Patents by Inventor Haruo Oba

Haruo Oba 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: 20060256035
    Abstract: A display device securing mechanism to which a plurality of display devices that are linearly disposed are mountable includes a plurality of housings to which the plurality of display devices are mounted, first rotating members which rotate the corresponding housings around a rotational axis extending vertically with respect to the display devices, and a second rotating member which rotates all of the housings together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Keiichi Totsuka, Haruo Oba, Junichiro Sakata, Yasushi Tatehira, Naohide Yamada, Kazutaka Uchida, Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20060194541
    Abstract: The present invention is an information processing apparatus which obtains identification information of an electronic device and makes communication with the electronic device via a network based on the identification information. When a portable telephone (11) is placed on an input display section (2) of a personal computer (1), a reader/writer built in the personal computer (1) reads a telephone number of the portable telephone (11) stored in an RF tag built in the portable telephone (11). Based on the telephone number, a telephone line is connected between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1). Data is interchanged between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1) via the telephone line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Yuji Ayatsuka, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Eduardo Schiamarella, Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: 7051291
    Abstract: A device for managing image and audio files displays thumbnails, which are representative of the files, on a screen in different arrangements, depending on the selected layout and order. When the user enters input to indicates that he or she wishes to browse through the thumbnails, the thumbnails move across the screen in sequence, following a path through a focus outline in the center of the screen. The path followed by the thumbnails depends on the selected layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eduardo Agusto Sciammarella, Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba, Makoto Imamura, Hideyuki Agata, Masakazu Hayashi, Masato Kuninori
  • Patent number: 7050945
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a communication terminal, for providing requested information in an easy manner. In an information board 1, guides about information which can be provided are displayed on display units 2A to 2D. A PDA 11 includes a non-contact IC card, and a reader/writer is disposed in each of information requesting units 3A to 3D. The information board 1 acquires information to be provided to the PDA 11, depending on which one of readers/writers the PDA 11 is brought close to, and establishes Bluetooth communication with the PDA 11 in accordance with a Bluetooth address, acquired from the non-contact IC card, of the PDA 11. After establishing the Bluetooth communication, the information board 1 provides the acquired information to the PDA 11 by means of the Bluetooth communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Patent number: 7027040
    Abstract: An interactive-type data system comprising an integration of instinctive operability of the real objects with multiple purpose functions is disclosed. Concretely, by utilizing a transparent tile incorporating a wireless tag as a unit of interface, a plurality of tiles are disposed on a flat display surface or a tablet. The computing system reads identification data contained in each wireless tag and then activates a corresponding processing operation. For example, the computing system accesses such data resources related to tiles or activates a corresponding function or application program. Further, based on physical positional relationship between plural tiles, it is possible to integrally combine basic capability provided for by individual tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba
  • Publication number: 20050160377
    Abstract: A device for managing image and audio files displays thumbnails, which are representative of the files, on a screen in different arrangements, depending on the selected layout and order. When the user enters input to indicates that he or she wishes to browse through the thumbnails, the thumbnails move across the screen in sequence, following a path through a focus outline in the center of the screen. The path followed by the thumbnails depends on the selected layout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Eduardo Sciammarella, Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba, Makoto Imamura, Hideyuki Agata, Masakazu Hayashi, Masato Kuninori
  • Publication number: 20050160376
    Abstract: A device for managing image and audio files displays thumbnails, which are representative of the files, on a screen in different arrangements, depending on the selected layout and order. When the user enters input to indicates that he or she wishes to browse through the thumbnails, the thumbnails move across the screen in sequence, following a path through a focus outline in the center of the screen. The path followed by the thumbnails depends on the selected layout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Eduardo Sciammarella, Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba, Makoto Imamura, Hideyuki Agata, Masakazu Hayashi, Masato Kuninori
  • Publication number: 20050160375
