Miscellaneous Customization Or Adaptation Patents (Class 715/866)
  • Patent number: 8132126
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system and process that controls a group of networked electronic components using a multimodal integration scheme in which inputs from a speech recognition subsystem, gesture recognition subsystem employing a wireless pointing device and pointing analysis subsystem also employing the pointing device, are combined to determine what component a user wants to control and what control action is desired. In this multimodal integration scheme, the desired action concerning an electronic component is decomposed into a command and a referent pair. The referent can be identified using the pointing device to identify the component by pointing at the component or an object associated with it, by using speech recognition, or both. The command may be specified by pressing a button on the pointing device, by a gesture performed with the pointing device, by a speech recognition event, or by any combination of these inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Wilson
  • Patent number: 8132127
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology providing adaptive user interface capabilities in an industrial control environment. A user interface is provided that can operate across various software and/or hardware platforms. The platforms can be adapted with smart devices and/or wearable devices to facilitate access to a control system and can be adapted as a remote web service and/or adapted to interact with the service. The user interface can be tuned or adjusted in accordance with device capabilities operating the interface and can be adjusted or modified according to various operator or administrative preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Baier, Douglas R. Wylie, David A. Vasko, David Michael Callaghan
  • Publication number: 20120054599
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to display localized process control objects. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to view a process control object associated with a process control system, selecting a device description file based on the process control object, the device description file including a tag, selecting a set of locale templates based on a locale associated with the request, selecting a locale template from the set of locale templates based on the process control object, and processing the process control object for display by inserting portions of the selected locale template into the tag in the device description file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Nixon, Lee Allen Neitzel, Ling Zhou
  • Patent number: 8127235
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world. It is determined if an allowable number of avatars are currently in the virtual space, and a capacity of the virtual space is increased when the allowable number of avatars are currently in the virtual space. The capacity of the virtual space may be increased by spawning a replicate new virtual space. The capacity of the virtual space may also be increased by expanding a size of the virtual space. The virtual space may include any type of virtual space such as for example, a store, a business, an arena, a building, a land area, a room, etc. The allowable number of avatars may be a maximum avatar capacity for the virtual space, or may be an ideal avatar capacity for the virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter F. Haggar, Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith, Luis J. Ostdiek
  • Patent number: 8117565
    Abstract: A magnifying tool that enlarges a selected region of displayed image surrounding a cursor in a graphical user interface (GUI), and superimposes the enlarged region directly over the selected region (and a portion of the adjacent non-selected region). The location of the cursor relative to the enlarged region is co-located with the location of the cursor relative to the selected region such that the locations are identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Viaclix, Inc.
    Inventor: Killian D. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20120023463
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A mobile computing device is determined to have electrically coupled by physical contact with a docking system that is adapted to supply electrical power for charging the mobile computing device. The docking system is determined to be a first type of docking system from a plurality of types of docking systems. A first user interface profile that corresponds to the first type of docking system is selected from among a plurality of user interface profiles. Each of the plurality of user interface profiles corresponds to a respective type of docking system from the plurality of types of docking systems. The first user interface profile is presented by the mobile computing device in response to selection of the first user interface profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Erick Tseng, Jaikumar Ganesh, Michael K. Chan
  • Patent number: 8103974
    Abstract: An event display apparatus includes a configuration unit to configure a screen to include a time region, which is divided by time intervals along a first axis into a plurality of sub-time regions, and an event region, which is divided by event into a plurality of sub-event regions, in parallel to the first axis; and an output unit to output time slots, which has been allocated according to one or more zones, in the respective sub-time regions along the first axis, and to output sub-event regions comprising event information of different types, which correspond to the set time slots, in parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-ho Rhee, Jae-hwan Kim, Chul-hwan Lee
  • Publication number: 20120011477
    Abstract: Apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code. The memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform a method of: determining an emotional or physical condition of a user of a device; and changing either: a) a setting of a user interface of the device, or b) information presented through the user interface, dependent on the detected emotional or physical condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventor: Sunil Sivadas
  • Patent number: 8085281
