Patents by Inventor Howard Locker

Howard Locker 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).

  • Contextual smart tags for content retrieval
    Patent number: 10402407
    Abstract: An aspect provides a method, including: obtaining, at an information handling device, user input search data; accessing contextual data; refining, using one or more processors, the user input search data based on the contextual data; searching, using one or more processors, a repository of stored tag data with refined user input search data to identify one or more stored tags matching one or more stored objects; and returning, using one or more processors, one or more results of the searching, the one or more results indicating one or more stored objects associated with stored tag data. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Howard Locker, Rod D. Waltermann, Daryl Cromer, Aaron Michael Stewart
  • Information handling device handwriting clean-up
    Patent number: 10387721
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method, including: accepting, at an input surface, handwriting input; identifying, using one or more processors, one or more characters included in the handwriting input; modifying one or more of the one or more characters included in the handwriting input to match penmanship; and rendering, on a display device, the handwriting input including one or more modified characters. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Howard Locker, Daryl Cromer, Aaron Michael Stewart, Karen Ruth Kluttz, Michaela Rose Case
  • Device power management based on detected power source
    Patent number: 10324512
    Abstract: An aspect provides an information handling device, including: a connection to an external power supply; a processor; and a memory; the memory having instructions executable by the processor to: detect that the connection to the external power supply is providing an input of power; ascertain via the connection to the external power supply that the input of power is derived from a source having a predetermined characteristic; and automatically adjust a power consumption setting of the information handling device based on the predetermined characteristic. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Kenneth Scott Seethaler, Howard Locker, Randall Scott Springfield
  • Distributed network data usage metering across authorized personal devices
    Patent number: 10237416
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: establishing, using a wireless wide area network (WWAN) device of an electronic device, a WWAN connection; communicating, using the WWAN device, data over the WWAN connection; tethering, using the WWAN device and a wireless local area network (WLAN) device of the electronic device, another user device; communicating, using a processor of the electronic device, data according to the tethering; and determining, using a processor of the electronic device, a separate data usage value for data communicated over the WWAN for the another user device. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Terrell Vanover, Howard Locker, Yaqiang Wu
  • Resetting authentication tokens based on an implicit credential in response to an authentication request missing an authentication token
    Patent number: 10075427
    Abstract: For resetting authentication tokens based on implicit credentials, a method is disclosed that includes receiving, by use of a processor, an authentication request, the request requiring an authentication token, the request not including the authentication token, verifying an implicit credential, and resetting the authentication token in response to the implicit credential matching a predefined credential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Robert A. Bowser, Richard Wayne Cheston, Howard Locker, Goran Hans Wibran, Randall Scott Springfield
  • Apparatus, system, and method for touch input
    Patent number: 10042440
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for touch input. An apparatus for touch input includes a display and a touchpad that does not overlap the display. The touchpad has an absolute input mode and a relative input mode such that a location of a cursor within the display is controlled by input received while the touchpad is in an absolute and/or relative input mode. The apparatus also includes a sensor module and a display module. The sensor module detects an input object within a sensing range of the touchpad. The display module presents the cursor at a location within the display based on the input object. The location of the cursor within the display is determined according to the input mode of the touchpad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Howard Locker, Daryl Cromer, Steven Richard Perrin
  • Automatic network tethering for authorized personal devices
    Patent number: 10045204
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: connecting, using a network communication device of a mobile device, to a communication network; detecting, using a short range wireless communication device of the mobile device, one or more known devices; determining, using a processor of the mobile device, that the one or more known devices are authorized to connect to the communication network through the mobile device; sending, using the short range wireless communication device, control data for accessing the communication network to the one or more known devices; and communicating, using the network communication device of the mobile device, data for the one or more known devices via the communication network. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Terrell Vanover, Howard Locker, Yaqiang Wu
  • Selective transmission of voice data
    Patent number: 9953643
    Abstract: Systems and methods that provide for voice command devices that receive sound but do not transfer the voice data beyond the system unless certain voice-filtering criteria have been met are described herein. In addition, embodiments provide devices that support voice command operation while external voice data transmission is in mute operation mode. As such, devices according to embodiments may process voice data locally responsive to the voice data matching voice-filtering criteria. Furthermore, systems and methods are described herein involving voice command devices that capture sound and analyze it in real-time on a word-by-word basis and decide whether to handle the voice data locally, transmit it externally, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Howard Locker, Daryl Cromer, Scott Edwards Kelso, Aaron Michael Stewart
  • Systems and methods for determining intentional touch screen contact
    Patent number: 9946459
    Abstract: A device configured to distinguish between intentional and inadvertent input is provided. Input may be in the form of touch screen or on-screen keyboard input. Such input is examined such that a device may ignore unintentional and resting contact while reacting only to purposeful contact. The characteristics of unintentional and resting device contact are ascertained and differentiated from the contact characteristics of intentional device input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Stewart, Harriss Christopher Neil Ganey, Jay W. Johnson, Howard Locker
  • Remote computer lockdown
    Patent number: 9792453
