Michael Samuel Lorton

US Patent:

6484150, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

Jan 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/229117

Inventors:

Arnold Blinn - Bellevue WA
Michael Ari Cohen - San Francisco CA
Michael Lorton - Redmond WA
Gregory J. Stein - Redmond WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1760

US Classification:

705 26, 707100

Abstract:

The present invention provides a merchant system for online shopping and merchandising. The merchant system architecture provides great flexibility for a merchant to adapt the merchant system to their existing business practices, promotions and databases. The merchant system includes a dynamic page generator, a configurable order processing module and a database module capable of retrieving data from the database without regard to its schema. The present invention enables merchants to create electronic orders which are easily adaptable for different sales situations. The order processing module includes multiple configurable stages to process a merchants electronic orders. The merchant system is capable of generating pages dynamically using templates having embedded directives. The database module and the dynamic page generator allow merchants to modify their databases and page displays without having to reengineer the merchant system.

US Patent:

6519587, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Mar 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/538854

Inventors:

Arnold N. Blinn - Clyde Hill WA
Michael S. Lorton - Redmond WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 3, 4 5, 4 10

Abstract:

The invention includes an information retrieval system having a server and a plurality of clients. The server has access to one or more data storage media on which the server maintains a database. The database has a plurality of records that can be searched based on key values. The server maintains a page definition table in addition to the database. The page definition table has a plurality of entries, each indicating pairs of key values. To perform an information search, a client submits a search value to the server. The server responds by identifying an entry from the page definition table that corresponds to the search value. The server then identifies a set of database records whose key values are bounded by the pair of key values of the identified entry. Data from these database records are returned as search results to the client.

US Patent:

60616776, May 9, 2000

Filed:

Jun 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/871079

Inventors:

Arnold N. Blinn - Clyde Hill WA
Michael S. Lorton - Redmond WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 3

Abstract:

The invention includes an information retrieval system having a server and a plurality of clients. The server has access to one or more data storage media on which the server maintains a database. The database has a plurality of records that can be searched based on key values. The server maintains a page definition table in addition to the database. The page definition table has a plurality of entries, each indicating pairs of key values. To perform an information search, a client submits a search value to the server. The server responds by identifying an entry from the page definition table that corresponds to the search value. The server then identifies a set of database records whose key values are bounded by the pair of key values of the identified entry. Data from these database records are returned as search results to the client.

US Patent:

59744189, Oct 26, 1999

Filed:

Oct 16, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/732013

Inventors:

Arnold Blinn - Bellevue WA
Michael Ari Cohen - San Francisco CA
Michael Lorton - Redmond WA
Gregory J. Stein - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707100

Abstract:

An application, such as an online merchant system, provides a name for a query stored in a database. The database accesses the query using the name provided by the application. The database next executes the query to produce an access object having the query results. The application then processes the access object to obtain a selected result. Storing queries in the database provides a level of indirection and flexibility enabling applications to access databases without prior knowledge of their schemas. Thus, applications can access data in a wide variety of existing databases having different schemas and data sublanguages. Modification of the database schema does not require corresponding modification or recompilation of the application accessing the database.

US Patent:

60583738, May 2, 2000

Filed:

Oct 16, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/732205

Inventors:

Arnold Blinn - Bellevue WA
Michael Ari Cohen - San Francisco CA
Michael Lorton - Redmond WA
Gregory J. Stein - Redmond WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G08B 900

US Classification:

705 26

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and system for processing electronic sales transactions. In a preferred embodiment, an electronic merchandising system allows merchants to create electronic orders which are easily adaptable for different sales situations. The preferred electronic order comprises flexible blackboards which allow merchants to add sales information with what are called key-value pairs. In the preferred embodiment, the order is an object which contains at least one order blackboard and one or more item blackboards. In addition, the preferred embodiment contains an order processing module with multiple stages which process the order. The preferred stages include a product information stage, a merchant information stage, a shopper information stage, an order initialization stage, an order check stage, an item price adjust stage, an order price adjust stage, a shipping stage, a handling stage, a tax stage, an order total stage, an inventory stage, a payment stage and an accept stage.

US Patent:

58931015, Apr 6, 1999

Filed:

Mar 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/828924

Inventors:

Aristotle Balogh - Bowie MD
Hatte Blejer - Alexandria VA
Robert Briggs - Annandale VA
Eugene Chen - Arlington VA
Sharon Flank - Washington DC
Carmen Iannacone - Fairfax VA
John Maloney - Upper Marlboro MD
Patrick Martin - Arlington VA
James Rothey - Fairfax VA
Gary Schmid - Arlington VA
David Evans - Falls Church VA
Linda T. Dozier - Goleta CA
Michael Lorton - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Systems Research & Applications Corporation - Arlington VA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707100

Abstract:

Digitized images are associated with English language captions and other data, collectively known as the metadata associated with the images. A natural language processing database removes ambiguities from the metadata, and the images and the metadata are stored in databases. A user formulates a search query, and natural language processing is used to determine matches between the query and the stored metadata. Images corresponding to the matches are then viewed, and desired images are selected for licensing. The license terms for selected images are displayed, and a subset of the selected images are ordered as desired by the user.

US Patent:

59999144, Dec 7, 1999

Filed:

Oct 16, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/732195

Inventors:

Arnold Blinn - Bellevue WA
Michael Ari Cohen - San Francisco CA
Michael Lorton - Redmond WA
Gregory J. Stein - Redmond WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

705 26

Abstract:

An electronic promotion system apparatus and method provide promotions across a computer network. The promotion system includes a shopper browser communicating with a merchant server. A shopper places an order using the shopper browser. The order is received by the merchant server. A purchasing pipeline executing in the merchant server process the order. The purchasing pipeline includes a promotion component. The promotion component determines the eligibility of the shopper for each one of multiple promotions using information stored in a promotion table. Furthermore, the eligibility of each item on the shopper order to trigger each one of the multiple promotions is determined. Additionally, the eligibility of each item on the shopper order to receive an award is determined. The awards are then applied appropriately. Each item may be used to trigger only one promotion where awards were granted.

US Patent:

54936772, Feb 20, 1996

Filed:

Jun 8, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/255379

Inventors:

Aristotle Balogh - Bowie MD
Hatte Blejer - Alexandria VA
Eugene Chen - Arlington VA
Sharon Flank - Washington DC
Carmen Iannacone - Fairfax VA
John Maloney - Upper Marlboro MD
Patrick Martin - Arlington VA
James Rothey - Fairfax VA
Gary Schmid - Arlington VA
Linda T. Dozier - Goleta CA
Michael Lorton - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Systems Research & Applications Corporation - Arlington VA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

395600

Abstract:

Digitized images are associated with English language captions and other data, collectively known as the metadata associated with the images. A natural language processing database removes ambiguities from the metadata, and the images and the metadata are stored in databases. A user formulates a search query, and natural language processing is used to determine matches between the query and the stored metadata. Images corresponding to the matches are then viewed, and desired images are selected for licensing. The license terms for selected images are displayed, and a subset of the selected images are ordered as desired by the user.