Patents by Inventor Craig S. Skinner

Craig S. Skinner 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: 7434067
    Abstract: A method and system for implementing a security technique enables an electronic device to run controlled test applications. An enabler application sets up specific devices as testing devices by encrypting the serial number of the device and an assigned authorization level and storing these encrypted values on the device. A test application that has controlled attributes is allowed to run on any device that has been correctly enabled with an authorization level that is of an equal or higher value than the authorization level assigned to the test application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: PalmSource, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig S. Skinner
  • Patent number: 7383065
    Abstract: A handheld computer system is disclosed. The handheld computer system includes a housing, a display supported by the housing, and a processor coupled to the display. The handheld computer system also includes a rechargeable battery configured to power the processor and the display. Further, the handheld computer system includes a recharging connector coupled to the rechargeable battery. Further still, the handheld computer system includes a recharger coupled to the recharging connector. Yet further still, the handheld computer system includes a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the processor and powerable by the battery when the battery has a charge above a predetermined low level, the transceiver configured to send and receive data while the battery charge is below the low level and the charger provides charge to the rechargeable battery and to the transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Skinner, David Mai, Edward Joseph Vertatschitsch
  • Publication number: 20070203844
    Abstract: A user sets up an account including radio identification, billing information, etc. via a web-based account creation device, or over the telephone with an account representative. An activation key is provided to the user that identifies the radio device and the users account. An activation screen is displayed to a user at the start of wireless activities. The activation screen requires the activation key before continuing with wireless services. Since the key identifies both the radio and user's account (which was approved prior to provision of the activation key), rejection traffic is eliminated and non-active account traffic is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Gerald Kuhn, Craig S. Skinner
  • Patent number: 7260390
    Abstract: A panel has been provided to a wireless device that turns off all RF capability of the wireless device (including, but not limited to notifications, wireless web clipping, instant messaging, email sending/receiving, phone calls, etc.). The panel is brought up on a screen of the wireless device by pressing a programmed hard button for more than 1 second. Once the RF capability has been turned off, if the user attempts to access a program or other device that requires the RF capabilities, a notification is displayed that identifies the RF capabilities as being disabled and prompts the user whether to continue. If the user continues, the RF device is automatically enabled, otherwise the RF device remains disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Skinner, John Richard Brown, Mindy Chahel, Lisa King
  • Patent number: 7096049
    Abstract: A handheld computer system is disclosed. The handheld computer system includes a housing, a display supported by the housing, and a processor coupled to the display. The handheld computer system also includes a rechargeable battery configured to power the processor and the display. Further, the handheld computer system includes a recharging connector coupled to the rechargeable battery. Further still, the handheld computer system includes a recharger coupled to the recharging connector. Yet further still, the handheld computer system includes a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the processor and powerable by the battery when the battery has a charge above a predetermined low level, the transceiver configured to send and receive data while the battery charge is below the low level and the charger provides charge to the rechargeable battery and to the transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Skinner, David Mai, Edward Joseph Vertatschitsch
  • Patent number: 6901276
    Abstract: A method and system for establishing a wireless connection between a portable computer system and a wireless network, particularly when the portable computer system goes out of coverage and a wireless connection needs to be re-established. The portable computer system has a main processor and a digital signal processor (DSP). The main processor is placed in a low power mode, conserving battery power. When the portable computer system goes out of coverage, broadcast channels used by the wireless network are scanned by the DSP instead of the main processor to identify channels that have sufficient signal strength for the wireless connection. Thus, the main processor remains in the low power mode. When the DSP identifies acceptable channels, it wakes up the main processor and identifies the channels having sufficient signal strength. The main processor then establishes a wireless connection using one of the channels identified by the DSP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: PalmOne, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Skinner, John Brown, William Wong
  • Publication number: 20030013430
    Abstract: A wireless e-mail messaging system is disclosed. The wireless e-mail messaging system includes a communications network. The wireless e-mail messaging system also includes a portable electronic device including a transceiver configured to establish a wireless link to the communications network. The portable electronic device includes a wake mode in which the wireless link is established and messages may be sent and received by the portable electronic device and a sleep mode in which the wireless link is not established and messages may not be sent and received by the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a program to randomly select a time to transition from the sleep mode to the wake mode during a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Skinner, Steven Oliver Elliott, Mindy Chahal
  • Publication number: 20020177473
    Abstract: A handheld computer system is disclosed. The handheld computer system includes a housing, a display supported by the housing, and a processor coupled to the display. The handheld computer system also includes a rechargeable battery configured to power the processor and the display. Further, the handheld computer system includes a recharging connector coupled to the rechargeable battery. Further still, the handheld computer system includes a recharger coupled to the recharging connector. Yet further still, the handheld computer system includes a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the processor and powerable by the battery when the battery has a charge above a predetermined low level, the transceiver configured to send and receive data while the battery charge is below the low level and the charger provides charge to the rechargeable battery and to the transceiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Skinner, David Mai, Edward Joseph Vertatschitsch