Microsoft Patents

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Microsoft Corporation develops, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products, services, and devices, including the Windows operating system, Microsoft Office application suite, Windows Phone operating system, Xbox game console platform, Windows Server, Windows SQL Server and Microsoft Azure cloud platform.
Microsoft Patents by Type- Microsoft Patents Granted: Microsoft patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- Microsoft Patent Applications: Microsoft patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20210204452Abstract: The present concepts maintain forward flow and prevent reverse flow of heat-transferring media. A first zone and a second zone are proximate to each other. A first fan moves air through the first zone in a forward direction. A second fan moves air through the second zone in a forward direction. The speed of the first fan is compared with the speed of the second fan. If the first fan speed is slower than the second fan speed, then the first fan speed is adjusted to match the second fan speed. Therefore, reverse airflow in the first zone is prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Rameez Kazi, Neeraj Ladkani, Brandon Earl Gary
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Publication number: 20210200606Abstract: In some examples, digital signal processing plug-in implementation may include obtaining attributes of a user interface for a digital signal processing plug-in, and obtaining attributes of digital signal processing logic for the digital signal processing plug-in. The digital signal processing plug-in implementation may include generating, based on the attributes of the user interface and the attributes of the digital signal processing logic, a plug-in process to control operation of the user interface and the digital signal processing logic. Further, the digital signal processing plug-in implementation may include establishing, based on the generated plug-in process, a two-way communication link between a host and the plug-in process to implement the digital signal processing plug-in.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Nir Netes
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Publication number: 20210200881Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for activating data encryption at rest in a storage device server in a cloud storage. In particular, an encryption orchestrator orchestrates activation processes through encryption controllers that controls policies and privileges to access data in storage device servers. To reduce a risk of a data loss and time loss in activations, the encryption controller pre-checks a storage device server for anomalies in configurations in network connectivity, encryption keys, and security certificates before starting the activation. Furthermore, the encryption controller performs a health-check of the storage device servers to detect anomalies that require restarting the storage device servers. The health-check reduces a risk of data loss when the storage device servers become unable restart itself. User interface tools may be provided to visually identify and manage encryption statuses and policies of the encryption controllers, the storage device servers, and data storage devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Piyush JOSHI, Akil M. MERCHANT, Octavian T. URECHE, Jack Smith RICHINS, Soumya D. PANI, Asad YAQOOB, Salil BHAGURKAR, Preston Derek ADAM, Dayi ZHOU
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Publication number: 20210200525Abstract: A method for validation and prediction of cloud readiness is described. Method includes identifying a sample of components from a cloud infrastructure, wherein an update is applied to the sample to generate a treated sample and the treated sample is of a statistically sufficient scale and a relevant cloud-level diversity and identifying a control sample of components from the cloud infrastructure, wherein the control sample is statistically comparable to the treated sample. The method also includes executing a set of workloads on the treated sample and the control sample. Further, the method includes predicting an impact of the update on a user experience based on a comparison of telemetry captured during execution of the set of workloads on the treated sample and the control sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Meir SHMOUELY, Rahul SHAH, Alexander FRANK
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Publication number: 20210203957Abstract: When encoding/decoding a current block of a current picture using intra block copy (“BC”) prediction, the location of a reference block is constrained so that it can be entirely within an inner search area of the current picture or entirely within an outer search area of the current picture, but cannot overlap both the inner search area and the outer search area. In some hardware-based implementations, on-chip memory buffers sample values of the inner search area, and off-chip memory buffers sample values of the outer search area. By enforcing this constraint on the location of the reference block, an encoder/decoder can avoid memory access operations that are split between on-chip memory and off-chip memory when retrieving the sample values of the reference block. At the same time, a reference block close to the current block may be used for intra BC prediction, helping compression efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: You Zhou, Chih-Lung Lin, Ming-Chieh Lee
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Patent number: 11050841Abstract: A method that enables sharing a technology profile is described herein. The method includes determining at least one technology ecosystem of a first user. The method also includes generating a technology profile for the first user from the technology ecosystem, wherein the technology profile comprises components from the technology ecosystem associated with the first user. Finally, the method includes selectively sharing a shared technology profile with a second user, wherein the shared technology profile is determined by the first user and is derived from the technology profile.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Gabriele Masili, Charlene Marie Douglass, Renee Thompson Hunter, Jeremy Eugene Kelly, Raymond Robert Ringhiser
