Patents by Inventor Steven P. Dodge

Steven P. Dodge 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: 11861426
    Abstract: A service may be provided that reads sensors, and that communicates information based on the sensor readings to applications. In one example, an operating system provides a sensor interface that allows programs that run on a machine to read the values of sensors (such as an accelerometer, light meter, etc.). A service may use the interface to read the value of sensors, and may receive subscriptions to sensor values from other programs. The service may then generate messages that contain the sensor value, and may provide these messages to programs that have subscribed to the messages. The messages may contain raw sensor data. Or, the messages may contain information that is derived from the sensor data and/or from other data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20220391275
    Abstract: A service may be provided that reads sensors, and that communicates information based on the sensor readings to applications. In one example, an operating system provides a sensor interface that allows programs that run on a machine to read the values of sensors (such as an accelerometer, light meter, etc.). A service may use the interface to read the value of sensors, and may receive subscriptions to sensor values from other programs. The service may then generate messages that contain the sensor value, and may provide these messages to programs that have subscribed to the messages. The messages may contain raw sensor data. Or, the messages may contain information that is derived from the sensor data and/or from other data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory H. PARKS, Steven P. DODGE, Zheng WANG
  • Patent number: 11474886
    Abstract: A service may be provided that reads sensors, and that communicates information based on the sensor readings to applications. In one example, an operating system provides a sensor interface that allows programs that run on a machine to read the values of sensors (such as an accelerometer, light meter, etc.). A service may use the interface to read the value of sensors, and may receive subscriptions to sensor values from other programs. The service may then generate messages that contain the sensor value, and may provide these messages to programs that have subscribed to the messages. The messages may contain raw sensor data. Or, the messages may contain information that is derived from the sensor data and/or from other data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
  • Patent number: 11275497
    Abstract: Methods of controlling the display and use of a UI element are disclosed. In an embodiment, the UI element may configured so that it initially maintains a topmost position but eventually allows other applications to assume the topmost position. In an embodiment, the display of the element may be adjusted in response to an input so that the UI element is not visible on the display. In an embodiment, the use of the UI element may allow for seamless dragging of the UI element even if the user inadvertently fails to make consistent contact with the touch-sensitive display while dragging the UI element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov
  • Publication number: 20210216383
    Abstract: A service may be provided that reads sensors, and that communicates information based on the sensor readings to applications. In one example, an operating system provides a sensor interface that allows programs that run on a machine to read the values of sensors (such as an accelerometer, light meter, etc.). A service may use the interface to read the value of sensors, and may receive subscriptions to sensor values from other programs. The service may then generate messages that contain the sensor value, and may provide these messages to programs that have subscribed to the messages. The messages may contain raw sensor data. Or, the messages may contain information that is derived from the sensor data and/or from other data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Gregory H. PARKS, Steven P. DODGE, Zheng WANG
  • Patent number: 10970145
    Abstract: A service may be provided that reads sensors, and that communicates information based on the sensor readings to applications. In one example, an operating system provides a sensor interface that allows programs that run on a machine to read the values of sensors (such as an accelerometer, light meter, etc.). A service may use the interface to read the value of sensors, and may receive subscriptions to sensor values from other programs. The service may then generate messages that contain the sensor value, and may provide these messages to programs that have subscribed to the messages. The messages may contain raw sensor data. Or, the messages may contain information that is derived from the sensor data and/or from other data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
  • Patent number: 10817080
    Abstract: A method for rejecting an unintentional palm touch is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a touch is detected by a touch-sensitive surface associated with a display. Characteristics of the touch may be used to generate a set of parameters related to the touch. In an embodiment, firmware is used to determine a reliability value for the touch. The reliability value and the location of the touch is provided to a software module. The software module uses the reliability value and an activity context to determine a confidence level of the touch. In an embodiment, the confidence level may include an evaluation of changes in the reliability value over time. If the confidence level for the touch is too low, it may be rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Reed L. Townsend, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott
  • Patent number: 10678373
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and computer-readable media process to distinguish user input device gestures, such as gestures input via a pen in a pen-based computing system, e.g., to quickly and reliably distinguish between electronic ink entry, single taps, double taps, press-and-hold actions, dragging operations, and the like. The devices, methods, and computer-readable media process quickly and reliably distinguishes between input device gestures by utilizing a gesture profile that includes a preferential input type, e.g. to preferentially recognize a received input as a first input type over a second input type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander J. Zotov, Reed Townsend, Steven P. Dodge
  • Publication number: 20200097345
    Abstract: A service may be provided that reads sensors, and that communicates information based on the sensor readings to applications. In one example, an operating system provides a sensor interface that allows programs that run on a machine to read the values of sensors (such as an accelerometer, light meter, etc.). A service may use the interface to read the value of sensors, and may receive subscriptions to sensor values from other programs. The service may then generate messages that contain the sensor value, and may provide these messages to programs that have subscribed to the messages. The messages may contain raw sensor data. Or, the messages may contain information that is derived from the sensor data and/or from other data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
  • Patent number: 10503571
    Abstract: A service may be provided that reads sensors, and that communicates information based on the sensor readings to applications. In one example, an operating system provides a sensor interface that allows programs that run on a machine to read the values of sensors (such as an accelerometer, light meter, etc.). A service may use the interface to read the value of sensors, and may receive subscriptions to sensor values from other programs. The service may then generate messages that contain the sensor value, and may provide these messages to programs that have subscribed to the messages. The messages may contain raw sensor data. Or, the messages may contain information that is derived from the sensor data and/or from other data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20180239450
