Patents by Inventor Edward H. Frank
Edward H. Frank 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: 6384840Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) is provided and is coupled to a display for displaying graphic and other data in multiple overlapping windows. The CPU is further coupled to one or more input devices which permits a user to selectively position a cursor and input and manipulate data within each of the windows on the display. The windows include defined areas having window features such as text, icons and buttons corresponding to functions to be executed by the CPU. Multiple applications may be executed concurrently by the CPU such that each application is associated with one or more windows. Each display element (“pixel”) comprising the display is represented by multiple bits in a computer frame buffer memory coupled to the CPU. An alpha value (&agr;) is associated with the intensity of each pixel of the display, such that multiple images may be blended in accordance with a predefined formula utilizing the alpha values.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1999Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Edward H. Frank, Patrick J. Naughton, James Arthur Gosling, John C. Liu
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Patent number: 6344861Abstract: An intuitive graphical user interface is based upon a geographic map structure, and includes a system for controlling remote external electronic devices. In the defined graphical user interface, each Space of the geographic map structure is rendered on a touch screen display as a graphic image of a geographic space. Within each Space are colored cartoon-like icons called “objects” which can be Selected and manipulated by the user. Certain objects, referred to as portals, transport the user from one Space to another Space when Selected. Other objects, referred to as buttons, perform associated actions or functions when Selected. The graphical user interface is displayed on a hand-held display device used to control remote devices. Each remote electronic device transmits a user interface program object that defines a graphical user interface to the display device.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2000Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Naughton, Charles H. Clanton, III, James A. Gosling, Chris Warth, Joseph M. Palrang, Edward H. Frank, David A. La Valle, R. Michael Sheridan
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Publication number: 20020012343Abstract: A method and signal therfor embodied in a carrier wave for sending information from transmit stations to receive stations over a transmission medium of a frame-based communications network. The information is sent in transmit frames having a frame format comprising a fixed rate header, followed by a variable rate payload, followed by a fixed rate trailer. The fixed rate header includes a preamble. The preamble has a repetition of four symbol sequences for facilitating power estimation, gain control, baud frequency offset estimation, equalizer training, carrier sensing and collision detection. The preamble also includes a frame control field.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2001Publication date: January 31, 2002Inventors: John T. Holloway, Edward H. Frank, Eric Ojard, Jason Alexander Trachewsky, Tracy D. Mallory, Henry S. Ptasinski, Raymond Hayes, Kevin H. Peterson, Larry C. Yamano, Alan Corry, Jay Pattin
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Patent number: 6304596Abstract: A modem and method for operating same. A receiver circuit of the modem is coupled to receive a continuous analog signal from a communication channel. This analog signal includes both packet and idle information. The receiver circuit monitors the analog signal to detect the presence of idle information. Upon detecting idle information, the receiver circuit enters a standby mode in which the processing requirements of the receiver circuit are reduced. A burst mode protocol is also provided, in which packets of digital information are modulated by a transmitter circuit of the modem, thereby converting the packets of digital information into analog signal bursts of discrete duration. These analog signal bursts are transmitted from the transmitter circuit to a telephone line. However, the transmitter circuit does not generate any signals between the analog signal bursts. A receiver circuit monitors the telephone line to detect the analog signal bursts.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1999Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Broadcom Homenetworking, Inc.Inventors: Larry C. Yamano, John T. Holloway, Edward H. Frank, Tracy D. Mallory, Alan G. Corry, Craig S. Forrest, Kevin H. Peterson, Timothy B. Robinson, Dane Snow
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Publication number: 20010012338Abstract: An in-home network which includes a telephone line and a plurality of consumer electronic devices coupled to the telephone line. Each of the consumer electronic devices is assigned a unique address, such that each of the consumer electronics devices is individually addressable via the telephone line. The consumer electronic devices communicate using a packet-based protocol, wherein each of the consumer electronic devices transmits analog signal bursts on telephone line. Each of the consumer electronic devices can include a wireless signal receiver, such that a first consumer electronic device can receive control information from a remote control, and then control the operation of a second consumer electronic device by transmitting the control information to the second consumer electronic device via the telephone line.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 1999Publication date: August 9, 2001Inventors: EDWARD H. FRANK, JOHN T. HOLLOWAY
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Patent number: 6266350Abstract: A network interface is presented that receives packet data from a shared medium and accomplishes the signal processing required to convert the data packet to host computer formatted data separately from receiving the data packet. The network interface receives the data packet, converts the analog signal to a digitized signal, and stores the resulting sample packet in a storage queue. An off-line processor, which may be the host computer itself, performs the signal processing required to interpret the sample packet. In transmission, the off-line process converts host-formatted data to a digitized version of a transmission data packet and stores that in a transmission queue. A transmitter converts the transmission data packet format and transmits the data to the shared medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2000Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: Broadcom HomeNetworking, Inc.Inventors: Eric Ojard, Jason Trachewsky, John T. Holloway, Edward H. Frank, Kevin H. Peterson
