David Albert Howell

US Patent:

7502364, Mar 10, 2009

Filed:

Mar 31, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/394773

Inventors:

David Milstein - Redmond WA, US
David A. Howell - Seattle WA, US
Linda Criddle - Kirkland WA, US
Michael D. Malueg - Renton WA, US
Philip Andrew Chou - Bellevue WA, US
Scott C. Forbes - Redmond WA, US
Kuansan Wang - Bellevue WA, US
Timothy M. Moore - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04L 12/66

US Classification:

370356, 370352, 370353, 370354, 370355, 379 8813, 379 8817, 709203, 709206, 709207, 715749, 715760

Abstract:

Structured hierarchies for communicating contextual information relating to a VoIP conversation are provided. The structured hierarchies are utilized for efficient communications of various amounts and types of contextual information over a VoIP conversation channel. Information identifying at least one structured hierarchy, which will be used to carry the contextual information, is transmitted during establishment of a conversation between two VoIP enhanced devices and prior to the exchange of contextual information. The structural hierarchy is selected from a set of predefined and declared structured hierarchies. Subsequently transmitted contextual information exchanged between two VoIP enhanced devices is represented in accordance with the identified structural hierarchy. Additionally, the structural hierarchies can be extensible by the addition of more definitions to the current structural hierarchies.

US Patent:

8090083, Jan 3, 2012

Filed:

May 26, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/472137

Inventors:

David T. Fong - Kirkland WA, US
David A. Howell - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04M 11/00

US Classification:

379 8814, 37910013

Abstract:

A system and/or methodology that unifies a telephonic communication component and/or system with a data (e. g. , messaging) server component and/or system. The system can facilitate telephonically accessing rich information in the server (e. g. , messaging server). This rich information can include email content, calendar content, contacts information, or the like. Moreover, with access to an application programming interface, the invention can add functionality to initiate email communications as well as to accept or cancel meetings. Furthermore, the invention can synchronize messages of disparate formats. By way of example a user can set an “Out of Office” (OOF) status on both an email systems and telephone voicemail system from one location in one action. In another aspect, it will be appreciated that any message or data component can be analyzed, transformed, matched and/or communicated from one system to another (e. g. , server to telephone) in accordance with the subject invention.

US Patent:

8144842, Mar 27, 2012

Filed:

Dec 8, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/608598

Inventors:

Michael Geoffrey Andrew Wilson - Sammamish WA, US
Clifford Didcock - Sammamish WA, US
David Andrew Howell - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04M 1/64

US Classification:

379 8822, 370352, 370353, 379 70, 379 8817, 37920101, 4554121, 709201, 709205, 709221, 709224

Abstract:

A Unified Messaging (UM) gateway device located at a branch office of a UM system manages calls if the network connecting the branch office to a UM server of the UM system is unavailable. The UM gateway device contains relatively simple hardware and software as compared to the hardware and software of a UM server. The UM gateway device provides call answering functionality, in the absence of the UM server. In various configurations, the UM gateway device provides access to mailboxes, manages incoming calls, provides an outgoing message (e. g. , an announcement or prompt), provides an indication where the called-for person can be reached, and, when the network becomes available, returns management of incoming calls to the UM server and/or handles incoming calls in conjunction with the Unified Messaging server.

US Patent:

8146015, Mar 27, 2012

Filed:

Feb 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/068691

Inventors:

Sridhar Sundararaman - Bellevue WA, US
Srinivasa Reddy Manda - Sammamish WA, US
David A. Howell - Seattle WA, US
James M. Lyon - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/048
G06F 3/00

US Classification:

715811, 715717, 715727, 715763, 715810

Abstract:

The subject invention relates to systems and methods that enable dynamic programming and execution of an electronic communications dialog. In one aspect, a configurable messaging system is provided. The system includes a configuration file to describe interface options of a computerized dialog session, wherein the configuration file specifies interface activities and state transitions between the interface options within the configuration file. A state controller executes the interface options during communications activities with the dialog session. The configuration file can also describe prompt elements to solicit information from users or applications.

US Patent:

8225232, Jul 17, 2012

Filed:

Feb 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/068691

Inventors:

Sridhar Sundararaman - Bellevue WA, US
Srinivasa Reddy Manda - Sammamish WA, US
David A. Howell - Seattle WA, US
James M. Lyon - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/048
G06F 3/00

US Classification:

715811, 715717, 715727, 715763, 715810

Abstract:

The subject invention relates to systems and methods that enable dynamic programming and execution of an electronic communications dialog. In one aspect, a configurable messaging system is provided. The system includes a configuration file to describe interface options of a computerized dialog session, wherein the configuration file specifies interface activities and state transitions between the interface options within the configuration file. A state controller executes the interface options during communications activities with the dialog session. The configuration file can also describe prompt elements to solicit information from users or applications.

US Patent:

8228824, Jul 24, 2012

Filed:

Apr 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/398817

Inventors:

David Milstein - Redmond WA, US
David Howell - Seattle WA, US
Kuansan Wang - Bellevue WA, US
Linda Criddle - Kirkland WA, US
Michael D Malueg - Renton WA, US
Philip Andrew Chou - Bellevue WA, US
Scott Forbes - Redmond WA, US
Timothy M Moore - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04Q 11/00

US Classification:

370259, 370352, 3703952

Abstract:

A method and system for processing contextual information relating to an exchange of a conversation over a communication channel is provided. Several users, and/or service providers are allowed to specify a set of rules relating to a conversation channel. Contextual information, including information relating to the specified set of rules and conditions of the users, is exchanged among the users and/or several service providers when one user requests to initiate a communication channel. The received contextual information is processed to extract a set of rules and the current conditions of users. If the current conditions of the users satisfy the set of rules, a corresponding communication channel is established among the users. However, additional contextual information may be received and processed whenever there is a change in the contextual information during the conversation. Appropriate actions to the existing communication channel may be determined based on the changes.

US Patent:

8280015, Oct 2, 2012

Filed:

Apr 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/398816

Inventors:

David Milstein - Redmond WA, US
David A Howell - Seattle WA, US
Linda Criddle - Kirkland WA, US
Philip A Chou - Bellevue WA, US
Timothy M Moore - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04M 1/64

US Classification:

379 8823, 37920102

Abstract:

Aspects of the present invention are directed at obtaining contextual information with a voicemail message. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that obtains additional contextual information that is not obtained automatically when a voicemail message is received. More specifically, the method includes automatically obtaining a first set of contextual information from a client associated with the caller when the caller is transferred to a voicemail system. Then a determination is made regarding whether the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained. If the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained, the requested information is obtained from a third-party service or by prompting the caller.

US Patent:

8483368, Jul 9, 2013

Filed:

Aug 31, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/601791

Inventors:

David Milstein - Redmond WA, US
David A. Howell - Seattle WA, US
Linda Criddle - Kirkland WA, US
Philip A. Chou - Bellevue WA, US
Timothy M. Moore - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04M 1/64

US Classification:

379 8823, 37920102

Abstract:

Aspects of the present invention are directed at obtaining contextual information with a voicemail message. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that obtains additional contextual information that is not obtained automatically when a voicemail message is received. More specifically, the method includes automatically obtaining a first set of contextual information from a client associated with the caller when the caller is transferred to a voicemail system. Then a determination is made regarding whether the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained. If the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained, the requested information is obtained from a third-party service or by prompting the caller.