Patents by Inventor William E. Zircher

William E. Zircher 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).

  • Method and apparatus for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system
    Patent number: 7562115
    Abstract: A connection between a secure shared space and an external system is created with a connector tool. The connector tool code is included in an independent agent called a “bot” that is created by a software developer. Bots run in the background in an automated and unattended manner in a specialized enterprise integration server. Each bot has a unique identity and runs under an account assigned to the enterprise integration server. A bot can be invited to a shared space much as another collaborator. Bots can also invite others to shared spaces. All bots running in the enterprise integration server are administered by a centralized administrative control. This allows account and identity policies to be established and global behaviors, including authentication settings, startup options and scope to be determined centrally. The centralized control allows simple installation, configuration and deployment and administrative control of bot operation and access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Zircher, Jack E. Ozzie, Raymond E. Ozzie
  • Method and apparatus for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system
    Patent number: 7139798
    Abstract: A connection between a secure shared space and an external system is created with a connector tool. The connector tool code is included in an independent agent called a “bot” that is created by a software developer. Bots run in the background in an automated and unattended manner in a specialized enterprise integration server. Each bot has a unique identity and runs under an account assigned to the enterprise integration server. A bot can be invited to a shared space much as another collaborator. Bots can also invite others to shared spaces. All bots running in the enterprise integration server are administered by a centralized administrative control. This allows account and identity policies to be established and global behaviors, including authentication settings, startup options and scope to be determined centrally. The centralized control allows simple installation, configuration and deployment and administrative control of bot operation and access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Groove Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Zircher, Jack E. Ozzie, Raymond E. Ozzie
  • Method and apparatus for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system
    Publication number: 20030217105
    Abstract: A connection between a secure shared space and an external system is created with a connector tool. The connector tool code is included in an independent agent called a “bot” that is created by a software developer. Bots run in the background in an automated and unattended manner in a specialized enterprise integration server. Each bot has a unique identity and runs under an account assigned to the enterprise integration server. A bot can be invited to a shared space much as another collaborator. Bots can also invite others to shared spaces. All bots running in the enterprise integration server are administered by a centralized administrative control. This allows account and identity policies to be established and global behaviors, including authentication settings, startup options and scope to be determined centrally. The centralized control allows simple installation, configuration and deployment and administrative control of bot operation and access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Groove Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Zircher, Jack E. Ozzie, Raymond E. Ozzie