Patents Examined by Dennis Bonshock
  • Patent number: 7694223
    Abstract: A method for recording a sequence of user actions made when interfacing with objects associated with an executable code is provided. In this method, a selection of a level of detail to record when user actions enable interfacing with the objects associated with the executable code is enabled. Subsequently, the sequence of user actions is recorded. The recorded sequence of user actions is defined by the selected level of detail. Thereafter, the recorded sequence of user actions is parsed by applying rules that enable the generation of a defined number of data types. The data types are capable of being utilized by an application that is designed to generate information that is related to one or more of the data types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Corson
  • Patent number: 7694224
    Abstract: Method, apparatus and signal bearing medium for processing multimedia data which improve server performance in rendering multimedia data. In one aspect, a method is provided for processing multimedia data without requiring utilization of the hard disk drive's data recovery procedure when soft or hard errors are encountered in connection with reading of the multimedia data from the hard disk drive. The method for processing multimedia data comprises: indexing the multimedia data to an i by j matrix; storing the i by j matrix in a data storage device utilizing odd/even index sequencing of the i by j matrix; retrieving data from the data storage device; and reconstructing the i by j matrix utilizing odd/even index sequencing of retrieved data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hal Hjalmar Ottesen, Gordon James Smith
  • Patent number: 7694240
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for hanging protocol generation using gesture recognition. Certain embodiments provide a method for creating a hanging protocol based on gesture input in a clinical environment. The method includes specifying a hanging protocol specification using gesture-based input. The method also includes translating the gesture-based input into a hanging protocol. The method further includes facilitating display of clinical information based on the hanging protocol. Certain embodiments provide a gesture detection system. The system includes a sensor surface configured to detect gesture-based input made on the sensor surface. The gesture-based input specifies a hanging protocol layout. The system also includes a processor configured to identify the gesture-based input and translate the gesture to a corresponding hanging protocol definition for display of image and clinical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Murali Kumaran Kariathungal, Prakash Mahesh, Mark Morita, Stephen P. Roehm
  • Patent number: 7689931
    Abstract: The display control device includes: display control means for displaying a plurality of button groups each having at least one button in a monitor and for focusing and displaying any of the buttons displayed in the monitor; and button changing means including an in-group button changing operation unit for changing the button to be focused, from one button to another in a button group, and an inter-group button changing operation unit for changing the button to be focused, from a button of one button group to a button of another button group. In case the button to be focused is changed by the inter-group button changing unit from the button of one button group to the button of another button group, the display control means focus and display a specific button of the button group changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Koga, Hiroyoshi Endo
  • Patent number: 7681128
    Abstract: Favorable visual appearance and ease of operation are required in the user interface of digital home appliances using a television screen. An array of function icons including multiple function icons representing respective playing functions and an array of content icons including multiple content icons representing items of contents that can be played are displayed practically at the center of an on-screen menu such that the arrays intersect. A moving image icon, which is a function icon displayed in an area of intersection in which the array of function icons and the array of content icons intersect, is highlighted by a color different from that of the other function icons and by an enlarged view. An icon in focus immediately below the moving image icon is also displayed in an expanded view. If an external appliance is connected via a network, contents in the external appliance are also displayed in the array of content icons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamamoto, Tyler Jon Daniel, Shigeru Enomoto, Akio Ohba, Shuji Hiramatsu, Shunsuke Kunieda
  • Patent number: 7676762
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of dynamically controlling and displaying an Internet browser interface, and to a dynamically controllable Internet browser interface. In accordance with the present invention, a browser interface may be customized using a controlling software program that may be provided by an Internet content provider, an ISP, or that may reside on an Internet user's computer. The controlling software program enables the Internet user, the content provider, or the ISP to customize and control the information and/or functionality of a user's browser and browser interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Shafron
  • Patent number: 7665029