    Abstract: A method for rejecting an unintentional palm touch is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a touch is detected by a touch-sensitive surface associated with a display. Characteristics of the touch may be used to generate a set of parameters related to the touch. In an embodiment, firmware is used to determine a reliability value for the touch. The reliability value and the location of the touch is provided to a software module. The software module uses the reliability value and an activity context to determine a confidence level of the touch. In an embodiment, the confidence level may include an evaluation of changes in the reliability value over time. If the confidence level for the touch is too low, it may be rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Reed L. TOWNSEND, Alexander J. KOLMYKOV-ZOTOV, Steven P. DODGE, Bryan D. SCOTT
  • Patent number: 10019080
    Abstract: A method for rejecting an unintentional palm touch is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a touch is detected by a touch-sensitive surface associated with a display. Characteristics of the touch may be used to generate a set of parameters related to the touch. In an embodiment, firmware is used to determine a reliability value for the touch. The reliability value and the location of the touch is provided to a software module. The software module uses the reliability value and an activity context to determine a confidence level of the touch. In an embodiment, the confidence level may include an evaluation of changes in the reliability value over time. If the confidence level for the touch is too low, it may be rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Reed L. Townsend, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott
  • Patent number: 9996176
    Abstract: A tablet PC having an interactive display, which is touchscreen enabled, may be enhanced to provide a user with superior usability and efficiency. A touchscreen device may be configured to receive multiple concurrent touchscreen contacts. The attributes of the multiple concurrent touchscreen contracts may be mapped to operations performed on the computing device. As a result, a user can trigger the execution of the toggle accessibility aid operation and the screen rotation operation with greater convenience. Moreover, the tablet PC may be configured to map an operation to a hand gesture or input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander J. Zotov, Bryan D. Scott, Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge
  • Patent number: 9952718
    Abstract: A method for rejecting an unintentional palm touch is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a touch is detected by a touch-sensitive surface associated with a display. Characteristics of the touch may be used to generate a set of parameters related to the touch. In an embodiment, firmware is used to determine a reliability value for the touch. The reliability value and the location of the touch is provided to a software module. The software module uses the reliability value and an activity context to determine a confidence level of the touch. In an embodiment, the confidence level may include an evaluation of changes in the reliability value over time. If the confidence level for the touch is too low, it may be rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Reed L. Townsend, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott
  • Patent number: 9946370
    Abstract: A method for rejecting an unintentional palm touch is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a touch is detected by a touch-sensitive surface associated with a display. Characteristics of the touch may be used to generate a set of parameters related to the touch. In an embodiment, firmware is used to determine a reliability value for the touch. The reliability value and the location of the touch is provided to a software module. The software module uses the reliability value and an activity context to determine a confidence level of the touch. In an embodiment, the confidence level may include an evaluation of changes in the reliability value over time. If the confidence level for the touch is too low, it may be rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Reed L. Townsend, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott
  • Publication number: 20180032168
    Abstract: A tablet PC having an interactive display, which is touchscreen enabled, may be enhanced to provide a user with superior usability and efficiency. A touchscreen device may be configured to receive multiple concurrent touchscreen contacts. The attributes of the multiple concurrent touchscreen contracts may be mapped to operations performed on the computing device. As a result, a user can trigger the execution of the toggle accessibility aid operation and the screen rotation operation with greater convenience. Moreover, the tablet PC may be configured to map an operation to a hand gesture or input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander J. ZOTOV, Bryan D. SCOTT, Reed L. TOWNSEND, Steven P. DODGE
  • Publication number: 20170336940
    Abstract: Methods of controlling the display and use of a UI element are disclosed. In an embodiment, the UI element may configured so that it initially maintains a topmost position but eventually allows other applications to assume the topmost position. In an embodiment, the display of the element may be adjusted in response to an input so that the UI element is not visible on the display. In an embodiment, the use of the UI element may allow for seamless dragging of the UI element even if the user inadvertently fails to make consistent contact with the touch-sensitive display while dragging the UI element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov
  • Patent number: 9811186
    Abstract: A tablet PC having an interactive display, which is touchscreen enabled, may be enhanced to provide a user with superior usability and efficiency. A touchscreen device may be configured to receive multiple concurrent touchscreen contacts. The attributes of the multiple concurrent touchscreen contracts may be mapped to operations performed on the computing device. As a result, a user can trigger the execution of the toggle accessibility aid operation and the screen rotation operation with greater convenience. Moreover, the tablet PC may be configured to map an operation to a hand gesture or input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander J. Zotov, Bryan D. Scott, Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge
  • Patent number: 9753741
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a bus driver, included on a local computing system, enables detection of hardware available on a host computing system for a remote access session. Upon detecting a hardware device on the host computing system, an operating system included in the local computing system may obtain a device driver for controlling data captured from the hardware device. The device driver may be used to inject data captured from the hardware device into the local operating system's input stack. In some examples, the data is injected into the local operating system's input stack at a layer that corresponds to a layer at which the data was captured on the host computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Olumuyiwa M. Durojaiye, Sumit Mehrotra, Xiao Tu, Manoj K. Biswas, Steven P. Dodge
  • Patent number: 9690470
    Abstract: Methods of controlling the display and use of a UI element are disclosed. In an embodiment, the UI element may configured so that it initially maintains a topmost position but eventually allows other applications to assume the topmost position. In an embodiment, the display of the element may be adjusted in response to an input so that the UI element is not visible on the display. In an embodiment, the use of the UI element may allow for seamless dragging of the UI element even if the user inadvertently fails to make consistent contact with the touch-sensitive display while dragging the UI element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov