Patents Examined by Ba Huynh
  • Patent number: 7191407
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for automatically opening files of particular types in a computer application program using certain attributes, such as window size and position, as dictated by user preferences based on the user's previous habits in opening files of the same type in that particular computer application program or based on properties of the file itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karen R. Kluttz, Sandeep K. Singhal, Thyra Rauch, David A. Schell
  • Patent number: 7191401
    Abstract: A pushbutton user interface enables a user to preview the effect of activating a pushbutton of the interface before the pushbutton is activated. The pushbutton user interface can be implemented so that an input (preview input) to the pushbutton that does not produce an activation of the pushbutton is sensed and, in response to the sensed input, a preview is displayed that indicates the effect of activating the pushbutton. The preview input can be sensed using, for example, a force-sensitive resistor, potentiometer or strain gauge. The preview display can include, for example, a visual display, an audio display, a haptic display, or a combination of two or three such displays. The pushbutton user interface can be implemented so that the preview input and an activation input (i.e., an input that produces an activation of the pushbutton) are sensed as a result of an input to the pushbutton along the same axis or along different (e.g., orthogonal) axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
    Inventors: Jayne B. Roderick, Karon E. MacLean, William L. Verplank, Scott S. Snibbe
  • Patent number: 7174510
    Abstract: A musical keyboard is connected to a computer. The computer implements a graphical user interface for teaching users to play the musical instrument. A computer readable music file, such as a MIDI file, is used to drive the creation of game objects that travel from a point of origination along a path toward a key of a virtual keyboard. In one form, when a user presses a key of the musical keyboard within a certain time window of arrival of the game object at the corresponding key of the virtual keyboard, the user is awarded with an audio presentation, a visual presentation and/or with game points. In a more structured learning mode, the game can be played with selectable, progressively more difficult challenges that the user masters on the road to proficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Hal Christopher Salter
  • Patent number: 7174511
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of selectively reproducing a desired type of data from a multi-session disk in which various types of data have been recorded on sessions. The method of reproducing a recording medium containing same type of contents in each session identifies each type of a plurality of sessions sequentially, composes type telling information based on the identified types wherein information indicative of same type of data sections is to be collectively placed when the type telling information is viewed, presents the type telling information with a choice button or box for a user's selecting an arbitrary type, and selectively reproduces data sections corresponding to a selected type from a user. According to this method, it is possible for a user to recognize easily all types of data recorded on a multi-session disk containing various types of data, whereby a user can request reproduction or copy of same type data quite conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Hyeok Jeong
  • Patent number: 7171627
    Abstract: There are provided a device for displaying link information and a method for displaying the same which display the image of an actual object superimposed with the label of link information so as to easily obtain information on the actual object and to display a moving link. An image input part obtains the image signal of an actual object. A link information receiving part receives link information transmitted by a transmitter. A link contents detection part detects the link contents. An attribute information detection part detects the attribute. A link position detection part detects the link position. The image signal obtained by a synthesizing part is superimposed with the link contents in the display coordinate of a link label calculated by a coordinate conversion part in accordance with the attribute information. A display part displays the image signal synthesized. The user uses a pointing device to easily obtain the link information on the actual object in accordance with the link label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Ryusuke Sawatari
  • Patent number: 7168047
    Abstract: A mouse for controlling movements on a display screen is disclosed. The mouse includes a housing that is gripped by a user during manipulation of the mouse and a sensor configured to detect the presence of a user's hand or portions thereof located outside of and in close proximity to a predetermined portion of the housing. The signals produced by the sensor are used to control functionalities of the mouse, as for example, switching between a cursor control mode and a scroll/pan control mode of the mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Q. Huppi
  • Patent number: 7165223
    Abstract: In an entertainment, or any other information processing system, in order to provide a startup screen that does not become boring even after being started up many times, image drawing data created based on accumulated historical data is displayed each time it is started up. The historical information includes the system startup time, the idle time during which no game is executed, the number of times an application is started, the identification number of an optical disk and the application startup time. The display data used in the creation of image drawing data includes the number of drawing objects displayed on the startup screen, their display positions, display colors and opacity and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Kutaragi, Taizo Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 7162695
