David L Clifford

US Patent:

7161887, Jan 9, 2007

Filed:

Nov 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/991088

Inventors:

Kevin Snow - Mountain View CA, US
David Clifford - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Digeo, Inc. - Kirkland WA

International Classification:

G11B 7/00

US Classification:

369 5332, 369 4716, 369 5925

Abstract:

A computer-implemented method and apparatus for extracting digital data from a medium. Digital audio extraction techniques are implemented with additional features that improve the quality of the resulting audio playback files. In one embodiment of the invention, a user can extract digital audio data from a source medium and store the data as a file or, alternatively, stream the data into a memory. The file/stream can then be analyzed to determine the precise locations, in time, at which the sound levels represented by the data cross a specified threshold, particularly at locations near and between track edges. This information can be stored for reference. Subsequently, the file/stream can be accurately divided into smaller segments wherein each segment contains one or more complete and distinct tracks, and the data representing sound levels below the specified threshold can be excluded from the resulting segments. The segments may then be encoded and/or further divided into standard playback files. Another embodiment of the invention includes an audio player.

US Patent:

7466640, Dec 16, 2008

Filed:

Jan 9, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/651383

Inventors:

Kevin Snow - Mountain View CA, US
David Clifford - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Digeo, Inc. - Kirkland WA

International Classification:

G11B 7/00

US Classification:

369 5332, 369 4716, 369 5925

Abstract:

A computer-implemented method and apparatus for extracting digital data from a medium. Digital audio extraction techniques are implemented with additional features that improve the quality of the resulting audio playback files. In one embodiment of the invention, a user can extract digital audio data from a source medium and store the data as a file or, alternatively, stream the data into a memory. The file/stream can then be analyzed to determine the precise locations, in time, at which the sound levels represented by the data cross a specified threshold, particularly at locations near and between track edges. This information can be stored for reference. Subsequently, the file/stream can be accurately divided into smaller files wherein each file contains one or more complete and distinct tracks, and the data representing sound levels below the specified threshold can be excluded from the resulting files. The files may then be encoded and/or further divided into standard playback files. Another embodiment of the invention includes an audio player.

US Patent:

7477653, Jan 13, 2009

Filed:

Dec 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/010200

Inventors:

Geoffrey R. Smith - Mountain View CA, US
James A. Baldwin - Redwood City CA, US
Michael D. Dodd - Mountain View CA, US
Peter T. Barrett - San Francisco CA, US
David C. Clifford - Santa Clara CA, US
Grant D. Mohr - Burlingame CA, US
Dustin L. Green - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04B 7/212
H04J 3/22
H04J 3/26
H04L 12/16

US Classification:

370432, 370480, 370486, 370543, 370265

Abstract:

Accelerated channel change (ACC) strategies are described for supplying a client module with media information by transitioning between a first delivery of media information provided by first delivery functionality and a second delivery of media information provided by second delivery functionality without exceeding prescribed data rate limitations. The first delivery functionality can represent server-based functionality for delivering a unicast stream of media information at a data rate (or maximum data rate) of some excess amount over the nominal rate of delivery, starting at a selected location within the media information. The second delivery functionality can represent any functionality for delivering the media information at the data rate (or maximum data rate) of the nominal rate of delivery. A join interval separates the first delivery at the excess rate and the second delivery at the nominal rate. In that period, the first delivery functionality can provide media information at a join interval data rate.

US Patent:

7765305, Jul 27, 2010

Filed:

Apr 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/100756

Inventors:

Geoffrey R Smith - Mountain View CA, US
David C. Clifford - Santa Clara CA, US
Grant D Mohr - Burlingame CA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709228, 709232, 709235, 709203, 709219

Abstract:

Retry request overload protection is described. A server system determines a client status based on retry requests received from the client. The client status may be used to determine whether to accept and/or process new retry requests received from the client and/or whether to transmit previously requested retry packets to the client. The client status may be based on a number of retry requests received from the client, a number of retry packets requested by the client, and/or a number of bytes of data associated with the retry requests received from the client. The client status may be updated periodically, enabling a non-favorable client status to be modified to a favorable client status if retry requests recently received from the client are within favorable limits.

US Patent:

7944863, May 17, 2011

Filed:

Nov 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/276429

Inventors:

Geoffrey R. Smith - Mountain View CA, US
James A. Baldwin - Redwood City CA, US
Michael D. Dodd - Mountain View CA, US
Peter T. Barrett - San Francisco CA, US
David C. Clifford - Santa Clara CA, US
Grant D. Mohr - Burlingame CA, US
Dustin L. Green - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04J 3/26
H04B 7/216
H04J 3/22

US Classification:

370265, 370432, 370480, 370486, 370543, 375 E7023, 348 E7071

Abstract:

Accelerated channel change (ACC) strategies are described for supplying a client module with media information by transitioning between a first delivery of media information provided by first delivery functionality and a second delivery of media information provided by second delivery functionality without exceeding prescribed data rate limitations. The first delivery functionality can represent server-based functionality for delivering a unicast stream of media information at a data rate (or maximum data rate) of some excess amount over the nominal rate of delivery, starting at a selected location within the media information. The second delivery functionality can represent any functionality for delivering the media information at the data rate (or maximum data rate) of the nominal rate of delivery. A join interval separates the first delivery at the excess rate and the second delivery at the nominal rate. In that period, the first delivery functionality can provide media information at a join interval data rate.

US Patent:

20030112729, Jun 19, 2003

Filed:

Dec 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/025248

Inventors:

James Nichols - Paris, FR
David Clifford - San Jose CA, US
James Crammond - Palo Alto CA, US

International Classification:

G11B007/00

US Classification:

369/053220

Abstract:

A system and method for identifying CDs is described. In one embodiment, the track offsets stored on the CD are used to perform a database lookup. A hash function such as an MD5 hash may be applied to the track offsets to generate an identification code. In the event that another CD has the same set of track offsets, an extension code may be generated using one or more secondary identification techniques. One identification technique which may be employed is an identification code generated based on a spectral analysis of the audio content stored on a portion of the CD. The identification code based on the spectral analysis may be used as either a primary identification code or a secondary identification code (i.e., the extension code).

US Patent:

20060089935, Apr 27, 2006

Filed:

Oct 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/973140

Inventors:

David Clifford - Santa Clara CA, US
Dominic Angelini - San Jose CA, US
Dustin Green - Redmond WA, US
Geoffrey Smith - Mountain View CA, US
Peter Barrett - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707010000

Abstract:

Failover and load balancing in a server cluster is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving a plurality of requests from a plurality of clients, wherein each said request is for accessing a service provided by a plurality of servers arranged in a server cluster. A partial service map is generated for each of the clients such that each of the partial service maps reference a subset of the plurality of servers.

US Patent:

45456488, Oct 8, 1985

Filed:

Oct 30, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/202374

Inventors:

Joseph Shulman - Hyde Park MA
David L. Clifford - Sherborn MA

Assignee:

Polaroid Corporation - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G02F 113

US Classification:

350337

Abstract:

An improved illumination system for electro-optical liquid crystal display devices comprising a nacreous transflector element capable of transmission as well as reflection of light so as to accommodate effective display illumination in conjunction with external and/or internal light sources for enhanced display viewability under all ambient lighting conditions.