Patents by Inventor Harry R. Major

Harry R. Major 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: 10067572
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason T. Griffin, John A. Holmes, Mihal Lazaridis, Herb A. Little, Harry R. Major, Craig Dunk, Michael Brown, Jérôme Lang
  • Patent number: 9703390
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason T. Griffin, John A. Holmes, Mihal Lazaridis, Herb A. Little, Harry R. Major, Craig Dunk, Michael Brown, Jerome Lang
  • Patent number: 9367141
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs is disclosed. In order to operate within the limited space available on a hand-held electronic device, the present invention optimizes the placement and shape of the keys, preferably using keys that are oval or oblong in shape, and that are placed at angles designed to facilitate thumb-typing. The angles at which keys on either side of the keyboard are placed is complimentary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason T. Griffin, John A. Holmes, Mihal Lazaridis, Herb A. Little, Harry R. Major
  • Patent number: 8868045
    Abstract: A user interface system is provided for managing communications messages of a communications device supporting voice and data services. The user interface system is operative to receive a data element wherein the data element identifies the type of communications message received and sender identification, display a menu upon receiving the data element, wherein the menu comprises a selectable object with the selectable object having a label identifying the message type, receive a data item indicating selection of the selectable object and generate a communications action in response to selection of the selectable object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Vander Veen, Harry R. Major
  • Patent number: 8769027
    Abstract: A method for compressing electronic mail messages each having a message thread for storage in a storage device, comprising: identifying one or more sections of each message thread; assigning a respective identifier to each section; storing one occurrence of each section in the storage device for retrieval using its identifier; replacing each section in each thread by its identifier to thereby compress the messages; and, storing the messages in the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Harry R. Major
  • Patent number: 8606239
    Abstract: A system and method for integrating voice and data operations into a single mobile device capable of simultaneously performing data and voice actions. The mobile device working in a network capable of exchanging both cell phone calls and data items to the mobile device. By wearing an earphone or an ear-bud device the user is capable of dealing with voice conversations while working with data centric information related to the current caller. By providing a data-centric device with voice capabilities there is a new range of features that allow incoming data events to trigger outgoing voice events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David P. Yach, Raymond P. Vander Veen, Harry R. Major, Gary P. Mousseau, Mihal Lazaridis, Atul Asthana
  • Patent number: 8589145
    Abstract: A method for enabling input into a handheld electronic device having at least three selectable languages available thereon includes detecting a predetermined input a number of times and switching a selected language between one of the three selectable languages and another of the three selectable languages wherein the another language is an immediately preceding selected language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Vadim Fux, Carlo Chiarello, Andrew D. Bocking, Harry R. Major
  • Publication number: 20130285918
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: JASON T. GRIFFIN, JOHN A. HOLMES, MIHAL LAZARIDIS, HERB A. LITTLE, HARRY R. MAJOR, Craig Dunk, Michael Brown, Jerome Lang
  • Patent number: 8493322
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Jason T. Griffin, John A. Holmes, Mihal Lazaridis, Herb A. Little, Harry R. Major, Craig Dunk, Michael Brown, Jérôme Lang
  • Patent number: 8469712
    Abstract: A method of enabling input into a handheld electronic device having stored therein a number of language objects includes detecting a selection of a languages, making a determination that the language is a default language or a non-default language, detecting as an ambiguous input an actuation of one or more input members, outputting at least a portion of a number of the language objects that corresponds to the ambiguous input, and outputting an indication representative of the language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion
    Inventors: Vadim Fux, Carlo Chiarello, Andrew D. Bocking, Harry R. Major
  • Patent number: 8464149
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Jason T. Griffin, John A. Holmes, Mihal Lazaridis, Herb A. Little, Harry R. Major, Craig Dunk, Michael Brown, Jerome Lang
  • Patent number: 8423988
    Abstract: A system for reducing the size of software for use in a mobile device includes a predictor module and a compression module. The predictor module is operable to apply a predicate to a plurality of software routines that are to be stored in the mobile device. The predicate identifies one or more of the software routines having a pre-determined feature indicative of a software routine that is unlikely to be executed repeatedly on the mobile device. The compression module is configured to compress the identified software routine(s) to generate a compressed software routine(s). After the plurality of software routines have been loaded to the mobile device, the mobile device decompresses the compressed software routine(s) when the compressed software routine(s) is accessed by an execution thread on the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Anthony F. Scian, Harry R. Major
