Patents by Inventor Christian L. Flowers
Christian L. Flowers 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: 10127849Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying always-on content on a display of a mobile device allow the device to use a low power processor for certain always-on content and to coordinate with the device application processor for the remaining always-on content. In an embodiment, a pixel row-skip pattern is specified by the low power processor based on the display screen's resolution setting as well as ambient light conditions. In a further embodiment, the execution of pixel rendering in keeping with the prescribed pattern is synchronized between the device's low power processor and main application processor.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Nathan M. Connell, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L. Flowers
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Patent number: 10117186Abstract: Receiving a first notification at a mobile device, displaying a first set of information related to the first notification for a first time period commencing when the first notification is received, analyzing data from a sensor of the mobile device to detect a presence of a user, in response to detecting the presence of the user, and also in response to receiving a subsequent notification, displaying an updated set of information related to the subsequent notification during a second time period that commences upon receipt of the subsequent notification.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLCInventors: Mark D Denzel, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L Flowers, Yun-Ling Lee, Anita P Mhaskar
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Patent number: 9959431Abstract: Methods and apparatus for displaying potentially private information are disclosed. A computing device, that is showing a breathing view on its touch screen display, detects a peek request event, such as a swipe on the display. Before allowing the user to see potentially private information in response to the peek request, the computing device determines if the computing device is currently locked and if an increased privacy setting is enabled. If the computing device is not locked, or the increased privacy setting is not enabled (even though the computing device may be locked), the computing device shows a full peek view (e.g., some or all of the text from a recent text message). However, if the computing device is locked, and the increased privacy setting is enabled, the computing device shows a secure peek view (e.g., the number of new text messages, but no text from the messages).Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Christian L. Flowers, Michael E. Gunn
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Patent number: 9804665Abstract: One disclosed method includes generating a rule set by an application running on a primary processor. The rule set specifies how the application handles events. The rule set is sent from the primary processor to a secondary processor and the primary processor is placed in sleep mode. The secondary processor may then handle at least one event corresponding to the application by executing the rule set while the primary processor is in sleep mode. In one embodiment, handling the event may include substituting for the application by the secondary processor by executing the rule set, and controlling a peripheral hardware device that is peripheral to the primary processor according to the rule set. Handling an event may also include waking the primary processor from sleep mode by the secondary processor and passing control back to the primary processor.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Scott P DeBates, George B Standish, Nathan M Connell, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L Flowers, Jared S Suttles, Joseph H Swantek, Haitang Wang
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Patent number: 9798378Abstract: One disclosed method includes communicating with a kernel running on a primary processor, by a second processor, in response to detection of a state change; performing a hardware operation, in response to the state change, using the kernel without waking user space on the primary processor, where the user space remains suspended; and resuming a sleep mode of the primary processor by suspending the kernel after the hardware operation is completed. One example of a hardware operation is modification of display data on a touchscreen display. The method of operation may perform the hardware operation using the kernel without waking hardware drivers other than a hardware driver related to the hardware operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Christian L Flowers, Scott DeBates, Nathan M Connell, George B Standish, Jared S Suttles, Joseph H Swantek
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Publication number: 20170280384Abstract: Receiving a first notification at a mobile device, displaying a first set of information related to the first notification for a first time period commencing when the first notification is received, analyzing data from a sensor of the mobile device to detect a presence of a user, in response to detecting the presence of the user, and also in response to receiving a subsequent notification, displaying an updated set of information related to the subsequent notification during a second time period that commences upon receipt of the subsequent notification.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2016Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Mark D. Denzel, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L. Flowers, Yun-Ling Lee, Anita P. Mhaskar
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Patent number: 9753527Abstract: One disclosed method includes registering a graphics buffer with a kernel running on a first processor, storing the registered graphics buffer in memory initially without drawing the graphics buffer to a display, and passing the registered graphics buffer to a kernel display driver directly to draw the graphics buffer to the display, in response to a trigger. The method may further include informing a second processor of the registered graphics buffer and receiving the trigger by the kernel as a message from the second processor. The first processor may receive the trigger as a wake command from the second processor while the first processor is in sleep mode. A partial resume of the kernel is then performed while preventing activation of user space on the primary processor, and the graphics buffer is drawn on the display without using an operating system graphics pipeline of the user space.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Nathan M Connell, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L Flowers, Jared S Suttles, Joseph Swantek, Haitang Wang
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Publication number: 20170221451Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying always-on content on a display of a mobile device allow the device to use a low power processor for certain always-on content and to coordinate with the device application processor for the remaining always-on content. In an embodiment, a pixel row-skip pattern is specified by the low power processor based on the display screen's resolution setting as well as ambient light conditions. In a further embodiment, the execution of pixel rendering in keeping with the prescribed pattern is synchronized between the device's low power processor and main application processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Nathan M. Connell, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L. Flowers
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Patent number: 9640100Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying always-on content on a display of a mobile device allow the device to use a low power processor for certain always-on content and to coordinate with the device application processor for the remaining always-on content. In an embodiment, a pixel row-skip pattern is specified by the low power processor based on the display screen's resolution setting as well as ambient light conditions. In a further embodiment, the execution of pixel rendering in keeping with the prescribed pattern is synchronized between the device's low power processor and main application processor.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Nathan M. Connell, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L. Flowers
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Patent number: 9436970Abstract: In embodiments of display co-processing, a computing device includes a display, a full-power processor, and a low-power processor that can alter visual content presented by the display without utilizing the full-power processor. The low-power processor can, responsive to a request from the full-power processor, generate additional display data to update display data stored in a frame-buffer of the display. The low-power processor can then transmit the additional display data to the frame-buffer effective to alter at least a portion of the visual content presented by the display. In some embodiments, the additional display data is transmitted via a protocol converter that forwards the display data to the display using a display-specific communication protocol.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Nathan M. Connell, Christian L. Flowers, John W. Kaehler, George B. Standish
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Patent number: 9401130Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2016Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Michael E. Gunn, Nathan M. Connell, Christian L. Flowers, Andrew K. Wells, Long Ling
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Publication number: 20160155426Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2016Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Michael E. Gunn, Nathan M. Connell, Christian L. Flowers, Andrew K. Wells, Long Ling
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Patent number: 9310874Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Michael E Gunn, Nathan M Connell, Christian L Flowers, Andrew K Wells, Long Ling
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Publication number: 20160049106Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying always-on content on a display of a mobile device allow the device to use a low power processor for certain always-on content and to coordinate with the device application processor for the remaining always-on content. In an embodiment, a pixel row-skip pattern is specified by the low power processor based on the display screen's resolution setting as well as ambient light conditions. In a further embodiment, the execution of pixel rendering in keeping with the prescribed pattern is synchronized between the device's low power processor and main application processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2014Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Nathan M. Connell, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L. Flowers
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Patent number: 9223937Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending an authentication timeout period for an electronic device includes a primary processor of the electronic device initiating an authentication timeout period at a timeout initiation time and putting the primary processor into a sleep mode. The method also includes awakening the primary processor from the sleep mode at an expiration time, upon expiration of the authentication timeout period, and determining whether an authentication timeout extending input was detected by an adjunct processor of the electronic device at an input detection time that occurred during the authentication timeout period. The method further includes extending the authentication timeout period to expire at an extended expiration time, which is based on the input detection time, when the authentication timeout extending input was detected by the adjunct processor or locking the electronic device when the authentication timeout extending input was not detected by the adjunct processor.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Christian L Flowers, Michael E Gunn, Jarrett K Simerson, Andrew K Wells
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Patent number: 9152211Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Michael E Gunn, Nathan M Connell, Christian L Flowers, Andrew K Wells, Long Ling
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Publication number: 20150277545Abstract: One disclosed method includes communicating with a kernel running on a primary processor, by a second processor, in response to detection of a state change; performing a hardware operation, in response to the state change, using the kernel without waking user space on the primary processor, where the user space remains suspended; and resuming a sleep mode of the primary processor by suspending the kernel after the hardware operation is completed. One example of a hardware operation is modification of display data on a touchscreen display. The method of operation may perform the hardware operation using the kernel without waking hardware drivers other than a hardware driver related to the hardware operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: Christian L. Flowers, Scott DeBates, Nathan M. Connell, George B. Standish, Jared S. Suttles, Joseph H. Swantek
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Publication number: 20150185815Abstract: One disclosed method includes generating a rule set by an application running on a primary processor. The rule set specifies how the application handles events. The rule set is sent from the primary processor to a secondary processor and the primary processor is placed in sleep mode. The secondary processor may then handle at least one event corresponding to the application by executing the rule set while the primary processor is in sleep mode. In one embodiment, handling the event may include substituting for the application by the secondary processor by executing the rule set, and controlling a peripheral hardware device that is peripheral to the primary processor according to the rule set. Handling an event may also include waking the primary processor from sleep mode by the secondary processor and passing control back to the primary processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Scott P. DeBates, George B. Standish, Nathan M. Connell, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L. Flowers, Jared S. Suttles, Joseph H. Swantek, Haitang Wang
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Publication number: 20150185811Abstract: One disclosed method includes registering a graphics buffer with a kernel running on a first processor, storing the registered graphics buffer in memory initially without drawing the graphics buffer to a display, and passing the registered graphics buffer to a kernel display driver directly to draw the graphics buffer to the display, in response to a trigger. The method may further include informing a second processor of the registered graphics buffer and receiving the trigger by the kernel as a message from the second processor. The first processor may receive the trigger as a wake command from the second processor while the first processor is in sleep mode. A partial resume of the kernel is then performed while preventing activation of user space on the primary processor, and the graphics buffer is drawn on the display without using an operating system graphics pipeline of the user space.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Nathan M. Connell, Parikshit Dharawat, Christian L. Flowers, Jared S. Suttles, Joseph H. Swantek, Haitang Wang
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Publication number: 20150082446Abstract: Methods and apparatus for displaying potentially private information are disclosed. A computing device, that is showing a breathing view on its touch screen display, detects a peek request event, such as a swipe on the display. Before allowing the user to see potentially private information in response to the peek request, the computing device determines if the computing device is currently locked and if an increased privacy setting is enabled. If the computing device is not locked, or the increased privacy setting is not enabled (even though the computing device may be locked), the computing device shows a full peek view (e.g., some or all of the text from a recent text message). However, if the computing device is locked, and the increased privacy setting is enabled, the computing device shows a secure peek view (e.g., the number of new text messages, but no text from the messages).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Christian L. Flowers, Michael E. Gunn