    Abstract: A method and system is described for displaying input from a portable computing device to a second computing device. On the second computing device, a display region is created. The region may be a stand alone application or a region inside an application. The second computing device then receives a communication that represents the portable input on the portable computing device. The portable input is then scaled to fit the display region and the portable input is displayed on the second computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Frederick Hines, Michael F. Koenig, Tara Prakriya, Subha Bhattacharyay, Anuraag Tiwari
  • Patent number: 8086968
    Abstract: A dynamic electronic mail signature manager for managing a user's electronic mail signatures inserted into electronic mail messages. An electronic mail signature is displayed within a message composition user interface such that each component of the electronic mail signature is displayed in either an “include” display state or a visually distinct “omit” display state. Electronic mail signature components that are in the “omit” display state at the time the user indicates that the electronic mail message is to be sent are not included in the transmitted message. The user can toggle signature components between the “include” and “omit” display states by selecting individual objects. The initial state of each component when the user begins to compose a message (e.g. a new message, a reply message, etc.) may be automatically determined based on user configuration information, and/or based on message history information with respect to an indicated destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Corey S. McCaffrey, Fang Lu, Elaine I. Kuo
  • Patent number: 8082045
    Abstract: A method to graphically create a recipe for processing a substrate includes displaying graphical images that present processing operations to be performed on the substrate, allowing a user to set properties of the processing operations by manipulating the graphical images, and generating the recipe based on the properties of the processing operations set by the user and synchronizing the plurality of processing operations based on the properties. The graphical images may be time-bars in a Gantt-like chart that allows the user to see the sequence, the timing, and the durations of the processing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Ashizawa, Heng-Cheng Pal, Patrick Ngatchou, Kurt Weiner, John Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110307260
    Abstract: Gender recognition is performed using two or more modalities. For example, depth image data and one or more types of data other than depth image data is received. The data pertains to a person. The different types of data are fused together to automatically determine gender of the person. A computing system can subsequently interact with the person based on the determination of gender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Zhengyou Zhang, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman
  • Patent number: 8074167
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that allow for repurposing content of a source web site for an external web site. The developer uses a programming feature to create a web page with a portion of content suitable for use in the form of a gadget control on an external web site. The developer sets up the portion of the web page for repurposing as the gadget control. When a request is received from the source web site to access the web page, the web page is displayed along with the displayable portion of content in the normal fashion. When a request is received from the external web site to access the portion of content in the form of the gadget control, the portion of content is provided to the external web site for use in the gadget control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nikhil Kothari, Simon Calvert, Michael J. Harder
  • Patent number: 8069422
    Abstract: A system and method in a network of devices, which ascertains the user's context to suggest the most preferred task for the user to perform. User's context includes his/her location, the content he/she is interested in, the devices which are being used by him/her, and the devices and content allowed to be used by the user. Using this context, the system suggests tasks to the user that are appropriate to that context. The determination of context and the suggestion of tasks are performed by keeping track of the content and the devices available to the user at any given time. The suggestion of tasks is performed in accordance with certain policies. For example, the user can control the behavior of the system by changing the rules in the policy. Tasks are in the form of simple sentences that can be easily understood by the user. If, based on certain context, more than one task is possible, the system suggests the task with the highest priority to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mithun Sheshagiri, Anugeetha Kunjithapatham, Alan Messer
  • Patent number: 8068121
    Abstract: Methods of manipulating graphical objects are described. One or more graphical objects are displayed in a fixed orientation with reference to a sensed reference direction. Manipulation is achieved by fixing the orientation or position of a displayed graphical object with reference to an apparatus, such as the display itself or a proxy device, detecting a change in orientation of that apparatus and editing the orientation of the graphical object based on the detected change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Williamson, Lorna M. Brown, James W. Scott, Stephen E. Hodges
  • Patent number: 8065345
    Abstract: A visualization input system is provided. The system includes a visualization component that receives input gestures from a user (or users) and translates the gestures into one or more data manipulation commands. A distribution component receives the data manipulation commands and propagates data modifications across one or more databases in view of the commands. This includes a rights component that enables the data modifications to be implemented across the one or more databases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: George G. Robertson, Jason D. Carlson, Brian Scott Ruble, Sean Michael Boon, Jakob Peter Nielsen, David E. Heckerman, Joshua W. Lee, Christian Bernd Schormann, Barry James Givens
  • Patent number: 8015216
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to incremental computing. Specifically, embodiments of the invention include systems and methods that provide for the concurrent processing of multiple, incremental changes to a data value while at the same time monitoring and/or enforcing threshold values for that data value. For example, a method is provided that determines whether multiple incremental changes to a data field could pass a threshold based on keeping track of a possible value range for the data field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Peter J. Godman, Justin M. Husted, Aaron J. Passey
  • Patent number: 8015509
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution to add a user selectable lock to a GUI control, such as a close button. The lock can be imposed on an individual window. After being applied, a user will have to explicitly unlock the control before the control can be selected, which prevents inadvertent selections of the locked control. For example, a lock can be placed on a close control to prevent accidental closing of a window. Locks can be manually or automatically applied. Automatically applied locks can be associated with a set of user configurable rules, which can also establish rules for automatically unlocking GUI controls. An applied GUI control lock can be unlocked in a user configurable manner, with any level of security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher K. Karstens
  • Patent number: 7979805
    Abstract: A processing device may include a display screen and one or more buttons located near the display screen. Pressing one of the one or more buttons may cause the processing device to perform a first function and pressing and holding the one of the one or more buttons may cause the processing device to perform a second function. When the one of the one or more buttons is pressed, the processing device may provide a first feedback describing the first function. When the one of the one or more buttons is pressed and held for at least a predetermined amount of time, the processing device may provide a second feedback describing the second function. In some implementations, a time indicator may be displayed indicating an amount of passing time until the one of the one or more buttons is pressed and held for the predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sally Liu, Jonathan Friedman, Leroy B Keely, Hugh Edward McLoone, Jr., David Ben Perry
  • Patent number: 7975243
    Abstract: Systems and method which allow for control of televisions and other media device are disclosed. A television set is provided with a gesture capture device configured to receive a gesture input directed to at least one of a plurality of predefined areas related to the television set. The television set further includes a user interaction interface configured to generate data indicative of the gesture input directed toward the at least one of the predefined areas and control the television based at least in part on the generated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xing Zheng, Dang Van Tran, Sun H Ahn
  • Patent number: 7971157
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for a gesture recognizer system architecture. A recognizer engine is provided, which receives user motion data and provides that data to a plurality of filters. A filter corresponds to a gesture, that may then be tuned by an application receiving information from the gesture recognizer so that the specific parameters of the gesture—such as an arm acceleration for a throwing gesture—may be set on a per-application level, or multiple times within a single application. Each filter may output to an application using it a confidence level that the corresponding gesture occurred, as well as further details about the user motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Relja Markovic, Gregory N. Snook, Justin McBride
  • Patent number: 7962860
    Abstract: There is described a method, to a program and to a system for graphically displaying and projecting at least one network of devices of an automation system, a high density of information usually occurring at the user interface. To allow a user to selectively display devices in a network, in addition to a large quantity of overview information, a solution is proposed in which a user can display individual devices in more detail in an overview. The user can therefore select a device, the instantaneously non-visible details of which he wishes to access, and change the appearance of the device from a not very detailed display to a very detailed display by way of further interaction. This applies to any desired number of devices which can be simultaneously displayed in detail. One advantage is that the network interfaces of devices may also be displayed which cannot be displayed with all network interfaces in the overview without the user being forced to have to change to a different, detail-oriented view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ingo Eichner
  • Patent number: 7949965
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus for displaying a map, displaying any data related to position information on the map, and effectively using the same even if map information is not provided in the information processing apparatus is disclosed. Image data and additional information having link information to the position information and a map are linked and stored in a memory stick 140. At the time of display, the apparatus accesses the Internet by a mobile phone 150 based on the link information, acquires the map information, and displays it on an LCD 131. It displays marks based on the position information on the map. For example when the mark is selected etc., it reads image data and further displays it on the LCD 131.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tominaga
  • Patent number: 7949413
    Abstract: An operator interface terminal receives individual data points from a machine at individual time points. The operator interface terminal correlates the individual data points to the individual time points as the data points are received. The operator interface terminal transfers the data points correlated to the time points to a central information system. The operator interface terminal receives a control instruction from an operator. The operator interface terminal processes the control instruction to transfer a control signal to the machine, wherein the control signal drives the machine to operate based on the control instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Glenn Dorgelo, Brian Alexander Wall
  • Patent number: 7941755
