Patents by Inventor Charles Nicholson

Charles Nicholson 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: 11861623
    Abstract: Examples, methods and systems described herein may include determining, by a payment processing system, whether a second payment mechanism may be used to perform a payment transaction when a first payment mechanism is preferred and/or when the first payment mechanism has failed. Determining to use the second payment mechanism can be based on (i) an analysis of a communication status indicator received from a point-of-sale (POS) terminal that indicates which payment mechanisms are capable of communicating with the POS terminal, (ii) data received from the POS terminal that is associated with a read of a payment object, and/or (iii) an allowance criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wells White, Charles Nicholson, David Terra, Jason Holmes, Martin Mroz
  • Publication number: 20220183574
    Abstract: One disclosed example method includes receiving sensor data from a biosensor; determining an event using a first analysis based on the sensor data, the first analysis having a first power cost; determining to perform a second analysis based on the event; in response to determining to perform the second analysis, performing the second analysis based on the sensor data, the second analysis having a second power cost greater than the first power cost; and wirelessly transmitting results of the second analysis to a remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Charles Nicholson, David He, Brian Schiffer
  • Publication number: 20210117975
    Abstract: Examples, methods and systems described herein may include determining, by a payment processing system, whether a second payment mechanism may be used to perform a payment transaction when a first payment mechanism is preferred and/or when the first payment mechanism has failed. Determining to use the second payment mechanism can be based on (i) an analysis of a communication status indicator received from a point-of-sale (POS) terminal that indicates which payment mechanisms are capable of communicating with the POS terminal, (ii) data received from the POS terminal that is associated with a read of a payment object, and/or (iii) an allowance criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Wells White, Charles Nicholson, David Terra, Jason Holmes, Martin Mroz
  • Patent number: 10949858
    Abstract: Examples, methods and systems described herein may include determining, by a payment processing system, whether a second payment mechanism may be used to perform a payment transaction when a first payment mechanism is preferred and/or when the first payment mechanism has failed. Determining to use the second payment mechanism can be based on (i) an analysis of a communication status indicator received from a point-of-sale (POS) terminal that indicates which payment mechanisms are capable of communicating with the POS terminal, (ii) data received from the POS terminal that is associated with a read of a payment object, and/or (iii) an allowance criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wells White, Charles Nicholson, David Terra, Jason Holmes, Martin Mroz
  • Patent number: 10705692
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. The device may include a case having one or more major surfaces. A visual display and a touch pad are disposed on at least one of the major surfaces. A processor is operably coupled to the visual display and touch screen. Instructions executable by the processor may be configured to: a) present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; b) divide the image into one or more regions that fill the display, wherein each region corresponds to a different active element; c) correlating an active element in the image on the visual display to a corresponding active portion of the touch interface; and d) activate one of the one or more active elements in response to a touch to a corresponding one of the active portions of the touch interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Nicholson, Gary M. Zalewski
  • Publication number: 20190287108
    Abstract: Examples, methods and systems described herein may include determining, by a payment processing system, whether a second payment mechanism may be used to perform a payment transaction when a first payment mechanism is preferred and/or when the first payment mechanism has failed. Determining to use the second payment mechanism can be based on (i) an analysis of a communication status indicator received from a point-of-sale (POS) terminal that indicates which payment mechanisms are capable of communicating with the POS terminal, (ii) data received from the POS terminal that is associated with a read of a payment object, and/or (iii) an allowance criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Wells White, Charles Nicholson, David Terra, Jason Holmes, Martin Mroz
  • Patent number: 10163107
    Abstract: In some examples, methods and systems may institute technical fallback by determining, by a payment processing system, and based on analysis of the communication status indicator and the data obtained when a magnetic stripe of the payment object is introduced in magnetic stripe object reader, whether the payment object was swiped while an EMV object reader was communicatively coupled to the POS terminal. If the magnetic stripe of the payment object was swiped while the EMV object reader was connected to the POS terminal, the payment processing system extracts a transaction count indicating a number of times the customer has attempted to insert a chip of the payment object into the EMV object reader prior to swiping magstripe. By comparing the transaction count with a threshold count, the payment processing system authorizes the payment transaction as a technical fallback transaction if the transaction count is greater than the threshold count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wells White, Jason Holmes, Martin Mroz, David Terra, Charles Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9927964
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device has a processor that is operably coupled to the visual display and touch interface. The hand held electronic device includes instructions executable by the processor configured to present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; perform a tessellation that divides the image into one or more regions that fill the display, each region corresponds to a different active element, a size of each region depends on a corresponding probability of use of the corresponding active element within a given time frame; correlate one or more active portions of the touch interface to a corresponding one or more of the regions; and activate a particular active element in response to a touch on a corresponding active portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Charles Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9524085
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. The device may include a case having one or more major surfaces. A visual display and a touch interface are disposed on at least one of the major surfaces. A processor is operably coupled to the visual display and touch screen. Instructions executable by the processor may be configured to: a) present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; b) correlate one or more active portions of the touch interface to one or more corresponding active elements in the image on the visual display; and c) present a transformed active element corresponding to a particular one of the one or more active elements on the visual display in response to a user interaction with a corresponding one of the one or more active portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Charles Nicholson, Gary M. Zalewski
  • Patent number: 9448701
