Patents Examined by Hien Duong
  • Patent number: 8560954
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques that may enable social annotation data to be displayed based on an ordered arrangement. In one example, a method includes receiving an indication of a selection of a social annotation field displayed at a graphical user interface (GUI), and updating the GUI to include social information associated with a portion of the plurality of other users and a plurality of graphical indications selectable by the user to change an order of the social information, wherein the social information is based on the social annotation data and is output in an ordered arrangement associated with a graphical indication displayed at the GUI. The method may also include receiving an indication of a selection of another graphical indication, and updating, based on the selection, the GUI to include the social information associated with another portion of the plurality of other users in another ordered arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kaisuke Nakajima, Jennifer W. Lin
  • Patent number: 8549417
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for editing an on-demand database service graphical user interface. These mechanisms and methods for editing an on-demand database service graphical user interface can enable embodiments to edit desired portions of the interface, in a more flexible manner. The ability of embodiments to provide such additional flexibility may lead to more efficient and effective interface editing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Waite, Doug Chasman
  • Patent number: 8543944
    Abstract: An edge routing system is described herein that uses a spatial decomposition to achieve faster routing, and more quickly generates a sparse visibility graph using a cone spanner. The system provides two approaches that can be used separately or in combination to achieve faster—and hence more scalable and more interactive—edge routing using approximate shortest paths. The first approach uses a spatial decomposition of the nodes in a graph, moving them slightly to obtain strictly disjoint convex hulls around groups of nodes, and then computing visibility graphs over these composite hulls rather than individual nodes. The second approach generates a sparse visibility-graph spanner to accelerate the process of producing the visibility graph. The system allows high quality obstacle avoiding edge routing for large diagrams in interactive diagramming applications where very fast refreshes of routing are used with many nodes moving at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy G. Dwyer, Lev Nachmanson
  • Patent number: 8527893
    Abstract: This patent application relates to taxonomy editing. One implementation involves a taxonomy editor configured to generate a visual representation of a taxonomy associated with a set of scientific papers. The taxonomy editor includes a properties module configured to identify properties relating to an individual node of the taxonomy and a statistics module configured to determine trends relating to the individual node. The taxonomy editor further includes a similarity module configured to evaluate keyword similarity relative to individual scientific papers associated with the individual node. The taxonomy editor also includes a suggestion module configured to utilize the properties, the trends and the keyword similarity to identify potential modifications to the taxonomy. The taxonomy editor is further configured to present at least some of the potential modifications, the properties, the trends, and the keyword similarity concurrently with the visual representation of the taxonomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sanjay Agrawal, Surajit Chaudhuri, Venkatesh Ganti, Yuri Siradeghyan
  • Patent number: 8522167
    Abstract: Displaying a hierarchy. A method includes identifying a set of nodes representing sites in a hierarchy. The set of nodes share one or more common characteristics not shared by any other nodes in the hierarchy. The method further includes determining that the set of nodes, as a set, meet a predetermined condition. As a result of the nodes sharing the one or more common characteristics not shared by any other nodes in the hierarchy and as a result of the set meeting the predetermined condition, the method further includes aggregating at least a portion of the set of nodes. The method further includes displaying in a graphical user interface a representation of the hierarchy including displaying the aggregated portion as a single entity in the hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chuanbo Zhang, Huajun Luo, Yue Chen, Daniel D. Ward, Justin K. Stanton, Chung Man Yiu, Jie Du, David C. James, Leyu Feng
  • Patent number: 8490004
    Abstract: A computer host is configured to perform a method for defining user attributes with associated verification values for social networking accounts. The attributes concern the user's personal characteristics or attributes. The host publishes the attribute information to other clients together with interactive objects for soliciting corroboration of the attribute information. The host receives feedback information from other account holders, such as survey response data, concerning the veracity of the attribute information. The host processes the evaluation information and the feedback information to provide a veracity score of each attribute reported for each account holder, or for collections of attributes, by weighing the evaluation information and feedback information by a computed reliability factor for each source from which processed information is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Gary Stephen Shuster
  • Patent number: 8479096
