Patents Examined by Mary Dixon
  • Patent number: 9158454
    Abstract: “Real-world” gestures such as hand or finger movements/orientations that are generally recognized to mean certain things (e.g., an “OK” hand signal generally indicates an affirmative response) can be interpreted by a touch or hover sensitive device to more efficiently and accurately effect intended operations. These gestures can include, but are not limited to, “OK gestures,” “grasp everything gestures,” “stamp of approval gestures,” “circle select gestures,” “X to delete gestures,” “knock to inquire gestures,” “hitchhiker directional gestures,” and “shape gestures.” In addition, gestures can be used to provide identification and allow or deny access to applications, files, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, Myra Mary Haggerty
  • Patent number: 9021354
    Abstract: A user can make selections of one or more items, defined as a context, in a graphical user interface on a computer running software. The computer sends data to a connected wireless device, and the data is representative of the context. The wireless touch screen device displays one or more commands corresponding to the received context data and the commands can control the program on the computer. The wireless touch screen device then receives a user input on the wireless touch screen device to execute one of the one or more commands. The wireless touch screen device then sends the user command to the computer, wherein the computer executes the command and controls the program according to the user command. For example, this can allow remote control of a DAW, video-editing software, photo-editing software, and word processing software by a coupled wireless touch screen device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jan-Hinnerk Helms
  • Patent number: 8938682
    Abstract: A social networking platform having users grouped into multiple groups of residents based on users' geographical areas, each group representing a virtual local community representing the corresponding geographical area. Each resident is identified by a resident identifier having a common local community identifier that uniquely identifies the corresponding geographical area in which the residents actually reside. Each resident is provided a three-dimensional (3D) homepage having items resembling items owned by the resident in an actual resident home. Some of the items decorated in the 3D homepage can be activate to invoke an authorized agent which will access a goods/service provider on behalf of the resident for purchasing further items. An authorized agent can be installed and available to a virtual community only if the residents allow. Based on the purchase, a resident is rewarded with credits for future purchases and ownership shares of the authorized agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Sergey Nikolayevich Ermilov
  • Patent number: 8893047
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for collecting image data from within a metaverse. A system is provided that includes: a graphical user interface (GUI) for allowing a user to install and administer a camera within the metaverse; a system for collecting image data from the camera based on an occurrence of a triggering event associated with the camera; and a system for storing or delivering the image data for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ulysses L. Cannon, Angela Richards Jones, Ruthie D. Lyle, Susan Stanford McVey
  • Patent number: 8875048
    Abstract: A method for controlling a graphical user interface (GUI) comprises preparing a window for displaying at an intended display location in a window display operation. The location of GUI control elements of the window at the intended display location and the location of a graphical cursor are identified. GUI control element location and the graphical cursor location are compared. The window display operation is modified if the two coincide, for example by moving the window display location so that they do not coincide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy McCormick, Alexander Mitchell, Adam J. Pilkington, Stuart P. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8863024
    Abstract: A method for controlling a graphical user interface (GUI) comprises preparing a window for displaying at an intended display location in a window display operation. The location of GUI control elements of the window at the intended display location and the location of a graphical cursor are identified. GUI control element location and the graphical cursor location are compared. The window display operation is modified if the two coincide, for example by moving the window display location so that they do not coincide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy McCormick, Alexander Mitchell, Adam J. Pilkington, Stuart P. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8793609
    Abstract: A controller for obtaining a contents list via a network, in which a contents list of scroll destination is quickly obtained when a scroll instruction is input, is provided. When the scroll instruction in the contents list is input by a user's operation, the controller sets a scroll list obtaining flag into an on state, and preferentially obtains contents information about the scroll destination. When the scroll list obtaining flag is set into the on state, the controller does not transmit a normal contents list obtaining request to a contents list transmitting apparatus. Since the controller transmits the normal contents list obtaining request after average response time passes, the controller can obtain the contents information about scroll destination in the contents list without delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Kondo