  • Patent number: 8416195
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs is disclosed. In order to operate within the limited space available on a hand-held electronic device, the present invention optimizes the placement and shape of the keys, preferably using keys that are oval or oblong in shape, and that are placed at angles designed to facilitate thumb-typing. The angles at which keys on either side of the keyboard are placed is complimentary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Jason T. Griffin, John A. Holmes, Mihal Lazaridis, Herb A. Little, Harry R. Major
  • Publication number: 20120264410
    Abstract: A system and method for integrating voice and data operations into a single mobile device capable of simultaneously performing data and voice actions. The mobile device working in a network capable of exchanging both cell phone calls and data items to the mobile device. By wearing an earphone or an ear-bud device the user is capable of dealing with voice conversations while working with data centric information related to the current caller. By providing a data-centric device with voice capabilities there is a new range of features that allow incoming data events to trigger outgoing voice events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: David P. Yach, Raymond P. Vander Veen, Harry R. Major, Gary P. Mousseau, Mihal Lazaridis, Atul Asthana
  • Publication number: 20120209591
    Abstract: A method for enabling input into a handheld electronic device having at least three selectable languages available thereon includes detecting a predetermined input a number of times and switching a selected language between one of the three selectable languages and another of the three selectable languages wherein the another language is an immediately preceding selected language.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Vadim Fux, Carlo Chiarello, Andrew D. Bocking, Harry R. Major
  • Patent number: 8219069
    Abstract: A system and method for integrating voice and data operations into a single mobile device capable of simultaneously performing data and voice actions. The mobile device working in a network capable of exchanging both cell phone calls and data items to the mobile device. By wearing an earphone or an ear-bud device the user is capable of dealing with voice conversations while working with data centric information related to the current caller. By providing a data-centric device with voice capabilities there is a new range of features that allow incoming data events to trigger outgoing voice events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: David P. Yach, Raymond P. Vander Veen, Harry R. Major, Gary P. Mousseau, Mihal Lazaridis, Atul Asthana
  • Publication number: 20120172070
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and communication device for initiating voice calls. Number strings are identified in displayed text. Number strings are displayed in different formats depending on whether the number strings meet predetermined criteria. A list of user selectable functions is displayed when predetermined user input is detected. The list of user selectable functions includes a voice call function for initiating a voice call to a selected number string. A voice call to the selected number string can be initiated when the voice call function is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Lawrence E. KUHL, Mihal LAZARIDIS, Harry R. MAJOR, Andrew D. BOCKING
  • Patent number: 8190421
    Abstract: A method for enabling input into a handheld electronic device having at least three selectable languages available thereon includes detecting a predetermined input a number of times and switching a selected language between one of the three selectable languages and another of the three selectable languages wherein the another language is an immediately preceding selected language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Vadim Fux, Carlo Chiarello, Andrew D. Bocking, Harry R. Major
  • Patent number: 8190776
    Abstract: An information browser system and method enables sending of information requests to remote information sources and receiving of requested information from the remote sources on a wireless communication device. Information in any of a plurality of formats, including WML, HTML and WMLScript, is converted into a format in which the information can be displayed or otherwise further processed by the device. Information browsing functions may also be integrated with other communication functions on a mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Harry R. Major, Michael Knowles
  • Patent number: RE43678
    Abstract: An information browser system and method enables sending of information requests to remote information sources and receiving of requested information from the remote sources on a wireless communication device. Information in any of a plurality of formats, including WML, HTML and WMLScript, is converted into a format in which the information can be displayed or otherwise further processed by the device. Information browsing functions may also be integrated with other communication functions on a mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Harry R. Major, Michael Knowles