Patents by Inventor Tom Blank

Tom Blank 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).

  • Establishing communication between computing-based devices through motion detection
    Patent number: 7427926
    Abstract: Motion detection notification is described. In an embodiment, a motion detector in a portable device detects a motion of the device and issues an activation signal when the detected motion has a magnitude greater than a preset threshold. A detection notification component in the portable device then receives the activation signal and initiates communication with an additional device that detects a corresponding motion to the motion of the portable device and is configured for communication with the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Sinclair, Kenneth Hinckley, Darko Kirovski, Gideon Yuval, Tom Blank
  • Methods and systems for distributing multimedia data over heterogeneous networks
    Patent number: 7388887
    Abstract: Real-time communication of multimedia data over heterogeneous networks that may include constant delay networks, variable delay networks that have a common reckoning of time, and variable delay networks that do not have a common reckoning of time. If there are any variable delay networks in which there is no common reckoning of time in the heterogeneous networks, a common reckoning of time is established in each of those networks. Then, a constant delay network is emulated for each variable delay network using the specific common time reckoning present in each variable delay network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Gray, III, Anand Valavi, Robert G. Atkinson, Tom Blank
  • Motion Detection Notification
    Publication number: 20070188323
    Abstract: Motion detection notification is described. In an embodiment, a motion detector in a portable device detects a motion of the device and issues an activation signal when the detected motion has a magnitude greater than a preset threshold. A detection notification component in the portable device then receives the activation signal and initiates communication with an additional device that detects a corresponding motion to the motion of the portable device and is configured for communication with the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Sinclair, Kenneth Hinckley, Darko Kirovski, Gideon Yuval, Tom Blank
  • Methods and systems for distributing multimedia data over heterogeneous networks
    Publication number: 20060007961
    Abstract: Real-time communication of multimedia data over heterogeneous networks that may include constant delay networks, variable delay networks that have a common reckoning of time, and variable delay networks that do not have a common reckoning of time. If there are any variable delay networks in which there is no common reckoning of time in the heterogeneous networks, a common reckoning of time is established in each of those networks. Then, a constant delay network is emulated for each variable delay network using the specific common time reckoning present in each variable delay network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Gray, Anand Valavi, Robert Atkinson, Tom Blank
  • Methods and systems for distributing multimedia data over heterogeneous networks
    Patent number: 6970481
    Abstract: Real-time communication of multimedia data over heterogeneous networks that may include constant delay networks, variable delay networks that have a common reckoning of time, and variable delay networks that do not have a common reckoning of time. If there are any variable delay networks in which there is no common reckoning of time in the heterogeneous networks, a common reckoning of time is established in each of those networks. Then, a constant delay network is emulated for each variable delay network using the specific common time reckoning present in each variable delay network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Gray, III, Anand Valavi, Robert G. Atkinson, Tom Blank
  • Methods and systems for distributing multimedia data over heterogeneous networks
    Publication number: 20020150053
    Abstract: Real-time communication of multimedia data over heterogeneous networks that may include constant delay networks, variable delay networks that have a common reckoning of time, and variable delay networks that do not have a common reckoning of time. If there are any variable delay networks in which there is no common reckoning of time in the heterogeneous networks, a common reckoning of time is established in each of those networks. Then, a constant delay network is emulated for each variable delay network using the specific common time reckoning present in each variable delay network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Donald M. Gray, Anand Valavi, Robert G. Atkinson, Tom Blank