    Abstract: A content display device for displaying content items on a screen includes: an operation instruction receiving section (70d) for receiving, from a user, a switching instruction to switch the content items; a content list analyzing and choosing section (40) for, based on an order prescribed in a content list, choosing a content item that is displayed on the screen, in accordance with the switching instruction received by the operation instruction receiving section (70d); and a content acquisition and display section for causing the content item chosen by the content choosing section (40) to be displayed on the screen. This provides a content display device whose operationality has been improved by comprehensively optimizing a user's content browsing operation from the viewpoint of regarding, as a series of operations, access to the URL of a desired content item and an operation for controlling the display range of a displayed content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Terada, Ryouta Yagi, Takanobu Matsubara, Kazuhiro Saiki
  • Patent number: 8429541
    Abstract: A method for video sharing between users of an application. The method involves generating a textual based document. Generating the textual based document includes, for each action performed by the assisting user using the application, detecting the action, identifying an action identifier uniquely identifying the action, and storing a step that includes the action identifier in the textual based document. The method further includes receiving a help request from a perplexed user, obtaining the textual based document matching the help request, generating the support video from the textual based document. Generating the support video includes, for each step in the textual based document, obtaining the action identifier from the step in the textual based document, identifying an action for the perplexed user mapped to the action identifier, and rendering the action for the perplexed user into the support video. The method further includes presenting the support video to the perplexed user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Jason M. Wisneski, Russell A. Poole, Joshua A. Brenner, Colin J. Roper
  • Patent number: 8418077
    Abstract: Scrolling through a large file using a small scroll handle can be challenging for users. Using the small scroll handle to navigate through the large file rarely produces accurate results. Functionality can be implemented to navigate through file content without the user having to locate, click on, and drag the scroll handle. Content navigation can be achieved by employing knowledge of a current focus in the file and performing scroll jumps in accordance with binary search techniques. Navigation scope for the file can be refined at each iteration, based on a user indicating whether to move up or down in the file after each intermediate position. Such a technique for content navigation can help users locate content in a file with greater speed and accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd W. Allen, Jr., Travis M. Grigsby, Jana H. Jenkins, Steven M. Miller
  • Patent number: 8307299
    Abstract: A virtual office management system has an image output module that displays as a single view web page. A series of defined sections are included in the single view web page, a defined section being a divisible frame capable of displaying separate content within that divisible frame, a physical office module, a desktop module, and a resource module. The physical office module is connected to the single view web page and displayed within the divisible frame, the physical office module providing a layered physical office environment with tags assigned to file directories. The desktop module is connected to the single view web page and displayable through the divisible frame, the desktop module being linkable to content of a pre-determined file directory that is then displayed as a system file folder, and changeable through assigned tags associated with the layered physical office environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Brian Conner
  • Patent number: 8255825
    Abstract: Content aware adaptive display is described. In embodiment(s), a media image can be displayed on an integrated display of a media device. The media device can detect that a display device is proximate the media device, determine a display orientation for the media image at the display device, and communicate the media image to the display device that then displays the media image in the determined display orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald A. Morris
  • Patent number: 8185823
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for zoom indication for stabilizing unstable video clips is described. To indicate zoom, a zoom value associated with an unstable segment of a video clip is received. The zoom value represents a value by which frames of the video clip in the unstable segment need to be zoomed to stabilize the unstable segment. An indicia is displayed representing the zoom value in a thumbnail in a user interface. The thumbnail represents the video clip. The indicia displayed over a region in the thumbnail corresponding to the unstable segment in the video clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Randy Ubillos
  • Patent number: 7525256
    Abstract: An integrated circuit controls a power converter that includes single stage buck-boost converter and a switching full bridge that may be used to drive an HID lamp. The single stage buck-boost converter reduces the complexity and parts count of the power converter, or electronic ballast, while permitting PFC and DC bus voltage regulation under control of the integrated circuit to maintain constant power on the HID lamp. The integrated circuit simplifies the design of power converters and electronic ballasts in particular, while reducing part count, complexity and cost in conjunction with the single stage buck-boost converter and the full bridge switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ribarich, Dana Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 7315126
