Patents Examined by James T Durkin
  • Patent number: 8683354
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first computing device having a controller to present an avatar having characteristics that correlate to a user profile and that conform to operating characteristics of the first computing device, and transmit to a second computing device operational information associated with the avatar for reproducing at least in part the avatar at said second computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Madhur Khandelwal, E-Lee Chang, Horst Juergen Schroeter, Linda Roberts, Darnell Clayton
  • Patent number: 8627206
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method that include generating display video data of a plurality of images to be displayed respectively in a plurality of image display sections on a display screen from image data, determining display types indicating display modes of displaying the images of the image data on a picture by picture basis or GOP by GOP basis according to variations expressing extents of change of the image data, altering the display parameters or the reproduction parameters corresponding to the display video data according to the type information expressing the display types on a picture by picture basis or GOP by GOP basis as determined, and displaying the images to be displayed in the form of moving image on the display screen with time lags in the display sequence, using the display parameters or the reproduction parameters altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Ogikubo
  • Patent number: 8607152
    Abstract: Described is a method for managing test artifacts. According to an embodiment of the method, a test plan for a product is selected by a user. The test plan has multiple test artifacts that include the test plan and at least one of a test case, an execution record defining a configuration of the product, and a product requirement. One of the test artifacts is selected for a snapshot and the snapshot is acquired. The snapshot acquisition includes storing a current state of the selected test artifact, storing a current state of relationships of the selected test artifact to the other test artifacts, and storing a current state of the other test artifacts that have a relationship with the selected test artifact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. McMahan, Sachin P. Patel, John P. Whitfield, David Colasurdo
  • Patent number: 8539368
    Abstract: Disclosed are a portable terminal with a music performance function and a method for playing a variety of musical instruments. The method includes: selecting a particular piece of music and a particular musical instrument from the portable terminal, according to a user request, and executing a music performance mode corresponding to the selected musical instrument; detecting a first input signal input to a screen according to the selected musical instrument in the musical performance mode; determining, if the first input signal is detected, whether a second input signal for executing audio source data is detected; analyzing the first and second input signals, in association with each other; and outputting audio source data of the selected music, according to the analyzed result, via audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoung Ji Nam, Byung Sung Kim, Joong Sam Yun, Sung Su Kim, Seung Hye Yoo, Tae Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8533622
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more aspects, different pages of a digital book are displayed in each of two display areas of a device using a book display model. In response to a request to semantically zoom out, the digital book is displayed in a broader context, the broader context using a context display model rather than the book display model. In response to additional requests to semantically zoom out, the digital book is displayed in increasingly broader contexts. Additionally, in response to requests to semantically zoom in, the digital book is displayed in increasingly narrower contexts until the digital book is displayed in the book display model rather than the context display model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Julio Estrada, Lutz Gerhard
  • Patent number: 8516385
    Abstract: A method comprising associating a user interface object and a user interface state of a user interface, the user interface state being at least partially defined by respective configurations of a collection of user interface objects included within the user interface in the state. The method further includes receiving a link instruction identifying an association between the user interface object and a further user interface state. Additionally, the method includes processing the link instruction to associate the user interface object with the further user interface state. The method also includes displaying, a visual representation of the association between the user interface object and the further user interface state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Ethan A. Eismann, Robin James Adams
  • Patent number: 8510654
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and article for shuffling video information are described. The apparatus may include a media processing node to receive video information. The media processing node may include a shuffling module to shuffle the video information according to a shuffle order and a trusted entity programmed based on the shuffle order to provide access to the video information. The video information may be provided in an unshuffled manner when accessed through the trusted entity. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Janus
  • Patent number: 8464182
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic device with a touch screen display displays a map in an untracked mode of a mapping application. The device receives location information for the device, and detects a first activation of a mapping mode user interface element. In response, the device enters a tracked mode of the mapping application. While in the tracked mode of the mapping application, the device detects a second activation of the mapping mode user interface element and, in response, enters a heading mode of the mapping application. While in the heading mode of the mapping application, the device detects a finger scrolling gesture and, in response, the device enters the tracked mode when the finger scrolling gesture moves the map less than a predefined amount or the device enters the untracked mode when the finger scrolling gesture moves the map greater than the predefined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Blumenberg, Kimon Tsinteris, Richard Williamson, Ryan Staake
  • Patent number: 8434028
    Abstract: System and method for integrating media objects for viewing on and manipulation via a computing device such as a personal computer. The system and method may be provided via an application program interface (API) which provides functions that allow an application program to create a scene and add media objects to the scene. The method includes preparing a translation vector and a rotation matrix for each of the media objects to define an orientation and a location of each of the media objects in the scene. The scene including the media objects is displayed. An interface is provided so that a user may manipulate the scene and the objects therein. The system and method may be implemented on a personal computer or other computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaochun Nie, Christopher L. Flick
  • Patent number: 8429555
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of providing items based on scrolling. An apparatus for processing data of a non-volatile memory according to an aspect of the invention includes a scrolling detecting unit detecting scrolling for one or more items that are displayed on a screen, a screen region control unit dividing the screen into one or more regions according to the detected scrolling, and controlling the sizes of the divided regions, and an item control unit controlling at least one of the sizes and the number of items according to the sizes of the divided regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-jung Cho, Chang-kyu Choi, Yeun-bae Kim, Kyu-yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8402382