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Patent number: 11051426Abstract: Immersion cooling enclosures with insulating liners and associated computing facilities are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an immersion cooling enclosure includes a well formed in a substrate material, a lid in contact with and fastened to the well to enclose an internal space configured to contain a dielectric coolant submerging one or more computing devices in the internal space, and an insulating liner on the internal surfaces of the well. The insulating liner has a first side in contact with the dielectric coolant and a second side in contact with the substrate material of the well. The insulating liner is non-permeable to the dielectric coolant, thereby preventing the dielectric coolant from passing through the insulating liner to the substrate material.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Nicholas Keehn, Eric Clarence Peterson, Winston Saunders, Husam Alissa
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Patent number: 11048376Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for rendering 3D text in a 3D environment. In aspects, a three dimensional (3D) object may be generated in a virtual reality, augmented reality, or mixed reality (MR) environment. A two dimensional (2D) graphical user interface (GUI) texture may be applied to a plane of the 3D object. A graphical control element, such as a text frame, and associated content may be rendered on the GUI texture. In some aspects, the graphical control element may be associated with editing controls that enable the dimensions and/or orientation of the graphical control element to be modified within the boundaries of the GUI texture and/or the 3D object.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Vidya Srinivasan, Edward Averett, Andrew John Howe, Michael Lee Smith, Harold Anthony Martinez Molina, Nathan Bradley Duke, Amy Scarfone, Purnima Rao, Colton Brett Marshall, Aniket Handa
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Patent number: 11050818Abstract: Techniques for coordinating an action between devices are described. According to one or more implementations, a first device is designated as a reporter of an action type, and a second device is designated as a subscriber to the action type. In at least one implementation, the action type represents an action that can occur at an end user device. The first device and the second device include a platform agnostic code module that enable the devices to exchange communications, such as via an intermediate coordinator. When the first device detects that an instance of the action type occurs, the first device reports the action via the platform agnostic code module, and the second device is notified of the action via the platform agnostic code module.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: James Leslie Trott
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Patent number: 11048880Abstract: Email servers configured to perform automatic summarization of content in electronic messages are discloses herein. In one embodiment, upon receiving an email, an email server determines whether the incoming email is a templated message. In response to determining that the incoming email is not a templated message, the email server classifies one or more sentences in the email as a statement of decision, judgement, inference, or fact, cluster the classified statements into clusters, and select one or more of the clusters to automatically generate summaries of the incoming email. The email server can then insert data representing the generated summaries into the email before transmitting the email to a destination via a computer network.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Kausik Ghatak, Ganessh Kumar R P, Priyanka Goel, Neeraj Singh, Swathi Karri
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Patent number: 11048517Abstract: A processor core in an instruction block-based microarchitecture is configured so that an instruction window and operand buffers are decoupled for independent operation in which instructions in the block are not tied to resources such as control bits and operands that are maintained in the operand buffers. Instead, pointers are established among instructions in the block and the resources so that control state can be established for a refreshed instruction block (i.e., an instruction block that is reused without re-fetching it from an instruction cache) by following the pointers. Such decoupling of the instruction window from the operand space can provide greater processor efficiency, particularly in multiple core arrays where refreshing is utilized (for example when executing program code that uses tight loops), because the operands and control bits are pre-validated.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Douglas C. Burger, Aaron Smith, Jan Gray
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Patent number: 11048705Abstract: Techniques for query intent clustering for automated sourcing are described. In an example embodiment, disclosed is a system comprising a processor, a storage device, and a memory device holding an instruction set executable on the processor to cause the system to perform operations. The system obtains one or more recent hire member profiles used as a basis for a search on member profiles in a social networking service. Additionally, the system extracts one or more attributes from the one or more recent hire member profiles and stores the attributes on the storage device. Moreover, the system identifies skills clusters based on the extracted attributes retrieved from the storage device. Furthermore, the system generates a search query based on the identified skills clusters. Then, a search can be performed on member profiles in the social networking service using the generated search query, returning one or more result member profiles as candidates.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Vijay Dialani, Sahin Cem Geyik, Abhishek Gupta
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Patent number: 11049006Abstract: Techniques and constructs can reduce the time required to determine solutions to optimization problems such as training of neural networks. Modifications to a computational model can be determined by a plurality of nodes operating in parallel. Quantized modification values can be transmitted between the nodes to reduce the volume of data to be transferred. The quantized values can be as small as one bit each. Quantization-error values can be stored and used in quantizing subsequent modifications. The nodes can operate in parallel and overlap computation and data transfer to further reduce the time required to determine solutions. The quantized values can be partitioned and each node can aggregate values for a corresponding partition.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: John Langford, Gang Li, Frank Torsten Bernd Seide, James Droppo, Dong Yu
