Patents by Inventor L. Scott Bloebaum

L. Scott Bloebaum 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: 7707073
    Abstract: Methods for providing augmented shopping information to a user of a mobile terminal in a store include providing a shopping list identifying a plurality of items and obtaining information regarding physical locations of respective ones of the items in the store. The location of the mobile terminal in the store is established. An image of a view from the location is obtained. An item having an associated location in the obtained image is identified based on the obtained information regarding physical locations. A position within the image corresponding to the respective physical location of the identified item is determined. A graphic indication of the identified item is added to the obtained image at the determined position within the image to provide an augmented image of the view that is displayed to the user on a display of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, AB
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, Melissa Rutledge
  • Publication number: 20100093277
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for aiding shoppers. A shopper enters a product search query into a hand-held device and, via Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, transfers the query to a terminal at a shopping establishment. The terminal forwards the search query to a search engine over a network and the search engine, after consulting a database, returns results meeting the criteria of the search query to the terminal for presentation on a display at the terminal. The shopper is then offered the option of transferring the results data, via NFC devices located in the hand-held device and the terminal, from the terminal to a memory in the hand-held device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, William O. Camp, Gregory A. Dunko, Daniel P. Homiller, Charles Liu
  • Publication number: 20100094097
    Abstract: To enhance interaction and use with electronic devices, the present disclosure describes several improved systems and methods of taking responsive action to a detected human mental state. A training signal containing biosignal data corresponding to a mental state of the user while the user concentrates on a perceptual cue may be established. In some embodiments, user input or other information may be stored in association with the training signal. Biosignal data from the user may be monitored at an appropriate time and, if a match between the monitored biosignal data and the training signal is determined, a predetermined response is taken by an electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Charles Liu, L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Publication number: 20100093365
    Abstract: A mobile device a location module configured to determine a location of the mobile device, a controller configured to tag content with a creation location of the mobile device when the content is created using the mobile device, and memory configured to store the tagged content. The controller is configured to sort the tagged content based upon the creation location with respect to a specific location. Also, a mobile device is provided that includes a location module configured to determine a location of the mobile device, a controller configured to tag content with a receipt location of the mobile device when the content is received by the mobile device, and memory configured to store the tagged content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Publication number: 20100090835
    Abstract: To enhance interaction and use with electronic devices, the present disclosure describes several improved systems and methods of taking responsive action to a detected human mental state. A training signal containing biosignal data corresponding to a mental state of the user while the user concentrates on a perceptual cue may be established. In some embodiments, user input or other information may be stored in association with the training signal. Biosignal data from the user may be monitored at an appropriate time and, if a match between the monitored biosignal data and the training signal is determined, a predetermined response is taken by an electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Charles Liu, L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Patent number: 7697917
    Abstract: A method of operating electronic equipment, wherein said electronic equipment utilizes a wireless signal to communicate, includes determining if the electronic equipment is operated within a moving vehicle based on a characteristic of the wireless signal and inhibiting operation of the electronic equipment if the electronic equipment is in a moving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: William O. Camp, Jr., L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Publication number: 20100066599
    Abstract: A system and method for exchanging location assistance information between electronic devices using a near field communication (NFC) interface. Positioning satellite signals are received from one or more position satellites. Location assistance information is generated based at least in part on the received positioning satellite signals and/or navigation information. The location assistance information is transferred through a near field communication interface from the first electronic device to another electronic device, wherein the location assistance information includes one or more contemporaneous positioning satellite signals received by the first electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: Charles Liu, L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Publication number: 20100069004
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for wirelessly connecting two data devices. A user intending to connect the devices issues a connect activation command and then moves one device toward the other device along a connection vector. Wireless communication connection is established through Ultra WideBand (UWB) protocol when the two devices are in range of each other. The wireless connection is terminated when the one device is moved along a displacement vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Patent number: 7680490
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transmitting multimedia content stored on a network to a mobile telephone and/or other rendering device (e.g., a mobile telephone accessory). In one embodiment, a mobile telephone and a mobile telephone accessory (e.g., a headset) are communicatively coupled to a network. The mobile telephone requests information from a device associated with the network. The mobile telephone selects information from a content server to be rendered and a rendering device. The mobile telephone configures the rendering device to receive the information from the network through a network adapter. The mobile telephone maintains control of the session and the rendering device through a second interface (e.g., Bluetooth).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, Erwin Weinans
  • Publication number: 20090312060
    Abstract: An electronic device provides a user with a direct and intuitive indication of achieved data transfer rates. In one embodiment, a vibrator is controlled to provide a tactile indication of upload and/or download speeds. Other embodiments relate to visual and/or audio indications of data transfer speed. Combinations of these indicators are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, I. Nelson Wakefield
  • Publication number: 20090287587
    Abstract: Methods for providing augmented shopping information to a user of a mobile terminal in a store include providing a shopping list identifying a plurality of items and obtaining information regarding physical locations of respective ones of the items in the store. The location of the mobile terminal in the store is established. An image of a view from the location is obtained. An item having an associated location in the obtained image is identified based on the obtained information regarding physical locations. A position within the image corresponding to the respective physical location of the identified item is determined. A graphic indication of the identified item is added to the obtained image at the determined position within the image to provide an augmented image of the view that is displayed to the user on a display of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, Melissa Rutledge