    Abstract: An amplifying device comprises an electron gun emitting an electron beam, a collector spaced from the electron gun, the collector oriented to collect electrons of the electron beam emitted from the electron gun, and an interaction structure interposed between the electron gun and the collector. The interaction structure defines an electromagnetic path along which an applied electromagnetic signal interacts with the electron beam. The interaction structure further comprises a plurality of polepieces and a plurality of magnets, the polepieces each having an aligned opening to collectively provide an electron beam tunnel having an axis extending between the electron gun and the collector to define an electron beam path for the electron beam. The polepieces provide a magnetic flux path to the electron beam tunnel from the magnets. More particularly, the interaction structure further includes plural cavities defined therein interconnected to provide a coupled cavity circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Theiss
  • Patent number: 7259526
    Abstract: The present application describes a programmable current controller for regulating an operating driving current flowing through an illumination source. The driving current is regulated according to a digital reference corresponding to a predetermined operating current for the illumination source. The digital reference can be converted into a reference electrical parameter (current or voltage). The reference electrical parameter is compared with an operating electrical parameter (current or voltage) corresponding to the operating driving current of the illumination source. Based on the comparison, a driving bias current is generated, which is used to regulate the operating driving current of the illumination source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Mao-Chi Hung, I-Hsin Lo
  • Patent number: 7253777
    Abstract: An antenna mounted on a supporting system primary structure of a vehicle, in which the supporting system primary structure has an indentation. The antenna includes an EM functional core incorporated into the indentation of the supporting system primary structure, and a cover plate forming one of an upper and outer cover of the EM functional core that is structured and arranged as a conformal outside. Furthermore, boundary areas of the cover plate are connected with the supporting system primary structure. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Detlev Blaschke, Clemens Brand, Kay Dittrich, Oliver Nagy, Jan Ritter, Robert Sekora, Herbert Zippold
  • Patent number: 7250912
    Abstract: A first member is formed with a hole having an inner wall formed with a recess at a first circumferential position. A second member is formed with an elastic retainer which is retractably projected from an outer peripheral face of the second member and engaged with the recess when the second member is fitted into the hole. A chamfered portion is formed on an aperture edge of the hole at the first circumferential position, so as to have a width allowing the retainer to pass therethrough when the second member is fitted into the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Yokowo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Minoura
  • Patent number: 7248220
    Abstract: An antenna comprises a base member (3), a ground conductor (5), a first antenna element (7) and a second antenna element (9). The base member (3) is formed in a thin plate shape and made of dielectric material. The ground conductor (5) is formed of a thin-film shaped and rectangular conductor and disposed on the base member (3). The first antenna element (7) is formed of a thin-film shaped and L-shaped conductor, is disposed on the base member (3) and has one end connected to one end (5A) of the ground conductor (5). The second antenna element (9) is formed of a thin-film shaped and rectangular conductor and is disposed on the base member (3) to be isolated from the ground conductor (5) and the first antenna element (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromasa Futamata
  • Patent number: 7248221
    Abstract: An antenna comprises a dielectric member, an antenna pattern formed on one surface of the dielectric member, and a ground pattern formed on the other surface of the dielectric member. A part or the whole of the antenna is implanted in a dielectric layer on the side from which a laser beam does not come in of an optical recording medium symmetrically having a metal layer reflecting the laser beam and the dielectric layer, thereby to provide a radio tag antenna structure for an optical recording medium which is simple, is small-sized, and can secure necessary reading performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Manabu Kai, Yasuyuki Oishi, Toru Maniwa, Hiroyuki Hayashi, Andrey Andrenko
  • Patent number: 7248003
    Abstract: An electrostatic fluid accelerator includes a first number of corona electrodes and a second number of accelerating electrodes spaced apart from and parallel to adjacent ones of the corona electrodes. An electrical power source is connected to supply the corona and accelerating electrodes with an operating voltage to produce a high intensity electric field in an inter-electrode space between the corona electrodes and the accelerating electrodes. The accelerating electrodes may be made of a high electrical resistivity material, each of the electrodes having mutually perpendicular length and height dimension oriented transverse to a desired fluid flow direction and a width dimension oriented parallel to the desired fluid flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Kronos Advanced Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Igor A. Krichtafovitch