Patents by Inventor Forbes Holten Norris, III

Forbes Holten Norris, III 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: 11061561
    Abstract: Small virtual screen text editing is improved by a dynamic keyboard with far fewer, but far larger keys, each key representing a predictive partial word completion. The normally static keyboard becomes a keyboard menu, augmenting traditional word completion menus. A reduced key set displays only the most relevant keys, while retaining familiar structural patterns of standard layouts like QWERTY. Condensed layouts can include circular or alternating row menus and alphabetical formats. The apparatus continuously adjusts the number of keys, key sizes/shapes, predictive values and variable layouts to provide the most ergonomic, minimalist keyboard possible at any moment. Keys display normal default values concatenated with supplemental predictive characters; each key represents the longest common building block of likely intended, predicted words derivable from the key's normal default value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Patent number: 11055394
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for password/passcode pattern recognition based authentication on a computer virtual screen, which hides passcodes in plain view, visually camouflaged and disguised in a manner that makes them easily and quickly recognizable only to authorized passcode owners. The user proves recognition by selecting patterns of multi-character passcode fragments, in a specific order, from one or more visually challenging, constantly changing dynamic menus. Myriad selection patterns are possible involving all fragments or subsets of fragments. The invention leverages innate human pattern recognition abilities which are superior to machine computational methods. Fragment selection can involve gestures like touching, tapping, or tracing or drawing of fragment connecting paths, or navigation of spring loaded menus; selection can be also be accomplished by biometric measurement of unconscious user recognition. Passcodes can include graphics and images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Publication number: 20200192567
    Abstract: Text entry with short, incremental, partial word completions improves virtual keyboard efficiency; ergonomics are improved by far fewer, but far larger, more relevant keys, in highly condensed layouts, retaining familiar structural patterns of standard keyboards like QWERTY, and utilizing curved thumb typing formats. The keyboard continuously adjusts numbers of keys, key sizes, predictive values and layouts, to minimize keystrokes and reduce errors, while providing the most ergonomic, minimalist interface possible at any moment, scaling to any size device. Keys display normal default characters but concatenated with supplemental predictive values, each representing the longest common building block shortcut of likely intended words derivable from a key's default value. The most relevant keys can generate larger numbers of highly predicted words, the more relevant, the larger the key; these longer more precise values provide look ahead spelling guidance, reducing misspellings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Publication number: 20200065469
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for password/passcode pattern recognition based authentication on a computer virtual screen, which hides passcodes in plain view, visually camouflaged and disguised in a manner that makes them easily and quickly recognizable only to authorized passcode owners. The user proves recognition by selecting patterns of multi-character passcode fragments, in a specific order, from one or more visually challenging, constantly changing dynamic menus. Myriad selection patterns are possible involving all fragments or subsets of fragments. The invention leverages innate human pattern recognition abilities which are superior to machine computational methods. Fragment selection can involve gestures like touching, tapping, or tracing or drawing of fragment connecting paths, or navigation of spring loaded menus; selection can be also be accomplished by biometric measurement of unconscious user recognition. Passcodes can include graphics and images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Patent number: 10572149
    Abstract: Text entry with short, incremental, partial word completions improves virtual keyboard efficiency; ergonomics are improved by far fewer, but far larger, more relevant keys, in highly condensed layouts, retaining familiar structural patterns of standard keyboards like QWERTY, and utilizing curved thumb typing formats. The keyboard continuously adjusts numbers of keys, key sizes, predictive values and layouts, to minimize keystrokes and reduce errors, while providing the most ergonomic, minimalist interface possible at any moment, scaling to any size device. Keys display normal default characters but concatenated with supplemental predictive values, each representing the longest common building block shortcut of likely intended words derivable from a key's default value. The most relevant keys can generate larger numbers of highly predicted words; the more relevant, the larger the key; these longer more precise values provide look ahead spelling guidance, reducing misspellings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Patent number: 10540492
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for password pattern recognition based authentication on a computer virtual screen, which hides passwords in plain view, visually camouflaged and disguised in a manner that makes them easily and quickly recognizable only to authorized password owners. The user is challenged to recognize multi-character password fragment patterns, and select them in proper order, from one or more visually challenging, constantly changing dynamic menus. The menus display fewer but larger user interface elements, for easier use on small screens, including thumb operation. The invention leverages innate human pattern recognition abilities which are superior to robotic, machine computational methods. Selection can involve methods such as gestures, touching, tapping, drawing connecting lines, and navigation of spring loaded menus. Selection can be also be accomplished by biometric measurement of unconscious user recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Publication number: 20190171357
    Abstract: Small virtual screen text editing is improved by a dynamic keyboard with far fewer, but far larger keys, each key representing a predictive partial word completion. The normally static keyboard becomes a keyboard menu, augmenting traditional word completion menus. A reduced key set displays only the most relevant keys, while retaining familiar structural patterns of standard layouts like QWERTY. Condensed layouts can include circular or alternating row menus and alphabetical formats. The apparatus continuously adjusts the number of keys, key sizes/shapes, predictive values and variable layouts to provide the most ergonomic, minimalist keyboard possible at any moment. Keys display normal default values concatenated with supplemental predictive characters; each key represents the longest common building block of likely intended, predicted words derivable from the key's normal default value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Patent number: 10235042
