Patents by Inventor Andrew D. Christian

Andrew D. Christian 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).

  • Patent number: 7427266
    Abstract: A method and apparatus keeps track of ingestible objects (such as pills or food items) ingested by humans or animals. The objects are supplied with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags encoding data describing the objects. The humans or animals ingesting the objects are equipped with RFID sensors for detecting, decoding, and archiving the data encoded in the tags. A user may scan the body of the human or animal subject with a sensor to determine if a tagged object has been ingested. The tags may be covered with substances or contain elements that dissolve upon entering a digestive system. This allows detection of ingestion and also allows the RFID tag encoding to change in the course of digestion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven M. Ayer, Donald R. Denning, Jr., Frank C. Bomba, Andrew D. Christian, James E. Hicks, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6421462
    Abstract: A technique for differencing an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by measuring light values in a scene to generate a first image and a second image. The first image is separated into first luminance and chrominance components, and the second image is separated into second luminance and chrominance components. A difference is determined between the first and the second luminance components to generate a luminance mask. Similarly, a difference is determined between the first and the second chrominence components to generate a chrominance mask. The luminance mask and the chrominence mask are combined to determine a difference between the first and the second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Christian, Brian L. Avery
  • Patent number: 6249292
    Abstract: A technique for controlling a presentation of a computer generated object having a plurality of movable components is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by receiving a gesture element and an audio element at a processing device. The gesture element represents a gesture involving one or more of the plurality of movable components. The audio element represents an audio signal. The processing device receives the gesture element and the audio element in a sequential order. The processing device processes the gesture element and the audio element in the sequential order so that each of the plurality of movable components associated with the gesture element are moved to perform the gesture and the audio signal associated with the audio element is generated during a presentation of the computer generated object. The gesture can be performed and the audio signal can be generated simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Christian, Brian L. Avery
  • Patent number: 6163822
    Abstract: A technique for controlling an interactive presentation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a processing device receives at least one of a plurality of commands, wherein each of the plurality of commands corresponds to a respective operation the performance of which is directly associated with controlling a particular aspect of the interactive presentation. The processing device processes each of the received commands such that each corresponding operation is performed to control a particular aspect of the interactive presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Christian, Brian L. Avery