Patents by Inventor Christopher Blumenberg
Christopher Blumenberg 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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Publication number: 20190122432Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a map tool displaying a three-dimensional view of a map based on a three-dimensional model of the surrounding environment. The three-dimensional map view of a map may be based on a model constructed from multiple data sets, where the multiple data sets include mapping information for an overlapping area of the map displayed in the map view. For example, one data set may include two-dimensional data including object footprints, where the object footprints may be extruded into a three-dimensional object based on data from a data set composed of three-dimensional data. In this example, the three-dimensional data may include height information that corresponds to the two-dimensional object, where the height may be obtained by correlating the location of the two-dimensional object within the three-dimensional data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: James A. Howard, Christopher Blumenberg
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Patent number: 10228824Abstract: A portable multifunction device includes a touch screen display, and one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors. The one or more programs including instructions for displaying an application, wherein the application includes a plurality of input elements that include a respective user input element. Detecting a first input that corresponds to selection of the respective user input element. In response to detecting the first input, enlarging the respective input element, and displaying an input interface for selecting input for the respective user input element, wherein the input interface includes a plurality of text input choices. While displaying the input interface, detecting a second input that corresponds to selection of a respective text input choice of the plurality of text input choices. After detecting the second input, using text that corresponds to the respective text input choice as input for the respective user input element.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Francisco Ryan Tolmasky, Richard Williamson, Patricia J. Coleman, Christopher Blumenberg, Corbin Robert Dunn, Stephen O. Lemay, Marcel Van Os
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Publication number: 20190057670Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to dynamically generate map textures. A client device may obtain map data, which may include one or more shapes described by vector graphics data. Along with the one or more shapes, embodiments may include texture indicators linked to the one or more shapes. Embodiments may render the map data. For one or more shapes, a texture definition may be obtained. Based on the texture definition, a client device may dynamically generate a texture for the shape. The texture may then be applied to the shape to render a current fill portion of the shape. In some embodiments the render map view is displayed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Marcel Van Os, Patrick S. Piemonte, Billy P. Chen, Christopher Blumenberg
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Patent number: 10175876Abstract: At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure include an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application to provide gesture operations for a display of a device. A method for operating through an application programming interface (API) in this environment includes transferring a scaling transform call. The gesture operations include performing a scaling transform such as a zoom in or zoom out in response to a user input having two or more input points. The gesture operations also include performing a rotation transform to rotate an image or view in response to a user input having two or more input points.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventor: Christopher Blumenberg
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Patent number: 10176633Abstract: An integrated map and navigation program is described. The program provides a first operational mode for browsing and searching a map. The program provides a second operational mode for providing a navigation presentation that provides a set of navigation directions along a navigated route by reference to the map.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2012Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Bradford A. Moore, Marcel van Os, Christopher Blumenberg, Brady A. Law, Emanuele Vulcano, Jonathan Koch, Richard J. Williamson
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Patent number: 10170084Abstract: A navigation application can generate and display a composite representation of multiple POIs when POI icons representing the POIs appear to be overlapping. Some embodiments display the composite representation when a certain zoom level is reached for a map including the multiple POI icons. In some embodiments, the navigation application can determine POIs that may be of interest to the user based on the user's attributes and activity history and generate the composite representation based on those attributes. The composite representation can include multiple POI icons that are displayed adjacent to each other such that a user of the navigation application can readily identify POIs that are likely to be of interest to the user within a region.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2018Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher Blumenberg, Marcel Van Os, Mikio Inose
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Patent number: 10163260Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a map tool displaying a three-dimensional view of a map based on a three-dimensional model of the surrounding environment. The three-dimensional map view of a map may be based on a model constructed from multiple data sets, where the multiple data sets include mapping information for an overlapping area of the map displayed in the map view. For example, one data set may include two-dimensional data including object footprints, where the object footprints may be extruded into a three-dimensional object based on data from a data set composed of three-dimensional data. In this example, the three-dimensional data may include height information that corresponds to the two-dimensional object, where the height may be obtained by correlating the location of the two-dimensional object within the three-dimensional data.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Apple, Inc.Inventors: James A. Howard, Christopher Blumenberg
