Patents by Inventor Michael S. McCowan

Michael S. McCowan 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: 11169620
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of navigating a GUI can include, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of virtual keys. The method can include, for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer including an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key. The method can include mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI and, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key. A level of magnification for the selected region can be increased within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rebecca Hughes, James Martineau, Michael S. McCowan
  • Publication number: 20170075430
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of navigating a GUI can include, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of virtual keys. The method can include, for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer including an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key. The method can include mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI and, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key. A level of magnification for the selected region can be increased within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Rebecca Hughes, James Martineau, Michael S. McCowan
  • Patent number: 9507518
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of navigating a GUI can include, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of virtual keys. The method can include, for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer including an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key. The method can include mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI and, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key. A level of magnification for the selected region can be increased within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rebecca Hughes, James Martineau, Michael S. McCowan
  • Patent number: 9104799
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention manages window focus non-intrusive over-lays while debugging a graphical user interface program. In an example, the computer displays in a first graphical user interface, wherein the computer program is designed to manipulate a second graphical user interface of another computer program. The computer receives a command to debug the second graphical interface computer program and converts the first graphical user interface into a focus-less graphical user interface so the focus does not transfer from the second graphical user interface. The computer debugs the computer program and upon completing debugging, the computer restores the first graphical user interface into focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James I. Martineau, Lorelei M. McCollum, Michael S. McCowan
  • Patent number: 9075915
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention utilizes the abilities of an operating system to manage the window focus while debugging a graphical user interface program. In an example, a debugger program intercepts a breakpoint in the code of a graphical user interface computer program undergoing automated testing by a separate computer program. The debugger program instructs the operating system to save states of the window focus. Responsive to determining the breakpoint condition has ended, the debugger program instructs the operating system to restore saved states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition. Another embodiment of the present invention arranges similar window focus management where an operating system on its own is unable to save and restore states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk J. Krauss, James I. Martineau, Lorelei M. McCollum, Michael S. McCowan
  • Patent number: 8943477
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention manages window focus non-intrusive over-lays while debugging a graphical user interface program. In an example, the computer displays in a first graphical user interface, wherein the computer program is designed to manipulate a second graphical user interface of another computer program. The computer receives a command to debug the second graphical interface computer program and converts the first graphical user interface into a focus-less graphical user interface so the focus does not transfer from the second graphical user interface. The computer debugs the computer program and upon completing debugging, the computer restores the first graphical user interface into focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James I. Martineau, Lorelei M. McCollum, Michael S. McCowan
  • Patent number: 8938718
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention utilizes the abilities of an operating system to manage the window focus while debugging a graphical user interface program. In an example, a debugger program intercepts a breakpoint in the code of a graphical user interface computer program undergoing automated testing by a separate computer program. The debugger program instructs the operating system to save states of the window focus. Responsive to determining the breakpoint condition has ended, the debugger program instructs the operating system to restore saved states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition. Another embodiment of the present invention arranges similar window focus management where an operating system on its own is unable to save and restore states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk J. Krauss, James I. Martineau, Lorelei M. McCollum, Michael S. McCowan
  • Publication number: 20140173567
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention utilizes the abilities of an operating system to manage the window focus while debugging a graphical user interface program. In an example, a debugger program intercepts a breakpoint in the code of a graphical user interface computer program undergoing automated testing by a separate computer program. The debugger program instructs the operating system to save states of the window focus. Responsive to determining the breakpoint condition has ended, the debugger program instructs the operating system to restore saved states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition. Another embodiment of the present invention arranges similar window focus management where an operating system on its own is unable to save and restore states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kirk J. Krauss, James I. Martineau, Lorelei M. McCollum, Michael S. McCowan
  • Publication number: 20140173568
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention manages window focus non-intrusive over-lays while debugging a graphical user interface program. In an example, the computer displays in a first graphical user interface, wherein the computer program is designed to manipulate a second graphical user interface of another computer program. The computer receives a command to debug the second graphical interface computer program and converts the first graphical user interface into a focus-less graphical user interface so the focus does not transfer from the second graphical user interface. The computer debugs the computer program and upon completing debugging, the computer restores the first graphical user interface into focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James I. Martineau, Lorelei M. McCollum, Michael S. McCowan
  • Publication number: 20140173570
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention manages window focus non-intrusive over-lays while debugging a graphical user interface program. In an example, the computer displays in a first graphical user interface, wherein the computer program is designed to manipulate a second graphical user interface of another computer program. The computer receives a command to debug the second graphical interface computer program and converts the first graphical user interface into a focus-less graphical user interface so the focus does not transfer from the second graphical user interface. The computer debugs the computer program and upon completing debugging, the computer restores the first graphical user interface into focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James I. Martineau, Lorelei M. McCollum, Michael S. McCowan
  • Publication number: 20140173569
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention utilizes the abilities of an operating system to manage the window focus while debugging a graphical user interface program. In an example, a debugger program intercepts a breakpoint in the code of a graphical user interface computer program undergoing automated testing by a separate computer program. The debugger program instructs the operating system to save states of the window focus. Responsive to determining the breakpoint condition has ended, the debugger program instructs the operating system to restore saved states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition. Another embodiment of the present invention arranges similar window focus management where an operating system on its own is unable to save and restore states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk J. Krauss, James I. Martineau, Lorelei M. McCollum, Michael S. McCowan
  • Publication number: 20130311929
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of navigating a GUI can include, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of virtual keys. The method can include, for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer including an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key. The method can include mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI and, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key. A level of magnification for the selected region can be increased within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rebecca Hughes, James Martineau, Michael S. McCowan
  • Patent number: 8527894
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of navigating a GUI can include, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of virtual keys. The method can include, for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer including an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key. The method can include mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI and, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key. A level of magnification for the selected region can be increased within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rebecca Hughes, James Martineau, Michael S. McCowan
  • Publication number: 20100169818
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of navigating a GUI can include, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of virtual keys. The method can include, for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer including an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key. The method can include mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI and, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key. A level of magnification for the selected region can be increased within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rebecca Hughes, James Martineau, Michael S. McCowan