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Patent number: 11048436Abstract: Techniques for block storage using a hybrid memory device are described. In at least some embodiments, a hybrid memory device includes a volatile memory portion, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The hybrid memory device further includes non-volatile memory portion, such as flash memory. In at least some embodiments, the hybrid memory device can be embodied as a non-volatile dual in-line memory module, or NVDIMM. Techniques discussed herein employ various functionalities to enable the hybrid memory device to be exposed to various entities as an available block storage device.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Scott Chao-Chueh Lee, Robin A. Alexander, Lee E. Prewitt, Chiuchin Chen, Vladimir Sadovsky
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Patent number: 11048691Abstract: An in-memory database system stores an entirety of a database within main memory of the computer system. The database includes a table comprising a plurality of rows including a particular row. A first transaction updating the particular row is executed to create a first version of the particular row. A second transaction updating the particular row is executed to create a second version of the particular row. The first version is visible only to the first transaction, and the second version is visible only to the second transaction. The in-memory database system may associate an index with the database table, the index referencing the plurality of rows, including referencing the first version of the particular row and the second version of the particular row. The in-memory database system may initiate garbage collection of the first version of the particular row and/or the second version of the particular row.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Cristian Diaconu, Craig Steven Freedman, Per-Ake Larson, Michael James Zwilling
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Patent number: 11050781Abstract: Example of secure monitoring of modular applications and associated edge devices are described herein. In an example, an accreditation request is initiated to accredit at least one of a modular application and an edge device hosting the modular application. The edge device may a device coupling an IoT device to a cloud server. Based on initiating, accreditation information corresponding to at least one of the modular application and the edge device may be received. The accreditation information are generated by a hardware encryption device associated with the edge device. Further, an accreditation status of the modular application may be monitored during execution of the modular application to ascertain whether the modular application and the edge device have been tampered. In case tampering is detected, a remedial action to address the tampering may be performed.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Arjmand M. Samuel, Chipalo N. Street, Damon Luke Barry, Eustace Asanghanwa, James W. Osborne
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Patent number: 11048337Abstract: A keyboard (110) includes a base board (116), keys (112), pitfalls (120) and a mode control mechanism (118). The keys (112) include cups (1124), and the mode control mechanism (118) may switch the keyboard (110) especially the key cups (1124) between different modes. In case that the keyboard (110) is not in use, these cups (1124) can be received in the pitfalls (120) to reduce the profile of the keyboard (110). In case that the keyboard (110) is to be used, the keys (112) may be raised up and arranged on the base board (116) in order to enable long keystroke and provide good typing experience.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Masaaki Fukumoto
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Patent number: 11048537Abstract: The disclosed technology is generally directed to virtual machines. In one example of the technology, data associated with a virtual machine configuration request is received. A first virtual machine to be reconfigured is provided. The first virtual machine is booted. The first virtual machine is a system virtual machine, the first virtual machine is re-provisioned into be reconfigured in accordance with the virtual machine configuration request without rebooting the first virtual machine.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sushant Pramod Rewaskar, Chandramouleswaran Ravichandran, Aswin Parthasarathy Akkur Rajamannar, Md. Daud Hossain Howlader, Bowen Xu, Douglas William Jordan, Vipul Arunkumar Somani
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Patent number: 11048536Abstract: Systems and methods for high availability cloud service provision are disclosed. A server receives, from a remote device, a request to access a specified service, the specified service being associated with a plurality of virtual machines, each of the plurality of virtual machines storing shared states associated with the specified service. The server provides, to the remote device in response to the request, a connection to a first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines and identifiers of other ones of the plurality of virtual machines. The server determines to end a data connection the remote device and the first virtual machine while continuing to provide the specified service to the remote device. The server provides, to the remote device in response to determining to disconnect the remote device from the first virtual machine, a connection to a second virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Bozidar Radunovic, Yongguang Zhang, Zhaowei Tan
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Patent number: 11048876Abstract: Techniques for improving the accuracy, relevancy, and efficiency of a computer system of an online service by providing a user interface to optimize a digital page of a user on the online service are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a computer system receives a plurality of phrases for a type of job, selects a group of phrases from the plurality of phrases based on a corresponding relevancy measurement and a corresponding diversity measurement for each phrase in the selected group of phrases, and generates a recommendation for a page of a first user based on the selected group of phrases, with the recommendation comprising a suggested addition of the selected group of phrases to the page of the first user.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Douglas Gee, Rohan Ramanath, Deepak Kumar
