Patents Examined by Brian J. Detwiler
  • Patent number: 7111254
    Abstract: A system for modifying a cursor image, as displayed on a video monitor of a remote terminal, to a specific image having a desired shape and appearance. The system stores cursor image data corresponding to the specific image, and a cursor display code. The cursor display code contains information in response to which the cursor image is modified to the specific image. A server computer transmits specified information to the remote terminal. The information includes at least one cursor display instruction. The cursor display instruction is operable to modify, in conjunction with the cursor information and the cursor image data, a cursor image displayed by a display of the remote terminal in the shape and appearance of the specific image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Comet Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Samuel Rosen, Thomas A. Schmitter, Mark S. Hall
  • Patent number: 7107548
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of dynamically controlling and displaying an Internet browser interface, and to a dynamically controllable Internet browser interface. In accordance with the present invention, a browser interface may be customized using a controlling software program that may be provided by an Internet content provider, an ISP, or that may reside on an Internet user's computer. The controlling software program enables the Internet user, the content provider, or the ISP to customize and control the information and/or functionality of a user's browser and browser interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Shafron
  • Patent number: 7000189
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring information a data processing network. A client device suitable for connecting to the network includes a client application configured to receive information from the network and to present the received information to a user as audio information. The server is configured to provide information to the client data processing device responsive to the client request. The system is configured to determine when at least a portion of the information provided by the server is unsuitable for presentation by the client and to respond to the determination by storing the information for later access by the user, presenting a visually enhanced version of the information to the user, or providing portions of the information suitable for audio presentation to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Mahcines Corporation
    Inventors: Rabindranath Dutta, Richard Scott Schwerdtfeger, Lawrence Frank Weiss
  • Patent number: 6981225
    Abstract: Software may be provided for indicating the difference between an earlier cached version and a current version of a web page. This saves the user the trouble of comparing the two pages to determine whether there are changes that would be of interest. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the navigation bar of a web browser may include a button to allow the user to select a subtract or differencing feature. Once selected, the current version of a display web page is compared to a cached version of the web page and any differences are either highlighted or displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur L. Gaudette
  • Patent number: 6981224
    Abstract: In a method for delivering information to a person accessing a banner website from a terminal located remote from the source of the banner website the terminal has an associated display upon which the content of the website is visually perceived by a person using the terminal and a cursor whose position is controllable by the person. The method includes providing initial signals from the source of the website or from another remote source when the website is accessed by the person to establish a banner area on the display, the banner area including banner information that is visually perceivable by the person when the website is accessed and plural sub-areas of the banner area having respective associations with additional visually perceivable information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Point Roll, Inc.
    Inventors: Jules E. Gardner, Keith J. Gelles, Brian P. Sloyer
  • Patent number: 6976216
    Abstract: Computer software allowing enhanced control of the playout of audio/video works on a computer system. In various embodiments, the software allows key events from dedicated audio/video keys, whether part of a full sized keyboard or on a hand held remote, to control the actions of an audio/video playout program without requiring the user to direct the key event focus of the operating system to the audio/video playout program. Also, the invention distinguishes between key presses from a local, full sized keyboard and key presses from a remote keyboard so that the audio/video playout program can enlarge its screen display when a key event is received from the remote keyboard. In one embodiment, the invention constantly instructs the operating system to move the focus to the audio/video playout program. In another embodiment, if the focus is received by any of various windows in a display, software associated with the window forwards to the audio/video playout program any key events received from audio/video keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: StreamZap, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonah Peskin, Robert Richmond
  • Patent number: 6976230
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying three-dimensional graphics, is disclosed, which comprises: a reader for reading coordinate data of objects to be displayed; another reader for reading coordinate data of a complete floor to be displayed; a generator for generating coordinate data of each partial floor disposed under a lower surface of each object; an input device for inputting viewpoint position data; and a generator for generating display data to which a hidden surface process have been applied on the basis of the coordinate data of the objects, the complete floor, and the partial floors and the viewpoint position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6973623
    Abstract: A system and method for integrating multiple refresh functions inline with a visible refresh button control is provided. When a user wants to change a type of refresh mode due to the type of work being performed, a user selects the refresh setup drop down arrow key. A user has a refresh mode selection of manual, manual override, or auto mode. A user also has a preferences area to set screen refresh trigger thresholds for manual override and auto mode. For example, a user can set a trigger to wait until a task is completed before performing a screen refresh. A user is able to manually perform a screen refresh in override and auto mode by pressing the refresh button. Further disclosed are an information handling system and a computer program product each providing multiple refresh mode functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alex D. Little, John E. Lynde, III, Mark E. Molander