    Abstract: A multimedia safety analysis system used for system safety training and as an information repository is disclosed. The training device may be web based and may be simultaneously accessed from a computer server by numerous users or executed by an individual user. The system allows a user to investigate a system safety process and aides in the establishment of their own system safety program. The flow of a comprehensive system safety process is illustrated. Each data element in the process has numerous associated data items (information) that define how to accomplish the task associated with the Data Element including references, definitions, examples, acronyms, and specifications given to illustrate more fully what is needed to accomplish the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Michael G. Zemore, Robert C. Heflin, Jr., Kenneth B. Johnson, T. Glenn Moore, Joseph T. Janney, Peggy L. Rogers, Kevin G. Stottlar, Lawrence E. Eskey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7159186
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides methods and apparatus for supporting a user interface of a terminal. The user interface enables the user to manipulate display objects on a display of the user interface in order to download software objects of other users, execute software objects of the user or of other users, and share software objects with other users. In an embodiment of the invention, the display is partitioned into three areas comprising a user's data area, an applications area, and another user's data area. The user can drag a display object between the user's data area and the other user's data area in order to download or publish a corresponding software object. Also, the user can drag a display object from either the user's data area or the other user's data area to the application area in order to execute or view the corresponding software object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jouka Mattila, Riku Suomela, Eero Rasanen
  • Patent number: 7155681
    Abstract: A distributed user interface (UI) system includes a client device configured to render a UI for a server-based application. The client device communicates with a UI server over a network such as the Internet. The UI server performs formatting for the UI, which preferably utilizes a number of native UI controls that are available locally at the client device. In this manner, the client device need only be responsible for the actual rendering of the UI. The source data items are downloaded from the UI server to the client device when necessary, and the client device populates the UI with the downloaded source data items. The client device employs a cache to store the source data items locally for easy retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Sproqit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M Mansour, Chad Arthur Schwitters
  • Patent number: 7139984
    Abstract: Information is entered into a data record which utilizes a virtual environment. A user can direct an avatar in this environment and at least one location in the virtual environment is associated with a field of the data record and with one or more selectable information options for inclusion in the field. The user is provided with representations of the selectable information options distributed around the location and the position of the avatar in the virtual environment is monitored. In the event that the avatar moves into a predefined proximity with one of the representations of the selectable options, the selection of that one of the selectable options is detected and that selected one option is then stored in the associated field of the data record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: British Telecommunications
    Inventors: David O Beaumont, Mohammad S Azam
  • Patent number: 7134083
    Abstract: A method and system for web based control components. Specifically, the present invention describes a method of rendering user interface button and tab control components within a hypertext markup language (HTML) web page. The present invention generates an HTML table that comprises a plurality of cells. For a button component a two row by three column table is generated. For a tab component a five column table is generated. The present invention places a plurality of graphical corner images in the plurality of cells to produce corner outlines of the button or tab control component. Multiple button or tab components can be coupled together in a single table by repeatedly adding more of the plurality of cells associated with button or tab components, respectively. In addition, the control component has the ability to accommodate word wrapping of the text contained within the control component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jaime F. Guerrero
  • Patent number: 7124366
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for a computer-assisted motion video editing system directs a user through the process of editing a video program. The graphical user interface may also enables a user to plan a video program. Alternatively selectable interfaces within a single window interface, each of which provide a group of planning, capturing, editing, and recording functions can provide such an interface for producing a video program. Other simplifications to the user interface can be provided to assist in editing, such as by maintaining a video display window for displaying the edited video program at a fixed position for all available editing operations. Additionally, video information can be captured directly into a timeline representation of a video program, rather than a bin. Using a storyboard tied to the capturing process, a user is directed through the process of collecting and capturing the video clips to be used in the video program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Avid Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Foreman, Darrell N. LeBlanc, Brett D. Granger, Iván M. Cavero-Belaunde
