Nathaniel H Ballou from Bainbridge Island, WA, age 62

Us Patents

File System For Displaying Items Of Different Types And From Different Physical Locations
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US Patent:

7499925, Mar 3, 2009
Filed:

Mar 27, 2003
Appl. No.:

10/403175
Inventors:

Jason F. Moore - Kirkland WA, US
David De Vorchik - Seattle WA, US
Sasanka C. Chalivendra - Redmond WA, US
Nathaniel H. Ballou - Kirkland WA, US
Chris J. Guzak - Kirkland WA, US
Shaun A. Kaasten - Kirkland WA, US
Richard M. Banks - Kirkland WA, US
David J. Sheldon - Seattle WA, US
Patrice L. Miner - Kirkland WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/00
US Classification:

707 10, 707 1, 707100, 707102, 7071041
Abstract:

A file system for displaying items of different types and from different physical locations. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a wide scope of items may be available. In other words, the system is able to represent items from multiple physical locations (e. g. , different hard drives, different computers, different network locations, etc. ) so that to a user all the items appear to be from one location. The file system utilizes virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, non-file items may be represented in the virtual folders. In other words, files that are stored in memory are located in a physical store. The virtual folders can be made to include items that are not currently represented in the physical store.

System And Method For Virtual Folder Sharing Including Utilization Of Static And Dynamic Lists
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US Patent:

7526483, Apr 28, 2009
Filed:

Oct 23, 2003
Appl. No.:

10/691841
Inventors:

Mohammed Samji - Bellevue WA, US
David G. De Vorchik - Seattle WA, US
Ram Ramasubramanian - Bellevue WA, US
Chris J. Guzak - Kirkland WA, US
Timothy P. McKee - Seattle WA, US
Nathaniel H. Ballou - Kirkland WA, US
Balan Sethu Raman - Redmond WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/00
US Classification:

707 10, 707 1, 707 9, 707102, 7071041
Abstract:

A system and method for virtual folder sharing, including utilization of static and dynamic lists. Static and dynamic lists may be created as types of virtual folders. Virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. A static list consists of a folder of items that are in a specific order, while a dynamic list gathers a set of items based on a scope and a set of criteria. When a list is shared, the actual list is left in place on the sharer's machine or server, while permission is granted to the sharee to remotely access the list and the referenced items. If the list is changed by adding or removing items, these items are also automatically re-permissioned to allow or disallow the sharee to have access to the items.

System And Method For Filtering And Organizing Items Based On Common Elements
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US Patent:

7627552, Dec 1, 2009
Filed:

Mar 27, 2003
Appl. No.:

10/403341
Inventors:

Jason F. Moore - Kirkland WA, US
David De Vorchik - Seattle WA, US
Sasanka C. Chalivendra - Redmond WA, US
Nathaniel H. Ballou - Kirkland WA, US
Chris J. Guzak - Kirkland WA, US
Shaun A. Kaasten - Kirkland WA, US
Richard M. Banks - Kirkland WA, US
David J. Sheldon - Seattle WA, US
Patrice L. Miner - Kirkland WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F 17/30
US Classification:

707 3, 715854
Abstract:

A system and method for filtering and organizing items from computer memories based on common elements. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, filters are provided for manipulating the items. The filters are essentially tools for narrowing down a set of items. In one embodiment, the filters are dynamically generated based on the properties of the separate items. The system utilizes virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, quick links are provided. In one embodiment, quick links are a set of predefined links (e. g. , located on the left side of the display) that can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, libraries are provided.

System And Method For Storing And Presenting Images And Related Items To A User
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US Patent:

7788144, Aug 31, 2010
Filed:

Sep 1, 2004
Appl. No.:

10/931889
Inventors:

Alexander Vaschillo - Redmond WA, US
Bradley P. Gibson - Seattle WA, US
Christopher A. Evans - Sammamish WA, US
John C. Platt - Redmond WA, US
Nathaniel H. Ballou - Kirkland WA, US
Paul S. Hellyar - Redmond WA, US
Scott E. Dart - Lynnwood WA, US
Steve C. Glenner - Bellevue WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F 17/30
G03F 3/10
US Classification:

705 27, 396639
Abstract:

A system and method for presenting images and related items to a user. A digital image from a data store is assessed, and a portion of the image is defined as a region of interest. Properties are associated with this defined region, and these properties are utilized to infer relationships between the region of interest and related items in the data store. Optionally, a user input indicating a desire to view related content may be received and such content may be presented to the user.