  • Patent number: 6968506
    Abstract: A system for composing an audio-visual presentation over a communications network includes a composer system having a computer processor and associated memory and a telephone device, the composer system having a presentation containing at least one visual slide stored in the memory, and a host system including a computer processor and associated memory. The composer system: A. establishes a connection between the computer processor and the host system over a communications network and uploads the presentation to the host system over the communications network; and B. establishes a connection between the telephone device and the host system and records an audio narration clip for each of the at least one visual slide. The host system synchronizes each audio narration clip with its associated visual slide and stores the resulting audio-visual presentation in the memory of the host system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Brainshark, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Yacovone, Chris Paul
  • Patent number: 6964025
    Abstract: A tool that enables a user to easily and automatically create a photo gallery of thumbnail images on a Web page. A user selects a group of original images, and the tool automatically produces a corresponding group of thumbnail images on the Web page, with hyperlinks to the corresponding original images. Four predefined templates are included, each defining a different format for the thumbnail images including a vertically oriented gallery, a horizontally oriented gallery, a slide show gallery, and a montage gallery. Captions and descriptive text can also be entered and displayed for the thumbnail images in most of the style galleries. An edit function enables a user to add or delete images to existing galleries and to automatically modify the appearance of a photo gallery by selecting and applying a different template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Angiulo, Benjamin E. Canning, Zhenguang Chen, Charles W. Parker, Lou Nell Gerard
  • Patent number: 6959419
    Abstract: An information collecting system and method for providing information to members of the audience at theaters where movies and theatrical productions are presented, collecting information from the members of the audience, and compiling the information from the members of the audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Taniwaki
  • Patent number: 6952805
    Abstract: The system and method of the present invention automatically provides dynamically generated completion information for facilitating user input of email addresses or contact information. This completion information is developed from a “data store” comprised of multiple data sources such as previously sent or received email, and other types of electronic files such as word processor or spreadsheet files. The present invention monitors and uses the information in the data store to automatically store, track, maintain, and organize data entries in a dynamic “resolution list”. As a user begins to input an email address or contact, the present invention can either automatically complete the entry using a most probable result from the resolution list, or can display a list of likely matches from which the user may select the desired email address or contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Tafoya, David S. Cortright, Daniel W. Crevier, James J. O'Connor, Michael W. Fullerton, Jud E. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6944831
    Abstract: A programmable controller has a processing unit, a display screen, an operator unit, and signal inputs and signal outputs. The processing unit, the display screen, the operator unit, the signal inputs, and signal outputs are accommodated in a common housing, and switching functions can be programmed by the user on the basis of predetermined functions by using a menu-assisted user interface on the display screen. A button of the operator unit can be switched to an active button through the use of a programmable function, such that the sequence of a switching function depends on operation of this button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Moeller GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Bauerfeind
  • Patent number: 6931593
    Abstract: An automatic channel generator and a method for generating a channel based upon the utilization of a device and activities occurring on the device. A device is connected to a local network hub, which may be integral to an information appliance. The information appliance is capable of searching the Internet for data associated with media being delivered by a device on the local network system. The aggregates of content can be collected automatically, and its presentation may be customized by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Gateway Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon A. Grooters
  • Patent number: 6577330
    Abstract: A storage unit 5102 stores image data for a window, and a three-dimensional position calculating unit 5104 calculates a position for the window in a virtual three-dimensional space so that it appears to be at a position inclined in the depth direction. A perspective projection unit 5106 transforms image data so that a window positioned at the calculated coordinates is projected onto a screen in perspective, taking a point in front of the screen as a viewpoint. A frame memory unit 5107 holds image data for the window on which perspective projection has been performed, and a display unit 5108 displays the window on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjirou Tsuda, Satoru Inagaki
  • Patent number: 6573909
    Abstract: A display system for performing a multi-media work that includes image data and sound data associated with the image data. The system includes a display for displaying an image derived from said image data, an audio playback system for combining and playing first and second audio tracks, and a pointing system for selecting a region of the image on the display in response to commands from a user of the display system. The system also includes a playback processor for altering the combination of the first and second audio tracks played by the audio playback system in response to the pointing system selecting a new region. The playback processor also alters the display such that the portion of the image selected by the pointing system is centered in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Kagenori Nagao