Patents by Inventor Shane F. Williams

Shane F. Williams 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: 20160259405
    Abstract: Leveraging eye gaze and/or other user interactions for automatic paging on a display of a user device is described. In at least one example, the techniques describe receiving input from one or more tracking components. The input may indicate that a gaze of a user is detected on a display associated with a user device. The techniques may further describe determining that the gaze of the user has moved from a first region of at least two regions of the display to a second region of the at least two regions of the display. Based at least in part on determining that the gaze of the user has moved from the first region to the second region, the techniques herein describe updating a portion of the content in the first region of the display via one or more transitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew D. Wilson, Shane F. Williams
  • Patent number: 9032327
    Abstract: An approach is described for supplementing a scrolling region of an item user interface (UI) presentation with scrolling-region information. For example, the scrolling region can be enhanced by presented information regarding a flattened list of containers. The approach may also involve varying a representation of a collection of items displayed in an item presentation region of the item UI presentation based on at least one emphasis-related attribute associated with the collection of items. The various features of the item UI presentation facilitate a user's navigation through a large collection of items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Shane F. Williams
  • Patent number: 8103668
    Abstract: A technique for adding a search control by a user to a file, webpage, desktop, or mobile device, for example. The control lets the end user create documents, webpages, or dashboards with static and/or dynamic content as easily as inserting pictures. The technique also facilitates the imbedding of control access to the search information via this control. When a document is created, the control allows for adding a search into the document, authoring the default view of the query (e.g., thumbnail, details, extended view, slideshow, timeline, etc.), setting the scope (e.g., local computer, website, company human resources database, etc.), and “publishing” states (e.g., dynamically update, static-fixed, query run on local machine, etc). The technique also facilitates the adding of views such as via a user interface control for “adding a search” and standard “search list view control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lili Cheng, Stacey Harris, Andrzej Turski, Matthew Maclaurin, Shane F Williams
  • Publication number: 20100251165
    Abstract: An approach is described for supplementing a scrolling region of an item user interface (UI) presentation with scrolling-region information. For example, the scrolling region can be enhanced by presented information regarding a flattened list of containers. The approach may also involve varying a representation of a collection of items displayed in an item presentation region of the item UI presentation based on at least one emphasis-related attribute associated with the collection of items. The various features of the item UI presentation facilitate a user's navigation through a large collection of items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Shane F. Williams
  • Patent number: 7788592
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates management and navigation of various data objects by making use of a unique time-line based navigation tool. In particular, objects can organized into a plurality of bands based on their respective subject matter. Each band can be created to designate a particular topic. Objects are organized within the appropriate bands based in part on a time parameter such as a time or date that the object was created, for example. The navigation tool allows a user to navigate or browse through the bands and objects according to a desired time parameter or range of time. Zooming and other browsing options are available to the user to view objects of interest at varying levels of detail. The objects are represented as ASCII thumbnails that are operational. Thus, the content of any object can be modified directly via the thumbnail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shane F. Williams, Steven J. Ball
  • Patent number: 7716194
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates management and navigation of various data objects by making use of a unique time-line based navigation tool. In particular, objects can organized into a plurality of bands based on their respective subject matter. Each band can be created to designate a particular topic. Objects are organized within the appropriate bands based in part on a time parameter such as a time or date that the object was created, for example. The navigation tool allows a user to navigate or browse through the bands and objects according to a desired time parameter or range of time. Zooming and other browsing options are available to the user to view objects of interest at varying levels of detail. The objects are represented as ASCII thumbnails that are operational. Thus, the content of any object can be modified directly via the thumbnail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shane F. Williams, Steven J. Ball
  • Publication number: 20090150347
    Abstract: A technique for adding a search control by a user to a file, webpage, desktop, or mobile device, for example. The control lets the end user create documents, webpages, or dashboards with static and/or dynamic content as easily as inserting pictures. The technique also facilitates the imbedding of control access to the search information via this control. When a document is created, the control allows for adding a search into the document, authoring the default view of the query (e.g., thumbnail, details, extended view, slideshow, timeline, etc.), setting the scope (e.g., local computer, website, company human resources database, etc.), and “publishing” states (e.g., dynamically update, static-fixed, query run on local machine, etc). The technique also facilitates the adding of views such as via a user interface control for “adding a search” and standard “search list view control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lili Cheng, Stacey Harris, Andrzej Turski, Matthew Maclaurin, Shane F. Williams
  • Publication number: 20090112806
    Abstract: The disclosed technique analyzes the source of the query and the query itself, to automatically determine the results view presented to the user. This view can be inferred or authored. Before the query is displayed, the query and the source can be analyzed, the results of which are then passed as view control information to the view control component. In addition, analysis can be performed on the type of items in the result set, number of items in the result set, and/or previously selected views of the user and/or from a community of users. For example, if the results are all images, the view is for images, and if the result set is very large, the results can be shown in a grouped view. The user can be provided the option to override the default view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lili Cheng, Stacey Harris, Andrzej Turski, Matthew Maclaurin, Shane F Williams
  • Publication number: 20090100109
    Abstract: Architecture for replicating and sharing of data (e.g., different types) by analyzing the type and source of the data, analyzing the recipient entities (e.g., users, other devices or systems) that will receive the data, setting access to the data, and configuring rules and defaults for replication and security/access controls. For example, a user can share data with recipient entities such as another user or group of users or another system. The data can be uploaded to a server for access and sharing by the intended recipients or made accessible directly from the recipient computing system. Thus, the intended recipient can access the data directly without being required to register, for example. The architecture automatically and transparently makes the data accessible to the intended recipients based on a number of criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrzej Turski, Lili Cheng, Matthew Maclaurin, Shane F. Williams, Stacey Harris
  • Patent number: 7479970
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to a system and/or methodology that facilitate navigation and monitoring of one or more processes. Within each process, one or more activities or events can be monitored. In particular, navigation through a process can be improved by employing a parameter-based magnification tool. The invention provides for a magnification component that can navigate through aggregations of activities as they relate to one or more processes according to a parameter or metric unit. As a result, a user can view a business process or scheme, for instance, from multiple perspectives at the same time or individually to observe its state or status, trends or patterns, locate problems areas, inefficiencies, or efficiencies within the process, and/or optimize the process or a sub-part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Christman, Kaivalya Laxmikant Hanswadkar, Shane F. Williams, Steven J. Ball
  • Patent number: 7421449
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates management and navigation of various data objects by making use of a unique time-line based navigation tool. In particular, objects can organized into a plurality of bands based on their respective subject matter. Each band can be created to designate a particular topic. Objects are organized within the appropriate bands based in part on a time parameter such as a time or date that the object was created, for example. The navigation tool allows a user to navigate or browse through the bands and objects according to a desired time parameter or range of time. Zooming and other browsing options are available to the user to view objects of interest at varying levels of detail. The objects are represented as ASCII thumbnails that are operational. Thus, the content of any object can be modified directly via the thumbnail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shane F. Williams, Steven J. Ball