Patents by Inventor Robert M. Price

Robert M. Price 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).

  • Publication number: 20120192173
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating with one or more software-controlled devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Robert M. Price
  • Publication number: 20110125926
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating with one or more software-controlled devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Robert M. Price
  • Patent number: 7904608
    Abstract: Particular embodiments include a system and method to enable a user-controlled proxy system or coordinating computer to automatically or semi-automatically communicate with multiple devices, determine the currently operating software contents and versions for each device, and to automatically or semi-automatically upgrade each device with updated software without requiring user intervention. The software may include communication, operating system or application-specific program codes that improve a given device's designed function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventor: Robert M. Price
  • Patent number: 6954782
    Abstract: An electronic mail (e-mail) application program includes a configurable, e-mail messaging feature for automatically responding to a portable computer's transition between online and offline states. The e-mail application program determines the state of a connection between a portable computer and an electronic mail server and processes electronic messages in accordance with the appropriate state. The portable computer's transition between an online state and an offline state triggers a user-configurable response, designed to permit the continuation of electronic mail message processing in a manner that accommodates the state change. The e-mail application program responds to such a transition by automatically switching between online and offline modes of operation. The e-mail application program can also respond to such a transition by establishing a secondary connection to a mail server when a primary connection is rendered inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Thurlow, David A. Raissipour, Stephen T. Wells, Robert M. Price
  • Publication number: 20020198951
    Abstract: An electronic mail (e-mail) application program includes a configurable, e-mail messaging feature for automatically responding to a portable computer's transition between online and offline states. The e-mail application program determines the state of a connection between a portable computer and an electronic mail server and processes electronic messages in accordance with the appropriate state. The portable computer's transition between an online state and an offline state triggers a user-configurable response, designed to permit the continuation of electronic mail message processing in a manner that accommodates the state change. The e-mail application program responds to such a transition by automatically switching between online and offline modes of operation. The e-mail application program can also respond to such a transition by establishing a secondary connection to a mail server when a primary connection is rendered inoperative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Thurlow, David A. Raissipour, Stephen T. Wells, Robert M. Price
  • Patent number: 6457879
    Abstract: An electronic mail (e-mail) application program includes a configurable, e-mail messaging feature for automatically responding to a portable computer's transition between online and offline states. The e-mail application program determines the state of a connection between a portable computer and an electronic mail server and processes electronic messages in accordance with the appropriate state. The portable computer's transition between an online state and an offline state triggers a user-configurable response, designed to permit the continuation of electronic mail message processing in a manner that accommodates the state change. The e-mail application program responds to such a transition by automatically switching between online and offline modes of operation. The e-mail application program can also respond to such a transition by establishing a secondary connection to a mail server when a primary connection is rendered inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Thurlow, David A. Raissipour, Stephen T. Wells, Robert M. Price
  • Patent number: 6367012
    Abstract: A certification or signature is incorporated in a computer program, an executable file, or code to assure its authenticity and integrity, particularly for receiving it over an open computer network like the Internet. The executable file may be of any executable form, including an executable or portable executable .exe file format, a .cab cabinet file format, an .ocx object control format, or a Java class file. The certification includes a keyed source confirmation with a secure representation of the executable file. In an embodiment, the certification is referenced in a header of the executable file, the reference including a pointer to the keyed source confirmation and an indication of the size of the keyed source confirmation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Atkinson, James W. Kelly, Jr., Bryan W. Tuttle, Robert M. Price, Robert P. Reichel
  • Patent number: 6308173
    Abstract: A unified and straightforward approach to managing file and other resource security in a networked computing environment is disclosed. The invention can be implemented in a multi-user computer network that includes a client computer, a server computer that controls a resource sharable among users of the network, such as a shared file folder or directory, and a communications pathway between the client computer and the server computer. The resource is organized as a hierarchy of elements with a root elemnent at the top of the hierarchy and additional elements below the root element. According to the invention, a request is received to change a protection, such as an access permission, of an element of the resource hierarchy (other than the root) with respect to a particular network user. If the element in question lacks an associated access control list, a nearest ancestor element of the hierarchy is located that has an associated access control list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel S. Glasser, Ann Elizabeth McCurdy, Robert M. Price
  • Patent number: 6246409