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Patent number: 6184890Abstract: The graphics applications of a 2-D graphics computer system provide each object to be rendered on a 2-D raster display with a pair of rendering reference coordinates (x and y), and a relative depth value (z). Additionally, the computer system is provided with a library of predetermined 2-D images and sounds, and a number of graphics toolkit routines. As the user “moves”, the graphics toolkit routines render selected ones of the predetermined images based on x/z and y/z values of recomputed x and y rendering coordinates and the relative depth value z of the objects, and actuate the sounds if applicable based on their predetermined manners of rendering. As a result, the objects that are further away from the user will move slower than the objects that are closer to the user, thereby introducing the effect of parallax and added realism to the 2-D graphics computer system at a substantially lower cost.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1998Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Naughton, Edward H. Frank
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Patent number: 6160551Abstract: An intuitive graphical user interface is based upon a geographic map structure, and includes a system for controlling remote external electronic devices. In the defined graphical user interface, each space of the geographic map structure is rendered on a touch screen display as a graphic image of a geographic space. Within each space are colored cartoon-like icons called "objects" which can be selected and manipulated by the user. Certain objects, referred to as portals, transport the user from one space to another space when Selected. Other objects, referred to as buttons, perform associated actions or functions when Selected. The graphical user interface is displayed on a hand-held display device used to control remote devices. Each remote electronic device transmits a user interface program object that defines a graphical user interface to the display device.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1995Date of Patent: December 12, 2000Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Naughton, Charles H. Clanton, III, James A. Gosling, Chris Warth, Joseph M. Palrang, Edward H. Frank, David A. LaVallee, R. Michael Sheridan
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Patent number: 6154209Abstract: An intuitive graphical user interface is based upon a geographic map structure, and includes a system for controlling remote external electronic devices. In the defined graphical user interface, each space of the geographic map structure is rendered on a touch screen display as a graphic image of a geographic space. Within each space are colored cartoon-like icons called "objects" which can be selected and manipulated by the user. Certain objects, referred to as portals, transport the user from one space to another space when Selected. Other objects, referred to as buttons, perform associated actions or functions when Selected. The graphical user interface is displayed on a hand-held display device used to control remote devices. Each remote electronic device transmits a user interface program object that defines a graphical user interface to the display device.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1999Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Naughton, Charles H. Clanton, III, James A. Gosling, Chris Warth, Joseph M. Palrang, Edward H. Frank, David A. LaValle, R. Michael Sheridan
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Patent number: 6130894Abstract: A network interface is presented that receives packet data from a shared medium and accomplishes the signal processing required to convert the data packet to host computer formatted data separately from receiving the data packet. The network interface receives the data packet, converts the analog signal to a digitized signal, and stores the resulting sample packet in a storage queue. An off-line processor, which may be the host computer itself, performs the signal processing required to interpret the sample packet. In transmission, the off-line process converts host-formatted data to a digitized version of a transmission data packet and stores that in a transmission queue. A transmitter converts the transmission data packet format and transmits the data to the shared medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1998Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: Broadcom Homenetworking, Inc.Inventors: Eric Ojard, Jason Trachewsky, John T. Holloway, Edward H. Frank, Kevin H. Peterson
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Patent number: 6075814Abstract: A modem and method for operating same. A receiver circuit of the modem is coupled to receive a continuous analog signal from a communication channel. This analog signal includes both packet and idle information. The receiver circuit monitors the analog signal to detect the presence of idle information. Upon detecting idle information, the receiver circuit enters a standby mode in which the processing requirements of the receiver circuit are reduced. A burst mode protocol is also provided, in which packets of digital information are modulated by a transmitter circuit of the modem, thereby converting the packets of digital information into analog signal bursts of discrete duration. These analog signal bursts are transmitted from the transmitter circuit to a telephone line. However, the transmitter circuit does not generate any signals between the analog signal bursts. A receiver circuit monitors the telephone line to detect the analog signal bursts.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1997Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: Broadcom HomeNetworking, Inc.Inventors: Larry C. Yamano, John T. Holloway, Edward H. Frank, Tracy D. Mallory, Alan G. Corry, Craig S. Forrest, Kevin H. Peterson, Timothy B. Robinson, Dane Snow
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Patent number: 6026150Abstract: An in-home network which includes a telephone line and a plurality of consumer electronic devices coupled to the telephone line. Each of the consumer electronic devices is assigned a unique address, such that each of the consumer electronics devices is individually addressable via the telephone line. The consumer electronic devices communicate using a packet-based protocol, wherein each of the consumer electronic devices transmits analog signal bursts on telephone line. Each of the consumer electronic devices can include a wireless signal receiver, such that a first consumer electronic device can receive control information from a remote control, and then control the operation of a second consumer electronic device by transmitting the control information to the second consumer electronic device via the telephone line.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1997Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Assignee: EpigramInventors: Edward H. Frank, John T. Holloway
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Patent number: 6020881Abstract: An intuitive graphical user interface is based upon a geographic map structure, and includes a system for controlling remote external electronic devices. In the defined graphical user interface, each Space of the geographic map structure is rendered on a touch screen display as a graphic image of a geographic space. Within each Space are colored cartoon-like icons called "objects" which can be Selected and manipulated by the user. Certain objects, referred to as portals, transport the user from one Space to another Space when Selected. Other objects, referred to as buttons, perform associated actions or functions when Selected. The graphical user interface is displayed on a hand-held display device used to control remote devices. Each remote electronic device transmits a user interface program object that defines a graphical user interface to the display device.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1997Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: Sun MicrosystemsInventors: Patrick J. Naughton, Charles H. Clayton, III, James A. Gosling, Chris Warth, Joseph M. Palrang, Edward H. Frank, David A. LaValle, R. Michael Sheridan
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Patent number: 5999191Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) is provided and is coupled to a display for displaying graphic and other data in multiple overlapping windows. The CPU is further coupled to one or more input devices which permits a user to selectively position a cursor and input and manipulate data within each of the windows on the display. The windows include defined areas having window features such as text, icons and buttons corresponding to functions to be executed by the CPU. Multiple applications may be executed concurrently by the CPU such that each application is associated with one or more windows. Each display element ("pixel") comprising the display is represented by multiple bits in a computer frame buffer memory coupled to the CPU. An alpha value (.alpha.) is associated with the intensity of each pixel of the display, such that multiple images may be blended in accordance with a predefined formula utilizing the alpha values.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1996Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Sun Microsystems, IncInventors: Edward H. Frank, Patrick J. Naughton, James Arthur Gosling, John C. Liu
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Patent number: 5995106Abstract: An intuitive graphical user interface is based upon a geographic map structure, and includes a system for controlling remote external electronic devices. In the defined graphical user interface, each space of the geographic map structure is rendered on a touch screen display as a graphic image of a geographic space. Within each space are colored cartoon-like icons called "objects" which can be selected and manipulated by the user. Certain objects, referred to as portals, transport the user from one space to another space when Selected. Other objects, referred to as buttons, perform associated actions or functions when Selected. The graphical user interface is displayed on a hand-held display device used to control remote devices. Each remote electronic device transmits a user interface program object that defines a graphical user interface to the display device.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Naughton, Charles H. Clanton, III, James A. Gosling, Chris Warth, Joseph M. Palrang, Edward H. Frank, David A. LaVallee, R. Michael Sheridan, Jonathan Payne
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Patent number: 5959638Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly copying a first frame region into a second frame region. A video memory array comprising a plurality of video random access memory devices is divided into at least two frame regions. A background image is rendered by a central processing unit into a background frame region within the video memory array. The central processing unit then requests the background image in the background frame region to be copied into a new frame region in the video memory array. A dedicated circuit copies the entire background image in the background frame region into the new frame region. The dedicated circuit operates by using a serial data register within each video random access memory device during the vertical retrace period of a video timing signal. The dedicated circuit performs the background frame copy without requiring any processing resources from the central processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1996Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Craig S. Forrest, Edward H. Frank, Patrick J. Naughton
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Patent number: 5886697Abstract: An intuitive graphical user interface is based upon a geographic map structure, and includes a system for controlling remote external electronic devices. In the defined graphical user interface, each space of the geographic map structure is rendered on a touch screen display as a graphic image of a geographic space. Within each space are colored cartoon-like icons called "objects" which can be selected and manipulated by the user. Certain objects, referred to as portals, transport the user from one space to another space when Selected. Other objects, referred to as buttons, perform associated actions or functions when Selected. The graphical user interface is displayed on a hand-held display device used to control remote devices. Each remote electronic device transmits a user interface program object that defines a graphical user interface to the display device.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1997Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Naughton, Charles H. Clanton, III, James A. Gosling, Chris Warth, Joseph M. Palrang, Edward H. Frank, David A. LaValle, R. Michael Sheridan
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Patent number: 5864343Abstract: The graphics applications of a 2-D graphics computer system provide each object to be rendered on a 2-D raster display with a pair of rendering reference coordinates (x and y), and a relative depth value (z). Additionally, the computer system is provided with a library of predetermined 2-D images and sounds, and a number of graphics toolkit routines. As the user "moves", the graphics toolkit routines render selected ones of the predetermined images based on x/z and y/z values of recomputed x and y rendering coordinates and the relative depth value z of the objects, and actuate the sounds if applicable based on their predetermined manners of rendering. As a result, the objects that are further away from the user will move slower than the objects that are closer to the user, thereby introducing the effect of parallax and added realism to the 2-D graphics computer system at a substantially lower cost.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1996Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Naughton, Edward H. Frank
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Patent number: D439568Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1997Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Naughton, David A. LaVallee, Christopher S. Warth, James Gosling, Edward H. Frank, Michael Sheridan, Joseph M. Palrang
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Patent number: D401922Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Naughton, David A. LaVallee, Christopher S. Warth, James Gosling, Edward H. Frank, R. Michael Sheridan, Joseph M. Palrang