Patents Examined by Lê Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7272795
    Abstract: A micro-monitor for use in the monitoring of database environments is provided. In an illustrative implementation, a micro-monitor comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) having controls for navigation of information, controls to control database environments, a display area for displaying monitoring information about the database environments, and controls to maximize the display area to the size of conventional applications. When executed in a computing environment having an operating display space, the micro-monitor occupies a fraction of the operating display space which is occupied by other executing computing applications. In operation, the micro-monitor, accepts configuration variables for use to set monitoring thresholds, alarms, and display layout. Based on the configuration information, the micro-monitor will cooperate with the database environments which it is monitoring to obtain operational information for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip D. Garding, Russell Songco
  • Patent number: 7266770
    Abstract: An information processing terminal, includes an inter-area movement detecting unit for detecting that a position of the information processing terminal is moved from one area to another area by detecting undulations, and an outputting unit for outputting a question to a user asking the position of the information processing terminal in response to the detection of inter-area movement by the inter-area movement detecting unit. The terminal also includes an answer recognizing unit for recognizing an answer by the user in response to the question output by the outputting unit, and an information sending unit for sending information recognized by the answer recognizing unit to an external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Onbe, Atsushi Shimizu, Tanichi Ando, Naoya Yasugi, Nobuyuki Sakatani
  • Patent number: 7260782
    Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium, and a system are provided for generating control information for controlling computer system operation during execution of the computer system. At least one attribute change of a computer system to occur during execution of the computer system is identified. The attribute change is associated with an event taking place during computer system execution. An index point is created identifying the attribute point as triggering the attribute change, and the index point is associated with the attribute change in the computer system. The index point is stored in a format configured to be used by the computer system to initiate the attribute change upon the index point being reached during the execution of the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Ensequence, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Wallace, Larry Alan Westerman
  • Patent number: 7257775
    Abstract: A user interface is automatically updated when the content sources that provide information or data accessible within an application are added or deleted. Associated with each category of content source is a content processor. The content processor determine the appropriate control elements that should be included in a user interface to access the content provided by the content sources associated with the content processor. The hierarchy and layout of the control elements in the user interface are suggested by the control processors as a function of the content sources that are available. Localization of a user interface in different versions of an application can readily be implemented simply by providing the appropriate content processors that define the user interface for each version of the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Todor I. Jivakov, Jonathan Parati, Abdulwajid Mohamed
  • Patent number: 7234119
    Abstract: A portable electronic device (100) and method (400) is capable of editing processed data input. The portable electronic device (100) comprises a display area (224) and a processor (206) coupled to the display area. The device collects (404) data input and, then, removes (412) the data input from the display area in response to detecting (406) an input delay. Thereafter, the processor, in response to receiving (416) an undo command message, provides (426) the data input and/or a processed version of the data input to the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Yimin Wu, Jin Guo, Sadik Kapadia
  • Patent number: 7231605
    Abstract: A user selects a wireless network mapping option on their computer and is presented with a list of names of electronic devices coupled to the wireless network to which the computer is coupled. When one of the electronic devices transmits a wireless identification signal to the computer, a visual cue identifies the default name associated with the electronic device in the list. The user may then rename the default name to a local name. The user may also opt to transmit a wireless identification signal of their own to one or more of the electronic devices coupled to the wireless network. Alternatively, the user may select one or more electronic devices from the list, and nudge the selected devices by sending an activation signal, causing the electronic devices to identify themselves using an audio or visual cue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Sundaram Ramakesavan
  • Patent number: 7225413
    Abstract: A device for controlling a display screen has an actuating element which can be rotated about a longitudinal axis and moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis, enabling a point of a menu structure consisting of menu, partial menus, functions and/or function values to be selected, and which can be represented as an optically highlighted field in the display screen. The actuating element has an initial position and can describe with relation thereto an additional movement with two additional degrees of freedom. The additional movement of the actuating element enables a field arranged in a marginal region (2) of the display screen and Audio associated with a point of the menu structure to be selected. The rotary/longitudinal movement of the actuating element enables a subordinate field of the menu structure associated with the field arranged in the marginal region of the display screen to be selected in the central region (3) of the display screen enclosed by the marginal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hermann Kuenzner, Michael Herrler
  • Patent number: 7222310
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a graphical user interface (GUI), a synthesizer and a computer system including such a graphical user interface. In the prior art, input signals may be modified using a variety of controls including rotatable knobs or levers or switches or effected via software controls. Hitherto, the value of each signal has been represented in a dedicated manner even when signals are being combined and this adds to the complexity for a user. The present invention thus relates to a graphical user interface for displaying three or more input signals; comprising a geometric display having the number of dimensions equal to one less than the number of signals whereby each signal represents an apex of the geometric display and a cursor is disposed within the geometric display and represents the combination of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Adam
  • Patent number: 7210107
    Abstract: Sector menus track a pointer's position as a pointing device is moved. Each sector menu is a geometric figure bounded by two radii and an included arc of a circle. Menu items are housed in segments formed from multiple radii cutting the sector menu. Users select menu items housed in segments by making a direction change from a trajectory course to pass over a desired menu item so as to invoke its operation. The sector menu lacks a segment, defining a devoid segment, which is oriented in a direction toward which the pointer is moving. Segments with different sizes are available to represent the likelihood that a user would choose a given operation in a corresponding menu item housed by a corresponding segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Wecker, Cameron A. Etezadi, Timothy Sharpe
  • Patent number: 7194693