    Abstract: A method and system for connecting to, browsing, and accessing computer network resources are provided. In a network in which the preferred embodiment of the present invention operates, a client video display includes a container called “Network Neighborhood.” The Network Neighborhood provides a constrained view of the network in a NOS-independent manner. The Network Neighborhood provides a constrained view of the network by displaying only those network resources that are determined to be interesting to the user. Further, the Network Neighborhood provides this view in a NOS-independent manner by displaying all of the network resources in a consistent manner, regardless of the type of client software that was used to enumerate or discover the network resources. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each type of client software installed on a client determines a list of network resources that are interesting to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William Lewis Veghte, Leonard Thomas Smale, Robert M. Price
  • Patent number: 6061684
    Abstract: A unified and straightforward approach to managing file and other resource security in a networked computing environment is disclosed. The invention can be implemented in a multi-user computer network that includes a client computer, a server computer that controls a resource sharable among users of the network, such as a shared file folder or directory, and a communications pathway between the client computer and the server computer. The resource is organized as a hierarchy of elements with a root element at the top of the hierarchy and additional elements below the root element. According to the invention, a request is received to change a protection, such as an access permission, of an element of the resource hierarchy (other than the root) with respect to a particular network user. If the element in question lacks an associated access control list, a nearest ancestor element of the hierarchy is located that has an associated access control list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel S. Glasser, Ann Elizabeth McCurdy, Robert M. Price
  • Patent number: 5956715
    Abstract: A unified and straightforward approach to managing file and other resource security in a networked computing environment is disclosed. The invention can be implemented in a multi-user computer network that includes a client computer, a server computer that controls a resource sharable among users of the network, such as a shared file folder or directory, and a communications pathway between the client computer and the server computer. The resource is organized as a hierarchy of elements with a root element at the top of the hierarchy and additional elements below the root element. According to the invention, a request is received to change a protection, such as an access permission, of an element of the resource hierarchy (other than the root) with respect to a particular network user. If the element in question lacks an associated access control list, a nearest ancestor element of the hierarchy is located that has an associated access control list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel S. Glasser, Ann Elizabeth McCurdy, Robert M. Price
  • Patent number: 5953012
    Abstract: A method and system for connecting to, browsing, and accessing computer network resources are provided. In a network in which the preferred embodiment of the present invention operates, a client video display includes a container called "Network Neighborhood." The Network Neighborhood provides a constrained view of the network in a NOS-independent manner. The Network Neighborhood provides a constrained view of the network by displaying only those network resources that are determined to be interesting to the user. Further, the Network Neighborhood provides this view in a NOS-independent manner by displaying all of the network resources in a consistent manner, regardless of the type of client software that was used to enumerate or discover the network resources. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each type of client software installed on a client determines a list of network resources that are interesting to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William Lewis Veghte, Leonard Thomas Smale, Robert M. Price
  • Patent number: 5892904
    Abstract: A certification or signing method ensures the authenticity and integrity of a computer program, an executable file, or code received over a computer network. The method is used by a publisher or distributor to "sign" an executable file so it can be transmitted with confidence to a recipient over an open network like the Internet. The executable file may be of any executable form, including an executable or portable executable .exe file format, a .cab cabinet file format, an .ocx object control format, or a Java class file. The code signing method assures the recipient of the identity of the publisher as the source of file (i.e., its authenticity) and that the file has not been modified after being transmitted by the publisher (i.e., the integrity of the file).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Atkinson, Robert M. Price, Aaron M. Contorer
  • Patent number: 5655077
    Abstract: A method and system for authenticating access to heterogeneous computing services is provided. In a preferred embodiment, logon providers are configured into the computer system, which provide secure access to their services by requiring authentication of user identification information using a logon mechanism. According to this embodiment, a user designates a primary logon provider to provide an initial logon user interface. The user enters identification information when this user interface is displayed, for example a user name, a password and a domain. The computer system executes a logon sequence, which first invokes the primary logon provider to collect identification information and to authenticate the user for access to services provided by the primary logon provider. The system then authenticates the collected identification information to provide the user access to operating system computer services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory A. Jones, Robert M. Price, William L. Veghte
  • Patent number: 5031797
    Abstract: A reagent storage and delivery apparatus comprises a reagent cartridge having a plurality of fluidic chambers and includes a flange means for receiving a label to define a code indicating information concerning the contents of the cartridge. Preferably, a binary code is defined through use of windows formed in an extending portion of the cartridge which cooperate with a formed portion of the label applied to the cartridge. The binary code is optically read and translated to a digital information signal for instructional use with an analytical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Boris, Richard C. Meyer, Robert M. Price