    Abstract: A device for managing image and audio files displays thumbnails, which are representative of the files, on a screen in different arrangements, depending on the selected layout and order. When the user enters input to indicates that he or she wishes to browse through the thumbnails, the thumbnails move across the screen in sequence, following a path through a focus outline in the center of the screen. The path followed by the thumbnails depends on the selected layout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Eduardo Sciammarella, Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba, Makoto Imamura, Hideyuki Agata, Masakazu Hayashi, Masato Kuninori
  • Publication number: 20050120096
    Abstract: A portable information terminal is placed in proximity with an ID recognition unit of a notebook PC. By reading ID from the portable information terminal, the notebook PC is able to identify a network address of the portable information terminal so as to establish a network connection with the portable information terminal. The notebook PC then sends suitable operation information to the portable information terminal via a network. For example, if presentation is running on the notebook PC, screen information for operating the presentation is transferred to the portable information terminal. Accordingly, by using one device connected to the other device by a wired or wireless network, the operation of the other device can be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Yuji Ayatsuka, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Haruo Oba
  • Publication number: 20050105257
    Abstract: A low-cost display apparatus whose display section can have its angle and height adjusted easily through a stand of a simple structure is provided. The stand of the display apparatus includes first and second arms that form a V shape. The first arm is attached to the display section through a hinge. By having the second arm extend to the front and the back underneath the display section so that the second arm is laid on a surface, the display section is supported in a first supported state at a distance from this surface. By having the second arm extend downward diagonally from the tip of the first arm so that the tip of the second arm and the lower end of the display section stand on a surface, the display section is supported in a second supported state where the display section is in contact with this surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Yosuke Shimizu, Haruo Oba
  • Publication number: 20050025117
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication system and a communication method for simply and quickly starting communication. A cellular phone 52 is loaded with a non-contact IC card that communicates with a reader/writer of a personal computer 51 using an electromagnetic wave. When the non-contact IC card receives the electromagnetic wave emitted from the reader/writer with the cellular phone 52 placed close to the personal computer 51, the cellular phone 52 notifies the personal computer 51 of a card ID set in the non-contact IC card. When the personal computer 51 acquires Bluetooth device names of the cellular phone 52 and PDA 53 with intra-piconet synchronization established between the cellular phone 52 and the PDA 53, the personal computer 51 identifies the cellular phone 52 as a communication partner based on the Bluetooth device names already notified of as the card ID. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a cellular phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Takeo Inagaki, Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Junichi Pekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Publication number: 20040259499
    Abstract: A communication system and method capable of easily identifying a communication mate. A cellular telephone (52) has a non-contact IC card communicating with a reader/writer of a personal computer (51) by an electromagnetic wave. When an electromagnetic wave radiated from the reader-writer is received by the non-contact IC card, the cellular telephone (52) reports the card ID set in the non-contact IC card to the personal computer (51). This card ID includes a Bluetooth address of the cellular telephone (52). When the personal computer (51) fetches the Bluetooth address of the cellular telephone (52) and a PDA (53) upon query, the personal computer (51) identifies the cellular telephone (52) as a Bluetooth device to establish synchronization according to the Bluetooth address reported in advance. The present invention can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a cellular telephone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka, Toru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6832083
    Abstract: The invention is intended to allow a plurality of users to share a single apparatus while securing the privacy of each user. A terminal is made portable and detachable from a base. Data exchange by radio is made possible between the base and the terminal, and E-mail or facsimile data that is received by the base through a telephone circuit is stored in the terminal. A user can remove the terminal from the base and carry it to his room, and can display a stored E-mail message or facsimile data there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Kunihito Sawai
  • Publication number: 20040248617
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program which allow for correct recognition of a connected electronic device. A reader/writer 33-1 is placed near a left vertical side 2-1 of four sides of an input display unit 2. A mobile phone 11 includes an RF tag. When the mobile phone 11 is placed adjacent to the reader/writer 33-1, the reader/writer 33-1 detects the RF tag to detect that the mobile phone 11 is adjacent thereto. An icon 111 of the mobile phone 11 is displayed on the input display unit 2 in a moving manner so that portions of the icon 111 appear step-by-step from the side 2-1 and finally the entirety appears. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a PDA, or a mobile phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Publication number: 20040233216
