Patents by Inventor Jon B. Kimmich

Jon B. Kimmich 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: 5682511
    Abstract: A graphical viewer interface appropriate for children's programming provided through an interactive television system for running programs ordered by the viewer. The inventive system includes a method for displaying on a television screen a plurality of control items including a character window, an episode window, an order button, and a scram button, wherein the viewer may navigate the focus among the various control items by manipulating a remote control. The viewer browses among options, and orders options for viewing using a handheld remote control. The character window displays one among a plurality of cartoon characters. The episode window displays a scene from one among a plurality of cartoon episodes within a category of cartoon episodes featuring the character displayed in the first window. The scene displayed in the second window is a single frame from the cartoon episode depicting a "key defining moment" that differentiates the selected cartoon from all other cartoons featuring the same character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan N. Sposato, Jon B. Kimmich, Jeffrey Aaron Lubetkin
  • Patent number: 5678012
    Abstract: A system and method for selecting a video piece from an assortment of video pieces available over an interactive network uses a graphical interface in connection with a database on which each of the available video pieces is characterized by categories and by quantitative rating of criteria. The characterization of the video pieces by categories and quantitative criteria is based on the subject matter of the video pieces. The graphical interface displays control elements, icons and sliders that relate to the categories and quantitative criteria. By selecting icons and manipulating the sliders, the user can initiate a selection process that will select a video piece that relates to the users subject matter interest. The system and method is intended for children to use in selecting cartoons over an interactive network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jon B. Kimmich, Jeffrey Aaron Lubetkin, Jonathan N. Sposato
  • Patent number: 5565887
    Abstract: A routine allows a user to move a cursor in only mutually perpendicular, horizontal or vertical directions on a computer screen, despite erratic or wavy movement of a pointing device. The routine, once enabled, receives mouse movement signals produced when the user moves the pointing device, the mouse movement signals having x and y position components. The routine uses the greater of the change in the x and y components to initially move the cursor in either horizontal or vertical directions, respectively. The routine continues to move the cursor along the initially established direction, even if the change in mouse movement signals in the other perpendicular direction become greater during continued mouse movement. Only when the change in mouse movement signals in the perpendicular direction become much greater (e.g., ten times greater) will the routine switch to moving the cursor along the perpendicular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lora K. McCambridge, James A. Andrews, Carl T. Hellings, Eric W. Hanson, Jon B. Kimmich, Timothy T. Brewer, Michael W. Van Flandern, Paul E. Henderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5559943
    Abstract: A method and computer system present a user with a target icon on a computer screen and instruct the user to place a cursor thereon and twice actuate a mouse switch. The method measures the positions of the cursor on the screen during, and the time between, the two actuations by the user, and uses these measurements to customize, for the given user, the dual actuation speed and cursor movement area used to determine a double-click input command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Clark R. Cyr, Jon B. Kimmich, Timothy T. Brewer, Jeffrey S. Hanson, Miles Richardson, Kenneth R. Robertson, Cheryl Jenkins, Brenda L. Diaz, John G. Pierce, Gregory Lee
  • Patent number: 5473343
    Abstract: A method and computer system detects when a user of a computer depresses and releases a modifier key, for example, the CTRL key. The computer is programmed under a routine to locate the position of an active point of a cursor that is displayed on a computer screen. The computer thereafter generates and sequentially displays on the computer screen, concentric rings of decreasing size that radiate inward, centered on the active point, to thus help a user visually locate the cursor on the computer screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jon B. Kimmich, Michael W. Van Flandern, Timothy T. Brewer