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. The device may include a processor is operably coupled to a visual display and touch screen. Instructions executable by the processor may be configured to a) present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; b) correlate one or more active portions of the touch interface to one or more corresponding active elements in the image on the visual display; and c) adjust a layout of content shown on the display according to a probability of one or more actions that may be taken with the one or more active elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Charles Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9367216
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. The device may include a case having one or more major surfaces. A visual display and a touch interface are disposed on at least one of the major surfaces. A processor is operably coupled to the visual display and touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Charles Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9189211
    Abstract: Method and apparatus and computer program code for cross programming language transformation. This transcoding permits automation of a video game asset conditioning process by using introspection and reflection capabilities of high level tool languages to generate optimally-packed, platform-specific binary memory images as well as the code, such as C++ to read the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Charles Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20150199117
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. A processor is operably coupled to the visual display and touch interface. Instructions executable by the processor may be configured to a) present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; b) perform a tessellation that divides the image into one or more regions that fill the display, each region corresponds to a different active element, a size of each region depends on a corresponding probability of use of the corresponding active element within a given time frame; c) correlate one or more active portions of the touch interface to a corresponding one or more of the regions; and d) activate a particular active element in response to a touch on a corresponding active portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Charles Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9009588
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. The device may include a case having one or more major surfaces. A visual display and a touch interface are disposed on at least one of the major surfaces. A processor is operably coupled to the visual display and touch screen. Instructions executable by the processor may be configured to a) present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; b) correlate one or more active portions of the touch interface to one or more corresponding active elements in the image on the visual display; and c) adjust a layout of content shown on the display according to a probability of one or more actions that may be taken with the one or more active elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Charles Nicholson
  • Patent number: 8882597
    Abstract: A hybrid separable motion controller is provided. The controller includes a first portion including a first handle, a first medial connector defined along a length of the first handle, and a first geometric object defined at an end of the first handle. The controller further includes a second portion including a second handle, a second medial connector defined along a length of the second handle for coupling to the first medial connector, and a second geometric object defined at an end of the second handle. The first portion or the second portion includes a connection sensor for determining whether the controller is in a connected configuration or a disconnected configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Charles Nicholson
  • Patent number: 8677238
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for controlling a device without requiring visual contact are presented. One method includes an operation for identifying available options for a user according to a state of a program executing on a device, where the available options correspond to possible menu items. Further, the method provides an audible output of the available options and the detection of a touch-based input, where the input is received at the device without providing an identifiable visual cue to the user. Further yet, the method includes operations for determining the selected option from the available options based on the timing of the input relative to the audible output, and for performing the selected option by the computer program. In another method, the options are presented to the user via different vibration patterns or via vibrations of a second device connected to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20130212503
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. The device may include a case having one or more major surfaces. A visual display and a touch interface are disposed on at least one of the major surfaces. A processor is operably coupled to the visual display and touch screen. Instructions executable by the processor may be configured to a) present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; b) correlate one or more active portions of the touch interface to one or more corresponding active elements in the image on the visual display; and c) adjust a layout of content shown on the display according to a probability of one or more actions that may be taken with the one or more active elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Charles Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20130212504
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. The device may include a processor is operably coupled to a visual display and touch screen. Instructions executable by the processor may be configured to a) present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; b) correlate one or more active portions of the touch interface to one or more corresponding active elements in the image on the visual display; and c) adjust a layout of content shown on the display according to a probability of one or more actions that may be taken with the one or more active elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Charles Nicholson
  • Patent number: 8434003
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. The device may include a case having one or more major surfaces. A visual display and a touch interface are disposed on at least one of the major surfaces. A processor is operably coupled to the visual display and touch screen. Instructions executable by the processor may be configured to a) present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; b) correlate one or more active portions of the touch interface to one or more corresponding active elements in the image on the visual display; and c) re-purpose one or more portions of the touch interface outside the one or more active portions to act as inputs for commands associated with the one or more active elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Charles Nicholson
  • Patent number: 8375295
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device, method of operation and computer readable medium are disclosed. The device may include a case having one or more major surfaces. A visual display and a touch interface are disposed on at least one of the major surfaces. A processor is operably coupled to the visual display and touch screen. Instructions executable by the processor may be configured to a) present an image on the visual display containing one or more active elements; b) correlate one or more active portions of the touch interface to one or more corresponding active elements in the image on the visual display; and c) adjust a layout of content shown on the display according to a probability of one or more actions that may be taken with the one or more active elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Charles Nicholson