Patents by Inventor Kenneth S. Norton

Kenneth S. Norton 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).

  • Publication number: 20240083007
    Abstract: A sander includes a housing defining a front end and a rear end relative to a direction of travel of the sander on a work surface, an actuator, and a battery platform. The housing supports a motor and has a grip disposed over the motor adjacent the front end and a handle positioned at or adjacent the rear end. The housing further supports a belt drive assembly configured to rotatably support a belt and having a belt plate extending a long a first plane. The actuator is supported by the handle. The battery platform is at least partially supported by and located above the handle. The battery platform defines a battery pack receptacle configured to support a battery pack. The battery platform is oriented along a second plane orientated at an acute angle relative to the first plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Norton, Jesse J. Jerabek, Kenneth M. Brazell, Garrett Long, Jacob S. Watrous, Mason A. Matlock, Isiah Daniel Smith
  • Patent number: 9760870
    Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling events are described. In some embodiments, a method comprises: at a computer system, obtaining a request to schedule a calendar event including a plurality of constraints. In response to the request, a plurality of candidate calendar events that meets at least two of the plurality of constraints is obtained. The plurality of candidate calendar events and a plurality of user-editable options corresponding to the plurality of constraints are concurrently presented for display. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes obtaining, via a user-editable option, a modification to a constraint in the plurality of constraints which is then used to update the plurality of candidate calendar events. In some embodiments, the user-editable options are determined, at least in part, by user preferences. In some embodiments, the plurality of user-editable options further corresponds to a designation of one or more invitees to the scheduled calendar event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Philip C. Nelson, David P. Marmaros, Joseph M. Ashear
  • Patent number: 9741020
    Abstract: A method and a system for identifying candidate conference rooms based on attendee locations identifies conference rooms in accordance with proximity between the one or more conference rooms and the respective attendee locations. The method includes receiving a conference room scheduling request for a respective meeting. The request can include additional constraints such as requesting a recurring meeting over a period of time. The respective locations of the attendees for the respective meeting are identified, and then one or more conference rooms are identified in accordance with proximity between the one or more conference rooms and the respective attendee locations. Information concerning a respective conference room of the one or more identified conference rooms is then transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Justin H. Min, Mark R. Thomas, Kenneth S. Norton
  • Patent number: 9721233
    Abstract: Systems and methods for just-in-time scheduling of conference rooms based on a plurality of conference room scheduling requests are provided. In some embodiments a plurality of conference room scheduling requests are obtained. A conference room scheduling request in the plurality of conference room scheduling requests includes at least one meeting constraint. The plurality of conference room scheduling requests is serviceable by a plurality of conference rooms. At least one conference room in the plurality of conference rooms is available for assignment. Prior to assigning the plurality of conference rooms in accordance with the plurality of conference scheduling requests, polling is conducted for a predefined trigger event corresponding to the at least one meeting constraint. In response to detecting the predefined trigger event, the plurality of conference rooms is assigned in accordance with the plurality of conference scheduling requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Charles Stephen Wiles
  • Patent number: 9503861
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a geographic location of a mobile device are provided. In one aspect, a method includes determining a geographic location of the mobile device. The method also includes storing the determined geographic location in a geographic location history in a local memory of the mobile device. The geographic location of the mobile device is determined and stored in the geographic location history at a first time interval. The method also includes providing the geographic location history to a server at a second time interval. The second time interval is longer than the first time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Cheeran Verghese, Kenneth Joseph Leftin, Andrew Oplinger, Joseph Lapenna, Kenneth S. Norton
  • Patent number: 9131462
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a geographic location of a mobile device are provided. In one aspect, a method includes determining a geographic location of the mobile device. The method also includes storing the determined geographic location in a geographic location history in a local memory of the mobile device. The geographic location of the mobile device is determined and stored in the geographic location history at a first time interval. The method also includes providing the geographic location history to a server at a second time interval. The second time interval is longer than the first time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Cheeran Verghese, Kenneth Joseph Leftin, Andrew Oplinger, Joseph Lapenna, Kenneth S. Norton
  • Publication number: 20150193739
    Abstract: A method and a system for identifying candidate conference rooms based on attendee locations identifies conference rooms in accordance with proximity between the one or more conference rooms and the respective attendee locations. The method includes receiving a conference room scheduling request for a respective meeting. The request can include additional constraints such as requesting a recurring meeting over a period of time. The respective locations of the attendees for the respective meeting are identified, and then one or more conference rooms are identified in accordance with proximity between the one or more conference rooms and the respective attendee locations. Information concerning a respective conference room of the one or more identified conference rooms is then transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Justin H. Min, Mark R. Thomas, Kenneth S. Norton
