Jeffrey R Blum

US Patent:

6593949, Jul 15, 2003

Filed:

May 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/564515

Inventors:

Chee H. Chew - Redmond WA
Elizabeth A. Bastiaanse - Cambridge MA
Ido Ben-Shachar - Sammamish WA
Jeffrey R. Blum - Seattle WA
Mark H. Enomoto - Seattle WA
Greg A. Keyser - Sammamish WA
Kathryn L. Parker - Fall City WA
Kevin T. Shields - Redmond WA
Sarah E. Zuberec - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

345841, 345157

Abstract:

The UI of the present invention increases the number of contacts initially shown to the user of a hand-held device to aid the user in finding information in a Contacts database. While displaying a list of Contacts database entries, the UI displays a column which contains single letters indicating the type of information displayed for the names represented in the list of entries. A tap on a letter in that column causes a sub-list of other most commonly needed information to be deployed for the corresponding entry, potentially eliminating the need for the user to open the entire record for that entry.

US Patent:

6633924, Oct 14, 2003

Filed:

Oct 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/944948

Inventors:

Charles Wu - Bellevue WA 98008
George T. Hu - Redmond WA 98052
Jeffrey R. Blum - Seattle WA 98102

International Classification:

G06F 900

US Classification:

709328, 707203, 709203

Abstract:

The invention includes a method of synchronizing objects between first and second object stores. A synchronization manager in accordance with the invention maintains a reference store containing identifying data segments corresponding respectively to a plurality of objects that have previously been synchronized between the first and second object stores. An application program that maintains the first object store has associated interfaces that allow the synchronization manager to compare and manipulate objects. One such interface allows the synchronization manager to submit an identifying data segment associated with a particular object. In response, this interface returns a handle that corresponds to the submitted identifying data segment. Another interface accepts a handle that refers to an identifying data segment, and determines if the object corresponding to the identifying data segment has been changed in the first object store since the last synchronization. If it has, the synchronization manager takes steps to update the second object store.

US Patent:

6664991, Dec 16, 2003

Filed:

Apr 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/559694

Inventors:

Chee H. Chew - Redmond WA
Elizabeth A. Bastiaanse - Cambridge MA
Jeffrey R. Blum - Seattle WA
Greg A. Keyser - Sammamish WA
Charlton E. Lui - Redmond WA
Kathryn L. Parker - Fall City WA
Timothy D. Sharpe - Redmond WA
Sarah E. Zuberec - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345863, 345812, 345817, 345825

Abstract:

The present invention provides a user interface for a pen-based device that allows users to activate the full âcardâ for an entry using a single tap while also giving the user the ability to reach a menu of context dependent commands using a simple gesture. In particular, the present invention recognizes certain stylus and/or button inputs as context menu gestures. When these gestures are made, a context menu appears. The user is then able to select a command in the context menu that is to be performed. The present invention also allows a user to open context menus while only using one hand to operate and hold the device.

US Patent:

6727830, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Jul 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/195256

Inventors:

Charlton E. Lui - Redmond WA
Jeffrey R. Blum - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H03M 1100

US Classification:

341 20, 341 22, 341 26, 345172, 708145, 708146

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for extending the functionality of application buttons on a limited resource computing device. Alternative application functions are launched based on the length of time an application button is pressed. A default function for an application is launched if the button is pressed for a short, i. e. , normal, period of time. An alternative function of the application is launched if the button is pressed for a long, (e. g. , at least one second), period of time. Still another function can be launched if the application button is pressed multiple times within a short period of time, e. g. , double click.

US Patent:

6727917, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

May 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/564928

Inventors:

Chee H. Chew - Redmond WA
Elizabeth A. Bastiaanse - Cambridge MA
Jeffrey R. Blum - Seattle WA
Christen E. Coomer - Seattle WA
Mark H. Enomoto - Seattle WA
Greg A. Keyser - Sammamish WA
Kathryn L. Parker - Fall City WA
William H. Vong - Redmond WA
Sarah E. Zuberec - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 314

US Classification:

345765, 345179

Abstract:

The hand-held computing device user interface (UI) of the present invention displays information for an active application program in a middle portion of the screen, and displays a shell program controlled navigation bar at a top portion of the screen. The navigation bar includes a navigation icon which when tapped by the stylus aids the user in navigating to other application programs. The navigation bar also includes a title for the active application program, thus saving vertical real estate on the screen. The UI of the present invention also displays an application menu bar at a bottom portion of the screen so that the user of the hand-held device can manipulate data from the active application by tapping menu items with a stylus without blocking view of the middle portion of the display.

US Patent:

6760696, Jul 6, 2004

Filed:

Apr 1, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/283224

Inventors:

Jossef Goldberg - Seattle WA
Jeffrey R. Blum - Seattle WA
Charlton E. Lui - Redmond WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G10L 1900

US Classification:

704201, 704270

Abstract:

Voice recording is initiated immediately upon pressing a record button on a digital computing device such as a palm computer. To enable an immediate response to the button being pressed without a delay that would be normally be incurred to load a user interface and a recording application, a stub program is continuously executed on the device, even when a main user interface program is not running. When the record button is pressed, the stub program immediately begins recording a digital signal corresponding to the sound waves incident on a microphone of the device in a compressed format. If the record button is depressed for more than a second, the recorded digital signal is stored in a file so that it can subsequently be played back, and if the record button was pressed for less than one second, the file is not retained. Sound recording can be initiated in an âeyes freeâ mode, e. g. , while using the device under low ambient light conditions, or while engaged in another activity.

US Patent:

6819315, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

Feb 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/072111

Inventors:

Michael G. Toepke - Bellevue WA
Jeffrey R. Blum - Seattle WA
Kathryn L. Parker - Fall City WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345173, 345179, 345762, 700 87, 382187

Abstract:

A method and system for receiving user input data into a computer system having a graphical windowing environment. A touch-sensitive display screen for displaying images and detecting user activity is provided. A management component connects to the graphical windowing environment to create an input panel window for display on the screen. An input method which may be a COM object is selected from multiple input methods available, and installed such that the input method can call functions of the management component. Each input method includes a corresponding input panel, such as a keyboard, which it draws in the input panel window. When the user taps the screen at the input panel, the input method calls a function of the management component to pass corresponding input information appropriate information such as a keystroke or character to the management component. In response, the management component communicates the user data to the graphical windowing environment as a message, whereby an application program receives the message as if the message was generated on a hardware input device.

US Patent:

6901559, May 31, 2005

Filed:

Apr 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/559695

Inventors:

Jeffrey R. Blum - Seattle WA, US
Elizabeth A. Bastiaanse - Cambridge MA, US
Ido Ben-Shachar - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G09G005/00

US Classification:

715811, 715739, 715825, 715841

Abstract:

The present invention adds a new category of contacts and tasks to hand-held devices. This new category provides a list of the most recent contacts or tasks that the user has accessed. Under most embodiments, the contacts and tasks shown in the RECENT list may be manipulated by the user in the same manner in which contacts and tasks are manipulated in other lists on the hand-held device. Thus, the user is shown the actual contacts or tasks entries and not just a link to those entries. Under most embodiments, the user is able to display a list of recent contacts and tasks by accessing a “RECENT” entry in a categories list provided on many hand-held devices.