Patents by Inventor Francis Thomas Riddle

Francis Thomas Riddle 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).

  • Publication number: 20230110143
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for displaying message history while composing a message. The method includes displaying a message composition application comprising a first recipient field, a message history display area, and a message composition field; detecting an input into the first recipient field for specifying a recipient; and upon detecting that the recipient has been specified: displaying a second recipient field; navigating application focus from the first recipient field to the second recipient field; and displaying a message history associated with the recipient in the message history display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Leonid Vymenets, Francis Thomas Riddle, Henry Yao-Tsu CHEN
  • Patent number: 9301107
    Abstract: A communication device provides a message composition interface. In the message composition interface, the communication device presents a maximum allowable remaining number of characters allowable for further entry in the message only when a character count of the number of character inputs received in the message is greater than or equal to a warning count value. The warning count value is less than a maximum allowable number of characters of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Leonid Vymenets, Henry Yao-Tsu Chen, Francis Thomas Riddle
  • Patent number: 8700075
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing messages in conversational-type messaging applications. To provide continuity across all conversations with a particular recipient, an existing or not-yet-created 1:1 conversation can be populated with 1:Many messages that include the same recipient in the list of addressees. In this way, any 1:1 chat or conversation with a particular recipient will contain all correspondences with that recipient, regardless of whether the message was sent or received in a 1:1 or 1:Many context. As such, the user has access to all information that has been exchanged with that recipient in one messaging screen to avoid the need to traverse multiple messaging screens to obtain the context or information related to the recipient that the user requires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Francis Thomas Riddle, John Bennett Parrett
  • Publication number: 20130260837
    Abstract: A communication device provides a message composition interface. In the message composition interface, the communication device presents a maximum allowable remaining number of characters allowable for further entry in the message only when a character count of the number of character inputs received in the message is greater than or equal to a warning count value. The warning count value is less than a maximum allowable number of characters of the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Leonid Vymenets, Henry Yao-Tsu Chen, Francis Thomas Riddle
  • Patent number: 8521136
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in communicating messages from a communication device are described. The device receives, via its user interface, an input request for creating a new message. The device also receives, via its user interface, one or more input requests for selecting one or more message recipient identifiers for the new message. In response to receiving the one or more input requests, the device identifies whether a stored conversation thread is associated with conversation participant identifiers that match the conversation participant identifiers for the new message. If so, the device displays the identified conversation thread together with a message body input field of the new message, prior to entry of message body contents in the message body input field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Francis Thomas Riddle, John Bennett Parrett
  • Patent number: 8478352
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in providing presentations for the composition of messages having size limitations are described. A communication device receives, via its user interface, one or more character inputs in a message composition field for a new message being composed. While a character count of the message is less than a warning count value, the device refrains from presenting the number of allowed characters remaining for entry in the message. On the other hand, while the character count is greater than or equal to the warning count value, the device causes the number of allowed characters remaining for entry in the message to be presented. The message may be transmitted via a wireless network via a short message service (SMS). In one example, the number of remaining characters is provided in an alert bar, which is presented by being set in motion from an initial hidden position behind the message composition field to a final revealed position, with intermediate positions therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Leonid Vymenets, Francis Thomas Riddle, Henry Yao-Tsu Chen
  • Publication number: 20130125019
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for displaying message history while composing a message. The method includes displaying a message composition application comprising a first recipient field, a message history display area, and a message composition field; detecting an input into the first recipient field for specifying a recipient; and upon detecting that the recipient has been specified: displaying a second recipient field; navigating application focus from the first recipient field to the second recipient field; and displaying a message history associated with the recipient in the message history display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Leonid Vymenets, Henry Yao-Tsu Chen, Francis Thomas Riddle
  • Patent number: 8380231
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing messages in conversational-type messaging applications. To provide continuity across all conversations with a particular recipient, an existing or not-yet-created 1:1 conversation can be populated with 1:Many messages that include the same recipient in the list of addressees. In this way, any 1:1 chat or conversation with a particular recipient will contain all correspondences with that recipient, regardless of whether the message was sent or received in a 1:1 or 1:Many context. As such, the user has access to all information that has been exchanged with that recipient in one messaging screen to avoid the need to traverse multiple messaging screens to obtain the context or information related to the recipient that the user requires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Francis Thomas Riddle, John Bennett Parrett
  • Publication number: 20120309461
