Patents Examined by Dennis Bonshock
  • Patent number: 7512897
    Abstract: The present invention allows a user to graphically create a refreshable Web Query by selecting tabular data displayed in a Web page. When the user invokes the refreshable Web Query command, an Internet browser module is launched within a Web Query dialog box open in the spreadsheet program. The user then graphically selects at least one instance of tabular data to import to the spreadsheet program. The invention also makes Web queries more accessible to a user and is embedded in a software utility, known as a Web query Smart Tag (WQST) utility. The WQST utility allows a user to create Web queries directly from an Internet browser module in one of several methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Gauthier, Yaniv Inbar, Tyson Murray, Wentao Chen, Andy Verprauskus, Richard Jacques
  • Patent number: 7512887
    Abstract: A method of creating multiple, alternative presentations within a single electronic presentation, by assigning one or more presentation constraint parameters to the electronic slides, and generating a sequence for presenting less than all of the electronic slides based on the presentation constraint parameters. Different sequences can be generated using different presentation constraint parameters that are assigned to the electronic slides. For example, a first electronic slide could be included in a first sequence, and a second electronic slide (or multiple slides) can be substituted for the first electronic slide in a second sequence. A sequence can be generated by adjusting a scalable constraint associated with the presentation constraint parameters to determine which electronic slides to include. The presentation constraint parameters can include a time factor and a content level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann Marie Keohane, Gerald Francis McBrearty, Shawn Patrick Mullen, Jessica Kelley Murillo, Johnny Meng-Han Shieh
  • Patent number: 7509590
    Abstract: A machine-readable definition of a scene including three dimensional objects is represented. A schematic representation of the scene displays an object in which elements of the object are defined by nodes and relationships between these nodes are represented by links. Several unique relationship types are used to define specific functions applying to a node or between nodes. Selection data is received in response to user input that selects one of the relationship types. Appearance of the displayed links is modified so as to identify occurrences of the selected type to the user. Furthermore, a link may be added to display a relationship type defining a specific function for two or more nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike William O'Rourke, Michael John Russo
  • Patent number: 7506268
    Abstract: A user interface having a persistent graphical interface element is disclosed. The element may have an appearance of a mechanical structure that traverses one or more displayed tracks. Movement along the tracks may be animated in response to navigation commands. Selectable menu panels may be included in the interface, and may overlay displayed contents of documents being viewed and/or edited to ensure that certain menu options are always available. The menu may be given multiple distinct appearances corresponding to different display sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Claire Anna Jennings, Lorraine R McLees, Brian Jarrard, Zoe Brawley, Douglas A. Boyce, Thomas G. Gioconda
  • Patent number: 7500197
    Abstract: An extensible, network-based user interface allows remotely located resources to serve multiple clients. The user interface can be upgraded as improvements in resource capabilities are made, and as new products become available. The user interface includes a controller and other processing units and databases that collect, collate and process product and user information to dynamically construct client-specific user interfaces. The user interfaces may be used to select and control print options for networked printers. The network may be a local area network or the Internet. The user interface may maintain statistical information that is useable to predict technology trends, identify user preferences, and plan for maintenance and upgrade operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael D. Whitmarsh, William Hertling, Mark Dovi
  • Patent number: 7487454
    Abstract: The present invention enables the management of arbitrary regions of a window. A surrogate window is created to contain a region of interest in a source window. A surrogate window may also be shared among multiple devices. A user may interact with the content in a source window or its surrogate window(s). A surrogate window is updated to reflect any content change in the region of interest in the source window. In the case that a user resizes a surrogate window, the entire content of the surrogate window is scaled accordingly so the entire content remains visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mary Czerwinski, Brian Meyers, Desney S. Tan, George G. Robertson
  • Patent number: 7475353
    Abstract: An implementation for a user at a receiving Web station keeping track of logged on Web sites, and a convenient universal logoff interface button to logoff the logged on Web site. The combination of an implementation at a receiving display station generating a GUI including a universal logout button, means associated with said logout button for enabling a user to select a Web site for logout and means at said receiving station responsive to said selection of a Web site for logging said receiving station out of said Web site. The Web browser tracks the Web sites that the user is logged onto, and upon interactive request by the user a menu of logged on Web sites is provided in association with the displayed logoff button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Frank A. Nuzzi
  • Patent number: 7467355
    Abstract: An integrated user environment for creating, managing, and organizing components of a project. A user is able to select a predefined project that includes a list of to do items, or can start with a blank project and add to do items. Once a to do item has been added, the user can associate several different functions with the to do item, including a due date, a note, and one of several categories of entities. These entities include a task or template, a document, and a Web link. If the user selects a task or template, Answer Wizard technology returns options that may be relevant to the selected to do item. Since all of the components of the project are accessible by the user from within an integral project environment, it is relatively efficient for the user to manage the project and make any changes that are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Jacob Zukowski, Brian Thomas Albrecht, Douglas C. Kramer, Warren G. Stevens, Benjamin Nicholas Truelove
  • Patent number: 7461354
    Abstract: A method for consolidating associated buttons on a screen into easily accessible groups includes: a control button and at least one other button that appears when the control button is selected, where the at least one other button is contiguous with the control button. A user can quickly and conveniently select buttons. Furthermore, a significant amount of on-screen real estate is saved because the buttons used are small and square rather than long and rectangular. Further, the configuration of nested menus are such that it takes up little space on the screen. In addition, the menu is ergonomic because the buttons are contiguous, and as such selections can be made without the mouse pointer needing to move very far across the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Pagan
  • Patent number: 7376899
    Abstract: In the method a graphical password is produced for an electronic system, such as a database, a computer program or Internet pages, the password being composed of various identifier images that are clearly distinguishable from each other. The system can be located in a terminal device used by the user, such as a mobile phone or an object separate from the terminal device, to which the user can be connected via the terminal device. For producing the password, the electronic system includes an image archive, in which various partial images representing certain subareas of a whole identifier image have been saved in electronic form. The partial images are divided into subgroups so that the partial images of the same subgroup always represent the same subarea of the identifier image. The identifier images belonging to the graphical password are composed by selecting partial images from different subgroups and by combining the selected partial images into one complete identifier image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Janne Mäntylä
  • Patent number: 7296244
    Abstract: A method of visually indicating transfer of data in response to a pointing device data transfer command is provided. A display position indicator on a display screen is modified based on a data transfer command. Data transfer is animated on the display screen based on the data transfer command from a pointing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony E. Martinez, Michael D. Rahn
  • Patent number: 7188314
    Abstract: A graphical user interface supports an interactive client-server authentication based on Random Partial Pattern Recognition algorithm (RPPR). In RPPR, an ordered set of data fields is stored for a client to be authenticated in secure memory on the server side. A graphical user interface presents a clue generated at the server to the client, such positions in the ordered set of a random subset of data fields from the ordered set. The client enters input data in multiple fields of the interface according to the clue, and the server accepts the input data from the client. The input data includes storage units representing alpha-numeric characters, images and colors corresponding to the field contents for the data fields. The interface includes indicators for elapsed time and status of the authentication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Authernative, Inc.
