Patents by Inventor Brendan Shanks

Brendan Shanks 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).

  • Automatically disabling the on-screen keyboard of an electronic device in a vehicle
    Patent number: 9680986
    Abstract: A keyboard deactivation module includes a processor configured to generate an on-screen keyboard control signal, a CAN bus interface configured to connect to a CAN bus of a vehicle, and obtain vehicle speed information indicating a current speed of the vehicle from the vehicle via the CAN bus, and a Bluetooth radio configured to transmit the on-screen keyboard control signal to a target electronic device. An on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is enabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is below a specified threshold, and the on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is disabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is above a specified threshold. The keyboard deactivation module is mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Laszlo Barabas, Alfred Barabas, Brendan Shanks, James R. Tranchina
  • AUTOMATICALLY DISABLING THE ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE IN A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20160309019
    Abstract: A keyboard deactivation module includes a processor configured to generate an on-screen keyboard control signal, a CAN bus interface configured to connect to a CAN bus of a vehicle, and obtain vehicle speed information indicating a current speed of the vehicle from the vehicle via the CAN bus, and a Bluetooth radio configured to transmit the on-screen keyboard control signal to a target electronic device. An on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is enabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is below a specified threshold, and the on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is disabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is above a specified threshold. The keyboard deactivation module is mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: LASZLO BARABAS, ALFRED BARABAS, BRENDAN SHANKS, JAMES R. TRANCHINA
  • Automatically disabling the on-screen keyboard of an electronic device in a vehicle
    Patent number: 9380143
    Abstract: A keyboard deactivation module includes a processor configured to generate an on-screen keyboard control signal, a CAN bus interface configured to connect to a CAN bus of a vehicle, and obtain vehicle speed information indicating a current speed of the vehicle from the vehicle via the CAN bus, and a Bluetooth radio configured to transmit the on-screen keyboard control signal to a target electronic device. An on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is enabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is below a specified threshold, and the on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is disabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is above a specified threshold. The keyboard deactivation module is mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Laszlo Barabas, Alfred Barabas, Brendan Shanks, James R. Tranchina
  • AUTOMATICALLY DISABLING THE ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE IN A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20150062017
    Abstract: A keyboard deactivation module includes a processor configured to generate an on-screen keyboard control signal, a CAN bus interface configured to connect to a CAN bus of a vehicle, and obtain vehicle speed information indicating a current speed of the vehicle from the vehicle via the CAN bus, and a Bluetooth radio configured to transmit the on-screen keyboard control signal to a target electronic device. An on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is enabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is below a specified threshold, and the on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is disabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is above a specified threshold. The keyboard deactivation module is mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: LASZLO BARABAS, Alfred Barabas, Brendan Shanks, James R. Tranchina