Patents by Inventor Kenneth R. Robertson
Kenneth R. Robertson 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).
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Patent number: 8004475Abstract: A host computer is provided with a main display unit and an auxiliary display unit. The host computer can free up screen space on the main display screen by routing certain types of display information to the auxiliary display unit for display. Display information can range from notification of events such as receipt of email, appointments, system messages, and information from separate applications. The auxiliary display panel may function as a user interface for audio, video, “push information”, MP3 player or become the hardware equivalent of a multimedia player. The auxiliary display panel may be integrated together with the host computer in the same physical structure or may be part of a standalone display unit that is wired or wirelessly coupled to the host computer.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William H. Vong, Steven T. Kaneko, Kenneth R. Robertson, Kenneth V. Fry, Manolito E. Adan
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Patent number: 7786952Abstract: A host computer is provided with a main display unit and an auxiliary display unit. The host computer can free up screen space on the main display screen by routing certain types of display information to the auxiliary display unit for display. Display information can range from notification of events such as receipt of email, appointments, system messages, and information from separate applications. The auxiliary display panel may function as a user interface for audio, video, “push information”, MP3 player or become the hardware equivalent of a multimedia player. The auxiliary display panel may be integrated together with the host computer in the same physical structure or may be part of a standalone display unit that is wired or wirelessly coupled to the host computer.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William H. Vong, Steven T. Kaneko, Kenneth R. Robertson, Kenneth V. Fry, Manolito E. Adan
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Patent number: 7545342Abstract: A host computer is provided with a main display unit and an auxiliary display unit. The host computer can free up screen space on the main display screen by routing certain types of display information to the auxiliary display unit for display. Display information can range from notification of events such as receipt of email, appointments, system messages, and information from separate applications. The auxiliary display panel may function as a user interface for audio, video, “push information”, MP3 player or become the hardware equivalent of a multimedia player. The auxiliary display panel may be integrated together with the host computer in the same physical structure or may be part of a standalone display unit that is wired or wirelessly coupled to the host computer.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William H. Vong, Steven T. Kaneko, Kenneth R. Robertson, Kenneth V. Fry, Manolito E. Adan
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Patent number: 7030837Abstract: A host computer is provided with a main display unit and an auxiliary display unit. The host computer can free up screen space on the main display screen by routing certain types of display information to the auxiliary display unit for display. Display information can range from notification of events such as receipt of email, appointments, system messages, and information from separate applications. The auxiliary display panel may function as a user interface for audio, video, “push information”, MP3 player or become the hardware equivalent of a multimedia player. The auxiliary display panel may be integrated together with the host computer in the same physical structure or may be part of a standalone display unit that is wired or wirelessly coupled to the host computer.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2000Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William H. Vong, Steven T. Kaneko, Kenneth R. Robertson, Kenneth V. Fry, Manolito E. Adan
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Patent number: 6480372Abstract: A computer system has a keyboard storage portion and carrier. The computer system may be a personal computer capable of generating a control signal. A keyboard holding carrier slides in and out of a processing housing. This enables selective positioning of a keyboard within the processing housing. A drive mechanism imparts reciprocal movement to the carrier and a drive control system is responsive to the control signal from the personal computer. Also included is a sensor connected to the drive mechanism that determines a position of the carrier relative to the personal computer.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2000Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William H. Vong, Steven T. Kaneko, Kenneth R. Robertson, Kenneth V. Fry, Manolito E. Adan, Steven W. Fisher, Gregory G. Jones, Carl J. Ledbetter
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Patent number: 5929840Abstract: A system for preventing inadvertent wrapping of a cursor generated on a computer display detects the location of the cursor in proximity with a border of the display and determines whether a user actually intends the cursor to wrap to the opposite side of the display. The system considers a variety of factors to determine whether the user actually intends to wrap the cursor. The time for which the user moves the cursor against the border, the distance that the cursor would have moved but for the border, and the velocity or acceleration with which the cursor approaches the border can all be considered by the system in determining whether or not to permit the wrapping of the cursor. The system automatically generates an indicator signal to permit the cursor to wrap from one side of the display to the opposite side.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1994Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Timothy T. Brewer, Paul E. Henderson, Jr., Kenneth R. Robertson, Anthony R. Claflin, Alan W. McRobert