  • Patent number: 7124374
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for a computer system with attached processor devices transfers input control for a pointing device on a principal computer display to native display devices and interfaces on attached devices whenever the system senses that a display cursor has moved to the edge of a display in the direction of the attached device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Carl Herman Haken
  • Patent number: 7117447
    Abstract: An approach for providing self-service call plan application development is disclosed. A graphical system includes a computing system that is configured to cause a graphical user interface (GUI) to be present for automated creation of an application for controlling call flow logic. The application supports a predefined feature set. Additionally, the system includes a database that is coupled to the server and configured to store the application. The server is further configured to determine whether the application is valid and to initiate deployment of the application. The deployment may be performed on a real-time basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: MCI, LLC
    Inventors: Dale L. Cobb, Paul D. Gilbert, Phyllis Santa
  • Patent number: 7117451
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for ordering multiple elements within a set of elements in a list in a data processing system. The set of elements are presented in a list format in a graphical user interface. The present invention waits for a first user input selecting the elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the first user input, monitoring is performed for a second user input indicating a movement of the selected elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the second user input, the selected elements are automatically reordered within the set of elements based on the user input. In this manner, the elements may be manipulated within the list using a single user input rather that requiring a user input to manipulate each element individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Robert S. Sielken
  • Patent number: 7107536
    Abstract: A architecture is provided to enable a client web browser to conduct and manage a multilevel search. The browser includes an application layer interface. The application layer interface is for coupling to network via a protocol stack. The browser also includes a markup language parser. The parser receives information from the application layer interface. The browser includes a graphical user interface for presenting information to a user and allowing the user to specify a set of multilevel search parameters. The browser also includes a multilevel object factory coupled to receive a first input relating to a target web page and a second input specifying a multilevel browser operation such as a multilevel search. The multilevel object factory specifies a remote object agent that orchestrates a multilevel browser operation based upon the first and second inputs. The remote object agent is exported from the web browser to execute on a network server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Eric Morgan Dowling
  • Patent number: 7107543
    Abstract: A method and a system for communicating with multiple user interface elements contained in multiple categories on a web page with a single client application program at the client computer. Messages are communicated both to and from users interface elements through callback function scripts that communicate through a single client application program that is connected over a point-to-point connection to an agent process on a server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: TIBCO Software Inc.
    Inventors: David Berry, Larry Neumann
  • Patent number: 7107534
    Abstract: A storage area network management and configuration system is provided. The system includes an enterprise network that has a plurality of computer systems, and some of the plurality of computer systems include a server component, some include a client component, and some include both the client component and the server component. The system also includes a storage enclosure that is connected to a computer system having at least the server component. A graphical user interface window is provided by the client component, and the graphical user interface provides a graphical representation and icon links to configuration tools for controlling the drives and arrays of the storage enclosure. In one aspect, the enterprise network can include a plurality of storage enclosures that are connected to selected computer systems that are part of the enterprise network and that have the server component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Adaptec, Inc.
    Inventors: Anke T. de Jong, Larry L. Cornett, David A. Holzer, John G. DeBriere, Peter J. Nicklin, R. Michael Reese, Valerie E. Fife, Johnny C. Nichols, Chooi P. Low, Kit Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 7100120
    Abstract: A method and system for adding application defined properties and application defined property sheet pages are provided. The application defined properties may be added to a list of system defined properties. Once added, the application defined properties may be displayed and edited. In addition, a user may select several objects, display the properties common to all of the objects in a list, and edit the common properties. Moreover, application defined property sheet pages may be added to a set of system defined property sheet pages. A user may then display and edit the application defined property sheet pages. Also, a user may select several objects, display the properties common to all of the objects on a per-property browsing list, and edit the common properties. In addition, a user may select several objects, display the property sheet pages common to all of the objects, and edit the properties on these property sheet pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Zimmerman, Christopher Lee Fraley, John E. Elsbree