  • Patent number: 8845436
    Abstract: A location-based game is provided in which users with mobile devices leave footprints associated with locations they physically occupy, allowing the users to control and interact with physical locations on computerized maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Charles Mendis, Taj Jay Campbell
  • Patent number: 8761797
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for varying location accuracy based on a current view of a digital map displayed at a user's mobile device. The displayed digital map includes a visual representation indicating a geographic location of a second mobile device of a second user on the digital map. A network request for an updated geographic location of the second mobile device is initiated based on the determined current map view and the geographic location of the second mobile device relative to the user's device. The network request specifies a degree of location accuracy for the updated geographic location of the second mobile device. The displayed visual representation for the second mobile device in the map view can then be updated based on the updated geographic location of the second mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Norton
  • Publication number: 20140108121
    Abstract: In methods and systems for allowing a user to book an appointment with a service provider, and for charging the service provider a fee for a successfully booked appointment, a user provides a search request via a client computer. In response, a calendar system provides search results including a link corresponding to a service provider. Upon user selection of the link corresponding to the service provider, the calendar system provides a calendar view showing available time slots of the service provider. The user selects an appointment time and available service, which initiates an appointment request to schedule an appointment with the service provider. Upon determining that the appointment request can be accepted, the calendar system books the appointment. Then the calendar system charges the service provider a pre-arranged fee for the booked appointment. In some embodiments the calendar system also collects payments from the user for the services provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Heather Folsom, Mikhail Leder, Daniel Thomasset, Jake Chambers
  • Patent number: 8504404
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing scheduling assistance are described. A computer-implemented method includes extracting from a request for scheduling a meeting a meeting location and a meeting start time in response to the request from a requester. The method includes retrieving, from an event database, event information for a preceding event occurring before the meeting. The event information includes an event location and an event end time. Travel time from the event location to the meeting location is determined, and a potential travel time scheduling conflict is identified when the travel time exceeds a time difference between the event end time and the meeting start time. Notification of the potential travel time scheduling conflict is provided to the requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Norton
  • Publication number: 20130117059
    Abstract: Systems and methods for just-in-time scheduling of conference rooms based on a plurality of conference room scheduling requests are provided. In some embodiments a plurality of conference room scheduling requests are obtained. A conference room scheduling request in the plurality of conference room scheduling requests includes at least one meeting constraint. The plurality of conference room scheduling requests is serviceable by a plurality of conference rooms. At least one conference room in the plurality of conference rooms is available for assignment. Prior to assigning the plurality of conference rooms in accordance with the plurality of conference scheduling requests, polling is conducted for a predefined trigger event corresponding to the at least one meeting constraint. In response to detecting the predefined trigger event, the plurality of conference rooms is assigned in accordance with the plurality of conference scheduling requests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Charles Stephen Wiles
  • Publication number: 20130117058
    Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling events are described. In some embodiments, a method comprises: at a computer system, obtaining a request to schedule a calendar event including a plurality of constraints. In response to the request, a plurality of candidate calendar events that meets at least two of the plurality of constraints is obtained. The plurality of candidate calendar events and a plurality of user-editable options corresponding to the plurality of constraints are concurrently presented for display. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes obtaining, via a user-editable option, a modification to a constraint in the plurality of constraints which is then used to update the plurality of candidate calendar events. In some embodiments, the user-editable options are determined, at least in part, by user preferences. In some embodiments, the plurality of user-editable options further corresponds to a designation of one or more invitees to the scheduled calendar event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Philip C. Nelson, David P. Marmaros, Joseph M. Ashear
  • Patent number: 8375034
    Abstract: A method for scheduling calendar events includes receiving a search request with a plurality of constraints, searching the calendaring system databases to obtain a set of candidate calendar events that meet at least some of the constraints, calculating event reschedule factors for each candidate calendar event for which at least one participant has a conflicting calendar event, ranking the set of candidate calendar events based in part of the event reschedule factors, and preparing them for presentation. In various embodiments and circumstances, event reschedule factors correspond to one or more of: the ease of rescheduling a conflicting calendar event, an ease of overwriting a conflicting calendar event, the response status of the participants, the number of participants in the conflicting calendar event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, David P. Marmaros
