Patents by Inventor John W. Barrus

John W. Barrus 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: 9870352
    Abstract: An electronic writing solution server includes a workflow dashboard application that comprises a dashboard generator. The dashboard generator receives a collection of forms, each form in the collection being of a same type and having been created from a dashboard template, the dashboard template including an association of fields, steps and indicators in each form, identifies which fields have been filled in by at least one user for each form, determines a current step of a multistep workflow based on the fields that have been filled out for each form and generates a dashboard for displaying a number of forms that correspond to each step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: John W. Barrus, Edward L. Schwartz, Michael J. Gormish
  • Patent number: 9652562
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing logged data from proximal equipment onto a form. A form creation application determines equipment in proximity to a portable computing device, receives a selection of a piece of equipment from a user, extracts logged data from the piece of equipment that is selected, determines a form with a structure to fill in with the logged data, parses the logged data and fills in at least one field in the form, generates graphical data for displaying the form to the user, provides the form to the user, receives input on the form from the user and stores the form and the input received on the form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: John W. Barrus
  • Patent number: 9558400
    Abstract: An electronic writing solution server includes a query engine and a user interface engine. The query engine receives a search query from a user, the search query specifying a field in at least one form and including a first stroke or text, retrieves clusters from a database, retrieves example strokes from the clusters at vary levels of similarity to the first stroke, receives user selections for strokes of interest from the example strokes, and retrieves information associated with the strokes of interest from the database. The user interface engine generates graphical data for presenting the retrieved information to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Edward L. Schwartz, John W. Barrus
  • Patent number: 9558170
    Abstract: An Image Based Document Management (IBDM) server includes a state recorder, a query engine, a view creation module and a user interface engine. The view creation module creates a first view of a collection based on at least one operation from a first user. The state recorder receives a selection of the first view of the collection from a user. The query engine runs a query associated with the first view of the collection. The user interface engine generates graphical data for presenting a list of views of the collection including the first view of the collection to a user and for displaying the first view of the collection to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: John W. Barrus, Edward L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9525547
    Abstract: Techniques are described for communicating electronic media keys from one device to another. The target device may comprise different mechanisms for indicating that transmission of a media key is in progress and also to indicate successful transmission. Various actions may be performed in response to transmission of media keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: John W. Barrus, Jamey Graham, Kurt Piersol
  • Patent number: 9483522
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for aggregating form data based on marks in graphic form fields. The system includes a controller, a request customization module, a search module and a presentation module. The controller receives data indicating an initiation of a search request from a user, data describing a form selected by the user, data describing a graphic form field specified by the user in the form and data describing a region of interest specified by the user in the graphic form field. The request customization module customizes the search request using the region of interest. The search module performs a form search on a collection of form data using the search request to determine one or more matching forms that each include at least one mark satisfying the region of interest. The presentation module provides the one or more matching forms to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Edward L. Schwartz, John W. Barrus, Michael J. Gormish
  • Patent number: 9449031
    Abstract: An Image Based Document Management (IBDM) server includes a table generator, a symbolic representation module and a sort engine. The table generator generates a table from the form images, the table comprising cells with data types including image data, symbolic data, image and symbolic data and an empty value, and updates the table. The symbolic representation module converts at least one of the cells with image data to symbolic data. The sort engine determines, from a sort request for a column of the table received from a user, at least a first priority for a first data type, the column including at least two of the data types, determines from the sort request a second priority within one of the data types, and sorts the column according to the sort request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: John W. Barrus, Edward L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9432182
    Abstract: Techniques for sharing data between users in a manner that maintains anonymity of the users. Tokens are generated and provided to users for sharing data. A token comprises information encoding an identifier and an encryption key. A user may use a token to upload data that is to be shared. The data to be shared is encrypted using the encryption key associated with the token and the encrypted data is stored such that it can be accessed using the identifier associated with the token. A user may then use a token to access the shared data. The identifier associated with the token being used to access the shared data is used to access the data and the encryption key associated with the token is used to decrypt the data. Data is shared anonymously without revealing the identity of the users using the tokens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: John W. Barrus, Tomohiko Sasaki, Jamey Graham, Sharon Kojima
  • Patent number: 9298685
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a table including multiple rows to accommodate redundant field information is described. A table creation module receives a completed form, generates field images, determines a set of unique field images, redundant fields and associated fields in the completed form, populates a first row of the table in a first column with a first unique field image, adds remaining field images from the set of unique field images to the first row, populates the first row with a first redundant field image and remaining field images from a first set of associated fields. The tables can be used to create an organized report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: John W. Barrus, Edward L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9274624
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising receiving, at a tablet display unit of a first tablet that is coupled to a host computer, image data representing a selected portion of a common display file that is stored on an administrator computer; displaying the image data on a stroke-sensitive display of the tablet display unit; receiving user input from the stroke-sensitive display of the tablet display unit and representing handwritten strokes; transmitting the user input to the administrator computer; receiving, from the administrator computer, second image data representing strokes that other users have applied to the same image data using other tablets that are coupled to the administrator computer over a network; displaying, on the stroke-sensitive display, the second image data; storing, in a memory of the tablet display unit, a data file based at least upon the user input and the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt W. Piersol, John W. Barrus, Ken F. Gudan
  • Patent number: 9244149