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for placing a computer in a safe and secure lock down state from a remote location using a remote command device such as a cellular telephone. The method and system includes optional security provisions before restarting the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: David Carroll Challener, Daryl Cromer, Howard Locker, Randall Scott Springfield
  • Switching an interface mode using an input gesture
    Patent number: 9727235
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product are disclosed for presenting an interactive interface on an electronic display of an information handling device, the interactive interface comprising a plurality of modes, receiving an input gesture from a user, the input gesture detected along a surface of the information handling device by a gesture detector, and changing a mode of the interactive interface in response to the received input gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Daryl Cromer, Howard Locker
  • Task scheduling in big and little cores
    Patent number: 9710309
    Abstract: One aspect provides a method including: identifying a task to be scheduled for execution on an information handling device having a big core and a little core; in a state where the big core is available, scheduling the task for execution on the little core using a core signature for the task; directing the task to the little core for execution based on the scheduling; and executing the task on the little core. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, Howard Locker, Daryl Cromer, Scott Edwards Kelso
  • Integrating multiple different touch based inputs
    Patent number: 9652070
    Abstract: For integrating multiple different touch based inputs, a method is disclosed that includes detecting a pressure at a screen pressure module, enabling a first touch module based on the pressure exceeding a pressure threshold value, and integrating input from a second touch module and the first touch module, the input from the first touch module and the second touch module being concurrently received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Matthew Lloyd Hagenbuch, Howard Locker, John Weldon Nicholson, Matthew Price Roper
  • Display alignment based on eye tracking
    Patent number: 9639152
    Abstract: For display alignment based on eye tracking, a method is disclosed that includes displaying, by use of a processor, a graphical object on a display screen, detecting an aspect of a user relative to the display screen, and moving the graphical object to reduce a viewing angle between the graphical object and the aspect of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Howard Locker, Michaela Rose Case, John Weldon Nicholson, Aaron Michael Stewart
  • Distance-based network resource discovery
    Patent number: 9641629
    Abstract: An apparatus for distance-based network resource discovery includes a storage device storing machine-readable code and a processor executing the machine-readable code. The machine-readable code includes a determination module determining a distance between an information handling device and a network resource capable of communication with the information handling device. The machine readable code also includes a policy module following a discovery policy according to the distance. The discovery policy is associated with discovery of the network resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Daryl Cromer, John Miles Hunt, Howard Locker
  • DISTRIBUTED NETWORK DATA USAGE METERING ACROSS AUTHORIZED PERSONAL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20170111517
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: establishing, using a wireless wide area network (WWAN) device of an electronic device, a WWAN connection; communicating, using the WWAN device, data over the WWAN connection; tethering, using the WWAN device and a wireless local area network (WLAN) device of the electronic device, another user device; communicating, using a processor of the electronic device, data according to the tethering; and determining, using a processor of the electronic device, a separate data usage value for data communicated over the WWAN for the another user device. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Terrell Vanover, Howard Locker, Yaqiang Wu
  • AUTOMATIC NETWORK TETHERING FOR AUTHORIZED PERSONAL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20170111784
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: connecting, using a network communication device of a mobile device, to a communication network; detecting, using a short range wireless communication device of the mobile device, one or more known devices; determining, using a processor of the mobile device, that the one or more known devices are authorized to connect to the communication network through the mobile device; sending, using the short range wireless communication device, control data for accessing the communication network to the one or more known devices; and communicating, using the network communication device of the mobile device, data for the one or more known devices via the communication network. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Terrell Vanover, Howard Locker, Yaqiang Wu
  • AUTOMATIC NETWORK CONNECTION DATA SYNCHRONIZATION FOR AUTHORIZED PERSONAL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20170111936
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: identifying, using a short range wireless device of an electronic device, another user device; transferring, using the short range wireless device, connection data for a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point between the electronic device and the another user device; and connecting, using a processor of the electronic device, to the WLAN using the connection data. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Terrell Vanover, Howard Locker, Yaqiang Wu
  • Adapting a user interface of a remote desktop host
    Patent number: 9542148
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are presented for adapting a user interface of a remote desktop host. The apparatus includes a processor, a memory, a detection module and an adaptation module. The detection module detects a remote desktop connection between a remote client and a host. The remote client and the host may have different user interface characteristics. The adaptation module adapts a user interface of the host to accommodate user interface characteristics of the remote client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Thano Matthews, Scott Edwards Kelso, Howard Locker, Axel Ramirez Flores
  • Context aware device disconnection
    Patent number: 9516696
    Abstract: Systems, methods and products directed toward context aware device disconnection are provided herein. One aspect includes obtaining one or more physical measurements of an information handling device connected to one or more external systems, the one or more physical measurements being measured using one or more physical characteristic measurement elements; analyzing the one or more physical measurements using one or more policy settings configured in one or more disconnection policies stored on the information handling device; and initiating one or more disconnection events responsive to the one or more physical measurements matching the one or more policy settings. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Howard Locker, Daryl Cromer, John Miles Hunt, John Weldon Nicholson