Gregory K Nichols

US Patent:

6493871, Dec 10, 2002

Filed:

Sep 16, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/397536

Inventors:

Thomas D. McGuire - Woodinville WA
Michael V. Sliger - Issaquah WA
Daniel C. Welch - Redmond WA
Rajendra H. Vishnumurty - Bellevue WA
Gabriel J. Aul - Seattle WA
Oliver I. Wallace - Redmond WA
Gregory W. Nichols - Seattle WA
Alan B. Auerbach - Redmond WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 9445

US Classification:

717173, 717169, 717171, 717172, 717175, 717178

Abstract:

A method and system for downloading software update data for installing a revised software product on a client computer minimizes the amount of update data to be transmitted over the network by downloading only those files needed to put the client computer in the state for installing the product. In the beginning of the downloading process, the client computer obtains from a setup server an initial setup package that includes a setup program and a list of files required for installing the software product. The setup program running on the client computer then determines whether some current or earlier versions of those files required for installation already exist on the client computer, and compiles a request list of files needed for updating the client computer. The client computer sends the request list to a download server, which maintains a collection of update files and patches. In response to the request list, the download server downloads updating files to the client.

US Patent:

8510523, Aug 13, 2013

Filed:

Sep 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/230617

Inventors:

Miklos Szegedi - Redmond WA, US
Ryan S. Kivett - Redmond WA, US
Gregory W. Nichols - Bellevue WA, US
Mikhail Basilyan - Seattle WA, US
Genghis Karimov - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 12/00

US Classification:

711155, 711156, 714 3811, 717124, 726 22, 726 26, 726 33

Abstract:

A system and method for generating a triage dump of useful memory data from a computer that encounters an error while executing one or more software programs. The computer system may identify data values within the triage dump that are characteristic of personal data. To protect the privacy of the software user the personal data may be poisoned by overwriting the data values with overwrite values. The overwrite values used to poison the data values may be predetermined, based on the data values themselves, or chosen at random. The triage dump may be sent to an external server to associated with the developer of the one or more software programs for analysis. When overwrite values are dynamically selected, the specific overwrite values used may be sent to the server in connection with a triage dump.

US Patent:

8639973, Jan 28, 2014

Filed:

Dec 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/967838

Inventors:

Desmond T. Lee - Redmond WA, US
Vinit Ogale - Bellevue WA, US
Keshava Prasad Subramanya - Bellevue WA, US
Sri Sai Kameswara Pavan Kumar Kasturi - Redmond WA, US
Hongliu Zheng - Sammamish WA, US
Yunan Yuan - Redmond WA, US
Gregory W. Nichols - Bellevue WA, US
Stephan Doll - Seattle WA, US
Calin Negreanu - Lake Oswego OR, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

714 15, 714 612, 714 381

Abstract:

Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques whereby a user may perform a system reset (e. g. , to address system performance and/or reliability degradation, such as which may be caused by unused applications that unnecessarily consume system resources, an attempted un-install of an application that left remnants of the application behind, and/or other causes). In some embodiments, performing a system reset replaces a first instance of an operating system on the system with a new instance of the operating system, and removes any applications installed on the system, without disturbing the user's data.

US Patent:

8645763, Feb 4, 2014

Filed:

Sep 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/230588

Inventors:

Miklos Szegedi - Redmond WA, US
Ryan S. Kivett - Redmond WA, US
Gregory W. Nichols - Bellevue WA, US
Mikhail Basilyan - Seattle WA, US
Genghis Karimov - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

714 3811, 726 26

Abstract:

A system and method for generating a triage dump of useful memory data from a computer that encounters an error while executing one or more software programs. The computer system may identify data values within the triage dump that are characteristic of personal data. To protect the privacy of the software user the personal data may be poisoned by overwriting the data values with overwrite values. The overwrite values used to poison the data values may be predetermined, based on the data values themselves, or chosen at random. The triage dump may be sent to an external server to associated with the developer of the one or more software programs for analysis. When overwrite values are dynamically selected, the specific overwrite values used may be sent to the server in connection with a triage dump.