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program for organizing and visualizing display objects within a virtual environment is provided. In one aspect, attributes of display objects define the interaction between display objects according to pre-determined rules, including rules simulating real world mechanics, thereby enabling enriched user interaction. The present invention further provides for the use of piles as an organizational entity for desktop objects. The present invention further provides for fluid interaction techniques for committing actions on display objects in a virtual interface. A number of other interaction and visualization techniques are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Agarawala, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8402389
    Abstract: A content display method includes the steps of acquiring an icon image corresponding to a data content set composed of a plurality of data contents, generating a plurality of specific icons which are different from each other and correspond to the data contents, on the basis of the icon image and a predetermined generation rule, and displaying the specific icons on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Nagasaka, Mamoru Tokashiki, Toshimasa Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 8397166
    Abstract: With a map displayed on a displaying apparatus 6, a user touches a touch panel 16 with his or her finger to draw an operation trajectory passing through his or her desired area on the map. A user's designated area is specified based on the operation trajectory. Images shot in the designated area are automatically selected to be displayed and the order of displaying the images is set in accordance with a drawing operation of the operation trajectory such that the image shot at a shooting spot closest to the start point of the operation trajectory is displayed first and the image shot at a shooting spot closest to the end point of the operation trajectory is displayed last. The image selecting operation and the image displaying order setting operation can be easily performed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kosuke Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8386955
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for determining what to display to a user when the user opens a new web page browsing window in a web browser are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request to open a new web page browsing window, and providing the new web page browsing window for display, the new web page browsing window displaying, by default, either a collection of user selected web addresses or previously visited web pages. The method also includes receiving a request to display the collection that was not displayed by default in response to the request to open the new web page browsing window. The collection that was not displayed by default in response to the request to open the new web page browsing window becomes the default collection to display for a subsequent request. Systems, web browsers, and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Arnaud Claude Weber, Alex Neely Ainslie, Roma Rajni Shah, John Nicholas Jitkoff
  • Patent number: 8375323
    Abstract: A device including an update request section making an update request to update a display on a display device, and a display update section updating the display on the display device in response to the update request. In addition, the device includes a layout holding section holding layout information of each of screens hierarchically displayed on the display device, and a group assigning section, based on the layout information, assigning screens, which are displayed on the display device so as to be partially or entirely visible, to one group. The device also includes a group holding section holding group information consisting of the assigned group, and a switching request section for making a list display request to display a switching destination screen candidate list, which shows the screens included in the held group information as switching destination screen candidates in a group unit, on the display device so as to be visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Yajima, Hidehiko Sin, Satoshi Inami
  • Patent number: 8370762
    Abstract: The mobile terminal, configured to execute a variety of functions, has a touch panel display and circuitry for controlling the touch panel display and responding to touching of the touch panel display. The touch panel display is configured to display a number of functional icons, each of which is associated with one of the functions of the mobile terminal. When the circuitry detects an icon being dragged into a first region which is a designated area of the touch panel display and tapped or released by a user, the mobile terminal executes the function with which the icon is associated. Further, when a destination icon associated with contact information is displayed and the circuitry detects that an icon is dragged and overlapped with the destination icon, the mobile terminal executes the function with which the icon is associated with respect to the contact information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventor: Martin Jeffrey Abbott
  • Patent number: 8370759
    Abstract: A method of creating a blending mode for blending base colors and blend colors to produce resultant colors for one or more pixels of a digital image includes displaying by a display device a relationship between a first independent variable representing the base colors and a dependent variable representing the resultant colors for a specific value of a second independent variable representing blend colors. The method also includes receiving user input altering the relationship, displaying the altered relationship, and storing the relationship as a blending mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
    Inventor: Donald B. Curtis
  • Patent number: 8359547
    Abstract: A volume setting icon is provided with a slider for indicating a volume increasing from left toward right. A region in a direction of lower volume relative to a position corresponding to a current value, at which the slider is displayed, is identified as a volume low region, and a region in a direction of higher volume is identified as a volume high region. When the slider is selected, the slider can continuously be operated to move in any direction toward the volume low region and the volume high region. When the volume low region other than the slider is touched, the slider is instantaneously operated to move to a position corresponding to a touch position. When the volume high region other than the slider is touched, the slider is not instantaneously operated to move to a position corresponding to a touch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Akifusa, Tomohisa Saito
  • Patent number: 8352866
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for adapting a network topology, in which the network topology comprises a plurality of points, a plurality of connections, each connection connecting a pair of points, and a zoneset comprising a plurality of zones, each zone defining a series of points that are connected. The mechanism performs operations of receiving one or more user inputs, each user input comprising a change to a zone, performing an analysis of the or each user input, to determine one or more consistent universal changes to the zoneset, presenting an output to the user comprising one or more of the determined consistent universal changes to the zoneset, receiving a selection user input selecting a presented consistent universal change to the zoneset, and changing the zoneset according to the selected consistent universal change to the zoneset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Iain A. Bethune, Gordon D. Hutchison, Bruce J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8276084
    Abstract: The present invention permits performance adjustment in a virtual universe. In particular, the invention proposes a mixed server-based/peer-to-peer approach, in which transmission responsibilities are shifted towards peer-to-peer computing as the number of avatars within a region increases. The invention may foster fluid business transactions (e.g., sales) during times of high avatar load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vittorio Castelli, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell, Clifford A. Pickover, Keith R. Walker