Patents by Inventor Douglas Rinckes

Douglas Rinckes 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: 9264857
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a compact code that accurately identifies the position of a point on the Earth or other body are provided. The compact code can signify the position of a place in a manner that is easy to remember, easy to use, and in a way that allows a person to find the location without having to depend on local directions. The compact code can be generated independent of house numbers, street names, zip codes, local character sets and other current addressing tools. The compact code can be used for a variety of applications. For instance, the compact code can be associated with points of interest in a geographic information system, can be used to geolocate information, and/or can be used to navigate to a particular geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Rinckes, Philipp Bunge
  • Patent number: 9110982
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces are provided to receive location tags from a plurality of user devices (a location tag including a location category and a location corresponding to a geographic location of a user device from which the location tag is received), identify a first set of location tags comprising a given location category, determine whether a cluster location exists for locations of the set of location tags, generate a moderation request for a location tag of the set of location tags in response to determining that a cluster location does not exists for locations of the set of location tags, receive moderator approval of the location tag, and store a geographic location corresponding to the location tag as a point of interest associated with the given location category in response to receiving moderator approval of the location tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Martha Welsh, Douglas Rinckes
  • Patent number: 8826192
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for receiving the input of parameter ranges into computing devices. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for accepting user input of a time range into a computing device equipped with a touchscreen. The method includes displaying a time bar on the touchscreen and receiving a touch input ending at a first location and a second touch input ending at a second location. The computing device displays time markers at the first and second locations. The method further includes identifying first and second times corresponding to the first and second locations and a time range including the first and second times. The method further includes receiving a third touch input commencing at one of the time markers and terminating at a third location. The method further includes updating the time marker at the position of the third location and updating the time range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Rinckes
  • Patent number: 8806385
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for receiving the input of parameter ranges for computer applications, adapted to the use of small screen input devices. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for accepting a time range into a computing device equipped with a touchscreen by entering a pair of time markers. The method includes displaying on the touchscreen a time bar having a start pad and a stop region. The device receives a first input starting at the start pad and ending at a first location on the time bar and receives a second input starting at the stop region and ending at a second location. The device displays time markers at the first and second locations. The device identifies first and second times corresponding to the first and second locations. The device identifies and displays a time range based on the first and second times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Rinckes
  • Patent number: 8521128
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces are provided to receive a first location tag from a first user device, the first location tag including a first location category and a first device location of the first user device, receive a second location tag from a second user device, the second location tag including the first location category and a second device location of the second user device, determine that a distance between the first device location and the second device location is less than a distance threshold, and store the first device location as a first point of interest in a points of interest layer in response to determining that the distance is less than the distance threshold, the points of interest layer being associated with the first location category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Martha Welsh, Douglas Rinckes