Patents by Inventor Kenneth Earl Steele

Kenneth Earl Steele 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: 9344522
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing, sharing, storing and playing widgets and associated media content on a personal audiovisual device, such as a digital photo frame, are described. In one implementation, widgets may be selected by a user for rendering based on capabilities of a user's device, with the widgets then provided to the device for playback. Digital content such as audio files, images, and/or video may be rendered in conjunction with playback of the widget. Widgets may be shared between users so as to facilitate sharing of media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BBY SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Duane Stewart Maxwell, Andrew Shane Huang, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen L. Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler
  • Patent number: 9256420
    Abstract: A method for automatically updating software executed by an electronic device is disclosed herein. The method includes receiving, at the electronic device, an update indication from a server that updated software is available for the electronic device. The method further includes modifying, in response to the update indication, a boot state of the electronic device and initiating operation of the electronic device in an update mode. The updated software is received, at the electronic device, during operation in the update mode. The method further includes initiating, upon determining the updated software has been correctly received, operation of the electronic device in a normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: BBY SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Adler, Joseph B. Grand, Andrew Shane Huang, Duane Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen L. Tomlin
  • Publication number: 20150040118
    Abstract: A method for automatically updating software executed by an electronic device is disclosed herein. The method includes receiving, at the electronic device, an update indication from a server that updated software is available for the electronic device. The method further includes modifying, in response to the update indication, a boot state of the electronic device and initiating operation of the electronic device in an update mode. The updated software is received, at the electronic device, during operation in the update mode. The method further includes initiating, upon determining the updated software has been correctly received, operation of the electronic device in a normal mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Steven Michael Adler, Joseph B. Grand, Andrew Shane Huang, Duane Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen L. Tomlin
  • Patent number: 8839224
    Abstract: A method for automatically updating software executed by an electronic device is disclosed herein. The method includes receiving, at the electronic device, an update indication from a server that updated software is available for the electronic device. The method further includes modifying, in response to the update indication, a boot state of the electronic device and initiating operation of the electronic device in an update mode. The updated software is received, at the electronic device, during operation in the update mode. The method further includes initiating, upon determining the updated software has been correctly received, operation of the electronic device in a normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: BBY Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Adler, Joseph B. Grand, Andrew Shane Huang, Duane Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen L. Tomlin
  • Publication number: 20140082506
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing, sharing, storing and playing widgets and associated media content on a personal audiovisual device, such as a digital photo frame, are described. In one implementation, widgets may be selected by a user for rendering based on capabilities of a user's device, with the widgets then provided to the device for playback. Digital content such as audio files, images, and/or video may be rendered in conjunction with playback of the widget. Widgets may be shared between users so as to facilitate sharing of media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: BBY SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Duane Stewart Maxwell, Andrew Shane Huang, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen L. Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler
  • Patent number: 8521857
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing, sharing, storing and playing widgets and associated media content on a personal audiovisual device, such as a digital photo frame, are described. In one implementation, widgets may be selected by a user for rendering based on capabilities of a user's device, with the widgets then provided to the device for playback. Digital content such as audio files, images, and/or video may be rendered in conjunction with playback of the widget. Widgets may be shared between users so as to facilitate sharing of media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: BBY Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Stewart Maxwell, Andrew S. Huang, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen L. Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler
  • Patent number: 8121808
    Abstract: Systems and methods for location, motion, and contact detection and tracking in a portable networked device are disclosed. A portable device may include a motion detection unit including an accelerometer for detecting accelerations in one or more axes. Signals associated with the detected motion are processed to generate estimates of device acceleration, velocity, and relative and absolute locations. Additional processing may be performed to detect user gestures or other user input relevant to portable device control. Particular motion or vibrational characteristics may be also be detected and used by other processes in the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Chumby Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Shane Huang, Duane Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen Lawrence Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler
  • Publication number: 20110093227
    Abstract: Systems and methods for location, motion, and contact detection and tracking in a portable networked device are disclosed. A portable device may include a motion detection unit including an accelerometer for detecting accelerations in one or more axes. Signals associated with the detected motion are processed to generate estimates of device acceleration, velocity, and relative and absolute locations. Additional processing may be performed to detect user gestures or other user input relevant to portable device control. Particular motion or vibrational characteristics may be also be detected and used by other processes in the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Andrew Shane Huang, Duane Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen Lawrence Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler
  • Publication number: 20110060994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing, sharing, storing and playing widgets and associated media content on a personal audiovisual device, such as a digital photo frame, are described. In one implementation, widgets may be selected by a user for rendering based on capabilities of a user's device, with the widgets then provided to the device for playback. Digital content such as audio files, images, and/or video may be rendered in conjunction with playback of the widget. Widgets may be shared between users so as to facilitate sharing of media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Duane Stewart Maxwell, Andrew S. Huang, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen L. Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler
  • Patent number: 7778792
    Abstract: Systems and methods for location, motion, and contact detection and tracking in a portable networked device are disclosed. A portable device may include a motion detection unit including an accelerometer for detecting accelerations in one or more axes. Signals associated with the detected motion are processed to generate estimates of device acceleration, velocity, and relative and absolute locations. Additional processing may be performed to detect user gestures or other user input relevant to portable device control. Particular motion or vibrational characteristics may be also be detected and used by other processes in the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Chumby Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Shane Huang, Duane Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen Lawrence Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler
  • Publication number: 20090002333
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating registration of a device, such as a portable device, are described. A user may be provided with a reference pattern, which may then be entered onto a corresponding grid on the device. The user entered grid pattern is then stored as data, encoded, and transmitted to a registration server where it is compared to the reference pattern. If the user entered grid pattern sufficiently matches the reference pattern, the device may then be registered with the registration server and any associated server systems, where it may then be used to provide user personalized content or other functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: CHUMBY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Duane Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Earl Steele, Steven Michael Adler
  • Publication number: 20080228429
    Abstract: Systems and methods for location, motion, and contact detection and tracking in a portable networked device are disclosed. A portable device may include a motion detection unit including an accelerometer for detecting accelerations in one or more axes. Signals associated with the detected motion are processed to generate estimates of device acceleration, velocity, and relative and absolute locations. Additional processing may be performed to detect user gestures or other user input relevant to portable device control. Particular motion or vibrational characteristics may be also be detected and used by other processes in the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew Shane Huang, Duane Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen Lawrence Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler