Patents by Inventor Shelly Farnham

Shelly Farnham 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: 20110113133
    Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, user component, and system for sharing media object in a network environment are disclosed. A network manager may determine a similarity metric between users of the environment, between media objects, and/or between a user and media objects. Based upon the similarity metric, the network manager may share media objects with another user if the similarity metric exceeds a pre-determined value or is more similar than other retrieved media objects. A user component may also provide a network map manager to display a network map, and may provide a tailored view manager to display a web log associated with at least one of the user icons displayed in the network map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sean Kelly, Lili Cheng, Shelly Farnham, William Portnoy
  • Patent number: 7886024
    Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, user component, and system for sharing media object in a network environment are disclosed. A network manager may determine a similarity metric between users of the environment, between media objects, and/or between a user and media objects. Based upon the similarity metric, the network manager may share media objects with another user if the similarity metric exceeds a predetermined value or is more similar than other retrieved media objects. A user component may also provide a network map manager to display a network map, and may provide a tailored view manager to display a web log associated with at least one of the user icons displayed in the network map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sean Kelly, Lili Cheng, Shelly Farnham, William Portnoy
  • Publication number: 20100017725
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for automatically displaying media items (130) preselected by a user (110) on a collage display (700) located at a social gathering spot when the user is present. A user of the system sets up a personal online profile (110) through a website (100,200) and the profile identifies a portable device (500) associated with the user. User online profiles (110) are stored in a database (400) on a system web server (300), and may include selected media items (132) selected by the user. At a venue, the user's presence is automatically detected by various electronic means, and a personalized welcome message (702) may be displayed on the collage display screen (700) to notify other patrons of the venue. Users present may comment or vote (182,184) on the media items seen on the collage display, as well as send text messages to the display (164,750).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Strands, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. McCarthy, Yogi Patel, Sameer Ahuja, Shelly Farnham, William R. Hazlewood, Josh Lind
  • Patent number: 7426537
    Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing a shared dynamic content experience are disclosed. A method for sharing a dynamic content experience according to the invention includes an inviter computer communicating, via a first communication path between an invitee computer and a network based communication server, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer. If the invitation is accepted, a content sharing communication path is established between the inviter computer and the invitee computer. Information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the inviter computer is communicated, via the content sharing communication path, to the invitee computer. Information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the invitee computer is communicated, via the content sharing communication path, to the inviter computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Lee, Quji Guo, Joel K. Grossman, Brian D. Wentz, Jordan L. K. Schwartz, Christopher J. Araman, Randall Knight Winjum, Shelly Farnham, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20070168314
    Abstract: A method identifies components associated with a first end point in an environment, such as a social environment. The method further identifies components associated with a second end point in the environment. A determination is made regarding whether any of the identified components are associated with both the first end point and the second end point. The method then displays relationships between the first end point, the second end point, and any components associated with both the first end point and the second end point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Shelly Farnham, William Portnoy, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20070106780
    Abstract: Social information, including computer communication information, is modeled according to a network approach, and users are provided with representations of patterns within their social spaces and graphical interface tools for navigating through the spaces. This can enhance the user's ability to seek out social information and manage their online social relationships. The social mapping includes automatically collecting computer communication information relating to multiple contacts who are in computer communication with each other, one of the multiple contacts being a selected user. The computer communication information is filtered according to one or more preselected criteria to maintain the number of contacts associated with the selected user at or below a selected threshold. The computer communication information is analyzed to determine extents of similarity between the multiple contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shelly Farnham, Andrzej Turski, William Portnoy, David Vronay, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20070032244
    Abstract: An annotation is manually and/or automatically correlated with a location and selectively distributed to participants of an associated user network. Thus, network participants possessing a common bond can obtain “trusted” information regarding specific locations. This allows a network participant to locate resources such as friends, restaurants, hotels, and/or entertainment sites, etc. based on the annotations provided by other network participants for those locations. Network users can annotate locations with temporal information, text, audio/video, photos, and/or graphics, etc. The annotations can be provided to the network via mobile devices and/or via non-mobile devices. Annotation information can be entered before a user visits a location, while a user is visiting a particular location, and/or after a user has visited a location. Location coordinates can be automatically provided and/or manually entered. Annotations are correlated with locations and made selectively available to network participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Counts, Jordan Schwartz, Shelly Farnham
  • Publication number: 20060240856
    Abstract: A unique system and method that facilitates group-based mobile communication around external feed content is provided. The system and method involve adding external feed content to content generated within a group. Both types of content can be viewed on the mobile devices of the group. Updates to the feed content can be obtained and communicated to the group. When multiple feeds are subscribed to by a group, one or more group members can display such feed content in a selective manner. For example, splinter groups can be formed off of the original group for members who wish to receive a subset of feeds (feed content) to assist them in focusing on a topic of interest. Group members can also employ display filters to restrict feed content displayed on their mobile devices. Users can also search for available feeds and form new groups around such content or join an existing group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Counts, Shelly Farnham, Jordan Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20060242234
