Michael E Novak

US Patent:

6791581, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Jan 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/773446

Inventors:

Michael J. Novak - Redmond WA
David M. Nadalin - Redmond WA
Kipley J. Olson - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345744, 345745, 345746, 345747, 345760, 345764, 345768, 345866

Abstract:

Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment skins can be defined as sets of script files, art files, media files, and text files. These files can be used to create new and different skin appearances, layouts and functionalities. The files are organized for use using a hierarchical tag-based data structure, an example of which is an XML data structure. The data structure is processed to provide an object model. The object model can be a scriptable object model that enables script to execute to provide an interactive, dynamic skin that can respond to internal and external events. In one embodiment, a computer architecture used for rendering the skin includes a layout manager that processes an intermediate representation of the XML data structure to provide the scriptable object model. Various components of the scriptable object model can include a script engine for receiving and executing script, and one or more rendering elements. Each rendering element represents a different skin element and can be individually configured to respond to script via the script engine.

US Patent:

6904566, Jun 7, 2005

Filed:

Mar 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/817901

Inventors:

Chris Feller - Bellevue WA, US
Geoffrey Harris - Seattle WA, US
Kipley J. Olson - Seattle WA, US
Michael J. Novak - Redmond WA, US
Tedd K Dideriksen - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F005/00

US Classification:

715728, 715716

Abstract:

Methods and systems are described that assist media players in rendering different media types. In some embodiments, a unified rendering area is provided and managed such that multiple different media types are rendered by the media player in the same user interface area. This unified rendering area thus permits different media types to be presented to a user in an integrated and organized manner. An underlying object model promotes the unified rendering area by providing a base rendering object that has properties that are shared among the different media types. Object sub-classes are provided and are each associated with a different media type, and have properties that extend the shared properties of the base rendering object. In addition, an inventive approach to visualizations is presented that provides better synchronization between a visualization and its associated audio stream.

US Patent:

7072908, Jul 4, 2006

Filed:

Mar 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/817902

Inventors:

Tedd Dideriksen - Woodinville WA, US
Chris Feller - Bellevue WA, US
Geoffrey Harris - Seattle WA, US
Michael J. Novak - Redmond WA, US
Kipley J. Olson - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06F 12/00

US Classification:

7071041, 707100, 707200

Abstract:

Methods and systems are described that assist media players in rendering visualizations and synchronizing those visualizations with audio samples. In one embodiment, visualizations are synchronized with an audio stream using a technique that builds and maintains various data structures. Each data structure can maintain data that is associated with a particular pre-processed audio sample. The maintained data can include a timestamp that is associated with a time when the audio sample is to be rendered. The maintained data can also include various characteristic data that is associated with the audio stream. When a particular audio sample is being rendered, its timestamp is used to locate a data structure having characteristic data. The characteristic data is then used in a visualization rendering process to render a visualization.

US Patent:

7073130, Jul 4, 2006

Filed:

Jan 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/773456

Inventors:

Michael J. Novak - Redmond WA, US
David M. Nadalin - Redmond WA, US
Kipley J. Olson - Seattle WA, US
Kevin P Larkin - Mercer Island WA, US
Frank G. Sanborn - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

715744, 715746, 715762, 715768, 715513, 715514, 715515

Abstract:

Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment skins can be defined as sets of script files, art files, media files, and text files. These files can be used to create new and different skin appearances, layouts and functionalities. The files are organized for use using a hierarchical tag-based data structure, an example of which is an XML data structure. The data structure is processed to provide an object model. The object model can be a scriptable object model that enables script to execute to provide an interactive, dynamic skin that can respond to internal and external events. In one embodiment, a computer architecture used for rendering the skin includes a layout manager that processes an intermediate representation of the XML data structure to provide the scriptable object model. Various components of the scriptable object model can include a script engine for receiving and executing script, and one or more rendering elements. Each rendering element represents a different skin element and can be individually configured to respond to script via the script engine.

US Patent:

7107296, Sep 12, 2006

Filed:

Jun 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/606345

Inventors:

Michael John Novak - Redmond WA, US
Daniel Plastina - Sammamish WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707203, 707 10, 707100

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for selectively synchronizing, with a media library, media files within folders of a filing system. This system and method can preferentially synchronize certain folders rather than others based on whether or not the folders have been modified. This system and method can also maintain synchronization between a media library and a filing system by regularly checking for changes in the filing system.

US Patent:

7219308, May 15, 2007

Filed:

Jun 21, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/178187

Inventors:

Michael Novak - Redmond WA, US
Jonathan M. Cain - Seattle WA, US
Tedd K. Dideriksen - Woodinville WA, US
David M. Nadalin - Sammamish WA, US
Patrick N. Nelson - Kirkland WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00

US Classification:

715768, 715815, 715716

Abstract:

Methods and system for enhancing user experience when rendering digital media content. Defining a visible region of the window in which a media player user interface (UI) is presented to clip undesirable portions of the window provides an improved media player UI. Further aspects are directed to enhancing user experience when rendering digital media content in full screen presentation mode.

US Patent:

7272794, Sep 18, 2007

Filed:

Feb 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/062690

Inventors:

Tedd Dideriksen - Woodinville WA, US
Chris Feller - Bellevue WA, US
Geoffrey Harris - Seattle WA, US
Michael J. Novak - Redmond WA, US
Kipley J. Olson - Mercer Island WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 5/00
G06F 13/00

US Classification:

715716, 715728

Abstract:

Methods and systems are described that assist media players in rendering different media types. In some embodiments, a unified rendering area is provided and managed such that multiple different media types are rendered by the media player in the same user interface area. This unified rendering area thus permits different media types to be presented to a user in an integrated and organized manner. An underlying object model promotes the unified rendering area by providing a base rendering object that has properties that are shared among the different media types. Object sub-classes are provided and are each associated with a different media type, and have properties that extend the shared properties of the base rendering object. In addition, an inventive approach to visualizations is presented that provides better synchronization between a visualization and its associated audio stream.

US Patent:

7278102, Oct 2, 2007

Filed:

Feb 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/062678

Inventors:

Tedd Dideriksen - Woodinville WA, US
Chris Feller - Bellevue WA, US
Geoffrey Harris - Seattle WA, US
Michael J. Novak - Redmond WA, US
Kipley J. Olson - Mercer Island WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 5/00
G06F 13/00

US Classification:

715716, 709219

Abstract:

Methods and systems are described that assist media players in rendering different media types. In some embodiments, a unified rendering area is provided and managed such that multiple different media types are rendered by the media player in the same user interface area. This unified rendering area thus permits different media types to be presented to a user in an integrated and organized manner. An underlying object model promotes the unified rendering area by providing a base rendering object that has properties that are shared among the different media types. Object sub-classes are provided and are each associated with a different media type, and have properties that extend the shared properties of the base rendering object. In addition, an inventive approach to visualizations is presented that provides better synchronization between a visualization and its associated audio stream.