Patents Examined by Chante? Harrison
  • Patent number: 8462176
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products automatically generate and place annotations on an image (e.g., a rendering of a computer aided design model). Regions within an image are identified, and a representation of the image is generated, where the representation characterizes each of the image regions. Annotation leader locations are determined based on the representation of the image. Thereafter, annotation leaders are automatically generated and displayed using at the annotation leader locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron M. Stubbs, Brandon Willets Cole
  • Patent number: 8446427
    Abstract: An information display apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives character sequence information arranged in a plurality of lines; an image acquisition unit that acquires a line image in which an end of an nth line and a start of an (n+1)th line of the received character sequence information are connected into a single line, n representing an integer of 1 or more; and a display unit that displays the acquired line image within a predetermined display range of a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukiyo Uehori, Tohru Fuse
  • Patent number: 8436858
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for animating transition among a dynamic graph series including a preceding graph and a succeeding graph which are temporally sequentially displayed. The method includes: selecting an unchanged node which is the nearest to a removed node and merging through animation the removed node with the unchanged node, thereby animating removal of the removed node; and selecting an unchanged node which is the nearest to an added node and splitting through animation the added node from the unchanged node, thereby animating addition of the added node. During the animation, the moving distances of the nodes can be shortened, and the crossing of movement paths and the crossing of graph edges can be prevented during the movement of the nodes, thereby visualizing smoothly and clearly transition among dynamic graph series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Jia Cai, Nan Cao, Shixia Liu, Li Tan
  • Patent number: 8427482
    Abstract: A method of ordering visual objects presented on a display includes comparing visual objects to be placed in an overlapping condition and determining from the comparison the order in which the visual objects are to be placed. The visual objects are re-ordered and placed in the overlapping condition in accordance with the determination. Methods of creating connecting links joining source and destination visual objects as well as overlapping object and object-connecting tools are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Erin Wallace, Andy Leung
  • Patent number: 8427486
    Abstract: A multiprocessor system includes a plurality of special purpose processors that perform different portions of a related processing task. A set of commands that cause each of the processors to perform the portions of the related task are distributed, and the set of commands includes a predicated execution command that precedes other commands within the set of commands. It is determined whether commands subsequent to the predicated execution command are intended to be executed by a first processor or a second processor based on information in the predicated execution command and the set of commands includes all commands to be executed by each processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Timothy M. Kelley, Jonathan L. Campbell, David A. Gotwalt
  • Patent number: 8427481
    Abstract: Techniques for providing interactive maps are disclosed. According one aspect, a method for navigating an electronic map comprises: displaying an electronic map in accordance with an inquiry from a user, the electronic map including routes from one point to another point, wherein each of the routes includes one or more hotspots; displaying a navigation of the map with a selected route by the user; alerting the user when a hotspot is being approached; accessing auxiliary data associated with the hotspot when the user selects the hotspot, wherein the auxiliary data is not part of the electronic map being displayed but is obtained from an external source; and subsequently displaying from the auxiliary data an visual effect about the hotspot so that the user understands more about the selected hotspot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Rodica Schileru
  • Patent number: 8421823
    Abstract: A method whereby an actual image of a TV viewer as captured by a camera housed in the TV, or an emoticon selected by the processor of the TV through the use of facial recognition method, can be displayed on the viewer's display or a friend's display along with title of video, audio captured by a microphone also housed in the viewer's TV, and text inputted by the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuko Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8416198
    Abstract: A multi-dimensional scroll wheel is disclosed. Scroll wheel circuitry is provided to detect input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input. The scroll wheel can include a first plurality of sensor elements arranged in a first closed loop and a second plurality of sensor elements arranged in a second closed loop, the first and second closed loops being concentrically arranged about the center of the scroll wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lakshman Rathnam, Louis Bokma, Fletcher Rothkopf, Andrea Mucignat, Erturk Kocalar, Benjamin Lyon, Joseph Fisher
  • Patent number: 8416264
    Abstract: A method and electronic device is provided for optimizing an image displayed on a screen on the electronic device. The size of the image is maximized in relation to the size of the screen and readability of the text in the image is determined by using graphic parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Ulf P. Alexandersson, Karl O. Thorn
  • Patent number: 8416261
    Abstract: The embodiments provide a data processing apparatus including a graphics controller configured to obtain a subset of selected time zones among a plurality of available time zones and generate a plurality of clock objects. Each clock object may be a graphical representation of a different time zone of the selected subset, and each clock object may provide a visual graphical indicator for a respective time zone. The data processing apparatus may include a user interface configured to display an arrangement of the plurality of clock objects and receive a command shifting to a travel mode time. The graphics controller may be configured to update the plurality of clock objects according to the command including providing an updated local time corresponding to the travel mode time for each selected time zone and adjusting the visual graphical indicator according to the updated local time for each selected time zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Lawson
  • Patent number: 8405683
