Patents by Inventor Laura Mahan

Laura Mahan 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: 20120285274
    Abstract: A system and method of obtaining magnetometer readings for performing a magnetometer calibration are provided. The method comprises detecting initiation of a magnetometer calibration; displaying a plurality of visual elements representing at least a pair of movements, each of the movements orienting a device comprising the magnetometer in substantially opposite positions along a respective axis; and obtaining at least one magnetometer reading during movement of the device. The visual elements may include one in an upright position, one in an upside down position, one facing a first direction and one illustrating the device facing in a second direction. A path may also be defined between the plurality of visual elements using one or more arrows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Nazih Almalki, Laura Mahan, Jeffrey Alton Hugh Dods
  • Publication number: 20120206129
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for calibrating a magnetometer of a mobile device. The method comprises displaying a visual indication of a gestural path on a display of the portable electronic device, monitoring for changes in orientation of the portable electronic device, changing the visual indication in response to the monitored changes in the orientation of the portable electronic device, measuring a magnetic field with the magnetometer, and calibrating the magnetometer in accordance with measurements of the magnetic field acquired at different points along the gestural path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Laura Mahan, Jeffrey Charles Bos, Przemyslaw Abratowski, Christopher Harris Snow, Steve Robert Grenier, Nazih Almalki
  • Publication number: 20120206375
    Abstract: A method includes: detecting a first touch at a first location on a touch-sensitive display; detecting a second touch at a second location on the touch-sensitive display; and displaying a navigation indicator on the touch-sensitive display in response to detecting the second touch while first touch contact is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Steven Henry FYKE, Jason Tyler GRIFFIN, Kevin Howard ORR, Laura MAHAN
  • Publication number: 20120162263
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device having a movable display screen is used to capture image data. The movable display screen is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position a first portion of the display screen is hidden from view and a second portion of the display screen is viewable, and in the second position the first portion and the second portion of the display screen are viewable, the handheld electronic device having an image sensor, an orientation sensor for sensing an orientation of the handheld electronic device, and at least one position sensor for sensing a position of the display screen. Device orientation information is received from the orientation sensor, display screen position information is received from the position sensor and image data is received from the image sensor representing an image. An image orientation for the image is determined in dependence on both the display screen position information and the device orientation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jason Tyler GRIFFIN, Laura MAHAN
  • Publication number: 20120017148
    Abstract: A method of interacting with a map displayed on a mobile device entails displaying a map in a map dialog on a display of the mobile device, displaying control buttons on the display but outside the map dialog, and receiving user input to switch between a map manipulation mode, where user input manipulates the map, and a control button mode, where user input enables navigation between the control buttons. In one implementation, switching between the two modes permits the same user interface element to be used for navigation/manipulation of the map and of the control buttons, depending on which mode is activated. In one implementation, clicking the track pad toggles between the map manipulation mode and the control button mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Anthony WATT, Raymond Lee CANTON, Laura MAHAN
  • Patent number: 6853711
    Abstract: A method for augmenting communications between called and calling parties with context information helps either or both parties decide whether and how to accept or initiate a communications event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Michel A. Brisebois, Marilyn F. St-George, Laura Mahan
  • Patent number: 6738809
    Abstract: To provide telephony-like interfaces to a computer network, a computer system has a visual display device that continually displays a network status icon indicating network status information. The icon can have segments corresponding to different communications environments, and the icon and the segments will change some characteristic, such as shape, size, or color, to indicate the presence of some network event or the status of some network parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Michel A. Brisebois, Desmond J. Ryan, Marilyn French-St. George, Laura Mahan, John I. Johnson, Jobe L. W. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6463131
    Abstract: A system and method for providing multisensory signaling capabilities enables a user to manage the receipt of incoming communication events, after an initial notification sequence, using multiple media options. Specifically, a remote device notifies a user of incoming communication events and offers real-time coupling of the notifications with communication management options. The message is delivered or otherwise processed according to the option selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Marilyn French-St. George, Mitch A. Brisebois, Laura A. Mahan
  • Patent number: 6369803
    Abstract: An active edge user interface includes dynamically configurable flexible touch areas positioned near the perimeter of a display to support interactive communication between a user and a user environment for flexible active touch areas surrounding a display. The interface allows for multiple levels of sensitivity, texture, key travel, and varying widths of active touch areas based on the user environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Michel A. Brisebois, Laura Mahan, Marilyn French-St. George, Frederic F. Trasmundi, Jobe L. W. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6359550
    Abstract: An array of stimulators associated with a personal communications device for providing the user with tactile messaging respecting call processing or call network status. The array is positioned on the device so as to be in contact with the user while the terminal is carried or worn, on a wrist, for example. The stimulators of the array, are activated independently so as to provide the user with an encoded message of call processes such as alerting, dial tone, busy signal, etc. Preferably each status is associated with one of a set of unique patterns of operation of the stimulators recognizable by the user as tactile image or pattern of operation, rather than necessitating tactile sensation of individual sequences of each stimulator. Advantageously audio and haptic signalling is synchronised to provide a tactile warning to alert user to impending audio signal, and thereby allow a lower level, i.e. quieter, audio signal to be used, because the user is primed by the tactile signal to expect the audio signalling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Michel A. Brisebois, Marilyn French-St. George, Laura A. Mahan, Andre Van Schyndel
  • Publication number: 20020012425
    Abstract: A method for augmenting communications between called and calling parties with context information helps either or both parties decide whether and how to accept or initiate a communications event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventors: Michel A. Brisebois, Marilyn F. St. Geroge, Laura Mahan
  • Publication number: 20010043189
    Abstract: An active edge user interface includes dynamically configurable flexible touch areas positioned near the perimeter of a display to support interactive communication between a user and a user environment for flexible active touch areas surrounding a display. The interface allows for multiple levels of sensitivity, texture, key travel, and varying widths of active touch areas based on the user environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: MICHEL A. BRISEBOIS, LAURA MAHAN, MARILYN FRENCH-ST. GEORGE, FREDERIC F. TRASMUNDI, JOBE L. W. ROBERTS
  • Patent number: 6310944
    Abstract: A method for augmenting communications between called and calling parties with context information helps either or both parties decide whether and how to accept or initiate a communications event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Michel A. Brisebois, Marilyn F. St-George, Laura Mahan
  • Patent number: 6122348
    Abstract: A system and method for providing multisensory signaling capabilities enables a user to manage the receipt of incoming communication events, after an initial notification sequence, using multiple media options. Specifically, a remote device notifies a user of incoming communication events and offers real-time coupling of the notifications with communication management options. The message is delivered or otherwise processed according to the option selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: Marilyn French-St. George, Mitch A. Brisebois, Laura A. Mahan
  • Patent number: 5828965
    Abstract: Portable wireless telephone handset with a flap movable upon a housing. In a first position the flap is close to a speaker to enable the flap to be disposed near to a user's ear for the user to receive personal low volume sound from the speaker. In a second position, the flap is further from the speaker to detract from use of the speaker near to the user's ear. In the second position of the flap, the speaker operates in loudspeaker mode. A switch is provided to change the speaker between loudspeaker and low volume sound mode, the switch operation being dependent upon flap position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventors: Michael Brown, Laura A. Mahan, Andre J. Van Schyndel, Hugh M. Collins, Frederic Simard, Christopher M. Forrester
  • Patent number: D371360
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventors: Laura A. Mahan, Neal T. Cowan, John I. Johnson, Frederic F. Trasmundi