    Abstract: An interactive-type data system comprising an integration of instinctive operability of the real objects with multiple purpose functions is disclosed. Concretely, by utilizing a transparent tile incorporating a wireless tag as a unit of interface, a plurality of tiles are disposed on a flat display surface or a tablet. The computing system reads identification data contained in each wireless tag and then activates a corresponding processing operation. For example, the computing system accesses such data resources related to tiles or activates a corresponding function or application program. Further, based on physical positional relationship between plural tiles, it is possible to integrally combine basic capability provided for by individual tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba
  • Publication number: 20040198459
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program in which information can be reliably exchanged when performing wireless communication by allowing a user to know a communication distance at which devices can be connected. A communication unit 28 performs Bluetooth communication with a communication unit, which serves as a Bluetooth module, provided for a cellular telephone. A CPU 21 displays an image corresponding to the cellular telephone based on the input level of Bluetooth radio waves transmitted from the cellular telephone. For example, when the input level of the radio waves transmitted from the cellular telephone is equal to the maximum input, the CPU 21 sets the level of transparency to be 0, and displays the image corresponding to the cellular telephone on an LCD 32 so that a background image is not transmitted at all.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Patent number: 6795060
    Abstract: An interactive-type data system comprising an integration of instinctive operability of the real objects with multiple purpose functions is disclosed. Concretely, by utilizing a transparent tile incorporating a wireless tag as a unit of interface, a plurality of tiles are disposed on a flat display surface or a tablet. The computing system reads identification data contained in each wireless tag and then activates a corresponding processing operation. For example, the computing system accesses such data resources related to tiles or activates a corresponding function or application program. Further, based on physical positional relationship between plural tiles, it is possible to integrally combine basic capability provided for by individual tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba
  • Publication number: 20040092231
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication system and method, an information processing terminal and method, and an information processing device and method which enable simple and secure restricted access. When a PDA 11 is brought close, a reader 2 of a personal computer 1 reads a device ID form an IC tag 12. The personal computer 1 registers device IDs on a connection permission list, and permits only devices registered on the list to connect. When being instructed to perform accessing, the PDA 11 controls a communication unit to access the personal computer 1 and to transmits its device ID. The personal computer 1 determines whether or not the transmitted ID is registered on the connection permission list, and permits the connection when determining that the ID is registered. The present invention can be applied to various information processing devices such as a personal computer and a PDA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Yuji Ayatsuka, Haruo Oba
  • Publication number: 20040078169
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a communication terminal, for providing requested information in an easy manner. In an information board 1, guides about information which can be provided are displayed on display units 2A to 2D. A PDA 11 includes a non-contact IC card, and a reader/writer is disposed in each of information requesting units 3A to 3D. The information board 1 acquires information to be provided to the PDA 11, depending on which one of readers/writers the PDA 11 is brought close to, and establishes Bluetooth communication with the PDA 11 in accordance with a Bluetooth address, acquired from the non-contact IC card, of the PDA 11. After establishing the Bluetooth communication, the information board 1 provides the acquired information to the PDA 11 by means of the Bluetooth communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Publication number: 20040077313
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method that allow wireless communications to be readily and quickly started. When a cellular phone 1 is placed in proximity to a personal computer 11, a strap ID is transmitted from a contactless IC tag 3 of a cellular phone strap 2 to a reader/writer 12 of the personal computer 11. The personal computer 11 has a table of association between the strap ID and a Bluetooth device name of the cellular phone 1. The personal computer 11, upon obtaining the strap ID, refers to the association table and thereby identifies the cellular phone 1 as a party for carrying out Bluetooth communications therewith. The personal computer 11, by referring to the Bluetooth device name, identifies the cellular phone 1 from among a plurality of Bluetooth devices including the cellular phone 1, and carries out Bluetooth communications with the cellular phone 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka