Patents by Inventor Steven Anthony LILL

Steven Anthony LILL 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: 9978369
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdelsamie, Nicholas Shane Choo, Guowei Zhang, Omar George Joseph Barake, Steven Anthony Lill
  • Publication number: 20170263252
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Ahmed ABDELSAMIE, Nicholas Shane CHOO, Guowei ZHANG, Omar George Joseph BARAKE, Steven Anthony LILL
  • Patent number: 9653080
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdelsamie, Nicholas Shane Choo, Guowei Zhang, Omar George Joseph Barake, Steven Anthony Lill
  • Patent number: 9389638
    Abstract: A device for detecting a carrying case, and methods there for, are provided. The device includes: an orientation sensor; a near field communication (NFC) reader; and, a processor configured to place the device in a carrying case mode when an orientation of the device is within a given angular range as determined using the orientation sensor, and the NFC reader detects an NFC tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdelsamie, Marc Elis Meunier, Omar George Joseph Barake, Steven Anthony Lill, Guowei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160189714
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Ahmed ABDELSAMIE, Nicholas Shane CHOO, Guowei ZHANG, Omar George Joseph BARAKE, Steven Anthony LILL
  • Patent number: 9280981
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdelsamie, Nicholas Shane Choo, Guowei Zhang, Omar George Joseph Barake, Steven Anthony Lill
  • Patent number: 9065932
    Abstract: A device for providing notifications while mated with a carrying case is provided. The device comprises: an indicator; a first detector configured to detect when the device is mated with a carrying case, the carrying case having an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the indicator is hidden in the closed configuration and at least partially exposed in the open configuration; a second detector configured to detect when the carrying case is in the open configuration; and, a processor configured to place the indicator in a given notification mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the open configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdelsamie, Alan James Deciantis, Omar George Joseph Barake, Steven Anthony Lill, Marc Elis Meunier, Kevin Howard Orr, Craig Eric Ranta
  • Publication number: 20140361876
    Abstract: A device for detecting a carrying case, and methods there for, are provided. The device includes: an orientation sensor; a near field communication (NFC) reader; and, a processor configured to place the device in a carrying case mode when an orientation of the device is within a given angular range as determined using the orientation sensor, and the NFC reader detects an NFC tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Ahmed ABDELSAMIE, Marc Elis Meunier, Omar George Joseph Barake, Steven Anthony Lill, Guowei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140333431
    Abstract: A device for providing notifications while mated with a carrying case is provided. The device comprises: an indicator; a first detector configured to detect when the device is mated with a carrying case, the carrying case having an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the indicator is hidden in the closed configuration and at least partially exposed in the open configuration; a second detector configured to detect when the carrying case is in the open configuration; and, a processor configured to place the indicator in a given notification mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the open configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ahmed ABDELSAMIE, Alan James DECIANTIS, Omar George Joseph Barake, Steven Anthony LILL, Marc Elis MEUNIER, Kevin Howard ORR, Craig Eric RANTA
  • Publication number: 20140244268
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ahmed ABDELSAMIE, Nicholas Shane CHOO, Guowei ZHANG, Omar George Joseph BARAKE, Steven Anthony LILL