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a navigation method on elements extracted from a determined list of elements. A part at least of the elements of the list is displayed and a navigation command enables the user to move a graphical characteristic on the displayed elements. The maximum speed of movement of the graphical characteristic depends on the total number of elements of the list. According to an improvement, the acceleration of the scrolling speed when the user maintains the navigation command also depends on the total number of elements of the list. The invention also relates to a terminal featuring a user interface implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Jerôme Martin, Isabelle Coullon
  • Patent number: 8400469
    Abstract: During execution of an engine application by an engine unit, a host unit determines a region for host display upon a display screen, wherein the host unit determines the display contents, according to the usage direction of the display screen employed. Subsequently, the unit creates a host image; the unit generates an engine application image, when the operation of the engine application starts. A display image generation means then generates an image during engine application execution wherein the host image and the engine application image are overlapped, so that, in the region wherein the region for host display and the region for engine display are superimposed, priority is given to the engine application image. Thus, along with it being possible to build the device as a whole in a more compact manner, it is also possible to ensure the convenience from the point of view of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
    Inventors: Masahiko Kuwabara, Kazuo Aoki, Toshiro Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8395563
    Abstract: An image display device including an image input means to which image signals are input, an image display means for forming an optical image based on the image signals, and a device adjusting means for adjusting internal conditions of the device is provided with an adjusting operation support means for supporting an operation of the device adjusting means. Because the adjusting operation support means is provided, a user may easily adjust the image display device while confirming adjusting operation support information displayed by the adjusting operation support means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shoichi Akaiwa
  • Patent number: 8368717
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses/systems, and software for comparing two drawings to create a compare drawing that includes options for highlighting added and deleted graphic objects, as well as unchanged graphic objects, and comparing one drawing to many or many drawings to many drawings, whether or not the drawings are similar. The invention includes a filtered zoom feature that enables the user to zoom in on a filtered set of graphic objects and to continue to zoom in until a single graphic object is depicted. Detailed information from selected graphic objects can be captured and placed in a list for generating schedule changes, bill of materials, and for other purposes. The invention further includes the ability to detect and report any variances between the drawings, including area differences between drawings depicting physical objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Auto Prep, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph P. Reghetti, Phillip M. Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 8358320
    Abstract: A method and system which seamlessly combines natural way of handwriting (real world) with interactive digital media and technologies (virtual world) for providing a mixed or augmented reality perception to the user is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Steven ZhiYing Zhou, Syed Omer Gilani
  • Patent number: 8355031
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a device body having at least one accessory interface and at least one display device positioned on a surface of the device body. The electronic device also includes a display driver device communicatively coupled to the display device and configured for receiving data for presentation on the display device and generating signals for causing the data to be presented on the display device. In the electronic device, the display driver device selects one orientation from a plurality of pre-defined orientations for the data on the display device based at least on a current orientation of the device body and a status of the accessory interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: David Hinterberger, Matthew R. Fallows, Tibor Dobri
  • Patent number: 8354976
    Abstract: An image display device (1) including an image input means (10) to which image signals (S1 and S2) are input, an image display means (30) for forming an optical image based on the image signals (S1 and S2), and a device adjusting means (40) for adjusting internal conditions of the device is provided with an adjusting operation support means (61) for supporting an operation of the device adjusting means (40). Because the adjusting operation support means (61) is provided, a user may easily adjust the image display device (1) while confirming adjusting operation support information displayed by the adjusting operation support means (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shoichi Akaiwa
  • Patent number: 8325189
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a controller acquiring texts including each of a plurality of commercial product names to be analyzed, with respect to the respective commercial product names, from a storage device when the commercial product names are entered into the controller, extracting first phrases and second phrases from the acquired texts with respect to the commercial product names, the first phrases and the second phrases being classified as belonging to a first kind and a second kind, respectively, as expressions of evaluation of commercial products indicated by the commercial product names, and generating a graph representing evaluation points as values corresponding to the differences between counts of the first phrases and the second phrases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Biglobe, Ltd.
    Inventor: Norikazu Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8314817
    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: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Williamson, Lorna M. Brown, James W. Scott, Stephen E. Hodges
  • Patent number: 8314798
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamic generation of contextual charts for reports based on personalized visualization preferences are described. In one embodiment, a system of an embodiment creates a chart for a report based on an analysis of past user preferences. In one embodiment, a system of the embodiment saves user behavior and preferences over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Business Objects Software Limited
    Inventors: Jagdeesh Manickam Neelakantan, Pracheer Gupta, Rahul Chandra Kini, Thomas B Kuruvilla, Abhishek Nagendra