Patents Examined by Cao (Kevin) Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7320110
    Abstract: A multiple language user interface system for a thermal comfort controller. The user interface system has a central processing unit coupled to a memory, a language selector and a touch sensitive display unit. The memory can store at least one user interface object and at least one control algorithm. In some embodiments, the user interface system also has a network interface for connecting to the Internet or other network. In some embodiments, the first time the user interface system is powered-up after installation, a first set of user interface objects are displayed on the display unit and the user selects a preferred language. Once a preferred language is chosen, user interface objects can be loaded into the memory and the display unit will display the user interface objects in the preferred language. In some embodiments, control algorithms are loaded into memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Dipak J. Shah
  • Patent number: 7318200
    Abstract: A system for organizing data is provided that includes a default template library and a universe of fields, each of the fields selectable by a user to apply to a particular modifiable template. The default template library includes a plurality of modifiable templates adapted to describe financial transactions. The system may further includes a processor adapted to relate business data according to a plurality of relations established by the particular modifiable template. The template relates the subset of fields to describe a financial transaction. A method is provided for structuring financial data in a database of transactions that includes selecting a template of a transaction and selecting at least one field for the financial data from a set of fields associated with the template to form a customized template. The customized template describes a relationship between the financial data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Thomas Maur, Michael Hladik, Markus Roeckelein
  • Patent number: 7318195
    Abstract: A mapping system that integrates tactile language (specifically level 1 Braille) with the visual alphanumeric alphabet. A unified tacto-visual form of communication and recording is created. Alphanumeric characters present simultaneous direct relationships between the individual alphanumeric elements and their tactile corollaries within a single form. Segments of each alphanumeric character are configured to meet at points of tactility. Tacto-visual characters comprised of two languages (i.e. Level 1 Braille and the visual alphanumeric character set) are created. Configurations of characters create a legible and readable simultaneous form of communication. The invention provides a tactile surface for blind readers to engage with a visual source for full vision readers and a hybrid for low vision readers. Tactile communication can occupy a same location as the alphanumeric visual communication thereby providing an interface for both the visually-impaired and the full-vision user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventor: Sean Donahue
  • Patent number: 7315987
    Abstract: An image administration method, apparatus or program for storing image data and for making contents of the image data to be browsed from outside of an image administration apparatus. The image administration method, apparatus or program comprising the steps or means of: managing image data by a directory employing a user name and a job name; controlling the image administration apparatus so that the image data, identified by the user name, is accessed by inputting the user name; and generating thumbnail image of at least one page of the image data, provided with a file name relating to the job name, so that the thumbnail image is browsed from outside of the image administration apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Tanaka, Junichi Isamikawa
  • Patent number: 7313766
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for enabling users to create customized user interfaces in accordance with their preferences. The user interface is structured as a node map, wherein nodes may be added to the node map in accordance with the user's needs. The nodes may be connected there-between to define relationships between the different nodes. The nodes may have an attachment, an action, an application and/or the like associated therewith. The user may perform a variety of other functions to customize, alter or expand the information depicted on their user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: NOKIA Corporation
    Inventors: Kaisa Kautto Kiovula, Marita Huhtaniemi, Petri Lähdesmäki, Petri Mäenpää
  • Patent number: 7313765
    Abstract: In a cell based EUI, existing display container cells nested within a “host” display container cell are automatically shifted and/or downsized, if necessary, to increase available space to facilitate the creation of another display container cell nested within the “host” display container cell, in response to a request to perform the creation. Similar shifting and/or downsizing are performed to facilitate expansion of one of the nested display container cells; and shifting and upsizing are performed to facilitate contraction of one of the nested display container cells. Like kind of shifting and/or downsizing/upsizing are performed on existing display container cell to facilitate creation, expansion or contraction of a display action cell. The hierarchical relationship of the display container and action cells, and the automatic relative resizing of the container and action cells enable user interactions otherwise unavailable under prior art EUI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Broadband Graphics LLC
