Patents by Inventor Paul Mercer

Paul Mercer 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: 6686927
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligent scrolling. In a computer system that has a user interface which allows for the movement of items from a first open window to a second open window or to a second region, such as a desktop, the present invention allows a user to select one or more items in the first window, move the selected item(s) to within a predetermined distance from an edge of the first window for a predetermined period of time and cause the viewable portion of the data and/or document within the first window to scroll in a corresponding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Meier, John Sullivan, Paul Mercer
  • Publication number: 20030196166
    Abstract: A method for processing a page character array finds links and creates link groups containing adjacent link characters. Adjacency of link characters is preferably defined as characters which are separated by any combination of no characters, blank space characters, line feed characters, or separator characters, such as vertical or horizontal separator bars or other separator characters. Once link groups have been defined, the method lays out each link group for display in an optimized form. Links are displayed as buttons. An optimized form of display includes centering all the buttons in a vertical list. Another optimized form of display includes laying out the link group as a rectangular matrix of buttons. According to another aspect, each of the links in a link group are logically mapped to a distinct user input, such as a key or voice command. The logical mapping aspect and optimized display aspect are optionally combined for certain types of hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: PIXO, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Mercer
  • Patent number: 6547830
    Abstract: A device, such as a cellular telephone, having a software program for maximizing the amount of text displayed is provided. The software program converts a markup language page, such as a hypertext markup language page from the internet, or ASCII file, to easily viewable text which may be provided to small displays. The software program includes a method to reduce the displayed distance between characters, both horizontally and vertically. The software program also includes a method which proportionately reduces the font size of the displayed characters. The software program also includes methods for substituting fonts in a page or file with easily readable fonts and converting lowercase characters to uppercase characters. The software program maximizes the amount of displayed text while maintaining the intended relative style and positioning of the text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Pixo, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Mercer
  • Patent number: 6504547
    Abstract: A method for implementing a bitmapped graphics system involves creating a logical frame buffer for a program. The method attaches a standardization operation to the logical frame buffer, so that the standardization operation is automatically executed upon the invocation of draw function by an application. The standardization operation serves to perform all of the functions required to properly transmit the contents of the logical frame buffer into the hardware frame buffer, arbitrates access to the logical frame buffer, if necessary, and performs other useful logical operations. In the preferred embodiment, the standardization operation comprises a complementary pre-process and a post-process. The pre-process is invoked prior to the execution of a graphics system draw operation, while the post-process is invoked thereafter. The pre-process and post-process may include more than one distinct pre-function and post-function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Pixo, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Mercer
  • Patent number: 6418284
    Abstract: A service unit for an electrographic apparatus has a reservoir for storage of fresh toner or developer and a reservoir for storage of waste or depleted toner or developer. The fresh toner reservoir is separable from the waste toner reservoir and detachable from the service unit. The fresh toner reservoir has a wall which, in use, is in contact with a wall of the waste toner reservoir. Both contacting walls are flexible whereby the combined volume of the two reservoirs is less than the sum of the volumes which may be used to store the fresh and waste toner at different stages in the duty cycle of the service unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: GCC Management Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Mercer
  • Publication number: 20020054132
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligent scrolling. In a computer system that has a user interface which allows for the movement of items from a first open window to a second open window or to a second region, such as a desktop, the present invention allows a user to select one or more items in the first window, move the selected item(s) to within a predetermined distance from an edge of the first window for a predetermined period of time and cause the viewable portion of the data and/or document within the first window to scroll in a corresponding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: John R. Meier, John William Sullivan, Paul Mercer
  • Patent number: 6331863
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligent scrolling. In a computer system that has a user interface which allows for the movement of items from a first open window to a second open window or to a second region, such as a desktop, the present invention allows a user to select one or more items in the first window, move the selected item(s) to within a predetermined distance from an edge of the first window for a predetermined period of time and cause the viewable portion of the data and/or document within the first window to scroll in a corresponding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Meier, John Sullivan, Paul Mercer
  • Patent number: 5825349
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligent scrolling. In a computer system that has a user interface which allows for the movement of items from a first open window to a second open window or to a second region, such as a desktop, the present invention allows a user to select one or more items in the first window, move the selected item(s) to within a predetermined distance from an edge of the first window for a predetermined period of time and cause the viewable portion of the data and/or document within the first window to scroll in a corresponding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Meier, John Sullivan, Paul Mercer
  • Patent number: 5196838
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligent scrolling. In a computer system that has a user interface which allows for the movement of items from a first open window to a second open window or to a second region, such as a desktop, the present invention allows a user to select one or more items in the first window, move the selected item(s) to within a predetermined distance from an edge of the first window for a predetermined period of time and cause the viewable portion of the data and/or document within the first window to scroll in a corresponding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Meier, John W. Sullivan, Paul Mercer
  • Patent number: 4394743
    Abstract: A tone generator operates in a multiplicative (19) manner with respect to a reference signal (20) for providing a selectable sequence of tones. A digital calibration coefficient is constructed for at least one tone for modifying (22) the reference signal to a value that produces a predetermined output amplitude for the tone. The coefficient is stored (16) for subsequent recall each time the predetermined output amplitude for the tone is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul A. Mercer