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Patent number: 11050973Abstract: The disclosed techniques improve user engagement and promote efficient use of computing resources by providing dynamically controlled aspect ratios for communication session renderings based on a physical orientation of a device. In some configurations, a system can select a first aspect ratio for individual video streams of a communication session when a device is in a first orientation, e.g., a portrait orientation. In addition, the system can select a second aspect ratio for the individual video streams when the device is in a second orientation, e.g., a landscape orientation. In some configurations, the first aspect ratio can be greater than the second aspect ratio, or the aspect ratios can be selected based on a target aspect ratio, which can be adjusted over time. By dynamically selecting an aspect ratio for individual stream renderings, screen space of a device can be optimized while the device is held in various physical orientations.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Jason Thomas Faulkner, Ruchir Astavans, Kevin Daniel Morrison, Timur Aleshin, Chad A. Voss, Amey Parandekar
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Patent number: 11049076Abstract: In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, systems, methods and devices for routing meeting requests by a digital assistant service are presented. A request to schedule a meeting between an invitee and a principal may be received by a digital assistant service, wherein the request is sent by an agent of the principal. The digital assistant service may determine that the agent is a delegate of the principal with scheduling authority. The digital assistant service may further determine that follow-up information for the meeting is required, and the digital assistant service may route an electronic message requesting the follow-up information directly the agent-delegate. Other aspects describe mechanisms for routing meeting requests from third parties directly to delegates, rather than sending those communications directly to principals.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Techology Licensing, LLCInventors: Juliana Pena Ocampo, Mayerber Loureiro De Carvalho Neto, Charles Yin-Che Lee, Ben Cheung, Pamela Bhattacharya, Chala Fekadu Fufa, Warren David Johnson, III
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Patent number: 11049199Abstract: A method may include analyzing, using at least one processor, a corpus of data to identify a plurality of travel-related user inputs from a user; learning, using the at least one processor, a plurality of travel-related preferences for the user based on the plurality of travel-related user inputs; determining, using the at least one processor, a duration and location for a trip based in part on a query received from the user; accessing a plurality of points of interests (POIs) associated with the location, wherein respective point of interests are associated with a plurality of respective characteristics; based on the plurality of characteristics and the plurality of travel-related preferences, identifying a subset of the plurality of POIs to include in a trip itinerary; and presenting the trip itinerary to the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Vaibhav Valecha, Puspendra Kumar, Gopinath Shankar
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Patent number: 11049788Abstract: An integrated circuit chip device configured provide thermal control by directing heat transfer away from a heat sensitive component. The structure directs the heat transfer away from the heat sensitive component so that the heat sensitive component can be maintained at reduced operating temperatures for improved performance.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Maria Esther Pace
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Patent number: 11048491Abstract: On-demand cloud-based staging environments can be rapidly created as mirrors of a production environment. By defaulting to the production environment's parameters but allowing the user to edit parameters before creating the new cloud-based staging environment, much of the work of creating staging environments can be automated. Users can create staging environments quickly and easily, so that environments can be used for a single project and dismissed, instead of having to maintain them and continuously synchronize them with changes in the production environment.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Joseph G. Davies, Tracy D. Paddock, Kelley D. Vice
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Patent number: 11048972Abstract: The technical problem of identifying relevant social proof information with respect to a premium service for a given member profile in an online connection network system is addressed by, first, capturing the associated member's intent based on the member's activity on the web site provided by the online connection network system. The determined intent is used as input into a relevance machine learning model that is executed to identify the member's connection who is a subscriber to the premium service and who has been identified as the most convincing resonated connection of the member with respect to subscribing to the premium service.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Yan Liu, Ajita Thomas, Alexander Shoykhet, Bing Wang, Ying Xi
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Patent number: 11049022Abstract: Techniques for leveraging existing statistical prediction models are provided. A first statistical prediction model is generated for a content item. An instruction is received to create a clone from the content item. In response to receiving the instruction, the clone is created based on attributes of the content item. A second statistical prediction model that is different than the first statistical prediction model is generated for the clone. In response to receiving a request for content, the clone is identified as relevant to the first request. A similarity between (1) first content of the content item and (2) second content of the clone is determined. If the similarity exceeds a similarity threshold, then the first statistical prediction model is used to generate a prediction of an entity user selection rate associated with the clone. Otherwise, the second statistical prediction model is used to generate the prediction.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Liqin Xu, Peter Poon, Wen Pu, Swetha Karthik
