Patents by Inventor Rod D. Waltermann

Rod D. Waltermann 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).

  • Determining close contacts using communication data
    Patent number: 10135782
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method including: accessing, using a processor, communication data received at an electronic device of a first entity; identifying, using a processor, a communication between the first entity and a second entity; determining, using a processor, a strength of the communication between the first entity and the second entity; determining, using a processor, a directionality of the communication between the first entity and the second entity; and assigning, using a processor, the second entity as a close contact of the first entity based on the strength of the communication and directionality of the communication. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Rod D. Waltermann, Erin Carolyn Solfiell Acquesta
  • DYNAMIC PRICING FOR USE OF NETWORK
    Publication number: 20180302765
    Abstract: In one aspect, a first device includes a processor, a display accessible to the processor, and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to receive data from a second device different from the first device comprising a price for usage of a first network, and to present at least a first option on the display. The first option indicates the price for usage of the first network and is selectable to enable the first device to communicate using subscriber identification module (SIM) data with a third device over the first network. The instructions are also executable to, in response to selection of the first option, enable the first device to communicate using the SIM data with at least the third device over the first network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Arnold S. Weksler, Rod D. Waltermann, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Russell Speight VanBlon
  • Automatically adjusting a volume of a speaker of a device based on an amplitude of voice input to the device
    Patent number: 10103699
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a processor and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to receive, at a microphone, voice input, and to determine an amplitude of the voice input. The instructions are executable to automatically adjust a volume of a speaker based on the amplitude of the voice input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Arnold S. Weksler, Russell Speight VanBlon, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Rod D. Waltermann
  • SCHEDULING A DELIVERY AT A RECIPIENT LOCATION
    Publication number: 20180285828
    Abstract: For scheduling a delivery at a recipient location, a processor determines a delivery time. The processor further determines a recipient location at the delivery time from one or more of calendar entries, messages, an order location, and a device location. In addition, the processor schedules a delivery at the recipient location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Russell Speight VanBlon, Rod D. Waltermann, Arnold S. Weksler
  • Using device data collected from other proximate devices
    Patent number: 10055976
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method, including: in a first end user electronic device, running an application that uses device collected data; collecting, using the first end user electronic device, device data for the application; accessing, using a processor of the first end user electronic device, device data collected by another end user electronic device proximate to the first end user electronic device; and using, in the running of the application, one or more of the accessed device data and the collected device data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gaither Knox, Peter Hamilton Wetsel, Rod D. Waltermann, Suzanne Marion Beaumont
  • Content ranking based on person-to-person sharing
    Patent number: 10049110
    Abstract: An approach is provided for identifying favorite multimedia content, such as digital photographs, possessed by a user. The approach detects a number of content sharing actions involving multimedia content, such as digital photographs, with the detecting being from a number of content handling applications, such as social media sites and person-to-person sharing. One of the content handling applications is a content player, such as a image viewer, that runs on a portable device, such as a smart phone or tablet computer system. The approach computes a shared content score for each of the multimedia content, with the shared content score being based on the content handling application that was used in the content sharing actions. The approach further identifies “favorite” multimedia content based on the shared content score pertaining to each multimedia content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Lenova (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Joaquin F. Luna, Rod D. Waltermann, Bradley P. Strazisar, Timothy W. Kingsbury, Vikram Sharma, Kushagra Jindal, Dipeshkumar N. Hada
  • Eye glasses with polarizers for controlling light passing through at least one lens of the eye glasses
    Patent number: 10048514
    Abstract: In one aspect, glasses include a frame, a processor coupled to the frame, and a lens accessible to the processor and coupled to the frame. The lens includes first and second polarizers and a first liquid crystal unit juxtaposed between the first and second polarizers, with the lens including plural liquid crystal units controllable by the processor. The glasses also include a camera accessible to the processor and coupled to the frame, as well as storage accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable to receive input from the camera and identify, based on input from the camera, the first liquid crystal unit to control for permitting light to pass through the at least one lens. The instructions are also executable to control the first liquid crystal unit to permit a first amount of light to pass through the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Rod D. Waltermann, Russell Speight VanBlon, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Arnold S. Weksler
  • Phone record
    Patent number: 10045167
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a phone that includes communication circuitry, detection circuitry that detects a communication instability, and recording circuitry that records audio responsive to detection of a communication instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Russell Speight VanBlon, Rod D. Waltermann
  • Indicating a word length using an input device
    Patent number: 10042543
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product are disclosed for receiving an input from an input device, determining one or more characteristics of the received input, the one or more characteristics indicating a word length, and presenting a list of one or more words having word lengths determined according to the indicated word length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Russell Speight VanBlon, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Rod D. Waltermann, Arnold S. Weksler
  • AUTOMATIC LANGUAGE IDENTIFICATION FOR SPEECH
    Publication number: 20180211650
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device, voice input from at least one user; accessing at least one language model; determining, based upon the accessed at least one language model, at least one language of the voice input; and providing output associated with the voice input, based upon the determined language. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan Charles Knudson, Rod D. Waltermann