    Abstract: A method for creating a device for assisting in development of a user-friendly user application program. The device includes a processor, a storage unit for storing a program, a display unit, and an input unit, in addition to an operation panel, image input unit and output units. The operation panel has icons, such as image input and output icons, and areas including icon, program design, display panel design, and source code areas. The program includes an image input module, an image output module, and an operation panel control module. When placing the image input and output icons into the design area with a drag-and-drop operation, the icons will automatically be associated to each other, and a user application program will be automatically generated in the source code area, based on the button icon and the associated image input and image output icons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kouki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7665038
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a display of a data processing system. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of controlling a display of a data processing system includes: displaying a first list as a scrollable view of items in a first mode; receiving an input to switch from the first mode to a second mode; and displaying, in the second mode, a representation of a command which when activated causes a display of a second list of the items. The first list is displayed within a window and the representation is displayed within the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Imran Chaudhri, Bas Ording
  • Patent number: 7665023
    Abstract: A system for providing directory information is disclosed. The system includes a computer and a directory device connected to the computer. The directory device includes a memory storage device for storing directory information and telecommunications information obtained from the computer. The telecommunications services information includes information on establishing telephone service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Meena Masih
  • Patent number: 7665039
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a display of a data processing system. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of controlling a display of a data processing system includes: displaying a first list as a scrollable view of items in a first mode; receiving an input to switch from the first mode to a second mode; and displaying, in the second mode, a representation of a command which when activated causes a display of a second list of the items. The first list is displayed within a window and the representation is displayed within the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Imran Chaudhri, Bas Ording
  • Patent number: 7650569
    Abstract: A method for navigation of television program listings within a user interface includes successively displaying a first set of visual cards in a first area of the user interface. Each visual card of the first set of visual cards represents a corresponding broadcast time slot associated with a graphically represented first card characteristic. Selection by a user of a particular visual card of the first set of visual cards is enabled in order to view a television program corresponding to the time slot represented by the selected visual card. In an embodiment, a transition from display of a first visual card of the first set of visual cards to display of a second visual card of the first set of visual cards occurs automatically at the conclusion of a first time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventors: Paul G. Allen, James A. Billmaier, John M. Kellum, Anthony F. Istvan, Dewey Reid, Philip Rogan
  • Patent number: 7640512
    Abstract: Selectively updating objects of webpage without requiring that the entire web page be refreshed, without Java applets and without requiring user intervention. A webpage is defined to contain a frame and at least one updateable object that is external to the frame. The frame attributes of height and width may each be set to a value of zero, rendering it invisible on the displayed webpage. The frame is configured to periodically request updated data from a server in response to a timer reaching a threshold value. The updated data may comprise a Script or other instruction set for causing the frame to update at least one updateable object. The Script or other instruction set may be executable by the frame without user interaction. The Script may instruct the frame to interact with, for example, an external Script running within the webpage external to the frame. The external Script may interact with and modify the updateable object, which may be an HTML element, without refreshing the web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Automated Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Charles Appling
  • Patent number: 7636892
    Abstract: The present invention provides a GUI, method, system and program product for generating usability data for a remote computer user. The GUI consumes minimal screen real estate and remains on top of all other applications. The GUI generally includes a timer for timing a task of the remote computer user; a task title field for displaying a title corresponding to the task; a comment entry field for inputting comments corresponding to a performance of the task by the remote computer user; and a way to indicate a type of each of the comments input. As the remote computer user performs a task, a tester will input comments using the GUI, and then assign each comment a type. A numerical count is maintained for certain types of comments. Usability data is generated based on the comments, the types and the numerical counts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Claude J. Elie
  • Patent number: 7634732