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Patent number: 11048664Abstract: The bifurcation of a log into a fixed-size log portion and a growable log portion. Log records are first written to the fixed-size log portion. At some point, the older log records within the fixed-size log portion are destaged to the growable log portion. Destaging may involve copying the log records from the fixed-size log portion and tacking the log record onto the end of the growable log portion. This destaging might occur one sub-portion (e.g., one virtual log file) at a time. The more recent log records are within the fixed-size log portion. Accordingly, new writes to the log occur to the fixed-size log portion. Furthermore, a large portion of the reads are of the more recent log records within the fixed-size log portion. Thus, optimizing performance within the fixed-size log portion results in significant improvement in the performance of the overall log.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Cristian Diaconu, Naveen Prakash, Alejandro Hernandez Saenz, Alexander Budovski
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Patent number: 11048607Abstract: Computing systems, devices, and associated methods of detecting application regression in a distributed computing system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data representing telemetry records from one or more hosts of the distributed computing system. At least some of the telemetry records are exception records individually indicating an operation by a user application has failed during execution. The method also includes determining a failure rate of executing the operation by the user application while compensating for a workload of the user application in the distributed computing system. A comparison is performed between the determined failure rate and a threshold. Based on the performed comparison, a regression notification can be transmitted to a corresponding tenant indicating that application regression has occurred notwithstanding the workload of the user application in the distributed computing system.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Eran Gonen
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Patent number: 11049224Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are described herein that enable the identification and correction of incorrect and/or inconsistent tones in the bright regions in an HDR image. A bright region is identified in an image. The bright region is classified into an assigned classification. A luminance value of the bright region is determined and compared to a predefined luminance values corresponding to the classification. The luminance value of the bright region is adjusted to match the predefined luminance values where there is a mismatch. Bright regions including mismatched or incorrect luminance values may be rendered on display to include a visual indicator that such regions include mismatched luminance values.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Charles Claudius Marais
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Patent number: 11049277Abstract: Techniques for aligning images generated by an integrated camera physically mounted to an HMD with images generated by a detached camera physically unmounted from the HMD are disclosed. A 3D feature map is generated and shared with the detached camera. Both the integrated camera and the detached camera use the 3D feature map to relocalize themselves and to determine their respective 6 DOF poses. The HMD receives the detached camera's image of the environment and the 6 DOF pose of the detached camera. A depth map of the environment is accessed. An overlaid image is generated by reprojecting a perspective of the detached camera's image to align with a perspective of the integrated camera and by overlaying the reprojected detached camera's image onto the integrated camera's image.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Christopher Douglas Edmonds
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Patent number: 11049675Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for a user input device, such as a game controller, that includes a finger-pressable (“tactile”) switch. The switch is adjustable to change the amount of force used to actuate the switch. In an example implementation, a tactile switch comprises a housing, a button interposer, a dome switch, and an adjustment mechanism. A user or other entity may press the button interposer. The dome switch is contained in the housing, and is actuated by the button interposer being pressed. The adjustment mechanism is contained at least partially in the housing, and is configured to enable an amount of force used to press the button interposer to actuate the dome switch to be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Aaron Schmitz
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Patent number: 11050944Abstract: An imaging system comprises an optical sensor array with a plurality of sensor elements, an objective lens, an active polarization filter, and associated logic. The objective lens is configured to direct light from a field of view onto the plurality of sensor elements. Switchable electronically between first and second operational states, the active polarization filter is positioned to filter the light en route to the optical sensor array. The active polarization filter provides unequal relative attenuance, in the first versus the second operational state, of nonparallel polarization components of the light. The logic is configured to switch the active polarization filter from the first operational state to the second operational state, and to compare a light-intensity response of the plurality of sensor elements in the first operational state to the light-intensity response of the plurality of sensor elements in the second operational state.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Ishan Chatterjee, Christian Holz
