Patents by Inventor Shawn Villaron

Shawn Villaron 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: 11514399
    Abstract: Technologies are generally provided for creating content by detecting user intent and providing suggestions associated with content actions. User intent may be determined from a number of different factors associated with the user, a document, and an environment of the user and/or content. Suggestions on content actions such as placement, style, formatting, or extent of content may be automatically made to the user. Suggestions may also be provided based on other factors such as crowd sourcing. In addition to automatic emphasis and connection, content transformation may be enabled prior to consumption after the author has created the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn Villaron
  • Patent number: 10824787
    Abstract: Technologies are generally provided for enabling authors to create and/or modify content such as content itself, style, format based options for creating a document or similar content by determining authors' intent and providing suggestions associated with content actions based on collected crowdsourcing data. Author intent and suggestions may be determined from a variety of crowdsourcing information associated with one or more attributes of the author, the content, and the environment in which the content is being created/modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn Villaron
  • Patent number: 10423301
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques that employ user-defined values of properties of sections of an electronic presentation. As described herein, a user may configure a presentation to include a plurality of sections. Each of the sections includes zero or more slides of the electronic slide presentation. In addition to the slides associated with each section, each of the sections is associated with one or more properties having values that can be defined by an author of the presentation. Because the values of the properties of the sections are user-definable, these properties may, in some implementations of these techniques, enable the author of the presentation to use the sections in ways not possible in presentation applications that merely use sections as a means of grouping thumbnail images of slides for navigation among slides in an authoring interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Penner, Shawn Villaron, Dachuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10140270
    Abstract: A first set of changes to a first version of a digital document, as compared to a baseline version of the document, can be detected. The first set of changes can include a first change to a page of the document in the first version of the document, as compared to the baseline version of the document. Also, a second set of changes to a second version of a document, as compared to the baseline version of the document, can be detected. The second set of changes can include a second change to the page of the document in the second version of the document, as compared to the baseline version of the document. A conflict between the first change and the second change can be detected, and the conflict can be resolved by receiving user input or applying conflict resolution rule(s) to choose between the first and second changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: James Yamat, Robert R. Klingenberg, Evelyn G. Salazar, Andrey A. Efimchik, Jonathan Rutherfurd, Yanling Wang, Shawn Villaron
  • Publication number: 20170364497
    Abstract: A first set of changes to a first version of a digital document, as compared to a baseline version of the document, can be detected. The first set of changes can include a first change to a page of the document in the first version of the document, as compared to the baseline version of the document. Also, a second set of changes to a second version of a document, as compared to the baseline version of the document, can be detected. The second set of changes can include a second change to the page of the document in the second version of the document, as compared to the baseline version of the document. A conflict between the first change and the second change can be detected, and the conflict can be resolved by receiving user input or applying conflict resolution rule(s) to choose between the first and second changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: James Yamat, Robert R. Klingenberg, Evelyn G. Salazar, Andrey A. Efimchik, Jonathan Rutherfurd, Yanling Wang, Shawn Villaron
  • Patent number: 9779073
    Abstract: A first set of changes to a first version of a digital document, as compared to a baseline version of the document, can be detected. The first set of changes can include a first change to a page of the document in the first version of the document, as compared to the baseline version of the document. Also, a second set of changes to a second version of a document, as compared to the baseline version of the document, can be detected. The second set of changes can include a second change to the page of the document in the second version of the document, as compared to the baseline version of the document. A conflict between the first change and the second change can be detected, and the conflict can be resolved by receiving user input or applying conflict resolution rule(s) to choose between the first and second changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: James Yamat, Robert R. Klingenberg, Evelyn G. Salazar, Andrey A. Efimchik, Jonathan Rutherfurd, Yanling Wang, Shawn Villaron
  • Publication number: 20160034433
    Abstract: A first set of changes to a first version of a digital document, as compared to a baseline version of the document, can be detected. The first set of changes can include a first change to a page of the document in the first version of the document, as compared to the baseline version of the document. Also, a second set of changes to a second version of a document, as compared to the baseline version of the document, can be detected. The second set of changes can include a second change to the page of the document in the second version of the document, as compared to the baseline version of the document. A conflict between the first change and the second change can be detected, and the conflict can be resolved by receiving user input or applying conflict resolution rule(s) to choose between the first and second changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: James Yamat, Robert R. Klingenberg, Evelyn G. Salazar, Andrey A. Efimchik, Jonathan Rutherfurd, Yanling Wang, Shawn Villaron
  • Publication number: 20150177925
    Abstract: Technologies are generally provided for creating content by detecting user intent and providing suggestions associated with content actions. User intent may be determined from a number of different factors associated with the user, a document, and an environment of the user and/or content. Suggestions on content actions such as placement, style, formatting, or extent of content may be automatically made to the user. Suggestions may also be provided based on other factors such as crowd sourcing. In addition to automatic emphasis and connection, content transformation may be enabled prior to consumption after the author has created the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Shawn Villaron
  • Publication number: 20150180966
    Abstract: Technologies are generally provided for enabling authors to create and/or modify content such as content itself, style, format based options for creating a document or similar content by determining authors' intent and providing suggestions associated with content actions based on collected crowdsourcing data. Author intent and suggestions may be determined from a variety of crowdsourcing information associated with one or more attributes of the author, the content, and the environment in which the content is being created/modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Shawn Villaron
  • Publication number: 20150178391
    Abstract: Technologies are generally provided for creating content by detecting user intent and providing content related suggestions as small multiples. User intent may be determined from a number of different factors associated with user, document, and environment. Suggestions may then be presented through small multiples: galleries that combine multiple properties of content using the actual content user wants to create.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Shawn Villaron
  • Patent number: 8954857
