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).
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Patent number: 11861426Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 15, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Inventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
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Publication number: 20220391275Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventors: Gregory H. PARKS, Steven P. DODGE, Zheng WANG
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Patent number: 11474886Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
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Patent number: 11275497Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 30, 2017Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov
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Publication number: 20210216383Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Gregory H. PARKS, Steven P. DODGE, Zheng WANG
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Patent number: 10970145Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
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Patent number: 10817080Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 20, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Reed L. Townsend, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott
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Patent number: 10678373Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Alexander J. Zotov, Reed Townsend, Steven P. Dodge
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Publication number: 20200097345Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
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Patent number: 10503571Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Parks, Steven P. Dodge, Zheng Wang
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Publication number: 20180239450Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2018Publication date: August 23, 2018Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Reed L. TOWNSEND, Alexander J. KOLMYKOV-ZOTOV, Steven P. DODGE, Bryan D. SCOTT
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Patent number: 10019080Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Reed L. Townsend, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott
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Patent number: 9996176Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Alexander J. Zotov, Bryan D. Scott, Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge
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Patent number: 9952718Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Reed L. Townsend, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott
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Patent number: 9946370Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Reed L. Townsend, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott
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Publication number: 20180032168Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Alexander J. ZOTOV, Bryan D. SCOTT, Reed L. TOWNSEND, Steven P. DODGE
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Publication number: 20170336940Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov
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Patent number: 9811186Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Alexander J. Zotov, Bryan D. Scott, Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge
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Patent number: 9753741Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Olumuyiwa M. Durojaiye, Sumit Mehrotra, Xiao Tu, Manoj K. Biswas, Steven P. Dodge
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Patent number: 9690470Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Reed L. Townsend, Steven P. Dodge, Bryan D. Scott, Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov