Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Whatmough

Kenneth J. Whatmough 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: 8971616
    Abstract: A method includes storing a transparency value. A color level value is stored in a set of color bits. The color level value is multiplied by the transparency value, by bit-shifting the set of color bits by a number of bit positions indicated by the transparency value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jay D. Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Patent number: 8949461
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing rich content to media devices are disclosed. Information content is converted at a content provider system for transmission to a media device over a wireless communication network. The converted content is processed by a media engine on the media device. The content is preferable converted at the content provider system into a binary format having separate visual elements and behavior elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Jay D. Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough, Shaun R. Johansen, Jon-David K. Lacey, Julian Paas, Rakesh K. Arora, Laura Doktorova, John P. Hayman, Scott J. Hayman, Christopher D. Billard
  • Publication number: 20110285744
    Abstract: A method includes storing a transparency value. A color level value is stored in a set of color bits. The color level value is multiplied by the transparency value, by bit-shifting the set of color bits by a number of bit positions indicated by the transparency value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jay D. Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Patent number: 8014595
    Abstract: Pixel data is stored in a field corresponding to a pixel of an image. The field includes an opacity bit and a set of bits. If the opacity bit is set to an opaque-indicating state, then a color level value of a component color of the pixel is stored in the set of bits. However, if the opacity bit is set to a transparency-indicating state, then a transparency level value is stored in at least one bit of the set of bits and the respective color level value is stored in other bits of the set of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Jay David Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Publication number: 20110090241
    Abstract: Pixel data is stored in a field corresponding to a pixel of an image. The field includes an opacity bit and a set of bits. If the opacity bit is set to an opaque-indicating state, then a color level value of a component color of the pixel is stored in the set of bits. However, if the opacity bit is set to a transparency-indicating state, then a transparency level value is stored in at least one bit of the set of bits and the respective color level value is stored in other bits of the set of bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jay D. Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Patent number: 7881527
    Abstract: Pixel data is stored in a data field corresponding to a pixel of an image. The data field includes an opacity bit, a first set of bits, and a second set of bits. If the opacity bit is set to an opaque-indicating state, then a color level value of a first component color of the pixel is stored in the first set of bits and a color level value of a second component color of the pixel is stored in the second set of bits. However, if the opacity bit is set to a transparency-indicating state, then a transparency level value is stored in at least one bit of each set, of the first and second sets, of bits and the respective color level value is stored in other bits of each set, of the first and second sets, of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Jay D. Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Publication number: 20090079759
    Abstract: Pixel data is stored in a data field corresponding to a pixel of an image. The data field includes an opacity bit, a first set of bits, and a second set of bits. If the opacity bit is set to an opaque-indicating state, then a color level value of a first composite color of the pixel is stored in the first set of bits and a color level value of a second composite color of the pixel is stored in the second set of bits. However, if the opacity bit is set to a transparency-indicating state, then a transparency level value is stored in at least one bit of each set of bits and the respective color level value is stored in other bits of each set of bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Jay D. Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Patent number: 7466855
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of processing image pixel data corresponding to an image pixel comprises determining if the image pixel is opaque or transparent. If the image pixel is determined to be opaque, a pixel color value from a first set of image pixel data is determined. If the image pixel is determined to be transparent, a transparency value from a second set of the image pixel data and a pixel color value from a third set of the image pixel data is determined. The second and third sets of the image pixel data are subsets of the first set of image pixel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Jay D. Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Patent number: 7034835
    Abstract: A system and method of converting frame-based animation into interpolator-based animation is provided. The system and method includes a) identifying each unique combination of animation object and associated depth identified in frame instructions for the plurality of frames of the frame-based animation; b) for each identified unique combination, identifying the display properties associated with the animation object of the combination through the successive frames; and c) for each identified display property for each identified unique combination, creating an interpolator that specifies the animation object of the combination and any changes that occur in the display property for the specified animation object throughout the plurality of frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Research in Motion Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Publication number: 20040160456
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of processing image pixel data corresponding to an image pixel comprises determining if the image pixel is opaque or transparent. If the image pixel is determined to be opaque, a pixel color value from a first set of image pixel data is determined. If the image pixel is determined to be transparent, a transparency value from a second set of the image pixel data and a pixel color value from a third set of the image pixel data is determined. The second and third sets of the image pixel data are subsets of the first set of image pixel data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Jay D. Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Publication number: 20040160445
    Abstract: A system and method of converting frame-based animation into interpolator-based animation is provided. The system and method includes a) identifying each unique combination of animation object and associated depth identified in frame instructions for the plurality of frames of the frame-based animation; b) for each identified unique combination, identifying the display properties associated with the animation object of the combination through the successive frames; and c) for each identified display property for each identified unique combination, creating an interpolator that specifies the animation object of the combination and any changes that occur in the display property for the specified animation object throughout the plurality of frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Whatmough
  • Publication number: 20040110490
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing rich content to media devices are disclosed. Information content is converted at a content provider system for transmission to a media device over a wireless communication network. The converted content is processed by a media engine on the media device. The content is preferably converted at the content provider system into a binary format having separate visual elements and behavior elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Jay D. Steele, Kenneth J. Whatmough, Shaun R. Johansen, Jon-David K. Lacey, Julian Paas, Rakesh K. Arora, Laura Doktorova, John P Hayman, Scott J. Hayman, Christopher D. Billard