Patents Examined by Phenuel Salomon
  • Patent number: 8589816
    Abstract: A CE device employs user interfaces to allow a user to define energy management rules within the user's premises, visualize energy use in the home and in neighbor's homes for comparison and competition in saving energy, and receive tailored advertisements for appliances that are more energy efficient than what the user currently owns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Klaus Hofrichter, Nick Colsey
  • Patent number: 8589802
    Abstract: An access node grants a telecommunication device access to a content provider over a telecommunication network. The content includes a webpage having ad spaces for displaying banners ads uploaded from banner ad providers when the webpage is displayed on the telecommunication device. The access node is configured to forward a request for a first webpage sent by the telecommunication device to the content provider, receive the first webpage from the content provider, the first webpage including an ad spaces for banner ad(s), verify that the first ad space is tagged by the content provider with an indication identifiable by the access node, modify the first webpage to include in the first ad space a banner ad selected by the access node, when the first ad space is tagged with such the indication, and forward the modified first webpage for subsequent display of the first webpage on the telecommunication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventor: Srinivas Chervirala
  • Patent number: 8589825
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a communication application triggering method and an electronic device. A communication application triggering method is applied to an electronic device that has a touch sensor, where the method includes: detecting a touch track or touch point on the touch sensor after an object is selected or is called; and matching the detected touch track or touch point with at least one standard model; and if the matching is successful, and the object can be used as a sent object of a communication application that corresponds to the successfully matched standard model, triggering the communication application that corresponds to the successfully matched standard model, and adding the object as a to-be-sent object of the communication application, where different communication applications correspond to different standard models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ziyi Wang
  • Patent number: 8578275
    Abstract: A method for application recommendation performed by a computerized application recommendation system includes receiving usage data for applications within a category of applications from a plurality of users, and providing a first user with a recommendation for a first application in the category of applications based, at least in part, on a change in the usage data. A computerized application recommendation system includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive usage data for applications in a category of applications from a plurality of users, and provide a first user with a recommendation for a first application in the category of applications based, at least in part, on a change in the usage data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah Nelson Brolley, Bernadette Alexia Carter, Jessica Whitley Forrester, Kathryn Jane Lemanski
  • Patent number: 8566736
    Abstract: A user interface presents views of entities and their attributes relative to any subset of associated parameters. A view may present views of entities as a function of one or more parameters. A selection of a subset of entities in one view with respect to parameters may be presented in another view with respect to different parameters. Entities may be manipulated in any supplemental view to change their values or their parameter associations. A view may present components and parameters associated with layers or any subset of layers and/or after layer compositing. A view can include resolved values of components and their attributes. A supplemental view may include visual indicators to indicate the layer or other parameter defining its resolved value. Hierarchical relationships may be presented in views, with ancestor entities expanded within a view to show its descendent entities or collapsed to hide its descendent entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: Oren Jacob, Eric Gregory, Michael Ferris, Robert Jensen, Timothy S. Milliron, Brad Andalman
  • Patent number: 8566726
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to the methods and systems involved in receiving an indicator of an attempt by a user to interact with a website and presenting indicia of the website's reputation to the user, the reputation may be at least in part based on information about how an entity associated with the website treats personal information of users of the website.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Dixon, Thomas Pinckney
  • Patent number: 8566733
    Abstract: A content-management apparatus of a portable device. The apparatus includes a display unit to display content by time and function in a content area having a time axis and a function axis, and a content generation unit to combine at least two sets of content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-ho Rhee, Jae-hwan Kim, Jung-hun Kim
  • Patent number: 8566730
    Abstract: A single place where all of us can meet on an equal basis 24/7 from anywhere we can reach to, and communicate back from, in the universe is now being built. The present invention is an interface for universal information exchange over a public data network (e.g., Internet). Explicit agreements to Rules of Response are used to cause its users to identify all possible questions and disagreements expressed with symbols through the interface. The result is a universal information exchange that can be used by all as a common meeting point from anywhere to exchange and verify information, answer questions, resolve disagreements, and exchange any combination of goods and services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel B. Alter, Margaret Milanowski
  • Patent number: 8560960
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for managing open windows in a desktop GUI are disclosed. In various implementations, within a three-dimensional desktop, the open windows can be displayed in a three-dimensional browsable parade. As the user browses through the open windows in the browsable parade, the open window passing through a designated primary location of the three-dimensional desktop becomes the current active window of the desktop. An application menu bar of the current active window can be displayed on the three-dimensional desktop. The application menu bar and the active window together provide the full range of interactive capabilities that the native application environment of the open window would allow, even though the open window is currently displayed within the browsable parade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Goossens, Fabrice Robinet
  • Patent number: 8549426
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for configuring an on-screen image in a mobile telecommunications handset making it possible for a multimedia menu to be displayed when a connected earphone is recognized, thereby allowing a user to conveniently select a multimedia application without having to use a keypad for initiating an instruction to perform the multimedia application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8549418
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems to receive, via at least one sensor device, data related to an area around the at least one sensor device. A target area around the sensor device to project an interactive display space via a projector is determined based, at least in part, on the data received from the at least one sensor device. The target area will include a projected interactive display space wherein interactions and objects within the projected interactive display space are to be processed via a computing device operatively coupled to the at least one sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony G. Lamarca, Matthal Philipose, Beverly L. Harrison
