Patents by Inventor Albert R. Howard, Jr.
Albert R. Howard, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11382017Abstract: A device providing inter-device call continuity facilitated by a wireless audio output device may include a processor configured to initiate, over a peer-to-peer connection with a second device, a communication session between the second device and a third device. The processor may be further configured to establish, over the peer-to-peer connection with the second device, an audio link corresponding to the communication session. The processor may be further configured to determine, based at least in part on the audio link, that a connection quality of the peer-to-peer connection satisfies a connection degradation condition. The processor may be further configured to request, over a wide area network connection, for the communication session with the third device to be handed-off from the second device to the first device, and to establish, over the wide area network connection, the communication session with the third device.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Luciano M. Verger, Ajoy K. Singh, Albert R. Howard, Jr., Ariane Cotte, Christopher M. Garrido, Faraz Faheem, Gregory R. Burns, Ian J. Baird, Imran Ahmed, Nicholas J. Circosta, Robert D. Watson, Rohan C. Malthankar, Ryan A. Williams, Sergey Sitnikov, Srinivasan Nimmala, Thomas Chathoth Abraham, Vikram B. Yerrabommanahalli
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Publication number: 20200351747Abstract: A device providing inter-device call continuity facilitated by a wireless audio output device may include a processor configured to initiate, over a peer-to-peer connection with a second device, a communication session between the second device and a third device. The processor may be further configured to establish, over the peer-to-peer connection with the second device, an audio link corresponding to the communication session. The processor may be further configured to determine, based at least in part on the audio link, that a connection quality of the peer-to-peer connection satisfies a connection degradation condition. The processor may be further configured to request, over a wide area network connection, for the communication session with the third device to be handed-off from the second device to the first device, and to establish, over the wide area network connection, the communication session with the third device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Luciano M. VERGER, Ajoy K. SINGH, Albert R. HOWARD, JR., Ariane COTTE, Christopher M. GARRIDO, Faraz FAHEEM, Gregory R. BURNS, Ian J. BAIRD, Imran AHMED, Nicholas J. CIRCOSTA, Robert D. WATSON, Rohan C. MALTHANKAR, Ryan A. WILLIAMS, Sergey SITNIKOV, Srinivasan NIMMALA, Thomas Chathoth ABRAHAM, Vikram B. YERRABOMMANAHALLI
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Patent number: 9678734Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that monitor upgrade availability for computer information on a user's computer and allows the user to determine which of the available upgrades will be downloaded to the user's computer and installed. The upgrade availability for computer information on the user's computer is monitored in the background, without user-intervention when the user connects to a network, such as the Internet. If any such upgrades are available, a flag is set to notify the user of such upgrades. The user is notified of any available upgrades when computer information is accessed for which an upgrade is available, and given a choice of whether or not to download the available upgrade(s). The downloaded upgrade(s) may then be installed by an installation means. In this manner, the present invention allows for the user to download only those upgrades desired by the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, Jr., Wayne Loofbourrow
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Publication number: 20160011860Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that monitor upgrade availability for computer information on a user's computer and allows the user to determine which of the available upgrades will be downloaded to the user's computer and installed. The upgrade availability for computer information on the user's computer is monitored in the background, without user-intervention when the user connects to a network, such as the Internet. If any such upgrades are available, a flag is set to notify the user of such upgrades. The user is notified of any available upgrades when computer information is accessed for which an upgrade is available, and given a choice of whether or not to download the available upgrade(s). The downloaded upgrade(s) may then be installed by an installation means. In this manner, the present invention allows for the user to download only those upgrades desired by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, JR., Wayne Loofbourrow
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Patent number: 9176723Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that monitor upgrade availability for computer information on a user's computer and allows the user to determine which of the available upgrades will be downloaded to the user's computer and installed. The upgrade availability for computer information on the user's computer is monitored in the background, without user-intervention when the user connects to a network, such as the Internet. If any such upgrades are available, a flag is set to notify the user of such upgrades. The user is notified of any available upgrades when computer information is accessed for which an upgrade is available, and given a choice of whether or not to download the available upgrade(s). The downloaded upgrade(s) may then be installed by an installation means. In this manner, the present invention allows for the user to download only those upgrades desired by the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, Jr., Wayne Loofbourrow
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Patent number: 8359550Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for displaying information topics that are available via an online help system. The methods and systems store information for given topics in a respective folder associated with a given topic, detect the selection of one of the folders associated with a topic of interest, search files at a hierarchical level in the selected folder to identify files of a predetermined type, locate HTML metatags that pertain to the display of help information, merge data associated with the HTML metatags into a HTML template file to generate an HTML file containing data associated with each of the located HTML metatags, and provide a table of contents for the topic of interest associated with the selected folder using the generated HTML file.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, Jr., Kevin Knabe, Richard B. Hoiberg
