Patents by Inventor Thomas V. Gruver

Thomas V. Gruver 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: 10979487
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an aggregate view of information that a user may need is provided. A desktop assistant system collects information items that a user may need such as scheduling information and recently received messages. The desktop assistant system may also identify documents that the user may need and contacts with whom the user may need to communicate based on analysis of the collected scheduling information and the collected messages. The desktop assistant system then displays indications of the collected scheduling information, the collected messages, the identified documents, and the identified contacts so that the user has an integrated view of the needed information items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Publication number: 20180278673
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an aggregate view of information that a user may need is provided. A desktop assistant system collects information items that a user may need such as scheduling information and recently received messages. The desktop assistant system may also identify documents that the user may need and contacts with whom the user may need to communicate based on analysis of the collected scheduling information and the collected messages. The desktop assistant system then displays indications of the collected scheduling information, the collected messages, the identified documents, and the identified contacts so that the user has an integrated view of the needed information items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Edwin R. BURTNER, Thomas V. GRUVER
  • Patent number: 9986015
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an aggregate view of information that a user may need is provided. A desktop assistant system collects information items that a user may need such as scheduling information and recently received messages. The desktop assistant system may also identify documents that the user may need and contacts with whom the user may need to communicate based on analysis of the collected scheduling information and the collected messages. The desktop assistant system then displays indications of the collected scheduling information, the collected messages, the identified documents, and the identified contacts so that the user has an integrated view of the needed information items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Publication number: 20140115185
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an aggregate view of information that a user may need is provided. A desktop assistant system collects information items that a user may need such as scheduling information and recently received messages. The desktop assistant system may also identify documents that the user may need and contacts with whom the user may need to communicate based on analysis of the collected scheduling information and the collected messages. The desktop assistant system then displays indications of the collected scheduling information, the collected messages, the identified documents, and the identified contacts so that the user has an integrated view of the needed information items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Patent number: 8621373
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an aggregate view of information that a user may need is provided. A desktop assistant system collects information items that a user may need such as scheduling information and recently received messages. The desktop assistant system may also identify documents that the user may need and contacts with whom the user may need to communicate based on analysis of the collected scheduling information and the collected messages. The desktop assistant system then displays indications of the collected scheduling information, the collected messages, the identified documents, and the identified contacts so that the user has an integrated view of the needed information items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Patent number: 8001204
    Abstract: A method and system for providing message threads with messages of multiple modes of communication in a uniform manner is provided. A messaging system provides a unified communications user interface for message threads that include messages sent using different modes of communications. When a user wants to reply to a message of one mode with a message of another mode, the messaging system displays the communication client application context of the other mode so that the user can prepare and send the message using the appropriate functions. When the instant message is sent, the messaging system adds the instant message to the message thread so that it can be displayed as part of the message thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Publication number: 20110029629
    Abstract: A method and system for providing message threads with messages of multiple modes of communication in a uniform manner is provided. A messaging system provides a unified communications user interface for message threads that include messages sent using different modes of communications. When a user wants to reply to a message of one mode with a message of another mode, the messaging system displays the communication client application context of the other mode so that the user can prepare and send the message using the appropriate functions. When the instant message is sent, the messaging system adds the instant message to the message thread so that it can be displayed as part of the message thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Patent number: 7814160
    Abstract: A method and system for providing message threads with messages of multiple modes of communication in a uniform manner is provided. A messaging system provides a unified communications user interface for message threads that include messages sent using different modes of communications. When a user wants to reply to a message of one mode with a message of another mode, the messaging system displays the communication client application context of the other mode so that the user can prepare and send the message using the appropriate functions. When the instant message is sent, the messaging system adds the instant message to the message thread so that it can be displayed as part of the message thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Patent number: 7509348
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying menus of menu items as a navigation dial is provided. A menu system provides a menu hierarchy for an application that includes menu items with menu sub-items and displays the menu items in a navigation dial. The menu hierarchy is dependent on the current context of the application. A navigation dial is a circular area in which the menu items are displayed near the perimeter of the area. When a user selects a menu item with menu sub-items, the menu system creates a radially expanding navigation dial and populates it with the menu sub-items. The radially expanding navigation dial is displayed outside the perimeter of the displayed navigation dial near the selected menu item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Publication number: 20080059587
    Abstract: A method and system for providing message threads with messages of multiple modes of communication in a uniform manner is provided. A messaging system provides a unified communications user interface for message threads that include messages sent using different modes of communications. When a user wants to reply to a message of one mode with a message of another mode, the messaging system displays the communication client application context of the other mode so that the user can prepare and send the message using the appropriate functions. When the instant message is sent, the messaging system adds the instant message to the message thread so that it can be displayed as part of the message thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Publication number: 20080059913
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying menus of menu items as a navigation dial is provided. A menu system provides a menu hierarchy for an application that includes menu items with menu sub-items and displays the menu items in a navigation dial. The menu hierarchy is dependent on the current context of the application. A navigation dial is a circular area in which the menu items are displayed near the perimeter of the area. When a user selects a menu item with menu sub-items, the menu system creates a radially expanding navigation dial and populates it with the menu sub-items. The radially expanding navigation dial is displayed outside the perimeter of the displayed navigation dial near the selected menu item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Publication number: 20080056071
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an aggregate view of information that a user may need is provided. A desktop assistant system collects information items that a user may need such as scheduling information and recently received messages. The desktop assistant system may also identify documents that the user may need and contacts with whom the user may need to communicate based on analysis of the collected scheduling information and the collected messages. The desktop assistant system then displays indications of the collected scheduling information, the collected messages, the identified documents, and the identified contacts so that the user has an integrated view of the needed information items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver