Patents Assigned to RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
  • Publication number: 20190361495
    Abstract: A protective case for an electronic reading device includes a back cover, wherein the back cover is configured to secure the electronic reading device. The back cover includes a plurality of metal plates, each of the plurality of metal plates disposed in a predetermined location. The protective case also includes a front cover, wherein the front cover includes a plurality of magnets, each of the plurality of magnets being disposed in a predetermined location and one or more of the plurality of magnets being positioned based on the location of one or more corresponding metal plates. The front cover also includes a Hall sensor magnet positioned on top of a magnet shielding, wherein the Hall sensor magnet is positioned between the magnet shielding and the back cover of the protective case when the protective case is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: Rakuten Kobo Inc.
    Inventor: Anna BUECHIN
  • Patent number: 10426015
    Abstract: An electronic reading device includes a display integrated into a front of the electronic reading device, the display being outlined by a non-touch sensitive portion of the front of the electronic reading device; wherein a predetermined section of the non-touch sensitive portion of the front of the electronic reading device includes a plurality of micro laser through holes, the plurality of micro laser through holes configured to integrate with the non-touch sensitive portion of the front of the electronic reading device by maintaining a predetermined level of visual consistency of the non-touch sensitive portion, and provide an area through which light is visible in response to one or more interactions with the electronic reading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO, INC.
    Inventors: Archer Wun, James Wu, Ernesto Salas
  • Publication number: 20190281684
    Abstract: An electronic reading device includes a mid-frame structure such that the mid-frame structure can include a reverse draft. A reverse draft corresponds to a back of the electronic reading device being a predetermined amount wider than a front of the electronic reading device. Additionally, a co-molded mid-frame stiffener provides a predetermined rigidity of the electronic reading device. The electronic reading device also includes a display integrated with the front of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the display and the mid-frame structure includes one or more electronic reading device components. Similarly, a back cover is integrated with the back of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the back cover and the mid-frame structure includes additional electronic reading device components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Rakuten Kobo Inc.
    Inventors: Archer WUN, Anna Buechin, James WU, Ernesto SALAS
  • Patent number: 10409326
    Abstract: A protective case for an electronic reading device includes a back cover, wherein the back cover is configured to secure the electronic reading device. The back cover includes a plurality of metal plates, each of the plurality of metal plates disposed in a predetermined location. The protective case also includes a front cover, wherein the front cover includes a plurality of magnets, each of the plurality of magnets being disposed in a predetermined location and one or more of the plurality of magnets being positioned based on the location of one or more corresponding metal plates. The front cover also includes a Hall sensor magnet positioned on top of a magnet shielding, wherein the Hall sensor magnet is positioned between the magnet shielding and the back cover of the protective case when the protective case is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO, INC.
    Inventor: Anna Buechin
  • Publication number: 20190243418
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an adjustable RGBW front light. The electronic device additional includes circuitry configured to determine if a transition between phases has occurred, the phases being based on a time of day, automatically display a predetermined screen color temperature via the adjustable RGBW front light in response to the transition between phases, and automatically adjust a predetermined mixture of light to be displayed via the adjustable RGBW front light such that the predetermined screen color temperature does not change in response to a change in a brightness level of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Rakuten Kobo Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor HUNTER, Matt CLEMENTS, George TALUSAN, Paul MCDOUGALL, William CHABAN, Zheng XU, Steve LI, Jeffrey NG THOW HING
  • Patent number: 10372788
    Abstract: A computing device provides a dyslexic enhancement mode. The dyslexic enhancement mode includes multiple dyslexic enhancement features that adjust the text content to facilitate ability of the user with dyslexia to read the text content. Additionally, the computing device provides an interface to enable the user to enter input to select and I specify values for individual dyslexic enhancement features. The computing device can configure implementation of the dyslexic enhancement mode based on the input provided by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventor: Benjamin Landau
  • Patent number: 10342096
    Abstract: An electronic reading device includes a mid-frame structure such that the mid-frame structure can include a reverse draft. A reverse draft corresponds to a back of the electronic reading device being a predetermined amount wider than a front of the electronic reading device. Additionally, a co-molded mid-frame stiffener provides a predetermined rigidity of the electronic reading device. The electronic reading device also includes a display integrated with the front of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the display and the mid-frame structure includes one or more electronic reading device components. Similarly, a back cover is integrated with the back of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the back cover and the mid-frame structure includes additional electronic reading device components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventors: Archer Wun, Anna Buechin, James Wu, Ernesto Salas
  • Patent number: 10331167
    Abstract: An electronic reading device can include an adjustable RGBW front light and an ambient light sensor. Additionally, the electronic reading device can include circuitry configured to determine if a transition between phases has occurred, wherein the phases include a night phase, a sunrise transition phase, a daytime phase, and a sunset transition phase, automatically display a predetermined screen color temperature via the adjustable RGBW front light in response to the transition between phases, determine if a brightness level has changed, and automatically adjust a predetermined mixture of light to be displayed via the adjustable RGBW front light such that the screen color temperature does not change in response to the changing brightness level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO, INC.
