The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 03, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 30, 2004
Daniel Ryan Lehenbauer, Redmond, WA (US);
Jeffrey Thomas Chrisope, Kirkland, WA (US);
Jessica Lynn Fosler, Redmond, WA (US);
Jian Yuan, New Haven, CT (US);
Daniel Ryan Lehenbauer, Redmond, WA (US);
Jeffrey Thomas Chrisope, Kirkland, WA (US);
Jessica Lynn Fosler, Redmond, WA (US);
Jian Yuan, New Haven, CT (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
An API is provided for positioning items in a table. The API allows a number of columns or a number of rows, or both, to be specified for a table. Any items to be placed in the table may be identified for the API. Items may be 'moveable,' or not associated with fixed positions in the table. The moveable items may be placed adjacently in the table to fill a first row. New rows or columns may be generated to accommodate additional items. Items may also be 'fixed,' or associated with fixed positions in the table. Moveable items may fill in around the fixed items. A novel algorithm is provided to efficiently place both moveable and fixed items in a table. An on-demand reservation grid may be used in conjunction with the algorithm, thereby accommodating items that span multiple columns and/or rows.