Patents by Inventor Gordon Gregory Bowman
Gordon Gregory Bowman 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: 9183229Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for geotagging objects on a mobile handheld communication device. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing a user interface with a plurality of user selectable options for obtaining geographic location coordinates; receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of options; and tagging an object with the geographic location coordinates obtained from the selected one of the plurality of options. In another embodiment, the method may further comprise obtaining from an active global positioning system (GPS) module the geographic location coordinates for a current location to tag the object. The method may further comprise providing previously saved geographic location coordinates to tag the object. The object may be an image object.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Gerhard Dietrich Klassen, Thomas P. Murphy, Gordon Gregory Bowman
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Patent number: 9099056Abstract: In displaying a map on a wireless communications device, a method is provided that resolves labelling of sharp curves. The method entails a determination of whether a curvature of a map element associated with the map feature exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g. whether a rate of change in slope of a path or the change in angular orientation of each successive character in the label exceeds a threshold that is a function of zoom level. If the curvature exceeds the threshold, the label is rendered on the map in a new map location that avoids the map location where the curvature exceeds the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2007Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventor: Gordon Gregory Bowman
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Patent number: 9037156Abstract: A method of displaying a map on a wireless communications device, the method comprising obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device and determining a zoom level of the map. If the zoom level of the map exceeds a predetermined zoom level, corrected map data is generated by applying a fixed spherical correction factor to the map data. If the zoom level of the map does not exceed the predetermined zoom level, the corrected map data is generated by computing a spherical correction factor based on a latitude of the map. The method also includes rendering the corrected map data to display the map on a display of the wireless communications device.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Gordon Gregory Bowman, Gerhard Dietrich Klassen
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Patent number: 8996045Abstract: A wireless communications device generates a message from a map application to enable a recipient of the message to view a location on a map. After a user selects a location to be sent to the recipient, the map application determines location information associated with the location and generates the message to be sent to the recipient. The message contains a link to enable the recipient to download the map showing the location and further contains the location information embedded as text within the message. The map application can determine whether the location is based on a GPS position fix, whether it is a Point of Interest or whether it is part of a map route. In each case, predetermined text is automatically embedded in the message to convey the location information to the recipient.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventor: Gordon Gregory Bowman
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Publication number: 20140321774Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for geotagging objects on a mobile handheld communication device. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing a user interface with a plurality of user selectable options for obtaining geographic location coordinates; receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of options; and tagging an object with the geographic location coordinates obtained from the selected one of the plurality of options. In another embodiment, the method may further comprise obtaining from an active global positioning system (GPS) module the geographic location coordinates for a current location to tag the object. The method may further comprise providing previously saved geographic location coordinates to tag the object. The object may be an image object.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Gerhard Dietrich KLASSEN, Thomas P. MURPHY, Gordon Gregory BOWMAN
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Publication number: 20140120942Abstract: A method of displaying a map on a wireless communications device, the method comprising obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device and determining a zoom level of the map. If the zoom level of the map exceeds a predetermined zoom level, corrected map data is generated by applying a fixed spherical correction factor to the map data. If the zoom level of the map does not exceed the predetermined zoom level, the corrected map data is generated by computing a spherical correction factor based on a latitude of the map. The method also includes rendering the corrected map data to display the map on a display of the wireless communications device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Gordon Gregory BOWMAN, Gerhard Dietrich KLASSEN
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Patent number: 8300984Abstract: A method of displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes steps of obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device, generating corrected map data by applying a spherical correction factor to the obtained map data, and rendering the corrected map data to display the map on a display of the wireless communications device. The spherical correction factor corrects for map distortions that occur at northerly (or southerly) latitudes. Since the spherical correction factor is a simple correction to a 3×3 transformation matrix, this spherical correction can be easily applied without taxing the CPU limitations of small handheld devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Gordon Gregory Bowman, Gerhard Dietrich Klassen
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Patent number: 8265863Abstract: A method of displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device, the map data including label data for rendering labels on the map. The device generates a collision-avoidance array representative of the map to be rendered for testing potential label positions prior to actually rendering the labels on the map. The collision-avoidance array is populated by provisionally designating, for each successive label to be rendered, a label space in the collision-avoidance array that corresponds to a map space that is to be occupied by the label on the map. The device then determines whether each successive label to be rendered collides in the collision-avoidance array with any previously designated label spaces. If no collision exists for a given label, the label can be rendered on the map.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Gordon Gregory Bowman, Gerhard Dietrich Klassen, Eric Johnson
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Patent number: 8244459Abstract: A method of stitching converging path segments to aesthetically label Y-intersections, path bifurcations or splits in roads or the like entails determining which pair of adjacent path segments subtend the largest angle. The path segments subtending the largest angle are reconstructed (stitched together) and a single instance of the label is then rendered along the reconstructed path. Although this stitching can be performed on the client device, pre-stitching server-side is even more efficient in terms of economizing over-the-air bandwidth and onboard processing resources.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Gordon Gregory Bowman, Eric Johnson
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Publication number: 20120192096Abstract: A method of interacting with an electronic device and an electronic device so configured are described. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method of interacting with an electronic device. A command line having an input field is displayed on a display of the electronic device. An input string is received in the input field. The input string is disambiguated into one or more commands which match the input string. Each matching command is displayed on the display each as an entry in a command list. In some embodiments, each entry in the command list is selectable in response to selection input.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Gordon Gregory Bowman, Ngoc Bich Ngo
