Andrew Wile Jacobs

US Patent:

6505167, Jan 7, 2003

Filed:

Apr 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/295146

Inventors:

Eric Horvitz - Kirkland WA
Andrew W. Jacobs - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corp. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1760

US Classification:

705 9

Abstract:

Directing automated services for messaging and scheduling. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method first determines a message to analyze. The method then determines the probability that the user would like to review a calendar or to schedule an appointment based on information in the message, based on the message, and based on the scheduling probability, selects one of the following options: (1) inaction, (2) automatic action, or (3) suggested action with user approval. Upon the method selecting either the (1) automatic action option or the (2) suggested action with user approval optionâthe latter also in conjunction with receiving actual user approvalâthe method performs a scheduling action based on the message in a manner that takes into consideration the precision and confidence of the scheduling action.

US Patent:

6581050, Jun 17, 2003

Filed:

Apr 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/295077

Inventors:

Eric Horvitz - Kirkland WA
Andrew W. Jacobs - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06N 500

US Classification:

706 45, 434350, 706 12

Abstract:

Learning by observing a users activity for enhancing the provision of automated services. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method first determines a text to analyze. The method then determines the probabilities of a users goals associated with the text based on features observed in the text, related materials, or user actions, and based on the probabilities of a users goals, selects one of the following options: (1) inaction, (2) automatic action, or (3) dialog with users about potential actions to seek a users approval. Upon the method selecting either the (1) automatic action option or the (2) dialog with user about suggested actionâthe latter also in conjunction with receiving actual user approvalâthe method performs an action based on the text. In one embodiment, the method waits a predetermined time prior to action, determined by performing a statistical regression as to the predetermined time that should be waited based on a length of each text. Furthermore, in one embodiment the action probability is determined by a text classification system, such that the system is continually trained based on each text inputted thereinto.

US Patent:

6601012, Jul 29, 2003

Filed:

Jun 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/596364

Inventors:

Eric J. Horvitz - Kirkland WA
David O. Hovel - Bellevue WA
Andrew W. Jacobs - Seattle WA
Carl M. Kadie - Bellevue WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

702150, 707500, 709223, 345337

Abstract:

Determination of the current context of the user, such as the users current location and attentional state, is disclosed. The determined context can be used to assist determination as to whether, when and how notifications intended for the user should be conveyed to him or her. In varying embodiments of the invention, the context is determined via one or more of: direct specification by the user; direct measurement using one or more sensors; a user-modifiable profile indicating context; one or more potentially user-modifiable rules that indicate context; and, and inferential analysis utilizing a model, such as a Bayesian network or other statistical model.

US Patent:

6657643, Dec 2, 2003

Filed:

May 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/312996

Inventors:

Eric Horvitz - Kirkland WA
Andrew W. Jacobs - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 314

US Classification:

345764, 345781, 345751, 345709, 345745

Abstract:

Modulating the behavior of an agent for directing automated services such as for messaging and scheduling is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method inputs an action probability. The action probability has a location within a region corresponding to an option that in one embodiment can be one of: (1) inaction, (2) automatic action, and (3) engaging the user in a dialog about the users desire for automated action, followed by action pending receipt of user approval. The method then modulates the behavior of the agent depending on the location of the action probability within the region. In one embodiment, the region in which the action probability is located is divided into two or more sub-regions, such that the behavior of the agent is modulated based on which sub-region in which it lies. In another embodiment, a continuous function is imposed onto the region in which the probability is located, where the function yields a confidence level based on the location of the action probability within the region, such that the behavior of the agent is modulated based on this confidence level.

US Patent:

6901398, May 31, 2005

Filed:

Jun 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/893941

Inventors:

Eric J. Horvitz - Kirkland WA, US
Andrew W. Jacobs - Seattle WA, US
Gregory P. Baribault - Kirkland WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F017/30

US Classification:

707 5, 707 6, 709206

Abstract:

A system and method for personalizing an information classifier is provided. The system includes a default or universal classifier that is pre-trained with features that have relatively universal discriminatory relationships for multiple people and that is operable to produce a measure that a message is classified as having one of several characteristics. The system further includes a second classifier that is constructed and personalized through via a more general search through the space of potentially discriminatory features. The second classifier, after personalization, is intended to classify information at a level exceeding that of the first classifier based on the specific preferences, habits, and desires of the user who personalizes the second classifier. The system further includes a weighting component that facilitates a combining component producing an integrated measure based on input from both the first classifier and the second classifier.

US Patent:

6993552, Jan 31, 2006

Filed:

Sep 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/964318

Inventors:

Andrew W. Jacobs - Seattle WA, US
Dominique Fortier - Snoqualmie WA, US
Joseph K. Ollis - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04M 1/57
G06F 15/177

US Classification:

709200, 709217, 707 10, 34082522

Abstract:

Systems and methods for managing asynchronous object transfers over multiple wireless networks. At a device, each received object is detected and parsed to extract identifying information such as sender and object type. Each object is stored in a temporary storage without being processed by any application of the device. The user is prompted to either accept or reject each object, one at a time or all together. Each accepted object is persistently stored on the device and processed by an application that is associated with the type of object. Rejected objects are deleted from the temporary storage and are not persistently stored on the device.

US Patent:

6999721, Feb 14, 2006

Filed:

Jan 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/051528

Inventors:

Joseph K. Ollis - Bellevue WA, US
Andrew W. Jacobs - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04B 5/00
H04B 7/00
H04M 1/00

US Classification:

455 412, 4555521, 4555531, 455556, 455557

Abstract:

A source wireless device is capable of transmitting items over a wireless network using a number of different wireless transfer mechanism such as, for example, Infra-Red (IR) or Bluetooth. Several potential destination wireless devices may be capable of receiving the item using at least one of the different wireless transfer mechanisms. The user selects one or more destination wireless devices to send items to using a unified user interface that lists the various potential destination wireless devices. After a user selects items to transfer as well as the destination wireless device(s), the wireless transfer mechanism appropriate for transfer to each device is then automatically identified without requiring user selection of the particular wireless transfer mechanism.

US Patent:

7113747, Sep 26, 2006

Filed:

Dec 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/305615

Inventors:

Joseph K. Ollis - Bellevue WA, US
Andrew W. Jacobs - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04B 5/00
H04B 7/00
H04M 1/00

US Classification:

455 412, 455 411, 4555521, 4555531, 455556, 455557

Abstract:

A source wireless device is capable of transmitting items over a wireless network using a number of different wireless transfer mechanism such as, for example, Infra-Red (IR) or Bluetooth. Several potential destination wireless devices may be capable of receiving the item using at least one of the different wireless transfer mechanisms. The user selects one or more destination wireless devices to send items to using a unified user interface that lists the various potential destination wireless devices. After a user selects items to transfer as well as the destination wireless device(s), the wireless transfer mechanism appropriate for transfer to each device is then automatically identified without requiring user selection of the particular wireless transfer mechanism.