for composing, packaging, distributing, and rendering document-centered content. These building blocks define a platform-independent framework for document formats that enable software and hardware systems to generate, exchange, and display documents reliably and consistently. The framework and format have been designed in a flexible and extensible fashion. In addition to this general framework and format, a particular format, known as the reach package format, is defined using the general framework. The reach package format is a format for storing paginated documents. The contents of a reach package can be displayed or printed with full fidelity among devices and applications in a wide range of environments and across a wide range of scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry Dunietz, Charles P. Jazdzewski, David Ornstein, Rob Relyea, Oliver H. Foehr, Michael J. Hillberg, Joseph D. Ternasky, Robert A. Little, Christopher L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8650482
    Abstract: Alignment and positioning of tabs in text-based applications is provided by dynamically positioning the tabs based on content, margins, page size, and indents. Tab positions are aligned relative to a size, at least one margin, or content of a document or text-containing object such as a text box. Tab positions may also be aligned relative to an indent of a paragraph or of multiple columns on the same page. Alignment properties of tab positions are carried over when text is moved to table columns or other text-containing objects. Column-like grouping of text of varying size and alignments is enabled by using multiple tabs in a single line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart J. Stuple, Robert A. Little, Sergey Genkin, Igor Zverev