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Patent number: 11049496Abstract: Disclosed in some examples, are methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums for preventing unintended activation of voice command processing of a voice activated device. A first audio signal may be an audio signal that is to be output to a speaker communicatively coupled to the computing device. A second audio signal may be input from a microphone or other audio capture device. Both audio signals are input to a keyword detector to check for the presence of activation keywords. If the activation keyword(s) are detected in the second audio signal but not the first audio signal the voice command processing of the device is activated as this is likely a command from the user and not feedback from the loudspeaker.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Senthil Velayutham, Sriram Srinivasan
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Patent number: 11049228Abstract: Devices and methods for controlling display brightness may include receiving a brightness input for controlling a luminance level of at least one display in communication with the computer device. The devices and methods may include receiving high dynamic range (HDR) content and standard dynamic range (SDR) content for presentation on at least one display. The devices and methods may include generating adjusted SDR content by using the brightness input to modify luminance of the SDR content. The devices and methods may include blending the adjusted SDR content and the HDR content together to create a composed framebuffer content with the adjusted SDR content and the HDR content and transmitting the composed framebuffer content for presentation on at least one display.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Simon Young Tao, David Foster Spruill, Rajat Jain, Katie Anderson
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Patent number: 11050514Abstract: Improved techniques for recovering from an error condition without requiring a re-transmittal of data across a high-speed data link and for improved power usage are disclosed herein. A data stream is initiated. This stream includes different types of packets. Error correcting code (ECC) is selectively imposed on a control data type packet. A transmitter node and a receiver node are connected via a hard link that has multiple virtual channels. Each virtual channel is associated with a corresponding power-consuming node. When the receiver node receives the control data type packet, error correction is performed if needed without re-transmittal. When a final data type packet is transmitted for each virtual channel, the transmitter node transmits an end condition type packet. A corresponding power-consuming node that corresponds to the respective virtual channel transitions from an active state to a low power state.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Ryan Scott Haraden, Christopher Michael Babecki
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Patent number: 11051201Abstract: In some embodiments, a selection module associated with a control plane node implementing CUPS functionality can identify a user plane element for assigning user plane functionalities based on static and/or dynamic selection criteria. Dynamic criteria can include, for example, load information, latency, and hardware acceleration support. In some embodiments, a control plane node can determine whether to implement a CUPS or a non-CUPS session. If a non-CUPS session is determined, the CUPS control plane node can assume user plane functionalities in addition to control plane functionalities.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Prasasth Palnati, Girish Nair, Srinivas Kappla
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Patent number: 11050708Abstract: A system identifies a significant communication from a revived contact. A user and the contact interact, and the interaction is monitored to determine a weighted significance value to attribute to the contact. The interaction may include communication, a designation of significance by the user, and organizational associations. The weighted significance value is attributed to the contact. A subsequent communication is detected and a weighted time difference value for the subsequent communication is determined. If the subsequent communication satisfies a significant communication condition, then the subsequent communication is designated as a significant communication.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Venkat Sreekanth Kannepalli
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Patent number: 11051150Abstract: Systems and methods for improving efficiency in a mobile communications network are described. In one embodiment, a method for conserving network resources comprises releasing network resources related to a User Equipment (“UE”) session at one or more network nodes without notifying the UE. A subset of the session information that can be used to connect with the UE is stored at a network node. If data is received for the UE, the stored subset of information can be used to 1) establish network resources related to the UE that were previously released and 2) deliver the data to the UE. In another embodiment, shared data resources are granted to one or more subscribers associated with a Designated User Group (“DUG”). An online charging session is assigned to the DUG that identifies policy data for granting shared data resources to the Designated User Group.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Girish Nair, Srinivas Kappla
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Patent number: 11049674Abstract: Mechanical key design for keyboards often includes rubber or metal dome switches along with scissor mechanisms that offer a desirable feel and overall performance or achieve the key travel necessary to meet shrinking overall keyboard thickness specifications, but not both. Haptic feedback devices offer a user sensory feedback signifying a selection has been made without any physical travel of a keypad, but also may not offer the user a desirable feel and overall performance. The following describes in detail keys or push buttons that offer the user a desirable feel and performance, while meeting shrinking overall keyboard thickness specifications.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology LicensingInventors: David Michael Lane, Thomas Joseph Longo