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for self-labeling access points with their geographic location from received beacon frames. In particular, the present invention transmits beacon frames including temporary location information from mobile devices. The beacon frames are received by an access point, filtered by the access point and then used to determine a location. Once the location has been determined, the access point uses the determined location to self-label itself by converting the location information to a geographic code and inserting it as part of the SSID of the access point's beacon signal. The present invention also includes a number of methods using geographic codes including a method for generating and transmitting geographic codes for mobile devices, a method for determining a location of an access point, a method for self-labeling an access point, and a method for filtering beacon frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt W. Piersol, John W. Barrus, Stephen R. Savitzky, Sergey Chemishkian
  • Patent number: 9189468
    Abstract: An electronic writing solution server includes a classification application that comprises a classifier and a user interface engine. The classifier receives multimedia data on a form, identifies at least one field in the form to be modified and modifies the at least one field in the form based on the multimedia data. The user interface engine provides the modified form to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J. Gormish, John W. Barrus, Edward L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9134947
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving, at a tablet computer that is coupled to a host computer, image data representing a selected portion of an electronic document; the tablet computer displaying the same image data on a stroke-sensitive display of the tablet computer; the tablet computer receiving user input from the stroke-sensitive display and representing handwritten strokes; the tablet computer storing, in a memory of the tablet computer, a data file based at least upon the user input and the image data; transmitting the stroke data from the tablet display unit to the coupled host computer where the stroke data appears on the original image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: John W. Barrus, Kurt W. Piersol, Ken F. Gudan
  • Patent number: 9082105
    Abstract: A system for paper-like forms processing includes a plurality of portable computing devices coupled by a network to a paper-like forms server. The portable computing devices are adapted to receive images (e.g., compound documents/forms), add stroke annotations to the received images, and send the annotated received images or the stoke annotations themselves to the paper-like forms server. The paper-like forms server comprises a central scheduler and a logging module. The paper-like forms server processes compound documents as paper like forms and sends input to and receives results from service providers to perform various types of paper like processing on the compound document. The paper-like forms server performs the scheduling, routing, logging, verification and billing for the paper-like processing of compound documents. The central scheduler also stores results from service providers for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt W. Piersol, Michael J. Gormish, John W. Barrus, Edward L. Schwartz, Kenneth F. Gudan, Richard D. Kosoglow, Stephen R. Savitzky, Sergey Chemishkian
  • Patent number: 9058516
    Abstract: A system and method for processing form images including strokes. A controller receives a plurality of form images including a plurality of strokes. A stroke identification module identifies the position of each stroke in each of the form images. A geometry engine generates an overlay of the plurality of form images and identifies a group of overlapping strokes from the overlay. The geometry engine generates a field bounding box encompassing the group of strokes, the field bounding box representing a field in the plurality of form images. The geometry engine crops a field image from each form image based on the size and position of the field bounding box. A label detector analyzes an area around the field image in the form image to determine a label and generates a label image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: John W. Barrus
  • Patent number: 8958644
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a table from one or more form images is described. An Image Based Document Management (IBDM) server includes a stroke identification module, an image generator, a table generator and a preference module. The stroke identification module receives completed form data from one or more forms with handwriting fields, media fields and symbolic fields. The image generator generates field images that are a combination of handwriting fields, media fields and symbolic fields. The user preference module determines a user preference for displaying the table. The table generator generates a table from the field images based on the user preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Edward L. Schwartz, John W. Barrus
  • Publication number: 20150039888
    Abstract: Techniques for sharing data between users in a manner that maintains anonymity of the users. Tokens are generated and provided to users for sharing data. A token comprises information encoding an identifier and an encryption key. A user may use a token to upload data that is to be shared. The data to be shared is encrypted using the encryption key associated with the token and the encrypted data is stored such that it can be accessed using the identifier associated with the token. A user may then use a token to access the shared data. The identifier associated with the token being used to access the shared data is used to access the data and the encryption key associated with the token is used to decrypt the data. Data is shared anonymously without revealing the identity of the users using the tokens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: John W. Barrus, Tomohiko Sasaki, Jamey Graham, Sharon Kojima
  • Patent number: 8913000
    Abstract: A system for displaying video on electronic paper displays to reduce video playback artifacts comprises an electronic paper display, a video display driver, a video transcoder, a display controller, a memory buffer and a waveforms module. The video display driver receives a re-formatted video stream, which has been processed by the video transcoder, from the memory buffer. The video display driver directs the video transcoder to process the video stream and generate pixel data. The video display driver loads waveforms into the frame buffer and updates display commands repeatedly to activate the display controller until the end of the video playback. The video display driver directs copying video frames sequentially one by one from the memory buffer to the frame buffer in real time during the video playback. The video transcoder receives a video stream for presentation on the electronic paper display and processes the video stream generating pixel data that is provided to the display controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Berna Erol, John W. Barrus, Guotong Feng
  • Patent number: 8904539
    Abstract: A system and method for limiting access to one or more forms based on a location constraint is described. A form access module retrieves one or more forms on a portable computing device, determines a location of the portable computing device, determines whether the location of the portable computing device is within a region where form access is granted, granting access to the one or more forms responsive to the location of the portable computing device being within the region, receiving strokes from a first user in at least one field on the one or more forms and storing the one or more forms and the strokes received on the one or more forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: John W. Barrus
  • Patent number: 8892990
    Abstract: An Image Based Document Management (IBDM) server includes a table generator, a query engine and a user interface engine. The table generator generates a table that includes a label image and at least one field image in a column. The label image represents a column header for the at least one field image. A query engine receives requests to modify the table and in response generates queries to query the table. A user interface engine provides the table for display and modifies the table in response to user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: John W. Barrus