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in providing presentations for the composition of messages having size limitations are described. A communication device receives, via its user interface, one or more character inputs in a message composition field for a new message being composed. While a character count of the message is less than a warning count value, the device refrains from presenting the number of allowed characters remaining for entry in the message. On the other hand, while the character count is greater than or equal to the warning count value, the device causes the number of allowed characters remaining for entry in the message to be presented. The message may be transmitted via a wireless network via a short message service (SMS). In one example, the number of remaining characters is provided in an alert bar, which is presented by being set in motion from an initial hidden position behind the message composition field to a final revealed position, with intermediate positions therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Leonid Vymenets, Francis Thomas Riddle, Henry Yao-Tsu Chen
  • Publication number: 20110263278
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in communicating messages from a communication device are described. The device receives, via its user interface, an input request for creating a new message. The device also receives, via its user interface, one or more input requests for selecting one or more message recipient identifiers for the new message. In response to receiving the one or more input requests, the device identifies whether a stored conversation thread is associated with conversation participant identifiers that match the conversation participant identifiers for the new message. If so, the device displays the identified conversation thread together with a message body input field of the new message, prior to entry of message body contents in the message body input field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Francis Thomas Riddle, John Bennett Parrett
  • Publication number: 20110086647
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing messages in conversational-type messaging applications. To provide continuity across all conversations with a particular recipient, an existing or not-yet-created 1:1 conversation can be populated with 1:Many messages that include the same recipient in the list of addressees. In this way, any 1:1 chat or conversation with a particular recipient will contain all correspondences with that recipient, regardless of whether the message was sent or received in a 1:1 or 1:Many context. As such, the user has access to all information that has been exchanged with that recipient in one messaging screen to avoid the need to traverse multiple messaging screens to obtain the context or information related to the recipient that the user requires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Francis Thomas Riddle, John Bennett Parrett
  • Publication number: 20110004584
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing data elements between devices can include receiving at a first device, from only one of multiple peer devices with which the first device is configured to synchronize, a request to synchronize data between the first device and the only one peer device; identifying data elements stored in the first device that have changed since a previous synchronization operation between the first device and the only one peer device; and transmitting, directly and solely to the only one peer device, for each of the identified data elements, a local data identifier and a corresponding change to be applied to a data element in the only one peer device that corresponds to the local data identifier. In some implementations, each local data identifier is transmitted in a format in which it is maintained in the first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: PALM, INC.
    Inventors: Sidd Goyal, Francis Thomas Riddle, Frank Judge
  • Patent number: 7738503
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing data elements between devices can include receiving at a first device, from only one of multiple peer devices with which the first device is configured to synchronize, a request to synchronize data between the first device and the only one peer device; identifying data elements stored in the first device that have changed since a previous synchronization operation between the first device and the only one peer device; and transmitting, directly and solely to the only one peer device, for each of the identified data elements, a local data identifier and a corresponding change to be applied to a data element in the only one peer device that corresponds to the local data identifier. In some implementations, each local data identifier is transmitted in a format in which it is maintained in the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidd Goyal, Francis Thomas Riddle, Frank Judge
  • Publication number: 20080189440
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing data elements between devices can include receiving at a first device, from only one of multiple peer devices with which the first device is configured to synchronize, a request to synchronize data between the first device and the only one peer device; identifying data elements stored in the first device that have changed since a previous synchronization operation between the first device and the only one peer device; and transmitting, directly and solely to the only one peer device, for each of the identified data elements, a local data identifier and a corresponding change to be applied to a data element in the only one peer device that corresponds to the local data identifier. In some implementations, each local data identifier is transmitted in a format in which it is maintained in the first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: PALM, INC.
    Inventors: Sidd Goyal, Francis Thomas Riddle, Frank Judge
  • Patent number: RE48615
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in communicating messages from a communication device are described. The device receives, via its user interface, an input request for creating a new message. The device also receives, via its user interface, one or more input requests for selecting one or more message recipient identifiers for the new message. In response to receiving the one or more input requests, the device identifies whether a stored conversation thread is associated with conversation participant identifiers that match the conversation participant identifiers for the new message. If so, the device displays the identified conversation thread together with a message body input field of the new message, prior to entry of message body contents in the message body input field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Francis Thomas Riddle, John Bennett Parrett