Patents by Inventor Eric Thomas Eaton

Eric Thomas Eaton 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: 9602645
    Abstract: NFC-enabled systems and devices 110, 120, 950, and related methods 1400, for determining the orientation of an NFC-enabled mobile device within a covering 10. The orientation determination may include determining which way each face of an NFC-enabled mobile device 110, 120 is facing in the covering 10, and which end of the NFC-enable device is oriented in which way in the covering, through the use of particular arrangements of at least one NFC device attached to the covering and at least one NFC antenna of the NFC-enabled mobile device. By determining the orientation of the NFC-enabled device within the covering, the NFC-enabled device may then be configured for executing a particular command, such as to optimize some aspect of the NFC-enabled device based on the device orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Eaton, David Jeffery Hayes
  • Patent number: 9479550
    Abstract: A communication system (10) comprises a plurality of clients (12) including a first client (18) and a second client (20). Within the communication system (10), continuity of one or more of a plurality of broadcast events (14) is provided between the plurality of clients (12). The first client (18) monitors a broadcast event (34). Thereafter, the second client (20) launches monitoring of the broadcast event (34) in response to an occurrence associated with the broadcast event (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: David Jeffery Hayes, Eric Thomas Eaton, Von Alan Mock
  • Patent number: 9419444
    Abstract: A power source device and a power charge device interoperate according to a wireless charging protocol. The power source device inductively wirelessly transmits charging energy signal via an inductive wireless power transmitting circuit. The power charge device wirelessly receives the inductively wirelessly transmitted charging energy signal via an inductive wireless power receiving circuit. The power charge device transfers wirelessly received charging energy signal to a re-chargeable battery of the power charge device. In response to determining that the power source device and the power charge device are in a charging arrangement, the power source device controls user access to a lockable user interface based on receiving information from the power charge device and can display messages received by the power charge device from a wireless communication network. The power source device can include a personal computing system and the power charge device can include a mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Eric Thomas Eaton
  • Publication number: 20160226585
    Abstract: In one aspect, described herein is a computing device comprising a light emitting unit; and a controller communicatively coupled to the light emitting unit, the controller being configured to: apply an encoding to data, using at least one device identifier; generate a plurality of color identifiers by applying a color mapping to the data, wherein each color identifier is associated with one of a plurality of color values; and transmit, via the light emitting unit of the computing device, at least one light signal based on the plurality of color identifiers. In one embodiment, the at least one device identifier comprises at least one of the following: at least one identifier of the computing device that is unique to the computing device, or at least one identifier of a recipient device that is unique to the recipient device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Salvador SIBECAS, Eric Thomas EATON, Dalier RAMIREZ, Jon Stacey MILLER, Jaime DIAZ
  • Patent number: 9319855
    Abstract: A personal computing system and a mobile phone interoperate according to a wireless charging protocol while in a charging arrangement. The personal computing system can wirelessly charge a power source of the mobile phone. The personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a communication system. A server communicatively coupled to a first network and a wireless communication network can inhibit in the wireless communication network transmission of messages destined for reception by one of the personal computing system and the mobile phone, in response to determining that the personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a charging arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Eric Thomas Eaton
  • Publication number: 20140342663
    Abstract: NFC-enabled systems and devices 110, 120, 950, and related methods 1400, for determining the orientation of an NFC-enabled mobile device within a covering 10. The orientation determination may include determining which way each face of an NFC-enabled mobile device 110, 120 is facing in the covering 10, and which end of the NFC-enable device is oriented in which way in the covering, through the use of particular arrangements of at least one NFC device attached to the covering and at least one NFC antenna of the NFC-enabled mobile device. By determining the orientation of the NFC-enabled device within the covering, the NFC-enabled device may then be configured for executing a particular command, such as to optimize some aspect of the NFC-enabled device based on the device orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Thomas EATON, David Jeffery HAYES
  • Patent number: 8829847
    Abstract: A power management method with a portable electronic device (100) includes identifying, with a controller (202) of the portable electronic device, a power consumption event in the portable electronic device, the power consumption event having a power consumption requirement. The method further includes selecting (818), in response to the identifying, one of a collection of energy storage devices (304, 306, 308, 320) in an energy storage device farm (218) for the portable electronic device, the selecting being based at least on the power consumption requirement of the power consumption event and on one or more characteristics of the one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device executes the power consumption event using energy stored in the selected one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device (100) may be a mobile phone or other wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Eaton, Dusan Veselic, Jeffrey Charles Bos
  • Publication number: 20140156772
    Abstract: A personal computing system and a mobile phone interoperate according to a wireless charging protocol while in a charging arrangement. The personal computing system can wirelessly charge a power source of the mobile phone. The personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a communication system. A server communicatively coupled to a first network and a wireless communication network can inhibit in the wireless communication network transmission of messages destined for reception by one of the personal computing system and the mobile phone, in response to determining that the personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a charging arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventor: Eric Thomas EATON
  • Patent number: 8645481
    Abstract: A personal computing system and a mobile phone interoperate according to a wireless charging protocol while in a charging arrangement. The personal computing system can wirelessly charge a power source of the mobile phone. The personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a communication system. A server communicatively coupled to a first network and a wireless communication network can inhibit in the wireless communication network transmission of messages destined for reception by one of the personal computing system and the mobile phone, in response to determining that the personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a charging arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Eric Thomas Eaton
  • Publication number: 20130235245
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel device and method to manage displays in a device with a camera. In one example, a first display is on a first side of the wireless device and a second display along with a camera is on the second side of the device. A facial detector detects a presence of a human face in an image captured by the camera. A power control circuit turns on the first display and/or second display in response to receiving a signal from the facial detector that a human face is detected. In a further example, a matching algorithm is used to determine if the human face in front of the camera matches a previously stored human face. In response to a match being found, an image associated with the previous stored human face is presented on the second display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Thomas EATON, David Jeffrey HAYES, Martin Earl HOLMAN, IV
  • Patent number: 8509861
    Abstract: A power management method with a portable electronic device (100) includes identifying, with a controller (202) of the portable electronic device, a power consumption event in the portable electronic device, the power consumption event having a power consumption requirement. The method further includes selecting (818), in response to the identifying, one of a collection of energy storage devices (304, 306, 308, 320) in an energy storage device farm (218) for the portable electronic device, the selecting being based at least on the power consumption requirement of the power consumption event and on one or more characteristics of the one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device executes the power consumption event using energy stored in the selected one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device (100) may be a mobile phone or other wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Eaton, Dusan Veselic, Jeffrey Charles Bos
  • Publication number: 20130201305
    Abstract: The described examples provide a method and system to divide a main screen on a wireless device into two or more logical screens or regions. Each region is capable of presenting its own multimedia data or content without user intervention. In one example, the audio signal for a desired multimedia data is sent via wireless connections, such as Bluetooth® or other wireless personal area networks (WPAN), to each user. The described examples enable multiple content viewing on a single wireless device. Also described are eyeglasses capable of selecting which audio stream to receive based on a user's gaze position to the display that has been divided into multiple regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Salvador SIBECAS, Eric Thomas EATON
  • Publication number: 20130169545
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device has two or more displays and sensors operative to indicate the handheld electronic device has been rotated, turned, or flipped so that a first display originally being viewed by a user is now facing away from a user. The processor changes displayed information of the newly displayed content on a second display based upon information displayed in the first display. When the handheld electronic device is returned to its original orientation, previously displayed content on the first display is restored or resumed, or is modified based on information entered in the second display just viewed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Thomas EATON, David Jeffery HAYES, Martin Earl HOLMAN, IV
  • Publication number: 20130134923
    Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, for providing charging energy to a portable power supply, sourced at the portable power supply of another portable electronic device. The portable electronic devices are arranged in a charging configuration in which the portable electronic device from which energy is to be sourced is coupled to the portable electronic device to which the charging energy is to be applied. A controller controls the charging operations to ensure that energy of a host portable power supply is not depleted beyond a minimum level, and the application of the charging energy is terminated when a recipient portable power supply is charged to a desired level or the host portable power supply is depleted to the minimum level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Gregory Smith, Michael Joseph DeLuca, James Abraham Keane, Ryan Alexander Geris, Scott Leonard Dill, Henry Yao-Tsu Chen, Eric Thomas Eaton, Jeffrey Charles Bos, Dusan Veselic
  • Publication number: 20130106341
    Abstract: A power management method with a portable electronic device (100) includes identifying, with a controller (202) of the portable electronic device, a power consumption event in the portable electronic device, the power consumption event having a power consumption requirement. The method further includes selecting (818), in response to the identifying, one of a collection of energy storage devices (304, 306, 308, 320) in an energy storage device farm (218) for the portable electronic device, the selecting being based at least on the power consumption requirement of the power consumption event and on one or more characteristics of the one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device executes the power consumption event using energy stored in the selected one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device (100) may be a mobile phone or other wireless communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Thomas EATON, Dusan VESELIC, Jeffrey Charles BOS
  • Publication number: 20130109443
    Abstract: A power management method with a portable electronic device (100) includes identifying, with a controller (202) of the portable electronic device, a power consumption event in the portable electronic device, the power consumption event having a power consumption requirement. The method further includes selecting (818), in response to the identifying, one of a collection of energy storage devices (304, 306, 308, 320) in an energy storage device farm (218) for the portable electronic device, the selecting being based at least on the power consumption requirement of the power consumption event and on one or more characteristics of the one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device executes the power consumption event using energy stored in the selected one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device (100) may be a mobile phone or other wireless communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Thomas EATON, Dusan VESELIC, Jeffrey Charles BOS
  • Publication number: 20130088192
    Abstract: A power source device and a power charge device interoperate according to a wireless charging protocol. The power source device inductively wirelessly transmits charging energy signal via an inductive wireless power transmitting circuit. The power charge device wirelessly receives the inductively wirelessly transmitted charging energy signal via an inductive wireless power receiving circuit. The power charge device transfers wirelessly received charging energy signal to a re-chargeable battery of the power charge device. In response to determining that the power source device and the power charge device are in a charging arrangement, the power source device controls user access to a lockable user interface based on receiving information from the power charge device and can display messages received by the power charge device from a wireless communication network. The power source device can include a personal computing system and the power charge device can include a mobile phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventor: Eric Thomas EATON
  • Publication number: 20130091225
    Abstract: A personal computing system and a mobile phone interoperate according to a wireless charging protocol while in a charging arrangement. The personal computing system can wirelessly charge a power source of the mobile phone. The personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a communication system. A server communicatively coupled to a first network and a wireless communication network can inhibit in the wireless communication network transmission of messages destined for reception by one of the personal computing system and the mobile phone, in response to determining that the personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a charging arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventor: Eric Thomas EATON
  • Publication number: 20120246294
    Abstract: The disclosure recites a system and method for selecting a client device for a server device managing communications for a wireless network. The method comprises: identifying a set of wireless devices that are communicating in the network; and identifying a set of client of devices in the set of wireless devices to communicate with the network through the server device by evaluating network communication characteristics of members in the set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Eaton, Salvador Sibecas, Viral Rajnibhai Shah
  • Patent number: 7676583
    Abstract: An online communication system (10) includes a plurality of remote session clients (12) and one or more online servers (14). The online communication system (10) provides continuity of an online session (80) between a server (14) and one of the remote session clients (12). A first session client (18) participates in the online session (80), including receiving and accumulating a plurality of session information (182) for the online session (80). The first session client (18) initiates a transfer of the session information (182) to a second session client (20) to enable the second session client (20) to seamlessly continue the online session (80) in place of the first session client (18) after the transfer of the session information (182).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Eaton, Von Alan Mock, David Jeffery Hayes