    Inventor: Len L. Mizrah
  • Patent number: 7159177
    Abstract: A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Digeo, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Billmaier, John M. Kellum, Anthony F. Istvan, Dewey M. Reid, Philip A. Rogan
  • Patent number: 7120877
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a graphical program including a plurality of portions to be executed sequentially. User input may be received, e.g., during development of the graphical program, wherein the user input indicates a desire to specify a plurality of portions of graphical source code to be executed sequentially. In response, a plurality of frames may be displayed in the graphical program, such that two or more frames from the plurality of frames are visible at the same time. A portion of graphical source code may be included in each frame in response to user input. The plurality of frames may define an execution order for the corresponding portions of graphical source code, such that during execution of the graphical program, the portions of graphical source code are executed sequentially according to this execution order. In the preferred embodiment, all of the frames are visible at the same time, thus giving the program developer a complete view of the graphical program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Gabbert, Jeff Washington
  • Patent number: 7107532
    Abstract: A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Digeo, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Billmaier, John M. Kellum, Anthony F. Istvan, Dewey M. Reid, Philip A. Rogan
  • Patent number: 7039878
    Abstract: A network compatible, configurable user interface system for displaying a set of user-selectable, sequentially generated patient medical parameters, together with an associated time indication comprises a display menu generator for generating a customization menu that enables user selection of a default set of medical parameters from a plurality of available sets of default medical parameters. The customization menu further enables user modification of the default set of medical parameters. A display generator responsive to a user command operates to display the modified default set of medical parameters in a graphical or tabular format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Draeger Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Auer, Jolyn Rutledge, Rand J. Monteleone
  • Patent number: 7017121
    Abstract: A method for visual display unit-based parameterization of interfaces of the software components of an automation system, the interface being a software interfaces having at least one interface parameter. The interface parameter is further characterized by at least one attribute. A display window is provided which can be divided horizontally or vertically, the hierarchical structure of the interface parameters of the respective software components of the automation system, which parameters can be selected using a movable cursor, being displayed in a first partial window, and the at least one attribute of the selected interface parameter being displayed in a second partial window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Diamantis Gikas, Ralf Klose, Thomas Jachmann, Elisabeth Heindl
  • Patent number: 6973627
    Abstract: A website display configured to emulate the look and feel of an application program is created using a border webpage and a content webpage. The border webpage comprises a table having a plurality of border cells surrounding a center cell. The center cell includes an inline frame configured for displaying the content webpage. The border cells each display a corresponding border image. The border images combine to form a border around the inline frame. The border surrounding the inline frame is preferably a four-sided border. The table and its cells are invisible when the border webpage is displayed. When a navigation command is received for accessing and displaying a second content webpage, the second content webpage is displayed in the inline frame in place of the first content webpage, while the border webpage remains static. A resize command for resizing the display area of the web browser, causes the display area and the border webpage and the content webpage to be proportionately resized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Automated Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Charles Appling
  • Patent number: 6886136
    Abstract: A method for processing a plurality of input images containing variable content that is filled into respective, fixed templates. The method includes comparing the images to collect a group of the images having a high degree of similarity therebetween, and combining the images in the group so as to distinguish the variable content from a fixed portion common to a preponderant number of the images in the group. The fixed portion is processed to reconstruct the fixed template that is common to at least some of the images among the preponderant number, and information is extracted from the images using the reconstructed template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aviad Zlotnick, Ronen Shevach, Eugene Wallach, Oren Kagan
  • Patent number: 6771288
    Abstract: A computer manages a remote device via a remote monitoring system and a network. The computer employs a mimic that periodically displays status information transmitted from the monitoring system. Initially, the monitoring system transmits data that gives a complete description of the mimic, including information for variable and fixed images. When updating the mimic, the computer browses the monitoring system, which returns update data for updating the variable images only. The computer processes the received update data to determine which of the variable images needs to be updated. The computer retrieves new images only for those images that need to be updated. The new images are displayed while the remainder of the mimic is kept in its current state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventor: Brendan Boulter