Robert A Atkinson

US Patent:

6658490, Dec 2, 2003

Filed:

Jun 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/328683

Inventors:

Antonty S. Williams - Mercer Island WA
Alexander A. Mitchell - Redmond WA
Robert G. Atkinson - Woodinville WA
C. Douglas Hodges - Redmond WA
Johann Posch - Mercer Island WA
Craig H Wittenberg - Mercer Island WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 946

US Classification:

709330, 709312, 709100

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and system for multi-threaded processing that is an improvement over conventional systems. The system of the present invention comprises multiple threads of execution, multiple apartments, shared data, and a concurrency management component. The threads of execution run independently and each occupy one apartment. The apartments contain objects that have methods to perform operations. The shared data contains data that is accessible by all threads within the process. The concurrency management mechanism performs processing so that the multiple threads can execute concurrently in a reliable and robust manner. In an alternative system of the present invention, the threads are separate from the apartments and the threads execute within the apartments to perform processing. After performing the processing, the thread exits the apartment so that the apartment may be occupied by another thread.

US Patent:

6856993, Feb 15, 2005

Filed:

Mar 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/539233

Inventors:

Surendra Verma - Bellevue WA, US
Thomas J. Miller - Bellevue WA, US
Robert G. Atkinson - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F017/30

US Classification:

707101, 707205, 711161, 705 9

Abstract:

A transactional file system wherein multiple file system operations may be performed as transaction. An application specifies that file system-related operations should be handled in a transaction, and is given a file handle associated with a transaction context. For file system requests associated with a transaction context, a file system component manages operations consistent with transactional behavior. The component provides data isolation by providing multiple file versions such that transactional readers do not receive changes until after the transaction commits and the reader reopens the file. The component handles namespace logging operations in a multiple-level log that facilitates logging and recovery. Page data is logged separate from the main log, with signatures establishing whether pages were fully flushed to disk. Namespace isolation via isolation directories allows a transaction to see its operational effects but not effects of other uncommitted transactions.

US Patent:

7069335, Jun 27, 2006

Filed:

Aug 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/636003

Inventors:

Andrew J. Layman - Bellevue WA, US
Gopal Krishna R. Kakivaya - Sammamish WA, US
Satish R. Thatte - Redmond WA, US
Henrik F. Neilsen - Seattle WA, US
Robert George Atkinson - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16
G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709238, 709202, 709206, 709205

Abstract:

Using a message exchanger (“message exchanger”), data messages are exchanged between entities in a decentralized, distributed, potentially heterogeneous, network environment. The message exchanger employs XML (extensible Markup Language). To accomplish this, the entities on both ends of the message exchange understand, identify, and parse the message format. The message exchanger defines such a mechanism. Data messages are broken down into two portions—one portion (the body) is intended from an ultimate destination and the other portion (the header) is intended for intermediate destination and/or the ultimate destination. The body may be defined so that it must be understood by the ultimate destination. The header may be defined so that it must be understood or changed. Regardless, the data in the body is delivered intact to the ultimate destination.

US Patent:

7257595, Aug 14, 2007

Filed:

Dec 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/009662

Inventors:

Surendra Verma - Bellevue WA, US
Thomas J. Miller - Bellevue WA, US
Robert G. Atkinson - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707101, 707205, 711161

Abstract:

A transactional file system performs multiple file system operations as part of a user-level transaction. An application specifies that operations should be handled as part of a transaction, and the application is given a file handle associated with the transaction context. Operations are managed consistent with transactional behavior and data isolation is provided with multiple versions of a file and by tracking copies of pages that have changed. Transactional readers do not receive changes to a file made by transactional writers, until the transactional writer commits the transaction and the reader reopens the file. Logging and recovery are also facilitated by logging page data separate from the main log, with a unique signature that enables the log to determine whether a page was fully flushed to disk prior to a system crash. Namespace isolation is also provided until a transaction commits via isolation directories.

US Patent:

7295548, Nov 13, 2007

Filed:

Nov 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/306340

Inventors:

William Thomas Blank - Bellevue WA, US
Robert George Atkinson - Woodinville WA, US
Anand Valavi - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04L 12/66

US Classification:

370352, 370487

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a method and system for disaggregating and connecting A/V components, and communicating A/V content stream information. An A/V stream from a source device is packaged for transmission over an IP network to one or more output devices. A brick device enables the integration of legacy A/V systems into the network supported A/V system. The brick device operates to provide analog signal and IP protocol conversion, along with the synchronization of received A/V stream data packets. The rendering and play of the A/V stream content on multiple output devices is synchronized to overcome distortions and other network idiosyncrasy and to facilitate a pleasant user experience.

US Patent:

7418463, Aug 26, 2008

Filed:

Dec 13, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/010820

Inventors:

Surendra Verma - Bellevue WA, US
Thomas J. Miller - Bellevue WA, US
Robert G. Atkinson - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707202, 707203, 707204

Abstract:

A transactional file system wherein multiple file system operations may be performed as a transaction. An application specifies that file system-related operations are to be handled as a transaction, and the application is given a file handle associated with a transaction context. For file system requests associated with a transaction context, a file system component manages the operations consistent with transactional behavior. The component provides data isolation by providing multiple versions of a file by tracking copies of changed pages, such that transactional readers do not receive changes to a file made by transactional writers, until the transactional writer commits the transaction and the reader reopens the file. The component handles namespace logging operations in a multiple-level log that facilitates logging and recovery. Page data is logged separate from the main log, with a unique signature that enables the log to determine whether a page was fully flushed to disk.

US Patent:

7454778, Nov 18, 2008

Filed:

Sep 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/954873

Inventors:

Malcolm E. Pearson - Kirkland WA, US
David R. Reed - Seattle WA, US
Robert G. Atkinson - Woodinville WA, US
Steven D. White - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04L 9/00
H04L 9/32

US Classification:

726 1, 726 2, 726 6

Abstract:

The present invention provides for methods, systems, and computer program products for ensuring that sensitive subject matter within electronic messages is not inappropriately transferred between domains with differing security rights. The present invention utilizes the appropriate placement of message transfer agents or servers along with policy documents that include configurable semantics pattern recognition data for identifying deviant messages. Once deviant messages or messages that potentially have sensitive subject matter are identified, the present invention further provides for adaptable actions or remedies for ensuring that the sensitive subject matter is not inappropriately transferred between domains.

US Patent:

7496500, Feb 24, 2009

Filed:

Jun 15, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/867626

Inventors:

David R. Reed - Seattle WA, US
Eric K. Ringger - Issaquah WA, US
Michael Gamon - Seattle WA, US
Richard G. Campbell - Redmond WA, US
Robert G. Atkinson - Woodinville WA, US
Simon H. Corston - Seattle WA, US
Malcolm E. Pearson - Kirkland WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/27
G06F 15/16
G06F 15/173

US Classification:

704 9, 704270, 709206, 709240

Abstract:

The present invention relates to systems and methods that determine intent for received data (e. g. , email, voice, graphics. . . ) and respond to the data based on the intent. The systems and methods employ various combinations of features based on shallow and deep linguistic analysis (e. g. , semantic and syntactic) to yield very high accuracy. The systems and methods analyze and categorize received data to locate data that can include intent. This data can be further refined by extracting features related to the intent. The features can be utilized by a classifier to determine the intent. If the intent warrants a response, the data are further scrutinized and reformulated to generate a description that is indicative of the intent. The reformulation can include representing the features in a logical form, transforming the form and generating a description of the intent that can be presented to a user visually and/or audibly.