    Inventors: Steve D. Taylor, Axel M. Koenig
  • Patent number: 7305628
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method for displaying appropriately on the display area for each processing unit such as an application according to the applied equipment. The CPU 12 processes display area acquisition requests from a plurality of processing units R1-Rn according to a display management program. The display management program decides whether use of the display area is allowed to each processing unit, considering the relationship of the plurality of display areas requested from each processing unit R1-Rn. Each processing unit R1-Rn executes display processing for the display area for which use is allowed. In this way, whether use is allowed is notified from the display management program to each processing unit R1-Rn after each processing unit R1-Rn sends the display area acquisition request. As a consequence, display in a plurality of areas by each processing unit R1-Rn can be controlled appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Sekiguchi, Taketo Yoshii, Kouichi Yasutake, Kazuo Okamura
  • Patent number: 7302647
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method for displaying appropriately on the display area for each processing unit such as an application according to the applied equipment. The CPU 12 processes display area acquisition requests from a plurality of processing units R1-Rn according to a display management program. The display management program decides whether use of the display area is allowed to each processing unit, considering the relationship of the plurality of display areas requested from each processing unit R1-Rn. Each processing unit R1-Rn executes display processing for the display area for which use is allowed. In this way, whether use is allowed is notified from the display management program to each processing unit R1-Rn after each processing unit R1-Rn sends the display area acquisition request. As a consequence, display in a plurality of areas by each processing unit R1-Rn can be controlled appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Sekiguchi, Taketo Yoshii, Kouichi Yasutake, Kazuo Okamura
  • Patent number: 7302645
    Abstract: Systems and methods that identify manipulated articles are described. In one embodiment, a search engine implements a method comprising determining at least one cluster comprising a plurality of articles, analyzing signals to determine an overall signal for the cluster, and determining if the articles are manipulated articles based at least in part on the overall signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Monika Henzinger, Alexander Mark Franz
  • Patent number: 7299423
    Abstract: The image of a subject is sensed in a photo studio using a digital still camera, and a thumbnail image containing less data than a high-resolution main image representing the image of the subject is generated. Data representing the generated thumbnail image is transmitted to a file apparatus located in another room. The thumbnail-image data requires a shorter transmission time because it contains a smaller amount of data. As a result, the thumbnail image representing the subject is displayed more rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Watanabe, Minoru Arai
  • Patent number: 7296239
    Abstract: Disclosed is a graphical user interface, comprising a plurality of main displays, each for displaying an image set, a user interactive system for receiving from a user a first location of an object-of-interest in one of said image sets, and a correlation system for finding and displaying a second location, corresponding to said first location, of a corresponding second volume-of-interest in at least one of said other image sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Corporate Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Shen, Jianzhong Qian, Li Fan
  • Patent number: 7296237
    Abstract: A data replication system and method. The method and apparatus provides for an efficient means of replicating data over a network in the form of a file between two individuals, or within defined groups of individuals, using a variety of devices to access the Internet, including computers, personal data assistants (“PDA”s) and wireless devices. A group is formed through an exchange of invitation, acceptance, and welcome messages. A group member designates a replication directory on the group member's computer. Files placed in the directory are replicated and stored in the replication directory of each of the other members of the group. Any change to a replicated file causes a message by one member to be sent to all other members. Changes are conveyed via patches that represent the changes made to a replicated file. Replicated files are saved without replacing previous versions of the replicated file. The group formation and file replication processes are accomplished using existing network protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Shinkuro, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Crocker, Jeffrey Kay
  • Patent number: 7290211
    Abstract: A method and system for selection of recordable events from among a set of recordable events, based on categories and sub-categories, that cumulatively describe a substantial portion of the entire set of recordable events. After receiving a first set of categories, and first sets of sub-categories corresponding to the first set of categories, at a device, the device is configured to use the first set of categories and the first set of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record. Thereafter, the device receives a second set of categories and respective second sets of sub-categories that correspond to the categories of the second set of categories, and the device responsively configures itself to use the second set of categories and the second sets of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Goodwin, Lynda Kitlyn Seto, David Allen Westerhoff