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques that employ user-defined values of properties of sections of an electronic presentation. As described herein, a user may configure a presentation to include a plurality of sections. Each of the sections includes zero or more slides of the electronic slide presentation. In addition to the slides associated with each section, each of the sections is associated with one or more properties having values that can be defined by an author of the presentation. Because the values of the properties of the sections are user-definable, these properties may, in some implementations of these techniques, enable the author of the presentation to use the sections in ways not possible in presentation applications that merely use sections as a means of grouping thumbnail images of slides for navigation among slides in an authoring interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Penner, Shawn Villaron, Dachuan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130346843
    Abstract: An author of a document may be enabled to specify viewing preferences for displaying a document in a reading view. The author may be enabled to define or select among available options for document viewing preferences such as transitions, animations, display of selected elements, layout features, embedded objects, and comparable ones. A reader of the document may be enabled to specify similar viewing preferences on their end. The author's preferences may also include customization of viewing rules based on a device, application, or version of application through which the document is viewed. In case of conflict between the author's and reader's preferences, one may prevail depending on permission levels and similar attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Murray, Shawn Villaron, Hannes Ruescher
  • Publication number: 20120131464
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques that employ user-defined values of properties of sections of an electronic presentation. As described herein, a user may configure a presentation to include a plurality of sections. Each of the sections includes zero or more slides of the electronic slide presentation. In addition to the slides associated with each section, each of the sections is associated with one or more properties having values that can be defined by an author of the presentation. Because the values of the properties of the sections are user-definable, these properties may, in some implementations of these techniques, enable the author of the presentation to use the sections in ways not possible in presentation applications that merely use sections as a means of grouping thumbnail images of slides for navigation among slides in an authoring interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan Penner, Shawn Villaron, Dachuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8108777
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques that employ user-defined values of properties of sections of an electronic presentation. As described herein, a user may configure a presentation to include a plurality of sections. Each of the sections includes zero or more slides of the electronic slide presentation. In addition to the slides associated with each section, each of the sections is associated with one or more properties having values that can be defined by an author of the presentation. Because the values of the properties of the sections are user-definable, these properties may, in some implementations of these techniques, enable the author of the presentation to use the sections in ways not possible in presentation applications that merely use sections as a means of grouping thumbnail images of slides for navigation among slides in an authoring interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Penner, Shawn Villaron, Dachuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8086963
    Abstract: An N-level inheritance model is provided to develop presentations. A hierarchical inheritance model includes master slides, custom layout slides, and slides including the material for the presentation. The inheritance model allows presentation authors to both define an overall look for the presentation as well as the ability to customize slide layouts individually. An author may create custom layouts that may be applied to a single slide as well as a set of slides. Properties that are defined at any level within the hierarchy may be inherited by the lower levels within the hierarchy. Each level within the presentation may also make an exception to an inherited property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nathalie S. Collins, Hoa N. Lu, Andy Chin, Rebecca S. Levine, Shawn A. Villaron
  • Patent number: 7890801
    Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium are provided for saving the contents of a memory structure stored in a volatile memory. According to the method, corrupted portions of the memory structure are identified and an attempt is made to repair these portions. If the corrupted portions cannot be repaired, the saving of these portions is skipped. The uncorrupted and repaired portions of the memory structure are then saved to a data file stored on a mass storage device. If portions of the memory structure cannot be repaired or skipped, an attempt is made to save only the user data contained in the memory structure to the data file. In this manner, the user data contained in the memory structure may be saved to a data file even in cases of severe corruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian M. Jones, Carol L. Liu, Chad B. Rothschiller, Robert R. McCaughey, Shawn A. Villaron, Su-Piao B. Wu
  • Patent number: 7882565
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer products provide for designating areas or objects in an electronic document as controlled access regions for prohibiting or limiting access to the regions and/or for limiting application functionalities that may be utilized in the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nathalie Sophia Collins, Shawn Villaron
  • Patent number: 7783971
    Abstract: A common visual appearance can be applied to documents authored by different kinds of applications. Thus, a suite of applications can have a theme that can be applied to differing kinds of documents produced by the different kinds of applications in the suite of applications. The theme information can be stored externally to the produced documents as well as internally to the produced documents. The theme can include visual attributes of the documents as well as content, such as text or other information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn A. Villaron, Nick Robarge
  • Patent number: 7770180
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for embedding an object in a receiving or client document such that a client application may operate on the embedded object to include interrogation and modification of data contained in the embedded object. When a given document object is embedded into a receiving document, data representing the embedded object is saved to a data stream storage for the receiving document. When the embedded object in the receiving document is subsequently requested in response to an operation executed on the embedded object, the receiving application obtains the data representation of the embedded object from the data stream storage. Once the receiving application obtains the data representation of the embedded object, the receiving application may perform operations on the embedded object by accessing the embedded object via its data representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn Villaron, Brian Jones, Chad Rothschiller, Robert Little, Sharad Garg, Su-Piao Bill Wu, Josh Pollock, Andrew Bishop, Dan Jump
  • Publication number: 20100037140
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques that employ user-defined values of properties of sections of an electronic presentation. As described herein, a user may configure a presentation to include a plurality of sections. Each of the sections includes zero or more slides of the electronic slide presentation. In addition to the slides associated with each section, each of the sections is associated with one or more properties having values that can be defined by an author of the presentation. Because the values of the properties of the sections are user-definable, these properties may, in some implementations of these techniques, enable the author of the presentation to use the sections in ways not possible in presentation applications that merely use sections as a means of grouping thumbnail images of slides for navigation among slides in an authoring interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan Penner, Shawn Villaron, Dachuan Zhang