Patents by Inventor Michael S. Brown

Michael S. Brown 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: 8677113
    Abstract: A method and system for providing e-mail messages to a receiving e-mail application. The e-mail messages as sent from a sending e-mail application being secure and in opaque signed format. The opaque signed e-mail messages being converted to clear signed e-mail messages by decoding extracting message content and digital signatures. The clear signed e-mails being sent to a receiving e-mail application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8676929
    Abstract: A system and method for pushing information to a mobile device are disclosed herein. A triggering event is detected, and information relevant to the detected trigger event is determined. The information is located in one of a plurality of memory location channels, wherein the information is stored in the one of the plurality of memory location channels based on a category of the information matching a pre-defined category of the one of the plurality of memory location channels. When the information relevant to the detected triggering event comprises content information, a meta tag is inserted to the content information. The meta tag relates to display of specific one or more advertisements with the content information. The content information that includes the meta tag is transmitted to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Mihal Lazaridis, Gary P. Mousseau, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8676793
    Abstract: Standard word lists that are often used for such operations as predictive text, spell checking, and word completion are based on general linguistic data that might not accurately reflect actual text usage patterns of particular users. Systems and methods of building and using a custom word list for use in text operations on an electronic device are provided. A collection of text items associated with a user of the electronic device is scanned to identify words in the text items. A weighting is then assigned to each identified word, and the words and corresponding weightings are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Lowles, Jason T. Griffin, Michael S Brown
  • Patent number: 8670566
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing additional security for data being transmitted across a wireless connection that has been established using a known wireless protocol (e.g. Bluetooth) are described. An encryption key is exchanged between a computing device (e.g. a mobile device) and a wireless peripheral output device (e.g. a printer, a headset). In some embodiments, the encryption key is generated at the peripheral output device. Data associated with the encryption key is output at the peripheral output device, which can be input by the user at the computing device. The encryption key is then recovered at the computing device from the input, thereby completing the key exchange. The encryption key can then be used to encrypt and decrypt data transmitted over the established wireless connection, providing additional security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael G. Kirkup, Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8667384
    Abstract: There is disclosed a user interface for editing photo tags. In an embodiment, the user interface embodies a method of editing photo tags, comprising: displaying a photo on a display; providing a photo tagging mode for editing tags for the displayed photo; and for each tag used to tag a subject or object in the photo, identifying the tag type and associating a unique pointer for each tag type to highlight the corresponding tagged subject or object. The method may further comprise: displaying a tag list of tags used to tag a subject or object in the photo; and identifying the tag type of each tag in the tag list. In an embodiment, context sensitive information may be accessed for each tag depending on the tag type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Gerhard D. Klassen, Terrill Dent
  • Patent number: 8667603
    Abstract: Systems and methods for searching secure electronic messages. An input search is received for use in searching content of electronic messages. The search includes searching content of secure electronic messages. The results of the search are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Michael K. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup, Herbert A. Little
  • Publication number: 20140059342
    Abstract: Methods and systems for handling on an electronic device a secure message to be sent to a recipient. Data is accessed about a security key associated with the recipient. The received data is used to perform a validity check related to sending a secure message to the recipient. The validity check may uncover an issue that exists with sending a secure message to the recipient. A reason is determined for the validity check issue and is provided to the mobile device's user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Neil Patrick Adams
  • Patent number: 8645684
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing messages within a wireless communications system are disclosed. A server within the wireless communications system maintains a list of certificates contained in devices that use the server. The server synchronizes or updates the list of certificates based on information contained in message to and from the device. By providing a server with certificates associated with devices that use the server, and providing a system and method for synchronizing the certificates between the device and server, the server can implement powerful features that will improve the efficiency, speed and user satisfaction of the devices. The exemplary embodiments also enable advantageous bandwidth savings by preventing transmission of certificates unnecessarily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams
  • Patent number: 8640950
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the authentication of contactless payments attempted by a device having embedded contactless payment functionality. In particular, the disclosure is directed to systems and methods that utilize authentication schemes that already exist on a device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. One example of such authentication schemes is the use of password protection to lock or unlock the device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. Using the password protection functionality may provide varying levels of authentication protection based on the desires of the user. A number of exemplary uses of such a method and apparatus are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams, Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140031008