  • Patent number: 7290222
    Abstract: Methods for displaying a set of hierarchical data and a set of non-hierarchical data on an electronic display comprise displaying at least part of the set of hierarchical data in a tree diagram that has a plurality of levels with one or more nodes present at each level, and displaying the set of non-hierarchical data in a plurality of auxiliary nodes that are provided in between levels of the tree diagram. Expansion handles may also be displayed adjacent nodes in the tree diagram. These expansion handles may be configured to expand or collapse the tree diagram at the node they are adjacent to. The expansion handles may optionally be configured to display or hide selected of the auxiliary nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Rocco Guido, Robert Charles Leah, Paul Franklin McMahan
  • Patent number: 7290223
    Abstract: A user interface is animated and configurable to optimize, facilitate and simplify displaying on a display device and exploring via user input a hierarchy of information accessible by an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Groxis, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean Michel Decombe
  • Patent number: 7290221
    Abstract: A method for providing three-dimensional object fabrication status includes the steps of: receiving data pertaining to three-dimensional object(s) fabrication progress; and controlling a graphical user interface to provide a visual representation of the three-dimensional object(s) fabrication progress in the form of one or more progressively filled-in wireframe model representations of the three-dimensional object(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daryl E. Anderson, Andrew L. Van Brocklin
  • Patent number: 7284207
    Abstract: A user interface on a display enables user perception of information regarding a communications session that leverages an instant messaging platform. The user interface includes an instant messaging application user interface and one or more tear-off elements corresponding to ongoing instant messaging communications sessions. Each tear-off element is configured to enable perception and selection by a user of a corresponding instant messaging communications session. Also, each tear-off element is configured to be independently visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate entity on the instant messaging application user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventors: James Andrew Canfield, Kenneth Carbone, David Fairlie Colburn, Linda Nols Myers, Thomas E. Lenten, Gregory Alan Willis
  • Patent number: 7278102
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described that assist media players in rendering different media types. In some embodiments, a unified rendering area is provided and managed such that multiple different media types are rendered by the media player in the same user interface area. This unified rendering area thus permits different media types to be presented to a user in an integrated and organized manner. An underlying object model promotes the unified rendering area by providing a base rendering object that has properties that are shared among the different media types. Object sub-classes are provided and are each associated with a different media type, and have properties that extend the shared properties of the base rendering object. In addition, an inventive approach to visualizations is presented that provides better synchronization between a visualization and its associated audio stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tedd Dideriksen, Chris Feller, Geoffrey Harris, Michael J. Novak, Kipley J. Olson
  • Patent number: 7278106
    Abstract: A configuration management system having configuration management functions accessible from an Explorer style interface including a tree view listing of objects within the configuration management system and a list view of components and relationships associated with an object selected from the tree view listing. The interface allows for configuration management functions to be invoked via drag and drop procedures alone, from specialized menus, including pull down and right click windows and pages, and from a combination of drag and drop and menus. A report generator provides for various reports based on selected object types. A web interface allows for configuration management functions to be performed across a network and allow multiple platform access to a single server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Computer Associates Think, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Mason
  • Patent number: 7272796
    Abstract: To freely establish a peripheral equipment selection operating environment of excellent operability which can remarkably reduce an operation burden which is applied until construction information of selectable peripheral equipment can be confirmed and can easily confirm the construction information of the selectable peripheral equipment by everyone by a simple operating instruction, a CPU obtains construction information of a printer that is being selected and default setting on the basis of a selection instructing state relative to a selectable printer candidate on a network and allows them to be caption-displayed at a position near the position indicated by a cursor on a printer selection picture plane displayed on a CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuji Sano, Jun Konishi