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Publication number: 20100269035Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for displaying information topics that are available via an online help system. The methods and systems store information for given topics in a respective folder associated with a given topic, detect the selection of one of the folders associated with a topic of interest, search files at a hierarchical level in the selected folder to identify files of a predetermined type, locate HTML metatags that pertain to the display of help information, merge data associated with the HTML metatags into a HTML template file to generate an HTML file containing data associated with each of the located HTML metatags, and provide a table of contents for the topic of interest associated with the selected folder using the generated HTML file.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, JR., Kevin Knabe, Richard B. Hoiberg
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Publication number: 20100242035Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that monitor upgrade availability for computer information on a user's computer and allows the user to determine which of the available upgrades will be downloaded to the user's computer and installed. The upgrade availability for computer information on the user's computer is monitored in the background, without user-intervention when the user connects to a network, such as the Internet. If any such upgrades are available, a flag is set to notify the user of such upgrades. The user is notified of any available upgrades when computer information is accessed for which an upgrade is available, and given a choice of whether or not to download the available upgrade(s). The downloaded upgrade(s) may then be installed by an installation means. In this manner, the present invention allows for the user to download only those upgrades desired by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2010Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, JR., Wayne Loofbourrow
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Patent number: 7770123Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for dynamically generating an HTML-based information help system. The information help system provides a user with a table of contents of the information that is currently available on the system. The table of contents is generated by scanning specific files for meta-tag information. The gathered information is merged with pre-defined HTML template files that control the formatting and presentation of the information. The resulting table of contents which is provided to the user accurately reflects the current content of the information system. By dynamically generating the table of contents for the information help system, the present invention allows authors to add, remove, and change individual components of the system while ensuring that users are presented with an accurate and complete list of the information available for use.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1998Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, Jr., Kevin Knabe, Richard B. Hoiberg
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Patent number: 7734721Abstract: The present invention is a system and method that monitors upgrade availability for computer information on a user's computer and allows the user to determine which of the available upgrades will be downloaded to the user's computer and installed. The upgrade availability for computer information on the user's computer is monitored in the background, without user-intervention when the user connects to a network, such as the Internet. If any such upgrades are available, a flag is set to notify the user of such upgrades. The user is notified of any available upgrades when computer information is accessed for which an upgrade is available, and given a choice of whether or not to download the available upgrade(s). The downloaded upgrade(s) may then be installed by an installation means. In this manner, the present invention allows for the user to download only those upgrades desired by the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, Jr., Wayne Loofbourrow
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Patent number: 7283997Abstract: A computer system presents retrieved documents to a user, with documents most similar to documents in which the user previously showed high interest being ranked higher than other retrieved documents. The system compares a query vector with feedback query vectors, where each feedback query vector is associated with at least one user feedback vector, and each user feedback vector indicates an aggregate user interest in documents including terms associated with the user feedback vector. The system determines a feedback query vector that is most similar to the query vector, compares the document vectors with a user feedback vector associated with the most similar feedback query vector, and determines the document vector that is most similar to such user feedback vector. The document associated with the most similar document vector is ranked higher than the remaining retrieved documents, when presented to the user.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2003Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Albert R. Howard, Jr., Eric R. Koebler, Wayne R. Loofbourrow
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Patent number: 7016944Abstract: The present invention is a system and method that monitors upgrade availability for computer information on a user's computer and allows the user to determine which of the available upgrades will be downloaded to the user's computer and installed. The upgrade availability for computer information on the user's computer is monitored in the background, without user-intervention when the user connects to a network, such as the Internet. If any such upgrades are available, a flag is set to notify the user of such upgrades. The user is notified of any available upgrades when computer information is accessed for which an upgrade is available, and given a choice of whether or not to download the available upgrade(s). The downloaded upgrade(s) may then be installed by an installation means. In this manner, the present invention allows for the user to download only those upgrades desired by the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1999Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, Jr., Wayne Loofbourrow
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Patent number: 6256622Abstract: A single file, such as an HTML document, is logically divided into multiple articles that can be individually recognized and ranked by search engines. The segmentation of a document into separate articles is based upon tokens that are used in document mark-up languages. In addition to the tokens which delineate articles from one another, additional tokens, or tags, are used to create a named location for each article, so that a browser can immediately display an article within a document that is relevant to a search query.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1998Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Albert R. Howard, Jr., Richard Hoiberg, Curtis Stevens, Daniel Rose, Michael Monan