    Abstract: A system and method that facilitates dynamic group formation for social interaction and/or real-time sharing of content with the group is provided. A group formation system includes a user interface component that facilitates a user's entry of information and display of information regarding group formation. For example, the user interface component can be employed, for example, with a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a small, web based mobile or a wireless application protocol (WAP) client, and/or a regular web client. The system can further include a group formation component that forms a group based, at least in part, upon information received from a user via the interface component. The group configuration component can further store information regarding groups (e.g., a name/identifier, member(s), event(s) and/or shared context associated with the group) in a group information data store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Counts, Shelly Farnham, Jordan Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20060173961
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates contact- or people-based organization of messages. A list of contacts can be generated based on the people or groups who have communicated with the user (mailbox owner) via email or otherwise. To view desired messages, a user can select one or more contacts that participated in the desired messages as either a recipient or sender. Following the selection, messages between the selected contacts and the user can be displayed in a window. Any items or information shared in the messages can be viewed in a separate window. A link can be maintained between any shared item and its message of origin. The user can also view messages that include third parties. The contact list is dynamic and due to limited display space, contacts communicating the most frequently with the user can be listed on a top level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrzej Turski, Shelly Farnham, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20060004914
    Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, user component, and system for sharing media object in a network environment are disclosed. A network manager may determine a similarity metric between users of the environment, between media objects, and/or between a user and media objects. Based upon the similarity metric, the network manager may share media objects with another user if the similarity metric exceeds a predetermined value or is more similar than other retrieved media objects. A user component may also provide a network map manager to display a network map, and may provide a tailored view manager to display a web log associated with at least one of the user icons displayed in the network map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sean Kelly, Lili Cheng, Shelly Farnham, William Portnoy
  • Publication number: 20050222890
    Abstract: Architecture that facilitates generation of an event report that is an aggregation of public and private data related to a specific task. Information about the event is automatically compiled, including the recipients, URLs, shares, attachments, and documents, as well as location maps and social relationships. The report can be a one-page document that summarizes topics of a meeting or event, the attendees, how the attendees relate, their motivations, and what the attendees may be looking for from the meeting. The report can be formatted to structure event information in a certain way such as according to a company organizational chart, such that an attendee that is higher up on the org chart will be presented on the report higher than someone who is lower on the org chart. Moreover, attendees can be grouped according to functions, or social groupings or project groups, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Lili Cheng, Shelly Farnham, William Portnoy
  • Publication number: 20050192097
    Abstract: A method and system for accumulating data to match and matching a user, based upon a play style and/or personal attribute, in an online gaming environment is described. One aspect of the invention provides a matchmaking system that matches players based upon a play style of the players. The system matches players who are looking for games with players who prefer similar play styles. Similarly the system can match players based upon a personal attribute of the player. The system can be built into existing general skill level and technical capabilities based matchmaking systems to provide more user desired matchmaking parameters, allowing a user to choose based upon play style, personal attribute, general skill level, and/or technical capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Shelly Farnham, Bruce Phillips, Scott Counts, Keith Steury, William Fulton, Jens Riegelsberger
  • Publication number: 20050170856
    Abstract: Disclosed is a unique system and method that facilitate group communication using SMS text messaging and a plurality of SMS based commands. More specifically, the system and method make use of mobile communication devices such as mobile or cellular phones, smart phones, and/or PDAs which are equipped with SMS capabilities. Communication within a group of users can be accomplished in part by creating a text message and sending it to at least one communication server by way of at least one common access number. The communication server can analyze the message to determine the recipient group and broadcast the message to the members of the group in real-time or near real-time. Groups can be user-defined and managed dynamically by users using either a website interface or a mobile communication device interface at any time or anywhere. The communication server can be a suitably equipped mobile communication device or a separate server can be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Pedram Keyani, Shelly Farnham
  • Publication number: 20050165824
    Abstract: Systems and methodologies are provided for data visualization, retrieval and management of a logically ordered list by a selective multi level expansion of pivot point data. Such pivot points can represent hierarchy expansion designators to a subsequent level, which can include user created groups/clusters of data. The present invention facilitates data management by advantageously combining; the logical order of data with relevance criteria that can indicate importance of the data to a user. The logical order of the data can be a user friendly order that is easily recognizable and independent of the relevance criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Shelly Farnham, Andrzej Turski
  • Publication number: 20050165715
    Abstract: A method identifies components associated with a first end point in an environment, such as a social environment. The method further identifies components associated with a second end point in the environment. A determination is made regarding whether any of the identified components are associated with both the first end point and the second end point. The method then displays relationships between the first end point, the second end point, and any components associated with both the first end point and the second end point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Shelly Farnham, William Portnoy, Lili Cheng
  • Publication number: 20030225834
    Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing a shared dynamic content experience are disclosed. A method for sharing a dynamic content experience according to the invention includes an inviter computer communicating, via a first communication path between an invitee computer and a network based communication server, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer. If the invitation is accepted, a content sharing communication path is established between and inviter computer and the invitee computer. Information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the inviter computer is communicated, via the content sharing communication path, to the invitee computer. Information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the invitee computer is communicated, via the content sharing communication path, to the inviter computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Lee, Quji Guo, Joel K. Grossman, Brian D. Wentz, Jordan L. K. Schwartz, Christopher J. Araman, Randall Knight Winjum, Shelly Farnham, Lili Cheng