Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Scot Reader
  • Patent number: 8334995
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adaptive control of an imaging node allow subsystems of the imaging node to dynamically register authorized commands with a pre-parser after which the pre-parser authorizes inbound line commands for execution by reference to the dynamic registrations. The methods and systems permit highly extensible and granular control over the imaging node, for example, by allowing a user to dynamically unlock and control registered options of the imaging node that are not otherwise controllable, for example, via a standard management protocol or proprietary Web interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Tommy Lee Oswald
  • Patent number: 8334999
    Abstract: A method and system for augmenting an imaging device with non-native job settings without unduly complicating the processing of imaging jobs that utilize only native job settings is disclosed. In one aspect, an imaging device comprises a processor, a user interface communicatively coupled with the processor and a network interface communicatively coupled with the processor, wherein under control of the processor in response to job settings selected on the user interface for an imaging job the imaging device selectively invokes via the network interface an external process to process the imaging job per at least one selected job setting based on a determination of whether at least one selected job setting is non-native to the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch
  • Patent number: 8286197
    Abstract: Methods and systems for comprehensive socket API loopback processing on a computing device. In an exemplary method and system, a socket API processes loopback calls without resort to a TCP/IP protocol stock or lower level systems (e.g. network drivers), reducing overhead requirements and processing burdens imposed on the TCP/IP stack and lower level systems and improving overall computing device performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Swee Huat Sng
  • Patent number: 8279471
    Abstract: A VUSB over NFC mobile printing method and system. In an exemplary arrangement, an imaging device has a network connection with an application server and an NFC interface for connecting with a client device. When a mobile user places his or her client device in proximity with the NFC interface, an NFC connection is established between the client device and the imaging device and the imaging device intermediates between the client device and the application server using a VUSB protocol to enable the user to select and upload from the client device to the imaging device a document file that the user wishes to print, after which the imaging device facilitates printing the document file in accordance with user preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch
  • Patent number: 8274678
    Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating remote access and customization of internally generated printing node status reports. In some embodiments, the methods and systems advantageously facilitate remote access and customization of internally generated printing node status reports by adapting preexisting features that generate local hard copies of printing node status reports in response to locally initiated commands. Such adaptation enables a printing node to receive, process and respond to remotely initiated requests for printing node status reports in a manner that permits remote customization of the style of printing node status reports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch, Joseph Bert Murdock
  • Patent number: 8266260
    Abstract: A method and system for updating a group of network nodes, such as a group of MFPs, with replacement software in a manner that improves network performance and the predictability of a completion time for installation of the replacement software involves throttling distribution of a software update package to avoid resource oversubscription while time-bounding distribution so that installation of the software update on all of the network nodes can be completed by a certain time and, in some embodiments, further involves determining a start time for distribution of the software update package based at least in part on a scheduled installation time selected by a network administrator, which provides a high degree of confidence that installation of the software update across the entire group of network nodes will be completed around a scheduled time (e.g. during “off hours”) notwithstanding the staggered distribution of the software update package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rabindra Pathak, Joseph B. Murdock
  • Patent number: 8260367
    Abstract: A motion driven event alert system and method synchronize output of follow-up event alerts on a mobile electronic device to changes in the state of motion of the device. Generally, the device outputs an initial alert in response to receipt of a new event from a wireless network. If a user fails to take action on the device after the device outputs the initial alert, the device determines a state of motion of the device and monitors for a change in the state of motion. When a change is detected, the device outputs a follow-up alert. If the user fails to take action on the device after the device outputs the follow-up alert, the device repeats the steps of motion state determination, motion state change monitoring, motion state change detection and output of another follow-up alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Weng Chong (Peekay) Chan
  • Patent number: 8243341
    Abstract: An imaging device has an adjustable imaging surface that can be readily enlarged by a user from a first size to a second size and reduced by the user from the second size to the first size to meet imaging requirements. The imaging device thus permits imaging of larger documents than its desktop footprint would conventionally support. For example, when a user of such an imaging device has a full sheet document that requires flatbed scanning, the user can temporarily enlarge the imaging surface from half sheet size to full sheet size and scan the document. Once the user has scanned the document, the user can reduce the imaging surface from the full sheet size to the half sheet size to reduce the desktop footprint of the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Dana S. Smith
  • Patent number: 8231541
    Abstract: A method and system for assessing the health status of a patient, such as the asthma status of a patient, provides an asthma status score and a confidence rating indicative of the score's reliability using continuous real-time data. In some embodiments, the assessment comprises a multidimensional analysis in which asthma status scores and respective confidence ratings are generated for multiple individual asthma health dimensions as well as a summary asthma health dimension indicative of overall asthma health. In some embodiments, the individual dimensions include an environmental trigger dimension based on sensor-based environmental data, a physiological burden dimension based on sensor-based physiological data, a medication adherence dimension based on patient diary data and a perceived symptom dimension based on patient diary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nhedti Colquitt, Deepak Ayyagari
  • Patent number: 8218160
    Abstract: Adaptive automatic printing methods and systems allow a user to modify print settings for an automatic print job after sending the job, after which the job is output under the modified print settings without any requirement to resend the job. Accordingly, if a user discovers after sending an automatic print job that an improper or suboptimal print setting has been used, the user can correct the problem without having to resend the job and, in some embodiments, without having to return to the client node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch
  • Patent number: 8159707
    Abstract: A more holistic approach to batch job processing simplifies batch job creation, improves user understanding of batch job status and prevents unwanted batch job printing outcomes. In the approach, before printing any print element (e.g. file, document) in a batch job that includes supported print elements and unsupported print elements, a support status indication is outputted for each of the print elements and the user is required to input a group print instruction before the approach proceeds to print the supported print elements. The approach in some embodiments also allows the user to input a group cancel instruction instructing to cancel the batch job without printing any of the print elements and allows the user to input a change instruction requesting modification of one or more unsupported print elements in an attempt to convert them into supported print elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch
  • Patent number: 8161474
    Abstract: A method and system for failsafe preservation of diagnostic information that identifies problems encountered during installation of over the air updates of wireless handset software includes logging code stored in an area of the handset that is not updated during over the air updates and that is executable to generate and store diagnostic information in an area of the handset that is not updated during over the air updates. By disposing a logging code and diagnostic information in areas of the handset that are invulnerable to corruption during installation of over the air updates, diagnostic information is guaranteed to be generated by the handset and transferable to an external diagnostics system for analysis even in the event of a fatal error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Ishii
  • Patent number: 8154723
    Abstract: Methods and systems for particle characterization using a light fluctuation component of an optical sensor output signal. The use of the light fluctuation component enables particle characterization (e.g. provision of information on particle size, type and confidence) without requiring measurements at multiple wavelengths or multiple angles and using relatively lightweight calculations. The methods and systems allow integration of real-time airborne particle characterization into portable monitors. The methods and systems in some embodiments also use the output signal to further characterize particles through determination of particle density information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongji Fu, Deepak Ayyagari
  • Patent number: 8154737
    Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating the amount of color ink that will be used to print a print job element classify individual color drawing objects of the print job element in a pre-raster image process (pre-RIP) format into drawing object classes and apply predetermined rules associated with the drawing object classes to obtain color ink usage estimates for the individual color drawing objects. Combination of color ink usage estimates for the individual color drawing objects yields a prompt and meaningful estimate of color ink usage for the print job element. The estimate of color ink usage for the print job element can be put to advantageous use in a pay-for-print service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch
  • Patent number: 8145931
    Abstract: An imaging device with an adaptive power saving behavior conserves power by establishing reduced power mode entry and/or exit timeout values based on device usage statistics. Such an imaging device in some embodiments comprises at least one interface and a processor communicatively coupled with the interface, wherein under control of the processor the imaging device determines usage statistics for the imaging device based on jobs received on the interface and selects a power save entry timeout value for the imaging device based on the usage statistics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: William John Vojak, Rabindra Pathak
  • Patent number: 8122372
    Abstract: A wireless handset and a method and system for a wireless handset that better enable a user of the wireless handset to identify, select and view objects on a web page. Objects from a web page are rendered on a wireless handset display as selectable panels in perspective views. The rendering of objects from a web page as selectable panels in perspective views allows a web page designed for rendering on a display of a conventional Internet capable device to fit within a much smaller display of a wireless handset while maintaining the relative position, visibility, selectability and natural appearance of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew R. Ferlitsch, Benjamin K. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 8085145
    Abstract: A personal environmental monitoring method and system and a portable monitor for use therein permit real-time mobile monitoring of environmental conditions in the immediate vicinity to ensure compatibility with the particular environmental sensitivities of a person being monitored. The portable monitor may be a fully integrated mobile device that provides real-time mobile monitoring of immediate environmental conditions without network connectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongji Fu, Deepak Ayyagari, Nhedti Colquitt
  • Patent number: 8077710
    Abstract: A wireless client device (e.g. a WSD) discovers vacant DTV channels using location information acquired from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. In one aspect of the invention, a wireless client device discovers vacant DTV channels through direct communication with a local DHCP server and a remote primary user database server. In another aspect of the invention, a wireless client device discovers vacant DTV channels from an access device that communicates with a local DHCP server and a remote primary user database server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Song-Lin Young, Daniel J. Park
  • Patent number: 8069409
    Abstract: Methods and systems for customized remote access to imaging node front panels offer improvements in the areas of unified access, on-screen viewing and comprehension of front panels delivered by diverse imaging nodes to remote client nodes. The imaging nodes may be diverse, for example, in terms of message formats used to deliver front panel data, screen resolution assumptions implicit in front panel data and languages in which front panel data are delivered. Customization is provided, in some embodiments, by a server node that intermediates between the imaging nodes and the client nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Rabindra Pathak
  • Patent number: 8060884
    Abstract: A method and system for scheduling tasks in a computing device ensures substantially seamless processing of an active job while preventing starvation of background tasks. In one aspect, a method comprises the steps of statically allocating processor time to a background task class and dynamically allocating processor time to background tasks within the background task class based at least in part on a current count of the background tasks. The background task processor time may equal the background task class processor time divided by the current count. The method may further comprise, in each of successive processing periods, assigning a processor to each of the background tasks for their respective background task processor times and assigning the processor to active job tasks when the processor is not assigned to any of the background tasks. The computing device may be a printing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Tommy Lee Oswald