Patents Examined by Andrea Leggett
  • Patent number: 9032331
    Abstract: A technique for a visual search sets a transient mode on, gathers objects to form a pile of objects, wherein each object has a predefined portion visible, and determines whether a selector is over the predefined portion of an object in the pile of objects. Responsive to a determination that the selector is detected over the predefined portion of the object in the pile of objects, the object is presented in a foreground. It is determined whether the object in the foreground is selected to form a selected object. Responsive to a determination that the object in the foreground is selected to form a selected object, the pile of objects is restored to an original state with the selected object scrolled into view within the predefined display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yvon R. Nonez, Alireza Pourshahid, Graham A. Watts
  • Patent number: 9032306
    Abstract: Method or system for allowing a social networking system to retain users of a social networking system by identifying low-activity users who are likely to become inactive/dormant users and prompting users to initiate interactions with the low-activity users. The low-activity users are identified by monitoring activities and interactions of the users via the social networking system. If the pattern of activities and interactions satisfy one or more criteria, a computer device for providing the social networking system initiates an intervention scheme where users are induced to initiate interactions with the low-activity users. In response to the interactions, the low-activity users are likely to resume interactions via the social networking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Wang, Naomi Gleit, Peter H. Martinazzi, Kiranjit S. Sidhu, Lex Arquette, Jeffrey C. Wieland, Jennifer Burge, Jun Liu, Alexander P. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9032316
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for proposing actions to a user to select based on the value of the actions to the user are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving content selected by a user from a device, and identifying a plurality of actions to be executed that are associated with a referent entity identified from the selected content, wherein each action has an associated value to the user. The method also includes providing, for display, an identifier of each of at least a subset of the actions based on their associated values. Systems and machine-readable storage media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Nordstrom, Casey Stuart Whitelaw
  • Patent number: 9026930
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provides for adjusting focus during a desktop reveal. A window has focus before the desktop is revealed. After the window is returned and the desktop hidden, the focus is again placed on the window. Further, a configurable area associated with the screen that displays the window is maintained during the desktop reveal and the return of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Z124
    Inventors: Sanjiv Sirpal, Paul Edward Reeves, Alexander de Paz, Rodney Wayne Schrock
  • Patent number: 9015596
    Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating access of computing system users to restricted or other functionality, such as internal functionality of a business or other organization. The functionality access may be facilitated by an access provider system that executes on a client computing system of an authorized user, such as a program operating in conjunction with another presentation program that presents publicly available information by modifying interactions available to the user when using the presentation program or otherwise providing additional information to the user. In some situations, the additional information is provided by temporarily modifying the information being presented by the presentation program, such as to provide additional information that is related to functionality corresponding to a subject area of the currently presented information and/or corresponding to an aspect of the currently presented information that is indicated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick G. Franklin, Zheyin Li, James K. Keiger, Suresh Kumar, Ramanathan Palaniappan, Kamil Jiwa, Ares Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9009617
    Abstract: Various embodiments include at least one of a system, method, and software providing at least one user interface allowing a user to rapidly choose an optimal item, as represented by multi-attribute data objects, among a set of comparable items. One example method embodiment includes receiving a dataset having a plurality of data objects with a plurality of data object attributes. The method further includes generating a view of the data objects within a user interface on a display device. Such a view may include a representation of at least a subset of the plurality of data objects along a first axis with data objects positioned in proximity to a first pole of the first axis relative to importance of the data objects according to data object attribute criterion. The view may also include a representation of data object attributes including at least two designated as data object attribute criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventor: Markus Latzina
  • Patent number: 9009604
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display processing apparatus includes an obtaining module, a relevance calculator, a display information generator, and a display controller. The obtaining module is configured to obtain particular information items allowed to be created by users, the particular information being obtained for each of a key content item and other content items. The relevance calculator is configured to calculate one or more relevances between the key content item and each of the other content items, based on the particular information items. The display information generator is configured to generate display information items expressing the key content item and the other content items, based on the particular information items or content-attribute information items peculiar to the key content item and the other content items. The display controller is configured to control to display a list information item in which the display information items are located at predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuji Takao, Mieko Onodera
  • Patent number: 9009614
    Abstract: A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes the steps of selecting a family of article types, selecting a customized article type, manufacturing an article of footwear with the customized article type and shipping the article of footwear to a pre-designated shipping address. The method may further include the step of limiting the number of articles of footwear manufactured with a customized article type to ensure exclusivity for customized article types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Dirsa, Clifford B. Gerber, Petre Gheorghian, E. Scott Morris
  • Patent number: 8990711
    Abstract: Methods and devices for minimizing and maximizing displayed output associated with applications are provided. More particularly, an application presented as two or more pages in a portrait mode can be minimized to present one of the two or more pages following a minimization operation. The page that continues to be displayed can comprise a primary or preferred page, while the page that is dismissed can comprise a secondary or ancillary page. With respect to a maximization operation received with respect to a page of an application results in the display of an additional page associated with that application. Maximization can include controlling the respective screens on which first and second pages of the maximized application are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Z124
    Inventors: Sanjiv Sirpal, Mohammed Selim
  • Patent number: 8984446
    Abstract: In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method for providing a hierarchical data structure to store nodes, wherein the nodes comprise graphical primitives to be rendered to a common display space of a computer system. The hierarchical data structure governs graphical compositing amongst the nodes. Two or more separate software applications are allowed to create nodes in the hierarchical data structure and share the common display space. The two or more separate software applications are restricted from accessing nodes in the hierarchical data structure based on node ownership information linking one or more nodes in the hierarchical data structure to a respective software application in the two or more separate software applications. The hierarchical data structure is used for rendering and displaying the common display space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Deneb Meketa, Ethan Malasky
