Michael Joseph Hopcroft

US Patent:

6359629, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Jul 6, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/111284

Inventors:

Michael J. Hopcroft - Kirkland WA

Assignee:

Silicon Graphics, Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

G06T 1530

US Classification:

345620, 345423, 345427, 345619, 345623

Abstract:

A method of efficiently removing backfacing primitives from the graphics pipeline such that rendering efficiency is increased. In one embodiment of the present invention, a bounding cone of normal vectors of a primitive is first determined during pre-processing. During the rendering process, before the primitive is drawn, the bounding cone is compared with a half-space defined by a viewing vector. Primitives whose bounding cones do not intersect with the half-space will be removed from further processing. In this way, rendering efficiency is increased. In another embodiment, a normal bit-vector is used to represent normal directions of a primitive, and a visibility bit-vector is used to represent visible normal directions. In that embodiment, primitives are culled efficiently by comparing the normal bit-vector with the visibility bit-vector.

US Patent:

6373997, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

Mar 29, 1993

Appl. No.:

08/043135

Inventors:

Peter C. Wayner - Ithaca NY
Daniel P. Huttenlocher - Ithaca NY
Michael J. Hopcroft - Ithaca NY
Todd A. Cass - Cambridge MA

Assignee:

Xerox Corporation - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06K 936

US Classification:

382289

Abstract:

A processor measures skew of lines in an image by obtaining a first, coarse approximation to skew direction and then using the first approximation to obtain a second, fine approximation that is more precise than the first. A third, even more precise approximation can be obtained using the second approximation, and further successive approximations can be similarly obtained. In an image of text, the first approximation can be obtained by finding the direction in which characters are closest together, since intercharacter distances are typically smaller than interline distances. This direction can be determined by measuring distances from selected pixels at edges of connected components across white pixels to edges of other connected components. The measured distances in each direction can be combined to obtain a central value for the direction, such as an average. The central values form a profile indicating central value as a function of direction.

US Patent:

6874143, Mar 29, 2005

Filed:

Jun 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/599812

Inventors:

Michael C. Murray - Kirkland WA, US
Paul R. Erickson - Sammamish WA, US
Oliver G. Fisher - Ottawa, CA
Suryanarayanan V. Raman - Mercer Island WA, US
Michael J. Hopcroft - Kirkland WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F009/44
G06F003/00

US Classification:

717173, 717169, 717168, 717170, 717171, 719328

Abstract:

Methods and systems for network-based or Internet-based software delivery are described. In one embodiment, an application program or software platform resides on a client. The program or platform is configured so that it is extensible based on software extensions that are deliverable over a network such as the Internet. Various extensions can be developed by third party developers for incorporation into the program or platform. In the described embodiment, extension files that comprise a software extension are hosted on an Internet server. Additional files are also hosted on the Internet server and describe aspects of the software extension. These additional files include files that describe a logical attachment of the extension to the program of platform, as well as files that describe the location of the extension files. Extensions are incorporated on a client by navigating to a particular Internet site through which the extensions can be accessed. The files describing the extension files are downloaded on the client.

US Patent:

7346848, Mar 18, 2008

Filed:

Jun 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/599298

Inventors:

Scott L. Ruthfield - Seattle WA, US
Richard J. Wolf - Seattle WA, US
Michael J. Hopcroft - Kirkland WA, US
Paul R. Erickson - Sammamish WA, US
Satoshi Nakajima - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00
G06F 15/16

US Classification:

715749, 715802

Abstract:

A user interface (UI) in the form of a single navigable window enables a user to navigate to and between multiple different functionalities that are provided by a single application program. Novel use is made of a navigation model that manages the user's navigation activities to and between the different functionalities. Navigation instrumentalities enable the user to navigate among the different functionalities and include links to each of the different functionalities as well as browser-like navigation buttons. Context-sensitive command sets can also be provided along with the single navigable window. The context sensitive command sets include commands that automatically change as the user's computing context changes, e. g. as the user moves from functionality to functionality. The single application can be defined as a software platform that is extensible to receive and incorporate different functionalities.

