Patents by Inventor Harry Hong-Lun Lai

Harry Hong-Lun Lai 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: 9760542
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium for providing context-sensitive writing assistance to a user that is composing a textual communication are described. The context is used to tune the writing assistance to accommodate the different communication styles between users and recipients. The context includes the writing medium, the recipient, and the writer. Examples of writing assistance include spell check, grammar check, and auto-fill in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Hong-Lun Lai, Shane Jeremy Landry, Kimberly Rae Raddatz
  • Patent number: 9563604
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium for providing context-sensitive writing assistance to a user that is composing a textual communication are described. The context is used to tune the writing assistance to accommodate the different communication styles between users and recipients. The context includes the writing medium, the recipient, and the writer. Examples of writing assistance include spell check, grammar check, and auto-fill in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Hong-Lun Lai, Shane Jeremy Landry, Kimberly Rae Raddatz
  • Patent number: 8903719
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium for providing context-sensitive writing assistance to a user that is composing a textual communication are described. The context is used to tune the writing assistance to accommodate the different communication styles between users and recipients. The context includes the writing medium, the recipient, and the writer. Examples of writing assistance include spell check, grammar check, and auto-fill in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Shane Jeremy Landry, Harry Hong-Lun Lai, Kimberly Rae Raddatz
  • Patent number: 8448072
    Abstract: A wireless communication device comprises a wireless communication interface, a user interface, and a processing system. The wireless communication interface is configured to detect a wireless signal that indicates status update information for a social networking application. The processing system is configured to monitor the social networking application for an attempt to transfer the status update information for delivery to a social networking system, and if the social networking application attempts the transfer, to delay the transfer and direct the user interface to prompt a user to edit the status update information. The user interface is configured to receive edit instructions from the user. The processing system is configured to process the edit instructions to edit the status update information and to direct the wireless communication interface to wirelessly transfer the edited status update information for delivery to the social networking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Hong-Lun Lai, Allison Anna DiMartino, Jason W. Rincker, Christine D. Schumaker
  • Patent number: 8362874
    Abstract: A keyguard mechanism protects against situations where unintentional touch on a device keypad, by a person or by an inanimate object, unlocks the keypad. A bio-presence based keyguard mechanism for a portable device detects a situation where both a bio-presence sensor and a pressure or displacement sensor are engaged, and then selectively removes an associated keypad from a locked state and places the keypad in an unlocked state. A signal is received from a pressure or displacement sensor associated with a particular key of the keypad, when the keypad is in a locked state. It is then determined whether a signal is received from a bio-presence sensor associated with the particular key, or with a particular portion of the keypad, within an allotted time period, and if so, the status of the keypad is changed to an unlocked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Hong-Lun Lai, Benjamin P. Blinn, Mike T. Lundy
  • Patent number: 8060065
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide ways to track the status of calls made to mobile devices. An illustrative method includes an originating mobile device receiving data from a mobile access network about an outgoing call, utilizing the data from the mobile access network to determine the outcome of the outgoing call, displaying an indicator of the outgoing call on the originating mobile device, and displaying an indicator of the outcome (connected, no answer, voicemail, busy, etc.) on the originating mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Hong-Lun Lai, Sean M. Casey, Woo Jae Lee, Pujan K. Roka, Elizabeth V. Shaw
  • Patent number: 8060069
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide ways to track the status of calls made to mobile devices. An illustrative method includes an originating mobile device receiving data from a mobile access network about an outgoing call, utilizing the data from the mobile access network to determine the outcome of the outgoing call, displaying an indicator of the outgoing call on the originating mobile device, and displaying an indicator of the outcome (connected, no answer, voicemail, busy, etc.) on the originating mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communciations Company L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Hong-Lun Lai, Sean M. Casey, Woo Jae Lee, Pujan K. Roka, Elizabeth V. Shaw
  • Patent number: 8058969
    Abstract: A bio-presence based keyguard mechanism for a portable device detects a situation where both a bio-presence sensor and a pressure or displacement sensor are engaged, and then selectively removes an associated keypad from a locked state and places the keypad in an unlocked state. In accordance with one aspect, the keyguard mechanism employs a method for transforming the status of a portable device keypad from a locked state to an unlocked state. Within the method, a signal is received from a pressure or displacement sensor associated with a particular key of the keypad, when the keypad is in a locked state. It is then determined whether a signal is received from a bio-presence sensor associated with the particular key, or with a particular portion of the keypad, within an allotted time period, and if so, the status of the keypad is changed to an unlocked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Hong-Lun Lai, Benjamin P. Blinn, Mike T. Lundy