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Publication number: 20110275390Abstract: A method of stitching converging path segments to aesthetically label Y-intersections, path bifurcations or splits in roads or the like entails determining which pair of adjacent path segments subtend the largest angle. The path segments subtending the largest angle are reconstructed (stitched together) and a single instance of the label is then rendered along the reconstructed path. Although this stitching can be performed on the client device, pre-stitching server-side is even more efficient in terms of economizing over-the-air bandwidth and onboard processing resources.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Gordon Gregory BOWMAN, Eric Johnson
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Patent number: 7987045Abstract: A method of stitching converging path segments to aesthetically label Y-intersections, path bifurcations or splits in roads or the like entails determining which pair of adjacent path segments subtend the largest angle. The path segments subtending the largest angle are reconstructed (stitched together) and a single instance of the label is then rendered along the reconstructed path. Although this stitching can be performed on the client device, pre-stitching server-side is even more efficient in terms of economizing over-the-air bandwidth and onboard processing resources.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Research in Motion LimitedInventors: Gordon Gregory Bowman, Eric Johnson
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Publication number: 20110093197Abstract: A method of displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes steps of obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device, generating corrected map data by applying a spherical correction factor to the obtained map data, and rendering the corrected map data to display the map on a display of the wireless communications device. The spherical correction factor corrects for map distortions that occur at northerly (or southerly) latitudes. Since the spherical correction factor is a simple correction to a 3×3 transformation matrix, this spherical correction can be easily applied without taxing the CPU limitations of small handheld devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Gordon Gregory BOWMAN, Gerhard Dietrich Klassen
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Patent number: 7881562Abstract: A method of displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes steps of obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device, generating corrected map data by applying a spherical correction factor to the obtained map data, and rendering the corrected map data to display the map on a display of the wireless communications device. The spherical correction factor corrects for map distortions that occur at northerly (or southerly) latitudes. Since the spherical correction factor is a simple correction to a 3×3 transformation matrix, this spherical correction can be easily applied without taxing the CPU limitations of small handheld devices.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Gordon Gregory Bowman, Gerhard Dietrich Klassen
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Publication number: 20090244095Abstract: A wireless communications device has a processor coupled to a memory for reconstructing a map feature from discrete sets of map data that provide redundant labels for the map feature to thereby generate a reconstructed map feature having only a single instance of the label, wherein the memory stores a run-time label cache for caching the reconstructed map feature and the label associated with the reconstructed map feature for reuse in rendering a subsequent map that also includes the reconstructed map feature. As new map data is received for each subsequent map, for example when the map is panned, the reconstructed map feature is modified by trimming off portions of the map feature that have moved outside the area of interest and by stitching to the reconstructed map feature portions of the map feature that have moved into the area of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2008Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Gordon Gregory Bowman, Lin Zhao
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Publication number: 20090125228Abstract: Dynamically updated route information is provided to a user of a wireless communications device. The method involves receiving a destination location, determining a current location of the device, generating a route from the current location of the device to the destination location, and providing route information to the user representing the route from the current location to the destination location. Dynamic updating can be achieved by updating the current location of the device and dynamically updating the route information based on an updated current location of the device so as to provide dynamic route information to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2007Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Ronald Anthony DICKE, Gordon Gregory BOWMAN
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Publication number: 20080182598Abstract: A wireless communications device generates a message from a map application to enable a recipient of the message to view a location on a map. After a user selects a location to be sent to the recipient, the map application determines location information associated with the location and generates the message to be sent to the recipient. The message contains a link to enable the recipient to download the map showing the location and further contains the location information embedded as text within the message. The map application can determine whether the location is based on a GPS position fix, whether it is a Point of Interest or whether it is part of a map route. In each case, predetermined text is automatically embedded in the message to convey the location information to the recipient.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventor: Gordon Gregory BOWMAN
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Publication number: 20070229513Abstract: In displaying a map on a wireless communications device, a method is provided that resolves labelling of sharp curves. The method entails a determination of whether a curvature of a map element associated with the map feature exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g. whether a rate of change in slope of a path or the change in angular orientation of each successive character in the label exceeds a threshold that is a function of zoom level. If the curvature exceeds the threshold, the label is rendered on the map in a new map location that avoids the map location where the curvature exceeds the threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: Research In Motion LimitedInventor: Gordon Gregory Bowman
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Publication number: 20070229311Abstract: A method of stitching converging path segments to aesthetically label Y-intersections, path bifurcations or splits in roads or the like entails determining which pair of adjacent path segments subtend the largest angle. The path segments subtending the largest angle are reconstructed (stitched together) and a single instance of the label is then rendered along the reconstructed path. Although this stitching can be performed on the client device, pre-stitching server-side is even more efficient in terms of economizing over-the-air bandwidth and onboard processing resources.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Gordon Gregory BOWMAN, Eric JOHNSON
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Publication number: 20070229545Abstract: A method of displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes steps of obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device, generating corrected map data by applying a spherical correction factor to the obtained map data, and rendering the corrected map data to display the map on a display of the wireless communications device. The spherical correction factor corrects for map distortions that occur at northerly (or southerly) latitudes. Since the spherical correction factor is a simple correction to a 3×3 transformation matrix, this spherical correction can be easily applied without taxing the CPU limitations of small handheld devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Gordon Gregory BOWMAN, Gerhard Dietrich KLASSEN