Patents by Inventor J. Bret Simister
J. Bret Simister has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7954066Abstract: An interface engine provides animated views in a user interface. The interface engine directs the operation of a rendering environment to create an interface in a rendering area. The interface engine includes views, layouts, animators, and constraints. Views identify child views and resources for display in the rendering area. In response to events, such as user inputs, a view modifies itself by calling layouts, animators, and constraints. A layout manages the attributes of a view's child views, including child view position and size. An animator modifies the view's appearance over a specified period of time. A constraint imposes limits on view properties. In one implementation, an Internet site delivers an interface engine to a browser to supply content and a user interface. A presentation server compiles an interface engine description and specified resources into an interface engine.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2005Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Laszlo Systems, Inc.Inventors: J. Bret Simister, Adam G. Wolff, Max David Carlson, Christopher Kimm, David T. Temkin
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Patent number: 7475349Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2005Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Annette Wagner, J. Bret Simister
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Patent number: 7370284Abstract: Multiple applications are displayed. A request to change a display of a first application is received. A determination is made regarding how displays for one or more other applications should change in response to changing the display of the first application in order to avoid conflict with the display of the first application. The display of the first application is changed. The one or more displays for the one or more other applications are automatically changed in response to changing the display of the first application in order to avoid conflict with the display of the first application.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2003Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Laszlo Systems, Inc.Inventors: Peter Andrea, J. Bret Simister, David T. Temkin
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Patent number: 6957392Abstract: An interface engine provides animated views in a user interface. The interface engine directs the operation of a rendering environment to create an interface in a rendering area. The interface engine includes views, layouts, animators, and constraints. Views identify child views and resources for display in the rendering area. In response to events, such as user inputs, a view modifies itself by calling layouts, animators, and constraints. A layout manages the attributes of a view's child views, including child view position and size. An animator modifies the view's appearance over a specified period of time. A constraint imposes limits on view properties. In one implementation, an Internet site delivers an interface engine to a browser to supply content and a user interface. A presentation server compiles an interface engine description and specified resources into an interface engine.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2002Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: Laszlo Systems, Inc.Inventors: J. Bret Simister, Adam G. Wolff, Max David Carlson, Christopher Kimm, David T. Temkin
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Patent number: 6871323Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Annette Wagner, J. Bret Simister
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Patent number: 6600496Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Annette Wagner, J. Bret Simister
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Publication number: 20030132959Abstract: An interface engine provides animated views in a user interface. The interface engine directs the operation of a rendering environment to create an interface in a rendering area. The interface engine includes views, layouts, animators, and constraints. Views identify child views and resources for display in the rendering area. In response to events, such as user inputs, a view modifies itself by calling layouts, animators, and constraints. A layout manages the attributes of a view's child views, including child view position and size. An animator modifies the view's appearance over a specified period of time. A constraint imposes limits on view properties. In one implementation, an Internet site delivers an interface engine to a browser to supply content and a user interface. A presentation server compiles an interface engine description and specified resources into an interface engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: J. Bret Simister, Adam G. Wolff, Max David Carlson, Christopher Kimm, David T. Temkin
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Publication number: 20020056090Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2001Publication date: May 9, 2002Inventors: Annette Wagner, J. Bret Simister
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Patent number: 6335736Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1998Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Annette Wagner, J. Bret Simister
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Patent number: D425498Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Annette Wagner, J. Bret Simister