  • Publication number: 20090278949
    Abstract: An improved camera system for manipulating multiple images of similar subject matter is described. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for the analysis of subject matter depicted in the viewfinder of the camera. Subjects previously photographed may be recognized automatically. Before or after a picture is taken, for each recognized subject, a user may be presented with existing images of the subject already stored in a memory or database. The user may then invoke one or more manipulation operations as to the various images of the common subject. For example, a user may retain the new image in addition to previously stored images, discard the new and/or previously stored images, transfer the new and/or previously stored images to third parties, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: David Michael McMahan, L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Publication number: 20090251310
    Abstract: A system and method of audibly representing a remote event that is typically associated with a sound are used to enhance a person's experience with the event. In particular, the technique uses a portable electronic device, such as a mobile telephone, to enhance the user's auditory perception of an event that is associated with a sound, but where the user may be too far away from the source of the sound to hear the sound as it is generated by the source. The user may set a sound producing device to send a notice to the user's electronic device when the sound-generating event has occurred. The notice may be a message, or other data object, that is transmitted through a network. Upon receipt of the notice, the electronic device may play back an audio file that contains sound data representative of the sound-generating event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Publication number: 20090237546
    Abstract: An image of an object is captured using a portable electronic device. The image is displayed on a display screen of the portable electronic device. Image recognition is performed on the image to identify the object, a task associated with the identified object is identified, and information about the task is displayed on the display screen of the portable electronic device along with the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, Melissa Rutledge, Ivan Nelson Wakefield
  • Publication number: 20090209236
    Abstract: Methods for providing a user state file enabling interactions between virtual and real world identities include determining a real world identity of a user and determining a virtual world identity of the user. An associated user designation is provided for a first and a second associated user. A real world identity and/or a virtual world identity is determined for the associated users. The first associated user has at least a real world identity and the second associated user has at least a virtual world identity. A communication history is established between the user and the first and second associated users, the communication history including communications in the real world and/or the virtual world. The user state file is generated based on the determined real world and virtual world identities of the user and the associated users and the communication history between the user and the associated users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, Justin Pierce
  • Publication number: 20090210483
    Abstract: Methods for remotely controlling actions of a virtual world identity of a user include transmitting instructions to the virtual world identity of the user from a mobile terminal associated with a real world identity of the user. The instructions are transmitted as a voice call, a text message and/or an instant message (IM). Updated information associated with the transmitted instructions is received from the virtual world identity of the user at the mobile terminal. The updated information includes an identification of a condition triggering transmission of the updated information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Justin Pierce, Gregory Dunko, L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Publication number: 20090129693
    Abstract: A method and system of quality management for a digital photograph includes using multi-zone autofocus information to generate an image file that has a high-quality portion and a low-quality portion. In one approach, captured image data is processed so that a portion of the image data corresponding to an area different than a focus zone is lower in quality than image data corresponding to an area inside the focus zone. In another approach, sensor resolution responsiveness is set higher for a sensor area corresponding to a focus zone than sensor resolution responsiveness in an area different than the sensor area corresponding to the focus zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, Ivan N. Wakefield
  • Publication number: 20090132924
    Abstract: To improve the consumer experience with electronic devices, a system and method is provided for customizing media content, and particularly video content, by creating highlight portions of the video content. In exemplary embodiments, the video files are “marked” or “flagged” about the portions of the video content to segment the highlight portions within the media file. The marks or flags may be inputted and incorporated as part of the metadata associated with the video file. A user's electronic device may then extract the marks or flags from the metadata, which causes a media player on the portable electronic device to play only the marked highlight portions. In addition, a user may share the highlights with others by transmitting the marked video files to others' electronic devices. Alternatively, the highlight creator may transmit only the metadata to another's electronic device, and the metadata marks may be extracted and applied to a video file stored on the other's device or streamed thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Yojak Harshad Vasa, Gary Cole, Charles Liu, L. Scott Bloebaum, Anthony J. Sammarco
  • Publication number: 20090075639
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system, method, and computer readable medium for applying customized settings to a mobile communications device utilizing a removable storage media. The mobile communications device detects when a removable storage media has been operatively inserted. Next it is determined whether there is a customized settings file stored on the removable storage media. The customized settings file contains fields that define one or more characteristics relating to the mobile communications device's configuration. The customized settings in the customized settings file are then applied such that the mobile communications device is configured with the specific settings contained in the customized settings file. The customized settings file may also be stored at and retrieved from a remote location or received in a message using a mobile messaging service utilizing the RF module within the mobile communications device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, Ivan Nelson Wakefield
  • Publication number: 20090002147
    Abstract: A method of operating electronic equipment, wherein said electronic equipment utilizes a wireless signal to communicate, includes determining if the electronic equipment is operated within a moving vehicle based on a characteristic of the wireless signal and inhibiting operation of the electronic equipment if the electronic equipment is in a moving vehicle. Also provided is a method of operating electronic devices, wherein it is determined if a first electronic device is in communication with a second electronic device while the first electronic device is in a moving vehicle. A notification is provided on the second electronic device corresponding to the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum, William O. Camp, JR., Kenneth M. Bednasz