  • Patent number: 8346589
    Abstract: A method and a system for just-in-time scheduling of conference rooms based on a plurality of conference room scheduling requests, and then transmitting information concerning conference room assignments is described. One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method. The method includes scheduling conference rooms just-in-time, in response to a predefined triggering event. The method includes retrieving stored conference room scheduling information corresponding to a respective conference room scheduling request. A combination of conference room assignments is selected for a plurality of conference room scheduling requests, in accordance with conference room assignment fitness scores for each of a plurality of potential combinations of conference room assignments. Conference rooms are assigned to respective requests in accordance with the selected combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Charles Stephen Wiles
  • Patent number: 8346590
    Abstract: A method and system for scheduling or re-scheduling calendar events is described. One aspect of the invention involves: receiving a calendar search request to schedule a calendar event including at least one participant and a time of meeting constraint; obtaining information identifying one or more preferences associated with the at least one participant, at least one of the preferences based on the at least one participant's historical calendar activity over a predetermined period of time; searching one or more databases in a calendaring system to obtain a set of candidate calendar events that meet at least a subset of the plurality of constraints; ranking the set of candidate calendar events based on the plurality of constraints and the one or more preferences; and preparing for presentation at least a subset of the ranked set of candidate calendar events, each candidate calendar event including a specified start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Philip C. Nelson, David P. Marmaros, Joseph M. Ashear
  • Publication number: 20120150580
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing scheduling assistance are described. A computer-implemented method includes extracting from a request for scheduling a meeting a meeting location and a meeting start time in response to the request from a requester. The method includes retrieving, from an event database, event information for a preceding event occurring before the meeting. The event information includes an event location and an event end time. Travel time from the event location to the meeting location is determined, and a potential travel time scheduling conflict is identified when the travel time exceeds a time difference between the event end time and the meeting start time. Notification of the potential travel time scheduling conflict is provided to the requester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Norton
  • Publication number: 20120136572
    Abstract: A method and a system for determining a time to provide an event reminder based on a plurality of factors, including the location of a user, or the distance between the location of the user and an event location is described. A computer-implemented method includes determining the event reminder time, in response to a predefined triggering event. The method includes retrieving event information for the respective event, including an event location and an event start time. An origin of the respective user is obtained, and a travel time is determined for the respective user to travel from the origin to the event location. In accordance with the event start time and travel time, an event reminder time is determined for the respective event. Also methods and systems for providing scheduling assistance based on the travel time are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Norton
  • Publication number: 20110184772
    Abstract: A method and system for scheduling or re-scheduling calendar events is described. One aspect of the invention involves: receiving a calendar search request to schedule a calendar event including at least one participant and a time of meeting constraint; obtaining information identifying one or more preferences associated with the at least one participant, at least one of the preferences based on the at least one participant's historical calendar activity over a predetermined period of time; searching one or more databases in a calendaring system to obtain a set of candidate calendar events that meet at least a subset of the plurality of constraints; ranking the set of candidate calendar events based on the plurality of constraints and the one or more preferences; and preparing for presentation at least a subset of the ranked set of candidate calendar events, each candidate calendar event including a specified start time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: KENNETH S. NORTON, Philip C. Nelson, David P. Marmaros, Joseph M. Ashear
  • Publication number: 20110184943
    Abstract: A method for scheduling calendar events includes receiving a search request with a plurality of constraints, searching the calendaring system databases to obtain a set of candidate calendar events that meet at least some of the constraints, calculating event reschedule factors for each candidate calendar event for which at least one participant has a conflicting calendar event, ranking the set of candidate calendar events based in part of the event reschedule factors, and preparing them for presentation. In various embodiments and circumstances, event reschedule factors correspond to one or more of: the ease of rescheduling a conflicting calendar event, an ease of overwriting a conflicting calendar event, the response status of the participants, the number of participants in the conflicting calendar event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth S. NORTON, David P. Marmaros