James F Springfield

US Patent:

6496203, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

May 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/084436

Inventors:

Christian Beaumont - Issaquah WA
Gregory S Lindhorst - Woodinville WA
Stephen J. Millet - Seattle WA
James F. Springfield - Woodinville WA
Victor A. Stone - Mercer Island WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 314

US Classification:

345762, 345744, 345779, 345764, 345765, 345811, 345968

Abstract:

The present invention generates graphical user interface (GUI) components with GUI regions on a GUI display using web technology such that the GUI components are substantially independent of the host application. The host application defines a respective size and a respective location for each GUI region on the GUI display. The host application also instantiates a corresponding web browser for each GUI region. Each corresponding browser retrieves and executes an associated web page that defines the appearance and/or the functionality of a GUI region. The web page is written in a standard high-level language such as hypertext markup language such that the appearance and functionality of the GUI regions may be easy to create and modify. Because the web page defining a GUI region can be located anywhere on the world wide web, the functionality of the GUI regions is extensible beyond the capabilities of the host terminal running the host application. In addition, the corresponding browser determines an appropriate time for performing the corresponding functionality of each GUI region.

US Patent:

6756999, Jun 29, 2004

Filed:

Mar 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/799750

Inventors:

Richard W. Stoakley - Seattle WA
James B. Kurtz - Bellevue WA
James F. Springfield - Woodinville WA
Todd J. Green - Seattle WA
Suzan M. Andrew - Seattle WA
Justin Mann - Lake Forest WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345779, 345810, 345811, 345840, 345841, 345837, 345764, 345765

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for organizing, displaying, and accessing representations of one or more running tasks on a graphical user interface in a computer system. The system organizes like application files and clusters the corresponding taskbar buttons and, upon reaching a threshold limit, creates and displays a group button that contains the like application files and removes the like taskbar buttons from the taskbar. Further, upon reaching a second threshold limit, the system ungroups the application taskbar buttons, displays them on the taskbar and removes the group button from the taskbar.

US Patent:

7093267, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

Jul 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/198861

Inventors:

Christian Beaumont - Issaquah WA, US
James F. Springfield - Woodinville WA, US
Nenad Stefanovic - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00
G06F 9/44
G06F 9/46
G06F 13/00

US Classification:

719328, 719331

Abstract:

Hosting user interface controls in a window via an interface for controlling the window is disclosed. One aspect of the invention is a computerized system having an operating system and at least one program. The operating system provides for hosting controls of a predetermined type within windows of a predetermined type via an interface for controlling the windows. The programs utilize the interface to host one or more controls within one or more windows. Thus, with respect to versions of the MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating system, a program may utilize the WIN32 API (i. e. , interface) to host ACTIVEX-type controls within windows hosted by the program, also via the WIN32 API.

US Patent:

7249326, Jul 24, 2007

Filed:

Apr 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/825717

Inventors:

Richard W. Stoakley - Seattle WA, US
James B. Kurtz - Bellevue WA, US
Todd J. Green - Seattle WA, US
Ramkumar Ramasubramanian - Redmond WA, US
Chris J. Guzak - Kirkland WA, US
James F. Springfield - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00

US Classification:

715779, 715772, 715811, 715814

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for use in a computer system for organizing and displaying notification items associated with the system, applications or other components, within a notification area. The system monitors items that are placed in the notification, comparing the period of placement with a predetermined time threshold value, If the item has remained inactive for longer than the predetermined threshold period, the item is hidden from the notification area. Additionally, the system monitors the hidden items for changes in icon appearance and will unhide the item upon a change in appearance or specific selection by a user. New items and unhidden items are arranged in the order of the most recent addition to the notification area. The system also allows a user to customize the behavior associated with individual notification items.

US Patent:

7730496, Jun 1, 2010

Filed:

Jun 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/473222

Inventors:

Christian Beaumont - Issaquah WA, US
James F. Springfield - Woodinville WA, US
Nenad Stefanovic - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 9/00

US Classification:

719320

Abstract:

Hosting user interface controls in a window via an interface for controlling the window is disclosed. One aspect of the invention is a computerized system having an operating system and at least one program. The operating system provides for hosting controls of a predetermined type within windows of a predetermined type via an interface for controlling the windows. The programs utilize the interface to host one or more controls within one or more windows. Thus, with respect to versions of the MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating system, a program may utilize the WIN32 API (i. e. , interface) to host ACTIVEX-type controls within windows hosted by the program, also via the WIN32 API.

US Patent:

20030081006, May 1, 2003

Filed:

Oct 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/001442

Inventors:

Mike Sheldon - Seattle WA, US
Richard Stoakley - Seattle WA, US
James Springfield - Woodinville WA, US

International Classification:

G09G005/00

US Classification:

345/781000, 345/788000

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and system for use in a computer having a graphical operating system. The system and method provided is for automatically displaying a window in a maximized state on a screen when a certain resolution threshold is met. More specifically, the method involves determining a screen resolution and comparing the screen resolution to a resolution threshold. If the resolution is at or below the threshold, then the window to be opened is automatically rendered on the screen in a maximized state. If the resolution is above the threshold, the window is rendered on the screen at a specified size, or at a default size if no size is specified. In this way, the user is presented with only one active screen when the resolution is at or below the threshold, thereby simplifying navigation through multiple windows. Further, when the resolution is above the threshold, the window will not be maximized because the display would seem unpleasing to the eye of the user in a maximized state.

US Patent:

20030085918, May 8, 2003

Filed:

Dec 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/319951

Inventors:

Christian Beaumont - Issaquah WA, US
Gregory Lindhorst - Woodinville WA, US
Stephen Millet - Seattle WA, US
James Springfield - Woodinville WA, US
Victor Stone - Mercer Island WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G09G005/00

US Classification:

345/738000

Abstract:

The present invention generates graphical user interface (GUI) components with GUI regions on a GUI display using web technology such that the GUI components are substantially independent of the host application. The host application defines a respective size and a respective location for each GUI region on the GUI display. The host application also instantiates a corresponding web browser for each GUI region. Each corresponding browser retrieves and executes an associated web page that defines the appearance and/or the functionality of a GUI region. The web page is written in a standard high-level language such as hypertext markup language such that the appearance and functionality of the GUI regions may be easy to create and modify. Because the web page defining a GUI region can be located anywhere on the world wide web, the functionality of the GUI regions is extensible beyond the capabilities of the host terminal running the host application. In addition, the corresponding browser determines an appropriate time for performing the corresponding functionality of each GUI region. The corresponding browser may also bind to an object model within the host application to provide the host application functions via a GUI region.

US Patent:

20130042258, Feb 14, 2013

Filed:

Aug 11, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/207806

Inventors:

Brent E. Rector - Redmond WA, US
Elliot H. Omiya - Kirkland WA, US
Jerry J. Dunietz - Seattle WA, US
Martyn S. Lovell - Seattle WA, US
Ales Holecek - Kirkland WA, US
Mahesh Prakriya - Redmond WA, US
Stephen C. Rowe - Bellevue WA, US
James F. Springfield - Woodinville WA, US
Noel R. Cross - Seattle WA, US
Tassaduq H. Basu - Redmond WA, US
Patrick H. Dussud - Redmond WA, US
Raja Krishnaswamy - Redmond WA, US
Steven Edward Lucco - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 9/46

US Classification:

719328

Abstract:

Various embodiments provide an ability to describe, independent of a programming language, one or more interfaces associated with an operating system. Alternately or additionally, a compiler associated with a specific programming language can be configured to map the independent interface description(s) to the specific programming language. In some embodiments, an application can be configured to programmatically determine one or more interfaces of the operating system.