System And Method Utilizing Virtual Folders
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US Patent:

7925682, Apr 12, 2011
Filed:

Mar 27, 2003
Appl. No.:

10/403174
Inventors:

Jason F. Moore - Kirkland WA, US
David De Vorchik - Seattle WA, US
Sasanka C. Chalivendra - Redmond WA, US
Nathaniel H. Ballou - Kirkland WA, US
Chris J. Guzak - Kirkland WA, US
Shaun A. Kaasten - Kirkland WA, US
Richard M. Banks - Kirkland WA, US
David J. Sheldon - Seattle WA, US
Patrice L. Miner - Kirkland WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F 12/00
G06F 17/30
US Classification:

707831, 715727
Abstract:

A system and method utilizing virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. The virtual folders contain collections of items. The system includes a folder processor that obtains queries from a user and a relational database for storing information about the items. The folder processor first obtains a query from a user and passes the query to the relational database. The relational database provides results back to the folder processor, and based on the results from the relational database, the folder processor provides the results to the user as virtual folders. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e. g. , clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc. ).

System And Method For Virtual Folder Sharing Including Utilization Of Static And Dynamic Lists
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US Patent:

8117226, Feb 14, 2012
Filed:

Mar 6, 2009
Appl. No.:

12/399562
Inventors:

Mohammed Samji - Bellevue WA, US
David G. De Vorchik - Seattle WA, US
Ram Ramasubramanian - Bellevue WA, US
Chris J. Guzak - Kirkland WA, US
Timothy P. McKee - Seattle WA, US
Nathaniel H. Ballou - Kirkland WA, US
Balan Sethu Raman - Redmond WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30
US Classification:

707769, 707770, 707802, 707803, 707812, 713161, 713166, 713170
Abstract:

A system and method for virtual folder sharing, including utilization of static and dynamic lists. Static and dynamic lists may be created as types of virtual folders. Virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. A static list consists of a folder of items that are in a specific order, while a dynamic list gathers a set of items based on a scope and a set of criteria. When a list is shared, the actual list is left in place on the sharer's machine or server, while permission is granted to the sharee to remotely access the list and the referenced items. If the list is changed by adding or removing items, these items are also automatically re-permissioned to allow or disallow the sharee to have access to the items.

Systems And Methods For The Implementation Of A Digital Images Schema For Organizing Units Of Information Manageable By A Hardware/Software Interface System
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US Patent:

8238696, Aug 7, 2012
Filed:

Oct 24, 2003
Appl. No.:

10/692779
Inventors:

Scott E. Dart - Lynnwood WA, US
Bradley P. Gibson - Seattle WA, US
Christopher A. Evans - Sammamish WA, US
Paul S. Hellyar - Kirkland WA, US
Alexander Vaschillo - Redmond WA, US
John C. Platt - Redmond WA, US
Steve C. Glenner - Bellevue WA, US
Nathaniel H. Ballou - Kirkland WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:

G06K 9/60
US Classification:

382305, 382228, 715762, 715826
Abstract:

In an Item-based system, Images (e. g. , JPEG, TIFF, bitmap, and so on) are treated as core platform objects (“Image Items” or, more simply, “Images”) and exist in an “Image Schema” that provides an extensible representation of an Image in the system—that is, the characteristics of an Image and how that Image relates to other Items (including but not limited to other Images) in the system. To this end, the Image Schema defines the properties, behaviors, and relationships for Images in the system, and the Schema also enforces rules about Images, for example, what data specific Images must contain, what data specific Images may optionally contain, how specific Images can be extended, and so on and so forth.

File System Shell
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US Patent:

20040230599, Nov 18, 2004
Filed:

May 16, 2003
Appl. No.:

10/440431
Inventors:

Jason Moore - Redmond WA, US
Nathaniel Ballou - Kirkland WA, US
Richard Banks - Egham, GB
Tyler Beam - Redmond WA, US
David De Vorchik - Seattle WA, US
Chris Guzak - Kirkland WA, US
Judson Hally - Sammamish WA, US
James Kurtz - Seattle WA, US
Patrice Miner - Kirkland WA, US
David Sheldon - Seattle WA, US
Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation
International Classification:

G06F007/00
US Classification:

707/102000
Abstract:

A file system shell is provided. One aspect of the shell provides virtual folders which expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.). Filters are provided for narrowing down sets of items. Quick links are provided which can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. Libraries are provided which consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together, along with functions and tools related to the items. A virtual address bar is provided which comprises a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a filter for selecting content. A shell browser is provided with which users can readily identify an item based on the metadata associated with that item. An object previewer in a shell browser is provided which is configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types.