Jeffrey B Cole

US Patent:

8065293, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

Oct 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/923430

Inventors:

Kunal Mukerjee - Redmond WA, US
Jeffrey Cole - Redmond WA, US
Brendan Meeder - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707711, 707696, 707739, 707740, 707741, 707742, 707743, 707744, 707745, 707746, 707802

Abstract:

An indexing system uses a graph-like data structure that clusters features indexes together. The minimum atomic value in the data structure is represented as a leaf node which is either a single feature index or a sequence of two or more feature indexes when a minimum sequence length is imposed. Root nodes are formed as clustered collections of leaf nodes and/or other root nodes. Context nodes are formed from root nodes that are associated with content that is being indexed. Links between a root node and other nodes each include a sequence order value that is used to maintain the sequencing order for feature indexes relative to the root node. The collection of nodes forms a graph-like data structure, where each context node is indexed according to the sequenced pattern of feature indexes. Clusters can be split, merged, and promoted to increase the efficiency in searching the data structure.

US Patent:

20120249468, Oct 4, 2012

Filed:

Apr 4, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/079373

Inventors:

Jeffrey Brian Cole - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/045

US Classification:

345174

Abstract:

The subject disclosure is directed towards a virtual touchpad comprising a region in space positioned relative to a detected user with which a user interacts by hand movements as determined from frames of depth data obtained via a depth camera. The user's hand position or positions in the virtual touchpad region may be converted to coordinates, such as for posting to a message queue for use by an application. The computing device and depth camera may be incorporated into a robot that moves on a floor, with the depth camera angled upwardly and the virtual touchpad region tilted to facilitate user interaction.

US Patent:

20120316680, Dec 13, 2012

Filed:

Jun 13, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/158465

Inventors:

Jean Sebastien Fouillade - Redmond WA, US
Adrien Felon - Seattle WA, US
Jeffrey Cole - Seattle WA, US
Nathaniel T. Clinton - Sammamish WA, US
Russell Sanchez - Redmond WA, US
Francois Burianek - Kirkland WA, US
Malek M. Chalabi - Redmond WA, US
Harshavardhana Narayana Kikkeri - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

B25J 13/08

US Classification:

700258, 901 1, 901 46

Abstract:

A robot tracks objects using sensory data, and follows an object selected by a user. The object can be designated by a user from a set of objects recognized by the robot. The relative positions and orientations of the robot and object are determined. The position and orientation of the robot can be used so as to maintain a desired relationship between the object and the robot. Using the navigation system of the robot, during its movement, obstacles can be avoided. If the robot loses contact with the object being tracked, the robot can continue to navigate and search the environment until the object is reacquired.

US Patent:

20130083063, Apr 4, 2013

Filed:

Mar 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/436511

Inventors:

Kevin A. Geisner - Mercer Island WA, US
Kathryn Stone Perez - Kirkland WA, US
Stephen G. Latta - Seattle WA, US
Ben J. Sugden - Woodinville WA, US
Benjamin I. Vaught - Seattle WA, US
Jeffrey B. Cole - Seattle WA, US
Alex Aben-Athar Kipman - Redmond WA, US
Ian D. McIntyre - Redmond WA, US
Daniel McCulloch - Kirkland WA, US

International Classification:

G09G 5/00
G06F 3/033

US Classification:

345633

Abstract:

A collaborative on-demand system allows a user of a head-mounted display device (HMDD) to obtain assistance with an activity from a qualified service provider. In a session, the user and service provider exchange camera-captured images and augmented reality images. A gaze-detection capability of the HMDD allows the user to mark areas of interest in a scene. The service provider can similarly mark areas of the scene, as well as provide camera-captured images of the service provider's hand or arm pointing to or touching an object of the scene. The service provider can also select an animation or text to be displayed on the HMDD. A server can match user requests with qualified service providers which meet parameters regarding fee, location, rating and other preferences. Or, service providers can review open requests and self-select appropriate requests, initiating contact with a user.

US Patent:

20130328925, Dec 12, 2013

Filed:

Jun 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/494840

Inventors:

Stephen G. Latta - Seattle WA, US
Adam G. Poulos - Redmond WA, US
Daniel J. McCulloch - Kirkland WA, US
Jeffrey Cole - Seattle WA, US
Wei Zhang - Redmond WA, US

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345633

Abstract:

A system and method are disclosed for interpreting user focus on virtual objects in a mixed reality environment. Using inference, express gestures and heuristic rules, the present system determines which of the virtual objects the user is likely focused on and interacting with. At that point, the present system may emphasize the selected virtual object over other virtual objects, and interact with the selected virtual object in a variety of ways.

US Patent:

20130342572, Dec 26, 2013

Filed:

Jun 26, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/533148

Inventors:

Adam G. Poulos - Redmond WA, US
Stephen G. Latta - Seattle WA, US
Daniel J. McCulloch - Kirkland WA, US
Jeffrey Cole - Seattle WA, US

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345633

Abstract:

A system and method are disclosed for controlling content displayed to a user in a virtual environment. The virtual environment may include virtual controls with which a user may interact using predefined gestures. Interacting with a virtual control may adjust an aspect of the displayed content, including for example one or more of fast forwarding of the content, rewinding of the content, pausing of the content, stopping the content, changing a volume of content, recording the content, changing a brightness of the content, changing a contrast of the content and changing the content from a first still image to a second still image.

US Patent:

20130343600, Dec 26, 2013

Filed:

Jun 22, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/530925

Inventors:

Harshavardhana Narayana Kikkeri - Bellevue WA, US
Michael F. Koenig - Bellevue WA, US
Jeffrey Cole - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

MICROSOFT CORPORATION - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06K 9/62

US Classification:

382103

Abstract:

Face recognition training database generation technique embodiments are presented that generally involve collecting characterizations of a person's face that are captured over time and as the person moves through an environment, to create a training database of facial characterizations for that person. As the facial characterizations are captured over time, they are will represent the person's face as viewed from various angles and distances, different resolutions, and under different environmental conditions (e.g., lighting and haze conditions). Further, over a long period of time where facial characterizations of a person are collected periodically, these characterizations can represent an evolution in the appearance of the person. This produces a rich training resource for use in face recognition systems. In addition, since a person's face recognition training database can be established before it is needed by a face recognition system, once employed, the training will be quicker.

US Patent:

20190304229, Oct 3, 2019

Filed:

Nov 19, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/194534

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Jeffrey Cole - Renton WA, US
Kjell Hansen - Normandy Park WA, US

International Classification:

G07C 13/00
H04L 29/06

Abstract:

A computer-implemented method for making one or more decisions in a group decision-making session includes receiving a group initiation input specifying one or more participants to be invited to the session, receiving an input specifying a first prompt along with related first and second options, and receiving, from one or more participants in the session, votes for the first option and/or the second option. It also includes displaying a racetrack that includes a first icon representing the first option, a second icon representing the second option, a number of individual steps, and a first finish line. The first and second icons are displayed on a respective step that corresponds to a number of votes received for the respective first and second option. The first finish line can be adjusted so as to adjust the threshold number of votes needed to determine the winning option for the first prompt.