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting information from a web page on a standard end user browser without plug-ins, includes the steps of dynamically creating an element on a web page being viewed by an end user, copying at least a portion of the contents of the web page or form field values, and uploading the data to a target domain, wherein the target domain may be different from the domain of the web page. In co-browsing applications, the data uploaded is used to create a copy of the website for display to a third party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Art Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Siegrist, Andrew Zitnay, Robert Billingslea
  • Patent number: 7941763
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is connected on a network to another image processing apparatus and has an operation portion displayed at a display portion for implementing a function setting of a combination corresponding to a condition when a history of a function utilized in the other image processing apparatus by a user authenticated by a user authentication portion satisfies that condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 7930643
    Abstract: A system and method for previewing a sequence of motion control operations. A user may utilize a motion control prototyping environment application to easily and efficiently develop/prototype a motion control sequence. For example, the environment may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the user to develop/prototype the motion control sequence at a high level, by selecting from and configuring a sequence of motion control operations using the GUI. The graphical user interface of the motion control prototyping environment may enable the user to preview various aspects of the motion performed by a motion control sequence in one or more preview windows, e.g., a velocity profile, an acceleration profile, position plots, etc., in advance before commanding the motor to perform the sequence of moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Sundeep Chandhoke, David Whatley, Denise Riedlinger
  • Patent number: 7928982
    Abstract: Based on a selected stock market index, a visible representation of a plurality of stock market indices is displayed using a display device. The stock market indices comprise the selected stock market index and a plurality of other stock market indices related to the selected stock market index by a non-unary tree. The visible representation comprises a region to represent the selected stock market index. The visible representation further comprises a plurality of regions to represent the plurality of other stock market indices. The plurality of regions are approximately shaped as a plurality of annulus sectors each having a respective area based on a respective market capitalization associated with its represented one of the plurality of other stock market indices. The visible representation represents pairs of stock market indices that are adjacent in the non-unary tree by radially-adjacent pairs of their representing regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: Cary D. Perttunen
  • Patent number: 7925997
    Abstract: It is possible to provide a user with an operation screen having settings with which the user is familiar, such as an operation screen that has been used in the past for this external input/output device. When a external input/output device is connected to a information processing apparatus, specific information for specifying the device is acquired. Then, from a storage device that associates and stores an operation screen for processing an image that has been handled by the external device and the specific information, a corresponding operation screen is selected based upon the specific information that has been acquired. By displaying the selected operation screen on a touch-sensitive panel display, various setting operations can be performed with regard to an image that has been input from the external input/output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110078637
    Abstract: A self-service computer with dynamic interface. The self-service computer includes a processor for receiving environment information, for selecting among different user interface features including different transaction screens and different transaction screen content based upon the environment information, and for providing selected user interface features during a transaction involving a customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Inderrieden, Jennie Psihogios Johnson, Nathaniel Christopher Herwig
  • Patent number: 7917856
    Abstract: Converting components for a first user interface (UI) technology into components for a second UI technology includes enabling the second UI technology to access first components of the first UI technology, modeling second components of the first UI technology as native components of the second UI technology, the first components being usable by the native components, and defining one or more navigational paths through the native components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Manas Sahoo
  • Patent number: 7907128
    Abstract: An interactive table has a display surface on which a physical object is disposed. A camera within the interactive table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the physical object enabling a location of the physical object on the display surface to be determined, so that the physical object appear part of a virtual environment displayed thereon. The physical object can be passive or active. An active object performs an active function, e.g., it can be self-propelled to move about on the display surface, or emit light or sound, or vibrate. The active object can be controlled by a user or the processor. The interactive table can project an image through a physical object on the display surface so the image appears part of the object. A virtual entity is preferably displayed at a position (and a size) to avoid visually interference with any physical object on the display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Bathiche, David Joshua Kurlander, Andrew D. Wilson, Christina Summer Chen, Joel P. Dehlin
  • Patent number: 7908562