  • Patent number: 8977947
    Abstract: A reading list panel is displayed as a sidebar window with respect to a main window of a content viewing application. In response to a first input, a first article representation of a first article associated with a presentation page displayed in the main window is listed in the reading list panel, where the first article representation includes information identifying the first article. In response to a selection of a second article representation from the reading list panel, content of a second article represented by the second article representation is presented in a reader mode within the main window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Melton, Darin B. Adler, Alice Liu, Kevin W. Decker, Brady K. Eidson, Gavin Barraclough, Steven J. Falkenburg
  • Patent number: 8977985
    Abstract: A system is disclosed including a first display control section 218 for selectively displaying, in a first display area, a second predetermined number of first objects among first objects, corresponding to a first predetermined number of game programs, for which an order is set, a second display control section for displaying a position designation image at a position corresponding to a position, of subject software, in an order set for the first predetermined number of pieces of software; a display change section for designating a first object to be displayed in the first display area, based on an operation input received by using the position designation image; and an activation execution section for activating software corresponding to one first object which is selected from among the second predetermined number of first objects displayed in the first display area, based on the operation input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Matsushima, Yuki Onozawa
  • Patent number: 8972896
    Abstract: A system is disclosed including a first display control section 218 for selectively displaying, in a first display area, a second predetermined number of first objects among first objects, corresponding to a first predetermined number of game programs, for which an order is set, a second display control section for displaying a position designation image at a position corresponding to a position, of subject software, in an order set for the first predetermined number of pieces of software; a display change section for designating a first object to be displayed in the first display area, based on an operation input received by using the position designation image; and an activation execution section for activating software corresponding to one first object which is selected from among the second predetermined number of first objects displayed in the first display area, based on the operation input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nintentdo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Matsushima, Yuki Onozawa
  • Patent number: 8959444
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a command is received that designates a base shape. A navigation order of a plurality of shapes relative to the base shape is determined, where the plurality of shapes are adjacent to the base shape. The navigation order is presented by presenting identifiers of the plurality of shapes and an ordered sequence of the plurality of shapes. Focus is moved between the plurality of shapes in the navigation order after the navigation order is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Cragun, Makoto Kuwabara, James S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8959445
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for handling focus when a gesture is input in a multi-screen device. In embodiments, a first image displayed on a first touch sensitive display of a first screen may be currently in focus. In embodiments, the gesture is a tap on a second touch sensitive display of the device. In response to the gesture, focus is changed from the first image on the first touch sensitive display to the second touch sensitive display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Z124
    Inventors: Sanjiv Sirpal, Martin Gimpl, John Steven Visosky, Suxiang Wei
  • Patent number: 8954883
    Abstract: A device is provided for visually indicating a replay status of media items on a media device. Aspects of the device include displaying in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the media device a representation of a first media item; displaying a profile score of the first media item that is based on user preferences; and displaying a replay score for the first media item that affects replay of the first media item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Napo Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Waymen J. Askey, Hugh Svendsen
  • Patent number: 8954866
    Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for establishing at a network management server a presence on a network. A presence associated with one or more managed devices on the network is detected. An instant messaging (IM) session is established with the one or more managed devices. The IM session forms a virtual chat room for performing a management function on the one or more managed devices, and IM messages are sent that are configured to perform the management function on the one or more managed devices. Techniques are also provided herein for establishing on a network an enriched presence by a network management server that is configured to perform a management function via a presence function of a messaging and presence protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Maria Pignataro, Joseph Michael Clarke, Rajesh Kumar, Mohammed Baseer Khan, Mohamed Saad Mostafa, Sanjeev S. Ukhalkar, Michel Khouderchah, Mark Allan Son-Bell
  • Patent number: 8954855
    Abstract: An information processing device includes: a storage unit; a first display control unit; and a demanding unit. The storage unit that stores attribute data representing specified attribute of contents and category data representing a category of the attribute correlated to each other. The first display control unit that provides controls for displaying information for a selected attribute and for displaying, in a categorized state, information for related attributes correlated to the same category as that of the attribute on a correlation display screen. The demanding unit that demands data search by referring to the correlated attribute selected corresponding to information selected from among those displayed on the correlation display screen to an information provision device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shirai, Toshihiro Morita, Susumu Morita, Taku Sugawara
  • Patent number: 8949733
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for displaying a subset of a plurality of fields to a user. In use, a plurality of fields for receiving input from a user is retrieved. Additionally, the plurality of fields is displayed to the user in a first window of a display. Further, a subset of the plurality of fields is displayed to the user in a second window of the display separate from the first window, where the second window is positioned according to a span of vision and an angle of vision of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Amdocs Software Systems Limited
    Inventors: Amit Kr. Gautam, Ajay Kr. Gautam
  • Patent number: 8949724
    Abstract: According to a general aspect, a method can include receiving a request, triggered via a consumer account, to access, using a social media application, a plurality of sharer content. The sharer content can be associated with a sharer account using the social media application. The method can include retrieving, in response to the request, a consumer value and a relationship value. The consumer value can represent an interaction with the social media application via the consumer account and the relationship value can characterize a relationship between a consumer identifier of the consumer account and a sharer identifier of the sharer account. The method can include selecting a subset of sharer content from the plurality of sharer content based on a combination of the consumer value and the relationship value, and can include defining a portion of a presentation customized for the consumer account using the selected subset of sharer content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Hickman