    Abstract: An apparatus and method helps a user to determine parts of an electronic document that are of interest by allowing the user to define preferences for processing an electronic document, and by automatically highlighting one or more portions of the document according to the user preferences. Highlighting includes any way to enhance or alter the appearance of text, including bold, italics, underlining, change in font style, change in font size, change in color, change in background color, etc. The automatic highlighting of portions of the document attract the user's eyes to that portion of the document, which helps the user to discern whether or not the highlighted portion is relevant or interesting. The preferred embodiments also include a document generator that takes an input document and generates therefrom an output document that has one or more highlighted portions that are hard-coded into the document according to the user preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian John Cragun, Paul Reuben Day
  • Patent number: 7194701
    Abstract: A video thumbnail for use as an icon of a digital video file and method of generating same. The video thumbnail is preferably a relatively short, low resolution, animated video thumbnail. The video thumbnail is extracted from a preferred sequence of the video file and embedded as a header of the file. The video thumbnail preferably plays automatically, and acts as a pointer to the file and the preferred point within it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Donald J. Stavely, Robert P. Cazier, Amy E. Battles, James W. Owens, James S. Voss, Dan L. Dalton
  • Patent number: 7194698
    Abstract: A method and system to facilitate navigation of a wide-area network. A navigation matrix is displayed on a client node. The matrix pairs each navigation option with an input such that, for example, pressing a single key activates that navigation option. The key press event is forwarded to an information and services hub across the network. The hub then returns a next appropriate matrix layer which may be navigated in the same manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventors: Elliot A. Gottfurcht, Grant E. Gottfurcht, J. Teague McKnight, Manuel V. Beltran, Stephen K. Woesner, John A. Marinuzzi, Albert-Michel C. Long, Donald L. Dukeshire
  • Patent number: 7165225
    Abstract: Methods and systems for cursor tracking in a multilevel GUI hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kishore M. N., Nikhil Jain, Debi Mishra, John Samuel Azariah
  • Patent number: 7159189
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system of maintaining and controlling the ordering and placement for display of individual GUI windows into groups or “decks” similar to a deck of playing cards on a desktop area of a computer display. The decks comprise collections of cascaded windows. The method and system control the decks such that the title bars of all windows of the deck are always simultaneously visible to the user no matter which window is selected as the active window. The act of moving the current top window back into a new position in the deck is defined as “shuffling” the windows. The method and system further provide auto-deck processes that automatically cascade defined applications, such as Internet Explorer windows, into a deck. In addition, the method and system may also include user-definable options as to the order of the shuffle, and includes the ability to drag the active window out of the deck and to drag any window into the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Alphabase Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry S. Weingart, David B. Price
  • Patent number: 7152211
    Abstract: Several systems and associated methodologies are provided for rendering a themed image while mitigating pixelation and/or the disproportionate appearance thereof when the image is sized and/or scaled. The systems include at least one sizing module adapted to size components of a themed UI element. The systems also include at least one alignment module adapted to align at least one second component of a UI element within a first component of a UI element. The sizing modules are adapted to size the components with nine grid methodologies or based upon the ratio of the DPI of the context that the UI element is being rendered to the DPI that at least one of the components was designed under.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Roland L. Fernandez, Christopher A. Evans, Gregory L. Raiz, Aaron B. Tinling, Louis Amadio
  • Patent number: 7146574
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing historical data are provided. Based upon user interaction, a time period of interest and historical data, the systems and methods perform cross-correlation algorithms and interpret which items are to be accessed and displayed to the user via a user interface vis-a-vis a timeline portion and navigation region. Based on frequency and recency usage patterns, and/or user preferences, items are assigned relative weights and displayed accordingly in the timeline portion and navigation region of the user interface. Each item that can be displayed within the system has a unique identification, which may be translated to one or more visual symbols within the user interface. In various non-limiting embodiments, the system leverages a distributed database store which stores and indexes items that make up a digital history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Flora P. Goldthwaite, Jonathan C. Cluts
  • Patent number: 7143354
    Abstract: Summarization of video content that includes the identification of a plurality of segments from a Video including baseball. In some embodiments the system does not use a model sequence of frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Baoxin Li, Jeffrey B. Sampsell
  • Patent number: 7134082
    Abstract: A method for individualizing an Internet/Intranet global directory and for adaptively changing the global directory structure based upon the individual alterations of multiple users. The method provides a default computer directory of prearranged files on a server computer. Client directory customization data is then provided to the server computer. With this information, the default directory is reconfigured into an individualized Internet/Intranet directory by modifying a copy of the default Internet/Intranet directory based upon the directory customization data. Further aspects include the step of updating the client directory customization data based upon user inputs; the step of collecting a history of client directory customization data; or the step of updating the default computer directory based on a history of client customization data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Louisiana Tech University Research Foundation as a division of the Louisiana Tech University Foundation
    Inventor: Chee Hung Ben Choi
  • Patent number: 7120875
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for enabling accurate registration of virtual information upon real objects in selected environments from the perspective of a moveable observation platform having a position and an orientation within an observation space positioned within the environment, the position and orientation defining the registration of the virtual information within the observation space within the environment, which may comprise: a plurality of at least three tracking fiducials selectively each respectively located in fixed predetermined locations in the observation space; the observation platform including a position sensor apparatus adapted to sense an estimated position of the observation platform in the observation space and a heading sensor apparatus adapted to sense an estimated heading of the observation platform within the observation space; the observation platform further including a wide view fiducial detection apparatus mounted on the observation platform and adapted to detect the r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: X-Labs Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Daily, Ronald T. Azuma, Howard E. Neely, III, Gerald B. Isdale
  • Patent number: 7117438
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a ventilation control system for controlling the ventilation of a patient. The ventilation control system utilizes a user-friendly user interface for the display of patient data and ventilator status, as well as for entering values for ventilation settings to be used to control the ventilator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles L. Wallace, Warren G. Sanborn, David Arnett, Jay Butterbrodt, Howard L. Ferguson