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Patent number: 5786818Abstract: A system and method for minimizing clicks in the operation of a graphical user interface such as the WINDOWS operating environment is disclosed. Provided for minimizing the need for clicking to operate a graphical user interface is a "Focus" feature, which essentially eliminates the need to click. In particular, the Focus feature eliminates the need to single click on predetermined windows and applications in order to establish a "focus". That is, as a user moves a pointer around the screen in Windows, the Focus feature essentially follows the pointer and the equivalent of a single click is sent to objects such as icons or system menus for the desktop environment, such as file manager and program manager in the explorer window of version 3.1, or such as to system menus when the pointer passes over them.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1996Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Timothy T. Brewer, Daniel S. Hoeger, Lora K. McCambridge, Teresa L. Kelsey, Anthony R. Claflin, Kenneth R. Robertson, Michael W. Van Flandern
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Patent number: 5611040Abstract: A system and method for minimizing clicks in the operation of a graphical user interface such as the WINDOWS operating environment is disclosed. The invention emulates a double click (referred to as the "ClickSaver" feature) which virtually eliminates the need to double click thereby making Windows easier for both the novice and experienced Windows user. A ClickSaver process determines the type of window on which a single click has occurred and, if ClickSaver is enabled and the window has been deemed eligible for a double click such as an icon or control menu, the ClickSaver process sends a double click signal in order to activate the application.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1995Date of Patent: March 11, 1997Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Timothy T. Brewer, Daniel S. Hoeger, Lora K. McCambridge, Teresa L. Kelsey, Anthony R. Claflin, Kenneth R. Robertson, Michael W. Van Flandern
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Patent number: 5598183Abstract: A system determining an intended cursor location on the computer display screen and automatically repositions the cursor at the intended location. If the user selects a command that alters the contents of the display, such as opening a new window, the system analyzes the new screen display to determine whether there are user selectable options associated with the new screen display. The system determines if one of the user selectable options is a default option and automatically positions the cursor at the default option. If the new screen display is an application program, the system attempts to locate a user selectable option and repositions the cursor at the user selectable option. When the new window is closed, the system returns the cursor to the position it was at before the new window was opened. The system also predicts an intended location for a screen display that has not been altered, and automatically positions the cursor at the intended location.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1995Date of Patent: January 28, 1997Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth R. Robertson, Paul E. Henderson, Jr., Samuel H. Smith, Carl T. Hellings, James A. Andrews, Eric W. Hanson, Timothy T. Brewer, Teresa L. Kelsey, Anthony R. Claflin, Daniel S. Hoeger, Lora K. McCambridge
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Patent number: 5596347Abstract: A system determining an intended cursor location on the computer display screen and automatically repositions the cursor at the intended location. If the user selects a command that alters the contents of the display, such as opening a new window, the system analyzes the new screen display to determine whether there are user selectable options associated with the new screen display. The system determines if one of the user selectable options is a default option and automatically positions the cursor at the default option. If the new screen display is an application program, the system attempts to locate a user selectable option and repositions the cursor at the user selectable option. When the new window is closed, the system returns the cursor to the position it was at before the new window was opened. The system also predicts an intended location for a screen display that has not been altered, and automatically positions the cursor at the intended location.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1995Date of Patent: January 21, 1997Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth R. Robertson, Paul E. Henderson, Jr., Samuel H. Smith, Carl T. Hellings, James A. Andrews, Eric W. Hanson, Timothy T. Brewer, Teresa L. Kelsey, Anthony R. Claflin, Daniel S. Hoeger, Lora K. McCambridge
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Patent number: 5559943Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 27, 1994Date of Patent: September 24, 1996Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: 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