微軟獲得第10000個美國專利

微軟在2009.2.10.宣布己獲得在美國的第10000個專利，該專利為US7,479,950號專利，是與表面運算技術有關，當使用者將一個實體的物件放置在電腦螢幕上時，電腦可自動辨識該物件並追蹤其位置及軌跡。

微軟對專利的投入
微軟每年投入在技術研發的資金約為80億美元，目前被引用次數最多的專利為US5,774,668號專利，這是一個線上服務系統技術，自1998年6月取得專利迄今，已被引用了302次。

US7,479,950
Title:Manipulating association of data with a physical object
Filing Date:2008.4.14
Issue date:2009.1.20
Abstract:
Data elements stored in a computing system and associated with a physical object are reassociated with the same or another physical object. An identifying characteristic presented by the physical object, such as a reflective pattern applied to the object, is detected when the object is positioned adjacent to the interactive display surface. Images or other files associated with the identifying characteristic are accessed and displayed on the interactive display surface. A gesture by a user adjacent to the interactive display surface is detected to reassociate a selected representation. For example, the user can change where the selected element fits in a sequence of data elements, or reassociate the selected element with a second object placed on the interactive display surface. In a networked environment, the reassociated element can be stored on a server and subsequently accessed from a different interactive surface via the network using the second physical object.