    Inventors: Trevor Hunter, Matt Clements, George Talusan, Paul McDougall, William Chaban, Zheng Xu, Steve Li, Jeffrey Ng Thow Hing
  • Patent number: 10318843
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a computer server having processing circuitry operatively coupled to a memory and a communication interface is provided. A remote image capture device is communicatively coupled to the computer server via the communication interface. The apparatus acquires a captured image of a storage system from the image capture device. The apparatus identifies a pair of physical items in the image, including determining identities of each item of the pair of physical items, and identifying locations in the storage system of each physical item of the pair of physical items. The apparatus processes the image to measure a physical proximity between the pair of physical items, and generates or updates a measure of similarity between the pair of physical items based on the measured physical proximity. The apparatus can also process multiple images to determine similarity between different storage systems or associated persons based on item proximities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Rakuten Kobo, Inc.
    Inventors: Sancho Juan Carlos Dean Rob Roy McCann, Marius Constantin Muja, Peter Michael Bruce Hudson
  • Patent number: 10296045
    Abstract: An electronic reading device can include an adjustable RGBW front light and an ambient light sensor. Additionally, the electronic reading device can include circuitry configured to receive a signal from the ambient light sensor corresponding to a detected ambient light level, automatically display a default brightness level based on the detected ambient light level, determine if the brightness level is manually adjusted, automatically adjust the relative brightness based on the manually adjusted brightness level when the ambient light level changes, and update preferred relative settings to correspond to the manual adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventors: Trevor Hunter, Matt Clements, George Talusan, Paul McDougall, William Chaban, Zheng Xu, Steve Li, Jeffrey Ng Thow Hing
  • Patent number: 10296046
    Abstract: An electronic reading device includes an adjustable RGBW front light and an ambient light sensor. Additionally, the electronic reading device includes circuitry configured to receive a low ambient light preferred brightness level, receive a high ambient light preferred brightness level, and set a rate at which a brightness level transitions between the low ambient light preferred brightness level and the high ambient light preferred brightness level as the ambient light changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventors: Trevor Hunter, Matt Clements, George Talusan, Paul McDougall, William Chaban, Zheng Xu, Steve Li, Jeffrey Ng Thow Hing
  • Publication number: 20180368234
    Abstract: An electronic reading device includes a mid-frame structure such that the mid-frame structure can include a reverse draft. A reverse draft corresponds to a back of the electronic reading device being a predetermined amount wider than a front of the electronic reading device. Additionally, a co-molded mid-frame stiffener provides a predetermined rigidity of the electronic reading device. The electronic reading device also includes a display integrated with the front of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the display and the mid-frame structure includes one or more electronic reading device components. Similarly, a back cover is integrated with the back of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the back cover and the mid-frame structure includes additional electronic reading device components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Rakuten Kobo, Inc.
