Samuel M Williams

US Patent:

7286131, Oct 23, 2007

Filed:

May 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/138603

Inventors:

Alexander S. Brodie - Redmond WA, US
Karthik G. Anbalagan - Bellevue WA, US
Samuel T. Williams - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06T 11/20
G06T 1/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

345442, 345441, 345418

Abstract:

A system and method for generating an approximation of an arbitrary or user-editable curve. One or more controls associated with a control curve are provided, and a user input related to the alteration of the control curve is received. A method to generate an approximation of the control curve, as altered, is performed. The method defines candidate approximations and selects a plurality of those candidates. The method utilizes characteristics of the selected candidates to create new candidate approximations. Optionally, at least a portion of the method is repeated until a candidate approximation acceptably represents the control curve.

US Patent:

7469257, Dec 23, 2008

Filed:

Sep 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/220705

Inventors:

David R. Parlin - Redmond WA, US
Mark A. Nikiel - Redmond WA, US
Samuel T. Williams - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707102, 7071041

Abstract:

A computer readable medium and method to generate a multimedia database that represents a collection of files having different file extensions is provided. The method includes receiving the collection of files from a file system, extracting and storing metadata in multimedia objects stored in the multimedia database. The metadata includes fast and slow metadata associated with the collection of files, which are extracted from the collection of files. Policies associated with the file extensions are applied to the collection of files to determine the fast metadata that should be extracted before the slow metadata. The multimedia objects are created to store the fast metadata and references to the collection of files. After extracting the fast metadata from the collection of files, the slow metadata is extracted and stored in the multimedia objects.

US Patent:

8195646, Jun 5, 2012

Filed:

Apr 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/111989

Inventors:

Christopher A. Evans - Sammamish WA, US
David R. Parlin - Redmond WA, US
Jason F. Moore - Redmond WA, US
Lyon K. F. Wong - Issaquah WA, US
Relja B. Ivanovic - Redmond WA, US
Samuel Thomas Williams - Redmond WA, US
Scott E. Dart - Redmond WA, US
Stephan Hoefnagels - Seattle WA, US
Timothy P. McKee - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707716, 707803, 707828

Abstract:

Computer system navigation tools provide “links” to various different files, lists, folders, and/or other storage elements and allow users to organize files, e. g. , by hierarchical properties, lists, auto lists, folders, and the like. Such systems and methods allow users to assign properties to a file (optionally in a hierarchical manner), to change assigned properties, to search, view, and retrieve information based on the assigned properties, and the like.

US Patent:

20060173864, Aug 3, 2006

Filed:

Jan 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/046119

Inventors:

Scott Dart - Lynnwood WA, US
Christopher Evans - Sammamish WA, US
David Silver - Sammamish WA, US
Jingyang Xu - Redmond WA, US
Samuel Williams - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

707100000

Abstract:

System and methods are herein disclosed for reconciling image metadata in an image file between different metadata schemas, both in the utilization of said metadata by an application or device, as well as proactively reconciling conflicts when detected in said image file. Several embodiments are directed to logically reconciling conflicting metadata between two or more metadata components related to read or write operations of said metadata by applications or devices. Several other embodiments are directed to proactively finding conflicts in metadata components of a file and proactively reconciling them for present and future utilization of said file.

US Patent:

20120246207, Sep 27, 2012

Filed:

Mar 27, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/431704

Inventors:

CHRISTOPHER A. EVANS - Sammamish WA, US
DAVID R. PARLIN - Redmond WA, US
JASON F. MOORE - Kirkland WA, US
LYON K.F. WONG - Issaquah WA, US
RELJA B. IVANOVIC - Redmond WA, US
SAMUEL Thomas WILLIAMS - Redmond WA, US
SCOTT E. DART - Lynnwood WA, US
STEPHAN HOEFNAGELS - Seattle WA, US
TIMOTHY P. McKEE - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

MICROSOFT CORPORATION - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707829, 707E1701

Abstract:

Computer system navigation tools provide “links” to various different files, lists, folders, and/or other storage elements and allow users to organize files, e.g., by hierarchical properties, lists, auto lists, folders, and the like. Such systems and methods allow users to assign properties to a file (optionally in a hierarchical manner), to change assigned properties, to search, view, and retrieve information based on the assigned properties, and the like.

US Patent:

20130106990, May 2, 2013

Filed:

Nov 1, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/286756

Inventors:

Samuel Thomas Williams - Redmond WA, US
Jonathan Paul Rosenberg - Redmond WA, US
Johannes Kopf - Bellevue WA, US
Don Dongwoo Kim - Bellevue WA, US
Sandeep Kanumuri - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04N 7/00

US Classification:

348 36, 348E07001

Abstract:

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for generating improved planar panorama imagery, which may be used to view street-level, human-scale locations along a desired path, for example. One or more desired objects can be detected in source imagery that may be used to produce the resulting planar panorama imagery. Respective object regions comprising a desired object can be identified in one or more frames of the source imagery. One or more portions of the source imagery that do not comprise the object region for the desired object can be joined with at least some of the one or more frames that do comprise the object region for the desired object. The resulting planar panorama imagery can thus comprise the desired object. Also, the planar panorama imagery can be generated so as to lack one or more non-desired objects and/or adverse effects that may result therefrom.

US Patent:

20130155047, Jun 20, 2013

Filed:

Dec 14, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/325466

Inventors:

Samuel Williams - Redmond WA, US
Jett Evan Jones - Redmond WA, US
Peter G. Sibley - Seattle WA, US
Don Kim - Bellevue WA, US
Sandeep Kanumuri - Redmond WA, US
Jonathan Rosenberg - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06T 15/00

US Classification:

345419

Abstract:

Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for creating a three-dimensional model of an image. Image data, comprise a series of images of a location, such as along a route, can be received. The image data can comprise a first image element location for a first image element, where the first image element location may correspond to a three-dimensional point in the image, such as a location in the image with a depth from a point of observation. The first image element can be segmented into a first façade plane using the first image element location. The first façade plane can be merged with a second façade plane, resulting in a three-dimensional model of the image. The second façade plane can comprise a second image element, where the image data comprises a second image element location for the second image element.

US Patent:

20130155181, Jun 20, 2013

Filed:

Dec 14, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/325652

Inventors:

Samuel Williams - Redmond WA, US
Timothy Wantland - Bellevue WA, US
Gonzalo Ramos - Kirkland WA, US
Peter G. Sibley - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04N 7/00

US Classification:

348 36, 348E07001

Abstract:

Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for positioning point-of-interest (POI) data in a planar panorama image, generated from a plurality of relatively sequential images. First POI data with a first geo-location and second POI data with a second geo-location can be received for the planar panorama image, and first and second data tags can be created that respectively comprise at least some of the first and second POI data. A cluster geo-location may be identified for the first and second data tags based at least upon the first and second geo-locations, and the first and second data tags can be clustered at the cluster geo-location in the planar panorama image. The first and second data tags can be re-clustered (e.g., moved around) and displayed at different locations within the planar panorama image in response to a zoom operation, for example.