Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Saunders

Thomas J. Saunders 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).

  • Targeted distribution of search index fragments over a wireless communication network
    Patent number: 8046367
    Abstract: Identifying portions of an index related to prior search requests sent from a wireless data processing device and transmitting the portions of the index to the wireless data processing device to be used for local searches. Specifically, a method according to one embodiment comprises: collecting information related to a plurality of content located over a network; automatically generating and continually updating an index for the plurality of content as new content is identified; analyzing search requests transmitted from a wireless data processing device; based on the analysis, identifying portions of the index relevant to the search requests; transmitting the portions of the index to the wireless data processing device; and executing subsequent search requests using the portions of the index stored on the wireless data processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Saunders
  • Apparatus and method for targeted distribution of search index fragments over a wireless communication network
    Publication number: 20090055387
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying portions of an index related to prior search requests sent from a wireless data processing device and transmitting the portions of the index to the wireless data processing device to be used for local searches. Specifically, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: collecting information related to a plurality of content located over a network; automatically generating and continually updating an index for the plurality of content as new content is identified; analyzing search requests transmitted from a wireless data processing device; based on the analysis, identifying portions of the index relevant to the search requests; transmitting the portions of the index to the wireless data processing device; and executing subsequent search requests using the portions of the index stored on the wireless data processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas J. Saunders