US Patent:

20120158661, Jun 21, 2012

Filed:

Dec 15, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/969255

Inventors:

Desmond T. Lee - Redmond WA, US
Vinit Ogale - Bellevue WA, US
Keshava Prasad Subramanya - Bellevue WA, US
Sri Sai Kameswara Pavan Kumar Kasturi - Redmond WA, US
Hongliu Zheng - Sammamish WA, US
Yunan Yuan - Redmond WA, US
Gregory W. Nichols - Bellevue WA, US
Stephan Doll - Seattle WA, US
Wing Yu Christine Fok - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

707649, 707E17007

Abstract:

Some embodiments of the invention provide components and/or techniques that may assist in choosing a snapshot to which to roll back to address a system malfunction. For example, some embodiments of the invention may record various metrics describing the system's performance, reliability and/or functionality at the points at which various snapshots are taken, along any of numerous dimensions. When a user later indicates a desire to restore the system to a previous point, these metrics may be analyzed to choose a snapshot to which to roll back.

US Patent:

20120158665, Jun 21, 2012

Filed:

Dec 15, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/969107

Inventors:

Desmond T. Lee - Redmond WA, US
Vinit Ogale - Bellevue WA, US
Keshava Prasad Subramanya - Bellevue WA, US
Sri Sai Kameswara Pavan Kumar Kasturi - Redmond WA, US
Hongliu Zheng - Sammamish WA, US
Yunan Yuan - Redmond WA, US
Gregory W. Nichols - Bellevue WA, US
Stephan Doll - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

707678, 707E17005

Abstract:

Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques for performing system reset and/or system restore operations. Some embodiments store a record of any changes performed to a data file stored on a virtual hard disk using differencing virtual disks that are captured over time. To restore the file to the state in which it existed at any particular point in time, embodiments of the invention may allow for rolling back the system to a differencing virtual disk captured at or before that time and setting aside blocks of the differencing virtual disk chain captured after that point. To perform a system reset, the system may be rolled back to the parent virtual hard disk, by setting aside all of the blocks of the differencing virtual disk chain. Some embodiments of the invention provide for separating information on the system into a plurality of entities, and maintaining a separate set of differencing virtual disks for each entity. For example, some embodiments may create an entity may be created for each of the operating system, applications and user data, and maintain differencing virtual disks for each over time.

US Patent:

20130290949, Oct 31, 2013

Filed:

Jun 30, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/931948

Inventors:

Vinit Ogale - Bellevue WA, US
Keshava Prasad Subramanya - Bellevue WA, US
Sri Sai Kameswara Pavan Kumar Kasturi - Bellevue WA, US
Hongliu Zheng - Sammamish WA, US
Yunan Yuan - San Francisco CA, US
Gregory W. Nichols - Bellevue WA, US
Stephan Doll - Seattle WA, US
Calin Negreanu - Lake Oswego OR, US

International Classification:

G06F 9/445

US Classification:

717174

Abstract:

Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques whereby a user may perform a system reset (e.g., to address system performance and/or reliability degradation, such as which may be caused by unused applications that unnecessarily consume system resources, an attempted un-install of an application that left remnants of the application behind, and/or other causes). In some embodiments, performing a system reset replaces a first instance of an operating system on the system with a new instance of the operating system, and removes any applications installed on the system, without disturbing the user's data.

US Patent:

20160292039, Oct 6, 2016

Filed:

Jun 7, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/175087

Inventors:

- Redmond WA, US
Vinit Ogale - Bellevue WA, US
Keshava Prasad Subramanya - Bellevue WA, US
Sri Sai Kameswara Pavan Kumar Kasturi - Bellevue WA, US
Hongliu Zheng - Sammamish WA, US
Yunan Yuan - San Francisco CA, US
Gregory W. Nichols - Bellevue WA, US
Stephan Doll - Seattle WA, US
Calin Negreanu - Lake Oswego OR, US

International Classification:

G06F 11/14

Abstract:

Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques whereby a user may perform a system reset (e.g., to address system performance and/or reliability degradation, such as which may be caused by unused applications that unnecessarily consume system resources, an attempted un-install of an application that left remnants of the application behind, and/or other causes). In some embodiments, performing a system reset replaces a first instance of an operating system on the system with a new instance of the operating system, and removes any applications installed on the system, without disturbing the user's data.