  • POPULATING A MESSAGE WITH PERSONAL BOILERPLATE
    Publication number: 20180212908
    Abstract: For an electronic communication environment, an apparatus for populating an electronic message with personal boilerplate is disclosed. The apparatus may include a processor and a memory that stores code executable by the processor to identify a message recipient for a message being composed at the apparatus. The processor identifies a communication history between the message recipient and a message composer and further identifies a boilerplate history of the message composer. The processor populates the message being composed with personal boilerplate selected based on the communication history and the boilerplate history. A method and computer program product also perform the functions of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan Charles Knudson, Rod D. Waltermann
  • SPEAKER RECOGNITION OPTIMIZATION
    Publication number: 20180190297
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device, voice data; receiving, at the information handling device, user identification data from at least one user device; determining, using a processor, a voice signature subset from a database of users, wherein the voice signature subset comprises voice signatures associated with a plurality of users identified using the user identification data; and identifying at least one user associated with the voice data by comparing the received voice data to the voice signature subset. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Rod D. Waltermann, Timothy Winthrop Kingsbury
  • DISPLAY OF PROPERTY RESTRICTIONS VIA WIRELESS DEVICE
    Publication number: 20180167501
    Abstract: A computer implemented method include detecting a location of a wireless device, receiving an identification of a property proximate the detected location, receiving an associated property restriction as a function of the detected location of the device, applying an indication of the restriction to the property, and providing a display indicating the property and the associated restriction via the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan J. Peterson, Russell Speight VanBlon, Rod D. Waltermann, Arnold S. Weksler, John Carl Mese
  • LOCAL MEMORY DIRECTION CACHING
    Publication number: 20180167780
    Abstract: A computer implemented method including receiving an original starting location and an original destination location at a processor of a mobile wireless device, determining a route, including directions, based on the starting location and destination, retrieving data for the mobile wireless device indicative of wireless communication coverage corresponding to the route, determining first additional directions to a first additional location from the original destination location, and caching the first additional directions in local memory of the mobile wireless device accessible by the processor to facilitate communication of the additional directions from the local memory to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Rod D. Waltermann, Nathan J. Peterson, Arnold S. Weksler, John Carl Mese
  • Camera mode selection based on context
    Patent number: 9998665
    Abstract: An aspect provides a method, including: obtaining, using one or more sensors of a device, contextual data relating to a picture taking context; assigning, using a processor, the contextual data to a predetermined picture taking context; and selecting a camera from two or more cameras of the device based on the predetermined picture taking context. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Rod D. Waltermann, Aaron Michael Stewart, Robert James Kapinos, Christopher Miles Osborne, Michael William Stuart Ripp
  • EYE GLASSES WITH POLARIZERS FOR CONTROLLING LIGHT PASSING THROUGH AT LEAST ONE LENS OF THE EYE GLASSES
    Publication number: 20180157066
    Abstract: In one aspect, glasses include a frame, a processor coupled to the frame, and a lens accessible to the processor and coupled to the frame. The lens includes first and second polarizers and a first liquid crystal unit juxtaposed between the first and second polarizers, with the lens including plural liquid crystal units controllable by the processor. The glasses also include a camera accessible to the processor and coupled to the frame, as well as storage accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable to receive input from the camera and identify, based on input from the camera, the first liquid crystal unit to control for permitting light to pass through the at least one lens. The instructions are also executable to control the first liquid crystal unit to permit a first amount of light to pass through the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Rod D. Waltermann, Russell Speight VanBlon, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Arnold S. Weksler
  • AUTHENTICATION SESSION MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20180150622
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: performing, at an electronic device, an initial authentication of a user using a first mechanism; entering, using a processor, an authentication session responsive to a successful result of the initial authentication of the user; thereafter detecting, using the processor, presence of the user by a second mechanism; and maintaining, using the processor, the authentication session in response to detecting the presence of the user. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Grigori Zaitsev, Igor Stolbikov, Timothy Winthrop Kingsbury, Rod D. Waltermann
  • Enabling device features according to gesture input
    Patent number: 9971412
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product are disclosed for determining an initial position of an electronic device using a positioning sensor located on the electronic device, detecting, based on movement away from the initial position, a gesture using a gesture detector located on the electronic device, and enabling a feature of the electronic device in response to the detected gesture being a feature-enabling gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Russell Speight VanBlon, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Rod D. Waltermann, Arnold S. Weksler
  • Detecting Wireless Signals to Engage Security System Awareness
    Publication number: 20180122217
    Abstract: An approach is disclosed that detects a wireless fingerprint. A security action is determined in response to the detection. The determined security action is then performed by the security system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: John C. Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Russell S. VanBlon, Rod D. Waltermann, Arnold S. Weksler
  • BRIGHTNESS CONTROL METHOD, APPARATUS AND PROGRAM PRODUCT
    Publication number: 20180122337
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product which enable a user selected display brightness to be linked to an application program selected for use in an electronic device, such as a computer system, tablet, telephone, electronic book reader, game device, music playing device and the like. A user selected adjustment of display brightness for an application program and a then existing ambient lighting condition are stored in storage during use of the application program. In response to subsequent opening of an application program for which data has been stored, the stored data is accessed and display brightness relative to the ambient lighting condition present at the subsequent opening is given the previous, stored, user selected adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Russell Speight VanBlon, Rod D. Waltermann