Robert Bruce Combs

US Patent:

7039704, May 2, 2006

Filed:

Jan 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/350796

Inventors:

Lee M. Davis - Federal Way WA, US
Robert M. Spearman - Seattle WA, US
Robert C. Combs - North Bend WA, US

Assignee:

The Cobalt Group, Inc. - Seattle WA

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709225, 709203, 709219, 709226, 709229

Abstract:

The invention provides a business platform, a business entity management system, and a software module that can be used in conjunction with the software service framework. The invention mimics actual business relationships between business entities, and uses a software service module to configure the business entities into a network that comprises at least three generations of business entities, wherein role dependent associations mimicking real life business relationships are established between the business entities. The invention provides management of active content in a website and allows modification of the content by different business entities. Control of the active content is determined by precedence of the business entities.

US Patent:

7194516, Mar 20, 2007

Filed:

Oct 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/692201

Inventors:

Gail Borod Giacobbe - Seattle WA, US
Bryan T. Starbuck - Redmond WA, US
Randy Knight Winjum - Vashon WA, US
John Heinrich Lueders - Seattle WA, US
Alexander E. Vaschillo - Redmond WA, US
Stephen T. Wells - Seattle WA, US
Robert C. Combs - Redmond WA, US
Sridhar Sundararaman - Bellevue WA, US
Raghavendra Rachamadugu - Hyderabad, IN
Hubert Louis Marie Van Hoof - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709206, 709217, 709250, 707 3, 379 8813

Abstract:

The present invention extends to methods, systems, computer program products, and data structures for presenting different types of electronic messages at a common interface. Electronic message items are stored in an item database along with other types of items, such as, for example, contact items, folder items, document items, etc. Electronic message items have some common defined data fields and possibly other differently defined data fields that represent protocol and/or application specific properties. Computer systems can query the item database for message related data (e. g. , from commonly defined data fields) and display links to message related data at a common messaging interface. Links to different types of electronic messages (as represented by protocol and/or application specific properties) may be displayed simultaneously at the common messaging interface.

US Patent:

7370052, May 6, 2008

Filed:

Oct 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/691855

Inventors:

Bryan T. Starbuck - Redmond WA, US
Gail Borod Giacobbe - Seattle WA, US
Alexander E. Vaschillo - Redmond WA, US
Stephen T. Wells - Seattle WA, US
Robert C. Combs - Redmond WA, US
Sridhar Sundararaman - Bellevue WA, US
Raghavendra Rachamadugu - Hyderabad, IN
Hubert Louis Marie Van Hoof - Seattle WA, US
John Heinrich Lueders - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707 10, 707 6, 707 7, 707 9, 707100, 707102, 707103 R

Abstract:

The principles of the present invention extend to efficiently and reliably providing message related data. Generally, data fields of electronic messages and attachments are created in accordance with an electronic message schema hierarchy. An electronic message can include links to folder items that represent message folders. An electronic message can also include links to contact items that represent message participants. Message applications can register for folder spaces such that each message application is aware of folders that are primarily controlled by other message applications. A link to a contact item can be selected to access current contact related data for a message participant, even when the contact related data has changed since an electronic message containing the link was received.

US Patent:

7424513, Sep 9, 2008

Filed:

Oct 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/693547

Inventors:

Randy Knight Winjum - Vashon WA, US
Gail Borod Giacobbe - Seattle WA, US
Bryan T. Starbuck - Redmond WA, US
John Heinrich Lueders - Seattle WA, US
Alexander E. Vaschillo - Redmond WA, US
Stephen T. Wells - Seattle WA, US
Robert C. Combs - Redmond WA, US
Sridhar Sundararaman - Bellevue WA, US
Raghavendra Rachamadugu - Hyderabad, IN
Hubert Louis Marie Van Hoof - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16
G06F 12/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

709205, 709203, 709204, 709206, 709207, 707205

Abstract:

The present invention extends to methods, systems, computer program products, and data structures for decoupling an attachment from an electronic message that included the attachment. Generally, data fields of electronic messages and attachments are created in accordance with an electronic message schema hierarchy. Attachments are configured to have a data field indicating if the attachment is to persist when a corresponding electronic message is deleted. When an attachment persists, a user may be able to locate and use the attachment after a corresponding electronic message has been deleted (even if the attachment has not been expressly saved). Attachments are configured to include attachment metadata indicating properties of an electronic message that included the attachment. Accordingly, a user can access information (e. g. , sender, subject, date, etc) associated with an electronic message (e. g.

