Patents by Inventor John Weldon Nicholson

John Weldon Nicholson 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: 9678585
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method, including: identifying, using a processor, a pen characteristic; identifying, using a processor, an inability to communicate between the pen and an input component using the pen characteristic; and responsive to detecting the inability, disabling a pen feature. Other embodiments, including systems, devices and products, are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Richard Perrin, John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso
  • Patent number: 9672340
    Abstract: For secure handwriting input for password fields, an apparatus for using a tone indicator to identify language in text recognition is disclosed. The apparatus may include a processor, a handwriting input unit operatively coupled to the processor, a display operatively coupled to the processor, a handwriting element module that identifies a handwriting element from handwriting input, an input replication module that controls the display to present the handwriting element, and a privacy module that controls the display to obscure the handwriting element in response to a predetermined trigger event. Obscuring the handwriting element may include removing the handwriting element, rendering transparent the handwriting element, replacing the handwriting element and an area surrounding the handwriting element with a colored area, and/or replacing the handwriting element with an anonymizing symbol. A method and computer program product also perform the functions of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso, Steven Richard Perrin, Jianbang Zhang
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20170123647
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: accepting, at an input surface of an electronic device, ink strokes; determining, using a processor of the electronic device, that the ink strokes include a selection indicator pair; associating, using a processor of the electronic device, the selection indicator pair with content; and selecting, using a processor of the electronic device, the content associated with the selection indicator pair. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Jianbang Zhang, Matthew Lloyd Hagenbuch, John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9639767
    Abstract: For context-aware handwriting recognition for input fields, an apparatus, system, method, and computer program product are disclosed. The apparatus may include a processor, a handwriting input unit operatively coupled to the processor, a display operatively coupled to the processor, a field metadata module that obtains metadata related to an input field, a field type module that identifies a field type of the input field associated with the handwriting input based on the metadata, and a recognition tuning module that adjusts a handwriting recognition engine based on the field type. Adjusting the handwriting recognition engine may include increasing a weight given to text having particular characteristics, based on the field type. Obtaining the metadata related to an input field may include querying an application for properties of the input field and/or identifying text adjacent to the input field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Steven Richard Perrin, Scott Edwards Kelso, John Weldon Nicholson, Jianbang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9607137
    Abstract: For verbal command processing, a phoneme module selects recognition phonemes from a phoneme input stream. A user recognition module selects a user profile for a user recognized based on the recognition phonemes. The command module processes a command concurrently identified from the phoneme input stream based on the user profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Robert A. Bowser, Atsushi Kumaki
  • Patent number: 9600094
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for directing motion of a writing device. By use of a processor, destination data corresponding to a destination placement for a writing device is received. Current data corresponding to a current placement of the writing device is also received. A mechanism that provides tactile feedback to the writing device is controlled to direct the writing device from the current placement toward the destination placement as a function of at least the destination data and the current data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Ming Qian, Jian Li, John Weldon Nicholson, Song Wang
  • Publication number: 20170052604
    Abstract: A method can include operating a 3-axis accelerometer having two axes that define a plane and an axis perpendicular to the plane to provide acceleration values for the three axes; increasing a threshold responsive to an increase in magnitude of the acceleration value for the axis perpendicular to the plane or decreasing the threshold responsive to a decrease in magnitude of the acceleration value for the axis perpendicular to the plane; and orienting output to a display in either a portrait format or a landscape format based on comparing the acceleration values for the two axes that define the plane to the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: James Miles Hunt, John Weldon Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9575575
    Abstract: A system and method may include a device including a user interface, a detector, and a central processing unit (CPU) in communication with the detector. The CPU controls operation of the device. A stylus is used to input data with respect to the device. The stylus may include a main body and an engagement member operatively coupled to the main body. The engagement member alters a mechanical relationship within the main body in response to engagement by a user. The stylus generates a signal in response to the altered mechanical relationship within the main body. The detector detects the signal generated by the stylus. The CPU performs an action in response to detection of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso, Steven Richard Perrin, John Miles Hunt, Song Wang, Matthew Lloyd Hagenbuch
  • Patent number: 9565306
    Abstract: For filtering an audio signal for a non-real-time recipient, a signal module may detect communication of an audio signal to the non-real-time recipient. A management module may filter the audio signal with a high-latency audio filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Jianbang Zhang, John Weldon Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9524428
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, at a surface of a device accepting handwriting input, a location of the display surface associated with initiation of a handwriting input; determining, using a processor, a location of an entry field in a document rendered on a display surface, the location of the entry field being associated with a display surface location; determining, using a processor, a distance between the location of the surface associated with initiation of the handwriting input and the location of the entry field; and automatically inserting input, based on the handwriting input, into the entry field after determining the distance is less than a threshold value. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso, Steven Richard Perrin, Jianbang Zhang
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9485635
    Abstract: For displaying information associated with correspondence, a memory stores code executable by a processor. The code identifies a communication context for a communication. The communication context includes a correspondent. The code further displays information associated with the communication context. The information includes a prior communication with the correspondent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Robert A. Bowser, John Weldon Nicholson, Rod D. Waltermann
  • Publication number: 20160282947
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method including: receiving, at a wearable device, non-image data from at least one sensor operatively coupled to the wearable device, wherein the non-image data is based upon a gesture performed by a user; identifying, using a processor, the gesture performed by a user using the non-image data; and performing an action based upon the gesture identified. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: David Alexander Schwarz, Ming Qian, Geoffrey Simon Bula, John Weldon Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20160274683
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for setting a cursor position. One method includes receiving, by use of a processor, indications of a first stylus position corresponding to a first time period. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving indications of a second stylus position corresponding to a second time period after the first time period. In a further embodiment, the method includes determining a cursor position as a function of the indications of the first stylus position, the indications of the second stylus position, and at least one other input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Russell Speight VanBlon
  • Publication number: 20160266642
    Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus includes a processor, a sensor accessible to the processor, a display accessible to the processor, and memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive first input from the sensor, and based on the first input, identify a location on the display at which a user is looking. The instructions are also executable to receive second input from an input device in communication with the apparatus and, responsive to receipt of the second input and based on the location on the display, execute a function at the apparatus regardless of a location of the input device when the second input was received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Russell Speight VanBlon, Jianbang Zhang, John Weldon Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20160259436
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for erasing with a stylus. By use of a processor, an orientation of a stylus relative to a display is determined. Whether a touch event of the display occurs is determined. An erase function is performed in response to the touch event occurring and the orientation of the stylus being is in a substantially inverted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Joshua Neil Novak, Russell Speight VanBlon, Jianbang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160259435
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for directing motion of a writing device. By use of a processor, destination data corresponding to a destination placement for a writing device is received. Current data corresponding to a current placement of the writing device is also received. A mechanism that provides tactile feedback to the writing device is controlled to direct the writing device from the current placement toward the destination placement as a function of at least the destination data and the current data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Ming Qian, Jian Li, John Weldon Nicholson, Song Wang