Patents by Inventor Neal A. Osborn

Neal A. Osborn 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: 8654086
    Abstract: A method and system for changing the power state of a portable electronic device is disclosed. A portable electronic device may be powered up or powered down responsive to a user interaction with the portable electronic device. The user interaction may be an insertion of a stylus or other user interface object into a housing of the portable electronic device. Alternatively, the user interaction may be a removal of a stylus or other user interface object from the housing of the portable electronic device. The user interaction may be a rotation of a cover of the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Regis Nicolas, Neal Osborn
  • Patent number: 8461891
    Abstract: A method and system of voltage compensated integrated circuits. Operating characteristics of integrated circuitry are enhanced by application of voltage compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Fu, Neal A. Osborn, James B. Burr
  • Patent number: 7975072
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for scheduling an event. The method includes signaling a request from a first computer to schedule an event to a second computer. A schedule is then received from the second, the schedule includes indicators of available time periods in the calendar period from the second computer. A consolidated schedule is then generated. The consolidated schedule comprises information comparing the indicators of available time periods from the second computer with indicators of available time periods from the first computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Access Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Francis J. Canova, Jr., Neal A. Osborn, Eric Michael Lunsford
  • Publication number: 20110119511
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus manages communications port contention and power consumption for a handheld computer, particularly handheld computers with a communications protocol that boosts power consumption when active, such as an RS-232 protocol. The improved method provides communications channel management that automatically opens the communications channel in response to a wake-up signal sent to a handheld computer from a peripheral device. The computer peripheral device is explicitly and/or implicitly identified. The opened communications channel is closed in response to receiving some data from the peripheral device, and/or after a device timeout expires without the handheld computer receiving data from the computer peripheral device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: ACCESS SYSTEMS AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal A. Osborn, Jesse Earl Donaldson
  • Patent number: 7752167
    Abstract: A method and system for importing and exporting selected directory and calendar information of a first format found in various electronic media to and from personal information management computer applications of a second format is described. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system for importing directory and calendar information that is structured in standardized vCard and vCalendar formats from a first application to corresponding electronic address book and calendar applications via clipboard and automatic translator applications. The invention includes an automatic translator that takes the standardized information from the clipboard application and translates the vCard and vCalendar information into a format that is native to the corresponding target application, e.g., electronic address book and calendar applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: PalmSource Inc.
    Inventor: Neal A. Osborn
  • Publication number: 20100045626
    Abstract: A method and system for changing the power state of a portable electronic device is disclosed. A portable electronic device may be powered up or powered down responsive to a user interaction with the portable electronic device. The user interaction may be an insertion of a stylus or other user interface object into a housing of the portable electronic device. Alternatively, the user interaction may be a removal of a stylus or other user interface object from the housing of the portable electronic device. The user interaction may be a rotation of a cover of the portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: PALM, INC.
    Inventors: Regis Nicolas, Neal Osborn
  • Patent number: 7626582
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic power-up and power-down of an electronic device is disclosed. More specifically, an electronic device may be automatically powered-up in response to removal of a user interface object from a portion of a housing of the electronic device. The electronic device may be placed in a power conservation mode when the user interface object is placed in the portion of the housing of the electronic device. The electronic device may include a cover operable to cover a display device of the electronic device, where the electronic device may be automatically powered-up in response to uncovering the display device. The electronic device may be placed in a power conservation mode when the display device is covered by the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Regis Nicolas, Neal Osborn
  • Publication number: 20090276494
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for scheduling an event. The method includes signaling a request from a first computer to schedule an event to a second computer. A schedule is then received from the second, the schedule includes indicators of available time periods in the calendar period from the second computer. A consolidated schedule is then generated. The consolidated schedule comprises information comparing the indicators of available time periods from the second computer with indicators of available time periods from the first computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: ACCESS SYSTEMS AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Francis J. Canova, JR., Neal Osborn, E. Michael Lunsford
  • Patent number: 7571254
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for scheduling an event. The method includes signaling a request from a first computer to schedule an event to a second computer. A schedule is then received from the second, the schedule includes indicators of available time periods in the calendar period from the second computer. A consolidated schedule is then generated. The consolidated schedule comprises information comparing the indicators of available time periods from the second computer with indicators of available time periods from the first computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Access Systems Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Canova, Jr., Neal Osborn, E. Michael Lunsford
  • Publication number: 20080086651
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention provide for a portable computer that determines whether an accessory device is actively connected to it. In one embodiment, the portable computer may include a signal line accessible through an output of the portable computing device. The signal line may be connected to a communication device such as a communication cradle. The portable computer may detect a signal on the signal line to determine whether the communication device is actively connected to the portable computer. If the communication device is actively connected, the portable computer suspends implementation of a time-out feature that would otherwise reduce power consumption of the portable computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Eric Lunsford, Steven Lemke, Neal Osborn, Francis Canova, Scott Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080062182
    Abstract: A computing device, such as a hand-held computing device, like a personal digital assistant (PDA), includes a communications bus and a display configured to display in more than one display mode and the display coupled to the communications bus. The computing device also includes a processor coupled to the display and to the communications bus and a memory coupled to the communications bus. The memory is controlled by a display logic to manage the memory and allocate the memory according to the display mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Neal Osborn, Kenneth Comstock
  • Patent number: 7329928
    Abstract: A method and system of voltage compensated integrated circuits. Operating characteristics of integrated circuitry are enhanced by application of voltage compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Fu, Neal A. Osborn, James B. Burr
  • Publication number: 20080032673
    Abstract: A method and system of automating two-way beaming of information from one handheld electronic device to another handheld electronic device. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system for selectively transmitting business cards, calendar appointments or executable programs from one device to a requesting device. The receiver makes the selection of a response. The receiver accepts the information, accepts and automatically transmits information of the same category, or rejects the information based on a user choice. If the user select the receive and transmit option, the device will automatically receives and file the information and sends information of the same category to the initiator of the transmission. The two-way transmission of information appears as one integral transmission between the users. In one embodiment, the data to be exchanged is business cards and the devices are handheld computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: PALMSOURCE, INC.
    Inventors: Neal Osborn, David Creemer, Rod Alligood
  • Patent number: 7296107
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention provide for a portable computer that determines whether an accessory device is actively connected to it. In one embodiment, the portable computer may include a signal line accessible through an output of the portable computing device. The signal line may be connected to a communication device such as a communication cradle. The portable computer may detect a signal on the signal line to determine whether the communication device is actively connected to the portable computer. If the communication device is actively connected, the portable computer suspends implementation of a time-out feature that would otherwise reduce power consumption of the portable computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric M. Lunsford, Steven C. Lemke, Neal A. Osborn, Francis J. Canova, Jr., Scott R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7231204
    Abstract: A method and system of automating two-way beaming of information from one handheld electronic device to another handheld electronic device. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system for selectively transmitting business cards, calendar appointments or executable programs from one device to a requesting device. The receiver makes the selection of a response. The receiver accepts the information, accepts and automatically transmits information of the same category, or rejects the information based on a user choice. If the user select the receive and transmit option, the device will automatically receives and file the information and sends information of the same category to the initiator of the transmission. The two-way transmission of information appears as one integral transmission between the users. In one embodiment, the data to be exchanged is business cards and the devices are handheld computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Palmsource, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal A. Osborn, David Creemer, Rod Alligood
  • Patent number: RE40421
    Abstract: A palmtop computer utilizes SD memory modules or other types of memory modules to provide expansion memory. The expansion memory module plugs in to the palmtop computer via an external slot or compartment that is easily accessed by the user. This provides additional memory to the palmtop computer. To facilitate use of expansion devices such as sled or cradle based devices, a connector is provided on the palmtop computer that not only includes conventional power, ground and serial communication terminals, but also provides direct access to the memory module for use by the expansion device. This provides the advantage that the sled or cradle based device can directly access the palmtop computer's memory without using the palmtop computer's processing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventor: Neal Osborn
  • Patent number: RE40473
    Abstract: A dynamic performance circuit adjustment system and method that flexibly adjusts the performance of a logic circuit. The dynamic performance circuit adjustment system and method facilitates flexible power conservation. In one exemplary implementation, a dynamic performance adjustment control circuit controls performance adjustments to a logic circuit (e.g., a processor) and adjusts support functions for the logic circuit. The logic circuit performs operational functions (e.g., processing) or tasks that have different performance requirements. For example, some tasks performed by the logic circuit are required to be performed in a relatively short duration of time and other tasks performed by logic circuit have relatively longer time limitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Osborn, Francis J. Canova
  • Patent number: RE42052
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus manages communications port contention and power consumption for a handheld computer, particularly handheld computers with a communications protocol that boosts power consumption when active, such as an RS-232 protocol. The improved method provides communications channel management that automatically opens the communications channel in response to a wake-up signal sent to a handheld computer from a peripheral device. The computer peripheral device is explicitly and/or implicitly identified. The opened communications channel is closed in response to receiving some data from the peripheral device, and/or after a device timeout expires without the handheld computer receiving data from the computer peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Access Systems Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal A. Osborn, Jesse Earl Donaldson
  • Patent number: RE43862
    Abstract: A palmtop computer utilizes SD memory modules or other types of memory modules to provide expansion memory. The expansion memory module plugs in to the palmtop computer via an external slot or compartment that is easily accessed by the user. This provides additional memory to the palmtop computer. To facilitate use of expansion devices such as sled or cradle based devices, a connector is provided on the palmtop computer that not only includes conventional power, ground and serial communication terminals, but also provides direct access to the memory module for use by the expansion device. This provides the advantage that the sled or cradle based device can directly access the palmtop computer's memory without using the palmtop computer's processing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Neal A. Osborn
  • Patent number: RE44804
    Abstract: A dynamic performance circuit adjustment system and method that flexibly adjusts the performance of a logic circuit. The dynamic performance circuit adjustment system and method facilitates flexible power conservation. In one exemplary implementation, a dynamic performance adjustment control circuit controls performance adjustments to a logic circuit (e.g., a processor) and adjusts support functions for the logic circuit. The logic circuit performs operational functions (e.g., processing) or tasks that have different performance requirements. For example, some tasks performed by the logic circuit are required to be performed in a relatively short duration of time and other tasks performed by logic circuit have relatively longer time limitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal A. Osborn, Francis J. Canova