Patents by Inventor William E. Stelzel

William E. Stelzel 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: 7698223
    Abstract: A pluggable file-based DRM (digital rights management) API (application program interface) layer for applications and engines. The invention defines a pluggable file-based DRM API layer such that mobile operators can choose to use any file-based DRM (FDRM) engine in their final product. An FDRM engine can be content agnostic (e.g., can range from an executable to a media file or ring-tone). In accordance with the invention, an application can become DRM aware by calling the novel file-based DRM APIs. Any FDRM engine can be plugged into the novel API layer such that applications can use the protected content. The API layer of the subject invention can be designed such that applications that are DRM aware by using the file-based DRM API layer can be DRM engine agnostic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Padawer, Katharine O. Holdsworth, Miguel A. Claudio, Scott R. Shell, William E. Stelzel
  • Patent number: 7657574
    Abstract: Systems and methodologies that facilitate synchronization of a mobile device with a source, via employing a file change tracking database table created in non-volatile memory to designate files for synchronization. The subject invention includes a file modification logger that detects and track changes to files across multiple file systems. The file change tracking database table has a plurality of columns such as: a unique identification column that identifies a file, a file name, previous time the file was changed, and previous time the file was synchronized with a particular machine. A list of files that have changed between a current time and an earlier time can be designated for synchronization, by evaluating when was the file last changed and/or synchronized with a source device (e.g., a desktop, or a lap top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Anoop Gupta, William E. Stelzel, Anh Phuong Tran, Gary William Hall