Patents by Inventor Joseph R. Novak

Joseph R. Novak 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).

  • Patent number: 11972102
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for sharing user interface (UI) customization across applications. Application developers may create UIs (e.g., game control layouts) with control groups that may be customizable as a group. A control group may comprise a plurality of controls selectively assigned to cluster of sockets (e.g., a socket group) in a layout template. Controls in control groups may be customized as a group, for example, by changing a position, rotation and/or scale of a control group. Users can customize controls for comfort, switch controls for right and left-handed play and share customized preferences across applications. UI customization may be shared across applications with different UIs. For example, customization of one or more control groups in a first UI may be applied to one or more control groups in other UIs for other applications. Users may avoid tedious, time-consuming individual control changes for many UIs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Wheeler, Aron R. Chavez, Christopher M. Novak, Chase R. Meusel
  • Patent number: 5702107
    Abstract: Toy vehicles for the game include a plurality of targets on each vehicle movable between first and second positions. Switches are associated with the respective targets and in closed positions connect a battery in parallel to a motor for running the toy vehicle. Each vehicle has a protrusion for impacting against the target of another vehicle. Upon impact, the target is moved to a second position opening the switch. The circuit provides for the continued running of each vehicle until the last target is impacted and its switch is opened, at which time the power circuit is opened and the vehicle stops. The game is played in the form of a demolition derby in which the last vehicle running is the winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Joseph R. Novak
  • Patent number: D366296
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Inventor: Joseph R. Novak