    Inventors: Archer WUN, Anna Buechin, James WU, Ernesto SALAS
  • Patent number: 10146406
    Abstract: A meta guiding mode can be implemented on a computing device to alter or disable touch inputs that the computing device otherwise recognizes as input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Landau, Vanessa Ghosh
  • Patent number: 10108308
    Abstract: First content is rendered on a display screen of a computing system according to a first setting for an attribute of the first content. In response to sensing motion proximate to a sensing device, second content is displayed on the display screen according to the first setting for the attribute. The second content is displayed in a window within the first content displayed on the display screen. In response to sensing further motion, the first setting is changed to a second setting, and the second content is displayed in the window according to the second setting for the attribute. In response to sensing cessation of the further motion, the window is closed, the first content is reformatted according to the second setting for the attribute, and at least a portion of the reformatted first content on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventors: Paul McDougall, Arpit Guglani, Reilly Watson
  • Patent number: 10082828
    Abstract: An electronic reading device includes a mid-frame structure such that the mid-frame structure can include a reverse draft. A reverse draft corresponds to a back of the electronic reading device being a predetermined amount wider than a front of the electronic reading device. Additionally, a co-molded mid-frame stiffener provides a predetermined rigidity of the electronic reading device. The electronic reading device also includes a display integrated with the front of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the display and the mid-frame structure includes one or more electronic reading device components. Similarly, a back cover is integrated with the back of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the back cover and the mid-frame structure includes additional electronic reading device components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO, INC.
    Inventors: Archer Wun, Anna Buechin, James Wu, Ernesto Salas
  • Patent number: 10050973
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and a method for implementing user-specified transaction parameters for transferring digital content items amongst users. The method includes: receiving a request from a first user to transfer a right of possession to a first digital content item, wherein the first digital content item includes a content portion and a metadata portion for displaying a visual representation of the first digital content item; in response to receiving the request, precluding user access to at least the content portion of the first digital content item on one or more computing devices associated with an account of the first user; and providing the visual representation of the first digital content item on a display of at least one of the one or more computing devices based on the metadata portion of the first digital content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO, INC.
    Inventors: Robert MacArthur, James Wu
  • Patent number: 10025465
    Abstract: A user interface method for user selected zoom level determination. The method includes displaying a page of a document on a screen of the handheld device, and receiving an input from a user of the handheld device and setting a zoom level of the page in accordance there with. The method further includes, in response to the zoom level, processing the page in accordance there with to produce a plurality of dynamically sized segments, and for displaying successive pages on the screen, processing the successive pages to produce additional dynamically sized segments in accordance with the zoom level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventors: Anthony O'Donoghue, Sneha Patel
  • Patent number: 10013394
    Abstract: A method and system for re-marginating content displayed on a display screen of a computing device when upon receiving indication of an object superposed on the display screen content, a “handedness” preference of the reader/observer can be determined. In one embodiment, the content comprises display of one page in a series of digitally constructed pages. A keep out margin is calculated based on position of the object. Content is then re-flowed or line-wrapped about that keep out margin, to counteract any obscuration of displayed content. The line-wrapping of the content around the keep out margin is accomplished while maintaining a plurality of text attributes of the content. The line-wrapping forces reconstruction of a next one of the series of pages for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventor: Juan Ernesto Salas Imana
  • Patent number: 9983650
    Abstract: A computing device that includes a programmatically controlled front light. The front light cast light onto a display surface and/or other region of the computing device, for purpose of providing illumination and/or lighting effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventor: Damian Lewis
  • Patent number: 9977955
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying books located on a bookshelf. Photographs of the bookshelf are captured and processed to identify individual books. Processing involves segmenting the photograph into individual book spines and extracting and analyzing features of the book spines. Analysis may include database matching and/or optical character recognition. Book spines for which a match is not found are human labeled, and the label information is added to the database. User feedback is also used to update the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Rakuten Kobo, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Michael Bruce Hudson, Marius Constantin Muja, Andrew Cameron McNair, Sancho Juan Carlos Dean Rob Roy McCann