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for entering text on a computer screen with a virtual keyboard and limited space, such as would be found on a mobile device such as smartphone, tablet, handheld computer or an automobile dashboard, or an appliance with a small screen. The method requires a sequence of events in which text is selected on the virtual keyboard, and a last key selected generates a new limited set of responsive keys, potentially based on word completion word fragments, for display on the screen, allowing responsive keys to be dynamically larger, variable in shape, or positioned on the virtual keyboard based on priority and availability of adjacent space to maximize the ease of use of the highest priority responsive keys. The user selects one of the responsive keys to partially complete or complete text entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Publication number: 20170052702
    Abstract: Virtual keyboards become efficient and ergonomic by typing with small, incremental partial word completions, using fewest but largest possible keys, presented in highly condensed layouts, retaining familiar structural patterns of standard keyboards like QWERTY, and utilizing curved thumb typing formats. The keyboard continuously adjusts numbers of keys, key sizes, predictive values and layouts, to minimize keystrokes, reduce errors, and maximize potential words entered, while providing the most ergonomic, minimalist interface possible at any moment, scaling to any size device. Keys display normal default characters concatenated with supplemental predictive characters, forming incremental partial word completions; each represents the longest common building block shortcut of likely intended words derivable from a key's default value. The most relevant keys can generate larger numbers of highly predicted words; the more relevant, the larger the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Publication number: 20160034181
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for entering text on a computer screen with a virtual keyboard and limited space, such as would be found on a mobile device such as smartphone, tablet, handheld computer or an automobile dashboard, or an appliance with a small screen. The method requires a sequence of events in which text is selected on the virtual keyboard, and a last key selected generates a new limited set of responsive keys, potentially based on word completion word fragments, for display on the screen, allowing responsive keys to be dynamically larger, variable in shape, or positioned on the virtual keyboard based on priority and availability of adjacent space to maximize the ease of use of the highest priority responsive keys. The user selects one of the responsive keys to partially complete or complete text entry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew BERKS, Forbes Holten NORRIS, III
  • Publication number: 20150143234
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for more efficient editing and reading comprehension of text and other content on a computer screen with a virtual keyboard and limited space, such as would be found on a mobile device such as smartphone, tablet, handheld computer or an automobile dashboard, or an appliance with a small screen. The method provides aids that assist in Saccadic related cognition of limited text display, especially condensed or abbreviated text. The method also employs macro population analysis to better understand and adapt to the ergonomic typing and reading challenges of mobile device usage in specific circumstances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Publication number: 20130275917
    Abstract: A method of displaying and navigating information using a hierarchical, spring loaded DHTML menu system that adjusts to fit the boundaries of a resizable, container. A set of standard HTML table row elements, having a hierarchical dependency, is consistently displayed as a web-page, under reasonable resizing. This is done using a strut row that produces the largest width requirement when the table structure is resizing to occupy a small width. Only the current row elements and the strut element are required in calculating table resizing to ensure that whichever data elements are displayed when a web-page resizing occurs, the browser auto-layout algorithm calculations will result in a resize attributes that enables all other row elements of that menu to be accommodated by the newly determined table width. As the row elements may themselves be table structures, nested menus of information may be displayed and navigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Patent number: 8438188
    Abstract: A method of displaying and navigating information using a hierarchical, spring loaded DHTML menu system that adjusts to fit the boundaries of a resizable, container. A set of standard HTML table row elements, having a hierarchical dependency, is consistently displayed as a web-page, under reasonable resizing. This is done using a strut row that produces the largest width requirement when the table structure is resizing to occupy a small width. Only the current row elements and the strut element are required in calculating table resizing to ensure that whichever data elements are displayed when a web-page resizing occurs, the browser auto-layout algorithm calculations will result in a resize attributes that enables all other row elements of that menu to be accommodated by the newly determined table width. As the row elements may themselves be table structures, nested menus of information may be displayed and navigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Publication number: 20110264996
    Abstract: A method of displaying and navigating information using a hierarchical, spring loaded DHTML menu system that adjusts to fit the boundaries of a resizable, container. A set of standard HTML table row elements, having a hierarchical dependency, is consistently displayed as a web-page, under reasonable resizing. This is done using a strut row that produces the largest width requirement when the table structure is resizing to occupy a small width. Only the current row elements and the strut element are required in calculating table resizing to ensure that whichever data elements are displayed when a web-page resizing occurs, the browser auto-layout algorithm calculations will result in a resize attributes that enables all other row elements of that menu to be accommodated by the newly determined table width. As the row elements may themselves be table structures, nested menus of information may be displayed and navigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III
  • Patent number: 7962522
    Abstract: A method of displaying and navigating information using a hierarchical, spring loaded DHTML menu system that adjusts to fit the boundaries of a resizable, container (FIG. 1). A set of standard HTML table row elements, having a hierachical dependency (11), is consistently displayed as a web-page, under reasonable resizing. This is done using a strut row that produces the largest width requirement when the table structure is resizing to occupy a small width. Only the current row elements and the strut element are required in calculating table resizing to ensure that whichever data elements are displayed when a web-page resizing occurs, the browser auto-layout algorithm calculations will result in a resize attributes that enables all other row elements of that menu to be accommodated by the newly determined table width. As the row elements may themselves be table structures, nested menus of information may be displayed and navigated (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Forbes Holten Norris, III