US Patent:

7499942, Mar 3, 2009

Filed:

Dec 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/319905

Inventors:

Christopher Michael Simison - Redmond WA, US
Remi Alain Lemarchand - Redmond WA, US
Robert C. Combs - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707102

Abstract:

Time-related properties may be modeled independent of a base object. Rather than storing time properties with the object, they may be stored independently. A given object may be stored once, even if it has a recurrent time property. The description of a “meeting,” for example, may be stored once. Each occurrence of that object over time may be stored in a “timeslot” (object occurs at time ‘t’ on day ‘d’). If it is a recurring property, recurrence information may be stored independently. “Exception” information may be stored independently as well.

US Patent:

8065282, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

Feb 5, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/365907

Inventors:

Christopher Michael Simison - Redmond WA, US
Remi Alain Lemarchand - Redmond WA, US
Robert C. Combs - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707694

Abstract:

Time-related properties may be modeled independent of a base object. Rather than storing time properties with the object, they may be stored independently. A given object may be stored once, even if it has a recurrent time property. The description of a “meeting,” for example, may be stored once. Each occurrence of that object over time may be stored in a “timeslot” (object occurs at time ‘t’ on day ‘d’). If it is a recurring property, recurrence information may be stored independently. “Exception” information may be stored independently as well.

US Patent:

8150923, Apr 3, 2012

Filed:

Oct 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/692097

Inventors:

Alexander E. Vaschillo - Redmond WA, US
Bryan T. Starbuck - Redmond WA, US
Gail Borod Giacobbe - Seattle WA, US
Stephen T. Wells - Seattle WA, US
Robert C. Combs - Redmond WA, US
Sridhar Sundararaman - Bellevue WA, US
Raghavendra Rachamadugu - Hyderabad, IN
Hubert Louis Marie Van Hoof - Seattle WA, US
John Heinrich Lueders - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709206

Abstract:

The present invention extends to methods, systems, computer program products, and data structures for efficiently storing and accessing electronic messages. Generally, electronic messages are created and transformed in accordance with an electronic message schema hierarchy. Electronic messages can be created according to a general message schema that defines a format for data fields that are common to all types of electronic messages (e. g. electronic mail, instant message, fax message). Electronic messages can also be extended according to message extension schemas that define formats for adding protocol specific and/or or application specific data fields to an electronic message. Data fields added in accordance with message extension schemas can differ between electronic messages types. Having some commonly defined fields and other differently defined fields promotes efficient storage and access of electronic messages, while also facilitating message compatibility with existing message protocols and message applications.

US Patent:

8161022, Apr 17, 2012

Filed:

Apr 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/102375

Inventors:

Bryan T. Starbuck - Redmond WA, US
Gail Borod Giacobbe - Seattle WA, US
Alexander E. Vaschillo - Redmond WA, US
Stephen T. Wells - Seattle WA, US
Robert C. Combs - Redmond WA, US
Sridhar Sundararaman - Bellevue WA, US
Raghavendra Rachamadugu - Hyderabad, IN
Hubert Louis Marie Van Hoof - Seattle WA, US
John Heinrich Lueders - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707705

Abstract:

The principles of the present invention extend to efficiently and reliably providing message related data. Generally, data fields of electronic messages and attachments are created in accordance with an electronic message schema hierarchy. An electronic message can include links to folder items that represent message folders. An electronic message can also include links to contact items that represent message participants. Message applications can register for folder spaces such that each message application is aware of folders that are primarily controlled by other message applications. A link to a contact item can be selected to access current contact related data for a message participant, even when the contact related data has changed since an electronic message containing the link was received.