US Patent:

7392522, Jun 24, 2008

Filed:

Sep 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/953933

Inventors:

Michael C. Murray - Kirkland WA, US
Paul R. Erickson - Sammamish WA, US
Oliver G. Fisher - Ottawa, CA
Michael J. Hopcroft - Kirkland WA, US
Suryanarayanan V. Raman - Mercer Island WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 9/45

US Classification:

717174

Abstract:

Methods and systems for network-based or Internet-based software delivery are described. In one embodiment, an application program or software platform resides on a client. The program or platform is configured so that it is extensible based on software extensions that are deliverable over a network such as the Internet. Various extensions can be developed by third party developers for incorporation into the program or platform. In the described embodiment, extension files that comprise a software extension are hosted on an Internet server. Additional files are also hosted on the Internet server and describe aspects of the software extension. These additional files include files that describe a logical attachment of the extension to the program or platform, as well as files that describe the location of the extension files. Extensions are incorporated on a client by navigating to a particular Internet site through which the extensions can be accessed. The files describing the extension files are downloaded on the client.

US Patent:

7512896, Mar 31, 2009

Filed:

Jul 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/898656

Inventors:

Eric S. Rockey - Seattle WA, US
Shannon P. Talbott - Kirkland WA, US
Gavin M. Kelly - Seattle WA, US
Nancy E. Jacobs - Redmond WA, US
Michael J. Hopcroft - Kirkland WA, US
Daniel J. Westreich - Seattle WA, US
Jonathan D. Perlow - Seattle WA, US
Paul R. Erickson - Sammamish WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00

US Classification:

715779, 715811

Abstract:

Methods and systems present commands to a user within a software application program by determining the user's context within the application program and automatically presenting in a user interface commands that pertain to the user's current context. When the user's context changes, the context-sensitive commands are automatically removed from the user interface. In one implementation context blocks and context panes are employed to present the commands.

US Patent:

7610562, Oct 27, 2009

Filed:

Jul 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/898657

Inventors:

Eric S. Rockey - Seattle WA, US
Shannon P. Talbott - Kirkland WA, US
Gavin M. Kelly - Seattle WA, US
Nancy E. Jacobs - Redmond WA, US
Michael J. Hopcroft - Kirkland WA, US
Daniel J. Westreich - Seattle WA, US
Jonathan D. Perlow - Seattle WA, US
Paul R. Erickson - Sammamish WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/048

US Classification:

715811, 715779, 715826

Abstract:

Methods and systems present commands to a user within a software application program by determining the user's context within the application program and automatically presenting in a user interface commands that pertain to the user's current context. When the user's context changes, the context-sensitive commands are automatically removed from the user interface. In one implementation context blocks and context panes are employed to present the commands.

US Patent:

7624356, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Jun 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/599086

Inventors:

Eric S. Rockey - Seattle WA, US
Shannon P. Talbott - Kirkland WA, US
Gavin M. Kelly - Seattle WA, US
Nancy E. Jacobs - Redmond WA, US
Michael J. Hopcroft - Kirkland WA, US
Daniel J. Westreich - Seattle WA, US
Jonathan D. Perlow - Seattle WA, US
Paul R. Erickson - Sammamish WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/048

US Classification:

715811, 715779, 715826

Abstract:

Methods and systems present commands to a user within a software application program by determining the user's context within the application program and automatically presenting in a user interface commands that pertain to the user's current context. When the user's context changes, the context-sensitive commands are automatically removed from the user interface. In one implementation context blocks and context panes are employed to present the commands.

Address:

910 5 St, Kirkland, WA 98033

VIN:

JTEES42A682021699

Make:

TOYOTA

Model:

HIGHLANDER

Year:

2008