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Publication number: 20180348005Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a navigation application that allows a user to peek ahead or behind during a turn-by-turn navigation presentation that the application provides while tracking a device (e.g., a mobile device, a vehicle, etc.) traversal of a physical route. As the device traverses along the physical route, the navigation application generates a navigation presentation that shows a representation of the device on a map traversing along a virtual route that represents the physical route on the map. While providing the navigation presentation, the navigation application can receive user input to look ahead or behind along the virtual route. Based on the user input, the navigation application moves the navigation presentation to show locations on the virtual route that are ahead or behind the displayed current location of the device on the virtual route. This movement can cause the device representation to no longer be visible in the navigation presentation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher D. Moore, Christopher Blumenberg, Marcel van Os, Billy P. Chen
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Patent number: 10109082Abstract: Embodiments may include receiving signal strength information reported by multiple client communication devices. The signal strength information reported by a given client device may indicate one or more locations detected by the given client device. The signal strength information may also indicate, for each location, a respective measure of signal strength for a communication signal detected at that location by the client device. Embodiments may also include generating a signal strength map for a region based on the client-reported signal strength information. Generating the signal strength map may include, for each location of multiple locations within the region, generating an expected signal strength value for that location based on an evaluation of the signal strength information received for that location. The generation of the signal strength map for the region may also be based on the expected signal strength values for the locations within the region.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Seejo K. Pylappan, Christopher Blumenberg
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Patent number: 10109255Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to dynamically generate map textures. A client device may obtain map data, which may include one or more shapes described by vector graphics data. Along with the one or more shapes, embodiments may include texture indicators linked to the one or more shapes. Embodiments may render the map data. For one or more shapes, a texture definition may be obtained. Based on the texture definition, a client device may dynamically generate a texture for the shape. The texture may then be applied to the shape to render a current fill portion of the shape. In some embodiments the render map view is displayed.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Marcel Van Os, Patrick S. Piemonte, Billy P. Chen, Christopher Blumenberg
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Patent number: 10048085Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a navigation application that allows a user to peek ahead or behind during a turn-by-turn navigation presentation that the application provides while tracking a device (e.g., a mobile device, a vehicle, etc.) traversal of a physical route. As the device traverses along the physical route, the navigation application generates a navigation presentation that shows a representation of the device on a map traversing along a virtual route that represents the physical route on the map. While providing the navigation presentation, the navigation application can receive user input to look ahead or behind along the virtual route. Based on the user input, the navigation application moves the navigation presentation to show locations on the virtual route that are ahead or behind the displayed current location of the device on the virtual route. This movement can cause the device representation to no longer be visible in the navigation presentation.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher D. Moore, Christopher Blumenberg, Marcel van Os, Billy P. Chen
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Publication number: 20180211295Abstract: The present technology provides a purchasing interface within an application that allows users to purchase a product from another source without leaving the application. The application offers a product for purchase, and a user, desiring to purchase the product can provide an input effective to cause a purchasing interface to be displayed. While the purchasing interface, or information presented therein, comes from the product source, which is different than the application source, it is presented in such a fashion that gives the impression to the user that they are purchasing the product directly from the application.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: James Alexander Howard, William Bedford Turner, Christopher Blumenberg, Richard Williamson
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Publication number: 20180211636Abstract: An improve navigation application can generate and display a composite representation of multiple POIs when POI icons representing the POIs appear to be overlapping. Some embodiments display the composite representation when a certain zoom level is reached for a map including the multiple POI icons. In some embodiments, the navigation application can determine POIs that may be of interest to the user based on the user's attributes and activity history and generate the composite representation based on those attributes. The composite representation can include multiple POI icons that are displayed adjacent to each other such that a user of the navigation application can readily identify POIs that are likely to be of interest to the user within a region.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Christopher Blumenberg, Marcel Van Os, Mikio Inose
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Patent number: 10001383Abstract: Some embodiments provide a device that automatically orients and displays a map of a region according to the natural viewing orientation of the map. In some embodiments, the device examines data associated with the map to determine whether it can identify a natural viewing orientation of the map that differs from the geographic orientation of the map. When the device is able to identify such a natural viewing orientation, it displays the map according to this natural viewing orientation instead of the geographic orientation of the map. On the other hand, when the device is not able to identify a natural viewing orientation that differs from the geographic orientation, the device displays the map according to its geographic orientation. In some embodiments, the geographic orientation of the map is north-up orientation (where north is up (e.g., top center of the page), south is down, west is left, and east is right).Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Christopher Blumenberg