  • Patent number: 8549422
    Abstract: A graphical approach to setup data sharing between two controllers. Symbols that represent controllers may be placed on a wiresheet. A link may be constructed between the controllers by connecting the symbols with a line drawn between them. The resulting link information may lead to a compile and download of binding tables to the pertinent controller. The designer or user need not setup several levels of mapping by populating multiple tables to effect the binding for a link between the controllers. This binding may be done automatically under a hood without the designer or user needing to be aware of the binding activity. This approach for graphically constructing a link may be particularly applicable to BACnet controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Stalin Gutha, Janaki Krishnaswamy, Lavanya Bhadriraju, Ankur Jhawar, Kevin B. Moore, Subramanya Nagaraj
  • Patent number: 8543930
    Abstract: System, method and computer program product for verifying an avatar owner as a human user of an avatar in a virtual world environment in which humans interact through avatars via client devices in network communication with a server device. A request for challenging an avatar in the virtual world environment is received to determine whether that avatar is controlled by an application program user (bot). A user client device associated with a challenged avatar is identified and a Human Identification Proof (HIP) message for detecting a human user versus a bot controlling the challenged avatar is generated and communicated, for receipt at the identified user client device. It is determined from the response, whether the user is a bot or a human user. If a challenged avatar is determined to be a bot, then the server device prevents the challenged avatar from further interaction in the virtual world environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Champion, Jeffrey J. Smith, Kevin J. Smith, David T. Windell
  • Patent number: 8539373
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes presenting a first window in a graphical user interface. The method includes presenting at least a portion of each secondary window. The method includes presenting one or more indicators indicating that additional windows exist. The method includes receiving a first user selection of a first one of the indicators. The method includes bringing at least one of the additional windows to the foreground, moving the at least one of the additional windows across the graphical user interface to be in view of the graphical user interface, sending the first window and the secondary windows behind the at least one of the additional windows, and moving at least one of the first window and the secondary windows across the graphical user interface to be out of view of the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: John Nicholas Jitkoff, Daniel T. Erat, Glen Murphy
  • Patent number: 8533598
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer readable medium storing a media editing application for creating multimedia presentations. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a composite display area for displaying a portion of a timeline to which multimedia clips are assigned to create a composite media presentation. The GUI includes a user interface tool for dividing the timeline into segments. The GUI includes an editing tool for applying an effect to each of a plurality of clips in a particular segment of the timeline. The GUI includes a user interface tool for modifying a duration of at least one segment. Different versions of the segments may be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Meaney, Melissa Breglio, Mike Stern, Jerremy Holland, Dave Cerf, Colleen Pendergast, Peter A. Steinauer, Michaelle Stikich, Charles Lyons
  • Patent number: 8533629
    Abstract: System and method of adjusting selection areas of menu options in a menu utilize the frequency of selection of each of the menu options to adjust the size of various selection areas over time. The sizes of menu options or selection areas with relatively high frequency of use may increase, while the sizes of the selection areas of the remaining menu options may decrease. In addition, the size of the menu options may be further adjusted to return to the original arrangement, e.g., in which the size of each of the selection areas is equal or occupies some predetermined area. The user may hold an electronic pen over the menu or select an icon from the menu to resize the selection areas to return to the original arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas P. Russo
  • Patent number: 8527889
    Abstract: An application and method for dynamically presenting data regarding end points and services relative to a subscriber. In one embodiment, the application is operable with a service management system and is configured to employ the service management system to determine relationships between a subscriber and services and end points associated therewith and generate a user interface that provides a view, based on the relationships, of at least one of: (1) one of the services in terms of end points that play roles in the one of the services and (2) one of the end points in terms of services in which the one of the end points plays a role.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Edward S. Pelley
  • Patent number: 8510662
    Abstract: Methods for rendering effects of graphical components of a graphical user interface are provided. One method includes defining a screen display having one or more components. The method also includes defining a start state for at least one of the one or more components and defining an end state for at least one of the one or more components. An operation of determining if a component identified for transition includes a defined start state and a defined end state is also provided. The method determines a transition type for the component that that has the defined start state and the defined end state and identifies an effect type based on the determined transition type. To render, the method includes (a) altering a graphics state at a time interval and (b) painting the component for the identified graphics state at the time interval. The method repeats (a)-(b) until the graphics state matches the defined end state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chet S. Haase, Hans E. Muller
  • Patent number: 8504945
    Abstract: Various methods, systems and apparatus for displaying content associated with a point-of-interest (“POI”) in a digital mapping system, or a region within the digital map, are disclosed. One such method may include detecting a change in the zoom level of an electronic map displayed on a computing device, determining if the new zoom-level is at a pre-determined zoom level (e.g. at maximum zoom), identifying a POI on the map, retrieving content associated with the POI (“POI content”) and displaying the POI content. The method may further include detecting a change in the zoom, or pan, of the digital map while POI content is displayed, and removing the POI content in response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventors: Gabriel Jakobson, Steven Rueben
  • Patent number: 8499239
    Abstract: A globe container includes a front-side spherical cap. A plurality of content items are arranged with a convex three-dimensional perspective on the front-side spherical cap. The globe container has a changeable virtual orientation that determines which of the plurality of content items are arranged with the convex three-dimensional perspective on the front-side spherical cap. The globe container allows selection of any of the content items displayed on the front-side spherical cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jocelyn Dollar, Salman Talat, Petri Juhani Tanninen, James Horgan, Kevin Kennedy, Dane Storrusten