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Patent number: 11050652Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying faulty links in a virtualized computing environment. Network path latency information is received for one or more network paths in the networked computing environment. Based on the network path latency information, a probable presence of a faulty component is determined. In response to the determination, physical links for a network path associated with the probable faulty component are identified. Information indicative of likely sources of the probable faulty component is received from multiple hosts of the networked computing environment. Based on the identified physical links and information, a faulty component is determined.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Shachar Raindel, Jitendra D. Padhye, Avi William Levy, Mahmoud S. El Haddad, Alireza Khosgoftar Monafared, Brian D. Zill, Behnaz Arzani, Xinchen Guo
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Patent number: 11050693Abstract: Implementations of systems and methods allow mobile users to send replies to, or to forward, truncated electronic mail messages, and yet still send the entire body of the original electronic mail message, without having to download the entire body of the mail message locally to the mobile device and then re-transmit the entire message from the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2010Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Frank S. Serdy, Jr., Selvaraj Nalliah, David R. Williamson
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Publication number: 20210191470Abstract: A display positioning assembly comprises a base portion and a display portion. The base portion comprises a base ferromagnetic component moveably retained within the base portion. The display portion comprises a display ferromagnetic component. The display portion is moveably coupled to the base portion. One or both of the base ferromagnetic component and display ferromagnetic component is a magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Kaitlyn Marley SCHOECK, Christina Ashley YEE, Robyn Rebecca Reed MCLAUGHLIN
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Publication number: 20210195325Abstract: A system and method for reducing audio feedback, and in particular ‘howling’, during a communication session involving two or more computing devices. The system determines that a first device is likely to join a meeting in which another, second device is already joined. In response, the system can cause the second device to broadcast a signal that, if detected by the first device, will indicate that the two devices are in auditory range of one another. As a result, the system can preemptively mute the audio components of the first device to prevent an audio stream of the first device from interfering with the audio already streaming via the second device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Philip Andrew EDRY, Jagan Jayaraj HOWE, Malarvizhi CHINNUSAMY
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Publication number: 20210192820Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to automatic weight calculation and determination of unassigned variables within an entity. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a display of automatically calculated weights for unassigned content mapped to an animation token in an animation set. For example, based on a user input of content without an assigned weight, the animation application may automatically calculate the unassigned weight (and any other unassigned weights for content mapped to an animation token). The automatically calculated unassigned weights may then be displayed without any additional user input along with an indication of automatic calculation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Xuelei ZHU
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Publication number: 20210195216Abstract: Non-transform blocks of video content may be coded by selectively changing a scanning order. In some implementations, an encoder or decoder may perform a scanning process on a block according to a scanning order. When the block has not been transformed, the encoder or decoder may selectively change the scanning order to a different order. For example, if the block is associated with a particular type of prediction, the scanning order may be changed to a different order. In another example, if the non-transform block has a size that is smaller than a predetermined size, the scanning order may be changed to a different order.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2021Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Xiulian Peng, Jizheng Xu
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Publication number: 20210191951Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a chatbot with a stance taking. Opinions may be extracted from candidate replies during a processing of conversation, and the extracted opinions may be compared with the stance taken by the chatbot so as to perform selection on the candidate replies and remove the candidate replies which have conflicts with the stance taken by the chatbot. With such technical solutions, the stance taken by the chatbot may be exhibited.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Bai SU, Chao MA, Changhai ZHOU, Shujun HUA, Yuan LU, Ning WEN
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Publication number: 20210192005Abstract: A proxy-based thin-client web browsing framework enables cooperative web browsing of multiple devices. The multiple devices may include devices that are not intended for web browsing and have limited or no web browsers and/or user input capabilities. The proxy-based thin client web browsing framework employs a virtual browser at a proxy server to perform all browser-engine logics, and retrieve, render and encode web pages on behalf of the multiple devices. The multiple devices therefore only need to have limited decoding and display capabilities to perform web browsing. The proxy-based thin client web browsing framework further includes a touch controller as a remote controller for a device that has no or limited user texting or manipulating capabilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2021Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Huifeng SHEN, Shipeng LI, Yan LU, Zhaotai PAN, Jianfeng WANG
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Patent number: D923456Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Joseph E. Ferreira, Madeline Brooke Timmins, Christopher J. Allen
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Patent number: D923461Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Jonne Aapi Harju, Young Soo Kim, Kae-Ling J. Gurr, Ryan Eugene Whitaker, Timothy G. Escolin, Yan Shang