Patents by Inventor John Richard Powers, III

John Richard Powers, III 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: 7827552
    Abstract: A system and method is described which provides for context checking of an operating environment. A context manager controls the execution of context checks requested by applications or processes. In one embodiment, the context check modules are defined as self-contained modules located in a database. When the data base is opened, these modules are loaded and registered with the context manager. Upon occurrence of certain user actions, the context manager will issue an event to cause the appropriate modules to perform a context check of certain context of the environment. The resulting context information is stored in memory by the context manager and provided to the applications by the context manager when needed. One advantage is that the context checks performed can be changed simply by adding or deleting modules from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John Richard Powers, III
  • Patent number: 7016891
    Abstract: A system and method is described which provides for context checking of an operating environment. A context manager controls the execution of context checks requested by applications or processes. In one embodiment, the context check modules are defined as self-contained modules located in a database. When the data base is opened, these modules are loaded and registered with the context manager. Upon occurrence of certain user actions, the context manager will issue an event to cause the appropriate modules to perform a context check of certain context of the environment. The resulting context information is stored in memory by the context manager and provided to the applications by the context manager when needed. One advantage is that the context checks performed can be changed simply by adding or deleting modules from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: John Richard Powers, III
  • Patent number: 6453311
    Abstract: A system and method is described which provides for context checking of an operating environment. A context manager controls the execution of context checks requested by applications or processes. In one embodiment, the context check modules are defined as self-contained modules located in a database. When the data base is opened, these modules are loaded and registered with the context manager. Upon occurrence of certain user actions, the context manager will issue an event to cause the appropriate modules to perform a context check of certain context of the environment. The resulting context information is stored in memory by the context manager and provided to the applications by the context manager when needed. One advantage is that the context checks performed can be changed simply by adding or deleting modules from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: John Richard Powers, III
  • Patent number: 5859638
    Abstract: A user interface includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows and provides an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The access window includes an alpha scroll bar horizontally spanning a defined area of the access window. A plurality of alpha-numeric, symbolic or other characters (collectively "characters") are displayed along the length of the alpha scroll bar. A slider is provided which may be selectively positioned over a character displayed on the alpha scroll bar. The slider may be positioned through user manipulation of a cursor control device. The placement of the slider over a character on the alpha scroll bar results in a central processing unit (CPU) displaying data corresponding to the character selected. Entries are displayed in the defined area beginning alphabetically with the letter over which the slider has been placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia J. Coleman, James Edward Palmer, Matthew Justin Powers, Jeffrey Alan Herman, Eli Cochran, John Richard Powers, III
  • Patent number: 5828374
    Abstract: An object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows and an access window having topics, index and look for button functions may be selected by the user. Through the use of the topics, index, or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The access window includes an alpha scroll bar horizontally spanning a defined area of the access window. Characters are displayed along the length of the alpha scroll bar and a slider is provided which may be selectively positioned over a character displayed on the alpha scroll bar. The placement of the slider over a character on the alpha scroll bar results in the CPU displaying help data entries corresponding to the selected character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia J. Coleman, James Edward Palmer, Matthew Justin Powers, Jeffrey Alan Herman, Eli Cochran, John Richard Powers, III
  • Patent number: 5825355
    Abstract: The system includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) which is coupled through appropriate input/output (I/O) circuitry to input devices, such as a keyboard, digital pad, mouse and/or track ball. The CPU is coupled to a hard disk drive for the storage of programs and data, and may also be coupled to a network through which the CPU may communicate with a variety of other system resources and devices. The CPU is further coupled to a display device such as a CRT or liquid crystal display, on which the present invention is displayed. The user interface of the present invention includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows. The present invention includes an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The selection of one of the button functions results in the CPU generating and displaying entries in a predefined area of the access window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: James Edward Palmer, Patricia J. Coleman, Jeffrey Alan Herman, Eli Cochran, John Richard Powers, III