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Patent number: 9922354Abstract: The present technology provides a purchasing interface within an application that allows users to purchase a product from another source without leaving the application. The application offers a product for purchase, and a user, desiring to purchase the product can provide an input effective to cause a purchasing interface to be displayed. While the purchasing interface, or information presented therein, comes from the product source, which is different than the application source, it is presented in such a fashion that gives the impression to the user that they are purchasing the product directly from the application.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2010Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James Alexander Howard, William Bedford Turner, Christopher Blumenberg, Richard Williamson
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Patent number: 9911400Abstract: An improve navigation application can generate and display a composite representation of multiple POIs when POI icons representing the POIs appear to be overlapping. Some embodiments display the composite representation when a certain zoom level is reached for a map including the multiple POI icons. In some embodiments, the navigation application can determine POIs that may be of interest to the user based on the user's attributes and activity history and generate the composite representation based on those attributes. The composite representation can include multiple POI icons that are displayed adjacent to each other such that a user of the navigation application can readily identify POIs that are likely to be of interest to the user within a region.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher Blumenberg, Marcel Van Os, Mikio Inose
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Publication number: 20170350703Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel prediction engine that (1) can formulate predictions about current or future destinations and/or routes to such destinations for a user, and (2) can relay information to the user about these predictions. In some embodiments, this engine includes a machine-learning engine that facilitates the formulation of predicted future destinations and/or future routes to destinations based on stored, user-specific data. The user-specific data is different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the stored, user-specific data includes data about any combination of the following: (1) previous destinations traveled to by the user, (2) previous routes taken by the user, (3) locations of calendared events in the user's calendar, (4) locations of events for which the user has electronic tickets, and (5) addresses parsed from recent e-mails and/or messages sent to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2017Publication date: December 7, 2017Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christine B. McGavran, Bradford A. Moore, Gregory D. Bolsinga, Christopher Blumenberg, Seejo K. Pylappan, Marcel van Os
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Publication number: 20170268888Abstract: Embodiments may include determining a navigation route between an origination and a destination; the route may span multiple portions of a map. Embodiments may also include receiving an order of priority in which to receive the multiple portions of the map; the order may be generated based on distinct levels of expected signal strength for each of the multiple portions. For instance, within the order of priority, map portions associated with areas of low signal strength may be ranked higher than areas of higher signal strength. Embodiments may also include acquiring at least some of the portions of the map according to the order of priority, and generating a map display comprising the multiple portions of the map. For instance, map portions associated with areas of poor reception may be downloaded first whereas map portions associated with strong signal strength may be downloaded on-the-fly during route navigation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher Blumenberg, Seejo K. Pylappan
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Publication number: 20170254661Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a navigation application that allows a user to peek ahead or behind during a turn-by-turn navigation presentation that the application provides while tracking a device (e.g., a mobile device, a vehicle, etc.) traversal of a physical route. As the device traverses along the physical route, the navigation application generates a navigation presentation that shows a representation of the device on a map traversing along a virtual route that represents the physical route on the map. While providing the navigation presentation, the navigation application can receive user input to look ahead or behind along the virtual route. Based on the user input, the navigation application moves the navigation presentation to show locations on the virtual route that are ahead or behind the displayed current location of the device on the virtual route. This movement can cause the device representation to no longer be visible in the navigation presentation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Christopher D. Moore, Christopher Blumenberg, Marcel van Os, Billy P. Chen
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Patent number: 9756172Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an environment analysis tool on a mobile device which may construct a model of the surrounding environment in order to determine whether or not characteristics of the model implicate a degradation in wireless signal quality. In response to an analysis of the constructed model to determine signal quality, the environment analysis tool may alter the behavior of any number of hardware or software functions to avoid or reduce efforts to receive or use the affected signal over the duration of the mobile device's presence within the environment with the signal-degrading characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Patrick S. Piemonte, Billy P. Chen, Christopher Blumenberg