    Abstract: A system and method for presenting a plurality of items to a user with a contextual display. A computer system is provided which includes a data store. At least a portion of the items in the data store include one or more field entries. An explorer interacts with the data store, selects items having one or more desired field entries, and displays the selected items according to an explorer display schema. An application may select the items from the data store and may interact with a shell browser to present the selected items. A method for establishing an explorer for presenting items in a data store to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy P. McKee, David George De Vorchik, David Joel Sheldon, Chris J. Guzak, Jason Fergus Moore, Kerem B. Karatal, Giampiero Sierra, Leonard J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7904821
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method to change a graphical user interface in a way that supports runtime modification of an application's GUI without access to the application source code and/or needs no recompilation/restart of the application executable. This method allows the end-user to make runtime modifications of a widget's attributes and/or runtime conversion of widgets into different types of widgets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventors: Leonid M. Tertitski, Andrei Ivanov
  • Patent number: 7904818
    Abstract: A portal summary controller monitors usage metadata indicating current usage of at least one portlet within at least one portal page for one of multiple events specified to trigger storage of the usage metadata. Responsive to detecting one of the multiple events within the usage metadata which triggers storage, the portal summary controller stores the detected usage metadata at a current time of at least one instance of at least one portlet application within the at least one portal page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christina K. Lauridsen, Malcolm C. Ong, Lauren G. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7895537
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for setting attributes and initiating actions associated with list items. An action icon menu is displayed with options for a user to select related to each item in the list. The user may set an item from the list for a selected action by choosing from the action icon menu or by performing a gesture associated with the desired action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Gruen, Li-Te Cheng, Devon J. Rueckner
  • Patent number: 7886290
    Abstract: When a user interface of a parent software application is modified such that user interface components of an add-in application are not compatible with the parent application user interface, user interface components associated with functionalities of the add-in application are added to the modified parent application user interface. A prior user interface of the parent application to which the add-in application user interface components are added is run in a background of the parent application and is not visible to users. User interface components in the parent application user interface are linked to corresponding add-in application user interface components in the prior user interface. Selection of a user interface component from the present user interface that is associated with an add-in application functionality causes selection of a corresponding user interface component in the background user interface, and the associated add-in functionality is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Savraj Singh Dhanjal, Sylvia Antje Hayashi, David Andrew Morton, Preethi Ramani, Angela Wai Ga So, Andy Chung-An Chang
  • Patent number: 7877698
    Abstract: A system comprising user interface software configured to provide a plurality of spectral data display and manipulation options on a display displaying spectral data, a user interface processor configured to display a pictorial representation of the spectral data display and manipulation options, and a user interface instruction engine configured to provide a plurality of data display and manipulation instructions to the user interface processor to provide display and manipulation of the displayed spectral data. The plurality of data display and manipulation instructions are received from a control device connected to a computing system and the manipulation of the displayed spectral data is based on a user response to the displayed spectral data manipulation options or a pre-determined selection of the displayed spectral data display manipulation options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Meta Geek, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Woodings, Christian Harrison, Brian Tuttle
  • Patent number: 7869068
    Abstract: A software plug-in module extends the functionality of a standard printer driver. For example, the plug-in facilities the ability to provide a customizable user interface. The plug-in also facilitates the use of multiple forms of color management and half-tone screening. Further, the plug-in provides a system and method for determining the status of a printing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Zoran Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver H. Foehr, Marc C Kunz, Brian D. Dodge
  • Patent number: 7865841
    Abstract: An input/output device enables a system to adapt its operation to the user's learning the system without interfering with what the user has already learned about operating the system. In an input/output device enabling a system to adapt to how frequently the user uses particular functions, a storage unit 12 accumulates information about the operations the user performs, a user learning evaluation unit 13 determines if the user has learned each function based on the input operation history accumulated by the storage unit 12, and a menu display position adjustment unit 14 leaves the menu display position unchanged for any function the user learning evaluation unit 13 determines the user has learned, and rearranges the menu display positions of only those functions the user learning evaluation unit 13 determines the user has not learned in descending order of the frequency of execution based on the input operation history stored by the storage unit 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Morikawa
  • Patent number: 7865845
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a graphical user interface allow performing operations simply by dragging a first object to touch a second object. The selection of the first object places a corresponding first object in a chain of objects. When the selected first object touches a second object, a corresponding second object is added to the chain of objects. This process may continue for the selection of many objects by merely touching each object with the selected first object, which causes a corresponding object to be added to the chain of objects. The chain of objects may then be processed as an atomic group of operations that may be rolled back if any of the operations in the group fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Dean Dettinger, Daniel Paul Kolz, Shannon Everett Wenzel