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide for aggregating person-centric data from one or more data sources and for providing the aggregated data to a user via a computer-displayed user interface that is keyed on or otherwise associated with an identified name in electronically presented text or data. A name in the text or data of an electronic document is identified and is associated with a unique identification, such as an electronic mail address. The unique identification is used by a persona menu application to obtain person-centric data from a variety of data sources. Example data sources include electronic mail contact files, electronic mail and calendaring system free/busy status files, directories of person-centric data related to persons associated with a distributed computing network, and instant messaging files. A data structure is populated with the returned data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sean Blagsvedt, Ilan Berker, Todd Blocksom, Gabe Hall, Chris White, Joseph Benoit, III, Karel Blaha, Mitika Gupta
  • Patent number: 7627832
    Abstract: A technique dynamically places resources within a graphical user interface (GUI). According to the novel technique, a resource (e.g., an image of the resource) of the GUI is assigned a filename (e.g., by a graphic designer) having position information encoded therein. For example, a resource with coordinates of 50 pixels in the “X” direction (“50X”) and 50 pixels in the “Y” direction (“50Y”) may be represented with a corresponding filename: “resourcename_50×50.jpg.” Software code that displays the GUI (e.g., maintained by a software developer) may then dynamically interpret the filename to parse out the position information (e.g., 50X and 50Y). The software code then places the resource in a position within the GUI according to the position information. Subsequently, changing the position information encoded within the filename (e.g., by the graphic designer) changes the position of the resource in the GUI (e.g., renaming the resource to “resourcename_100×50.jpg” replaces the resource at 100X and 50Y).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: The Escher Group, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sandor Ludmann
  • Patent number: 7624356
    Abstract: Methods and systems present commands to a user within a software application program by determining the user's context within the application program and automatically presenting in a user interface commands that pertain to the user's current context. When the user's context changes, the context-sensitive commands are automatically removed from the user interface. In one implementation context blocks and context panes are employed to present the commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Rockey, Shannon P. Talbott, Gavin M. Kelly, Nancy E. Jacobs, Michael J. Hopcroft, Daniel J. Westreich, Jonathan D. Perlow, Paul R. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7620903
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention encompass a system for simplified implementation of adaptable/flexible user interfaces. The system may include: one or more frameworks; zero or more navigation modules; zero or more content modules; and a set of standardized flexible formatting specifications. The framework may include containers that zero or more navigation modules and/or content modules may be inserted into. The standardized formatting specifications may be used to specify how framework containers, and components inserted into containers, are to appear. The visual characteristics of the user interface may be changed by setting different attributes of the formatting specifications and/or inserting content and/or navigation modules into different framework containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kathryn G Rasmussen, Eric Askilsrud, Robert E Corrington
  • Patent number: 7620915
    Abstract: Two independently adjustable and positionable cursors are employed in a visual interface for editing an electronic document. The document may comprise text symbols, text objects, and graphics objects, among others. If both cursors are located in close proximity within the document, then these cursors may be simultaneously displayed in a single window. Otherwise, two areas of the document, each comprising one of the cursors, may be simultaneously displayed using a separate window for each cursor, or alternately selected and displayed in a single window. Copy or cut operations may be made with one cursor, while paste operations may be repeated using the second cursor. Cursor locations may be left unchanged, or they may be moved between or within editing operations. The two cursors may be freely controlled by an enhanced pointing device, such as a mouse with an added touchpad or trackball, or sequentially selected and controlled by a conventional mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 7610562
    Abstract: Methods and systems present commands to a user within a software application program by determining the user's context within the application program and automatically presenting in a user interface commands that pertain to the user's current context. When the user's context changes, the context-sensitive commands are automatically removed from the user interface. In one implementation context blocks and context panes are employed to present the commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Rockey, Shannon P. Talbott, Gavin M. Kelly, Nancy E. Jacobs, Michael J. Hopcroft, Daniel J. Westreich, Jonathan D. Perlow, Paul R. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7594184
    Abstract: A user interface associated with a print stream processing software tool allows a user define a print stream process application by “drag and drop” interaction with the user interface. Actions may be inserted in an action list by “dragging” items from a pallet to an action list icon. Attributes of the actions may be “dragged” from an input file icon. The resulting actions may further be defined by “dragging” objects created by the actions to an output file icon. Rules to process a print stream are generated from the action list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John A Julitz, John P Lynch, Kurt E. Konow, Eric C Olson, Richard J. Olson, Gary P. Chomuk