  • Patent number: 7860901
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for enabling the dynamic generation of user interface components. The dynamically-generated user interface components are based on templates and mappings that can be predefined through interaction with a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kit Man Cheng, Issac Stephen Levin, Wei-De Ju
  • Patent number: 7853899
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for changing a user interface. A method for changing a user interface layout includes presenting a user with one or more exits points into which user instructions for changes to a user interface can be inserted. The method includes receiving user instructions to change a user interface. The method includes receiving a selection of an exit point. The method includes adding the user instructions to instructions for presenting the user interface at the exit point selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Damaschke, Thomas Vogt
  • Patent number: 7844792
    Abstract: A software tool automatically places files and folders of a software program within segments of a DVD. The segments are defined by security placeholders, and the disposition of the placeholders is initially randomly determined, consistent with predefined rules. The placeholders are included on the disc to hinder unauthorized copying. A developer generally defines the order in which the files and folders are to be laid out, and the software tool automatically places the files and folders, filling successive segments and shifting the placeholders to accommodate files that will not fit in a current segment. However, any movement of the placeholders must be done by the tool and is only permitted if the new disposition of the placeholder is in accord with the predefined rules. A user can manually modify the automated layout, and in response, the files and folders are automatically shifted to accommodate the changes introduced by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Lange, Jeffrey E. Simon, Jason M. Cahill
  • Patent number: 7831931
    Abstract: Successively displaying panels in a computer user interface. A method includes displaying a first panel of a plurality of panels. Each of the panels includes different information. The computer user interface has a plurality of navigation controls by which a user can navigate to any of the panels to access its information. A first setting of the navigation controls causes the first panel to be displayed. A user input requesting access to a second panel is received, there being at least two settings of the navigation controls that will cause the second panel to be displayed. The method includes ceasing to display the first panel and displaying the second panel using one of the at least two different settings by which more of the navigation controls remain unchanged from the first setting. Methods may be used in hierarchies and in arrangements that do not form trees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Udo Klein, Uwe Klinger, Martin Scholz
  • Publication number: 20100281441
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus comprising a first part with a first user interface, the first user interface extending along a first plane, and a second part with a second user interface, the second user interface extending along a second plane, the first and second parts arranged to be movable with respect to one another along an axis to provide second user interface retracted and in-use configurations, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that relative movement of the first and second parts along the axis provides the second user interface in the retracted configuration in which the second user interface is stowed away from use, the second user interface plane being in a different plane away from the first plane, and relative movement of the first and second parts along the axis provides the second user interface in the in-use configuration in which the second user interface has been moved from the stowed away position into an in-use position in which the second user interface plane has been moved relati
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Eldon, Ricky Barnett
  • Publication number: 20100269824
    Abstract: A respirator and/or anesthesia device having a display, a computer, at least one memory and a program and at least one input unit, at least two different user profiles being provided in the memory, depending on the type of user and retrievable as needed, having a determining effect on the representation in the display as well as the input options in the input unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: IMT AG
    Inventors: Harri Friberg, Jakob Däscher
  • Patent number: 7812814
    Abstract: A device is provided with a user interface, a control unit for controlling the operations of the device including changeable parameters of the user interface, and a game platform for running a game. The control unit is configured to change parameters of the user interface based on events occurring in the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Eral Foxenland
  • Patent number: 7814424
    Abstract: A browser add-on toolbar that offers users to collect toolbars from visited webpages that offer such toolbars and which, later, the user may select any one of the collected toolbars to become the current toolbar that the browser provides to the user. These abilities are imparted by having the toolbar be sensitive to one or more particular flags in visited pages. When a browser that contains this toolbar visits a website, the browser parses and searches the visited website page for presence of one or more of the particular flags, and when such a flag is found, the user is given a visual indication of the find and is given the choice to include within the browser's toolbar the ability to instantiate a toolbar based on information associated with the flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Ronen Shilo
  • Patent number: 7810050
    Abstract: A user interface system having an improved usability is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Atsushi Yamashita, Atsushi Iisaka, Tomohiro Terada