    Abstract: A system and method for handling message indicator processing on a wireless mobile communications device. Message state data is stored in a cache for use in generating message indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael S. BROWN, Neil P. ADAMS, Herbert A. LITTLE
  • Patent number: 8615661
    Abstract: A method of handling cryptographic information in a communication comprising body elements and attachment elements to a mobile device includes the steps of determining if the communication includes an attachment element comprising cryptographic information and converting the attachment element into a body element upon determining that the communication includes an attachment element comprising cryptographic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Albert Hecht-Enns, David F. Tapuska, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8607326
    Abstract: A secure message that includes an attachment is received at a server. The secure message may have a secure layer that indicates that the secure message is at least digitally signed. The secure message may be provided without the attachment to the mobile device over a wireless network. A request may be received from the mobile device to access the attachment. The request may include an attachment identifier (ID) that identifies the attachment in accordance with a message-attachment indexing system. In response to the request to access the attachment, the server may perform an index lookup to find the attachment based upon the attachment ID, may look through the secure layer of the secure message in order to locate the attachment within the secure message, and may render at least an initial portion of the attachment by the server in a format for viewing by the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Neil P. Adams, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8607334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for secure e-mail message processing. A device is configured to receive a secure electronic message. The message may then be processed to determine whether the sender's address provided in the message is indicative of the sender's address provided in a sender's security-related certificate. A message's recipient can be notified based upon the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup, Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little
  • Patent number: 8601261
    Abstract: Methods and systems for handling on an electronic device a secure message to be sent to a recipient. Data is accessed about a security key associate with the recipient. The received data is used to perform a validity check related to sending a secure message to the recipient. The validity check may uncover an issue that exists with sending a secure message to the recipient. A reason is determined for the validity check issue and is provided to the mobile device's user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Neil P. Adams
  • Patent number: 8595697
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to software testing and provide a method, system and computer program product for serializing a templated markup language representation of test artifacts. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for configuring a test plan for serialization can be provided. The method can include selecting a template of a test plan through a graphical user interface of a test plan markup generation module executing in memory by a processor of a host computer. The method also can include extracting a table of contents from the selected template such that the table of contents includes at least one reference to at least one test case. Finally, the method can include transforming at least one portion of the table of contents including a test case into a markup language representation of the template of the test plan, for instance an XML representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Paul F. McMahan, Sachin P. Patel
  • Patent number: 8586252
    Abstract: A reactor system is integrated internally within an anode-side cavity of a fuel cell. The reactor system is configured to convert higher hydrocarbons to smaller species while mitigating the lower production of solid carbon. The reactor system may incorporate one or more of a pre-reforming section, an anode exhaust gas recirculation device, and a reforming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Acumentrics Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Edward Fernandes, Michael S. Brown, Praveen Cheekatamarla, Thomas Deng, James Dimitrakopoulos, Anthony F. Litka
  • Patent number: 8583056
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communication device also has at least one wired communication port. Enhanced security is achieved by permitting the device to automatically disable one or more wireless ports when connected to a wired port. Specific combinations/permutations of such automatic control may be effected by use of an IT Policy also resident on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Michael G. Kirkup, Michael K. Brown, Herbert A. Little, Ian Robertson, Michael S. Brown
  • Patent number: 8577357
    Abstract: A device and method for generating user notifications associated with tasks that are pending completion on a mobile device. When additional input is required from a user of the mobile device to complete performance of a task and is not being received from the user within a predefined time period, at least one form of user notification is generated. The particular form or forms of user notification are defined by a user profile associated with the user. User notifications may comprise visual, audible, and/or vibratory alerts, and different forms of these user notifications may be generated in a sequence. The volume of audible alerts or the period between periodic user notifications may vary over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Michael S. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup
  • Patent number: 8578057
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a system for providing data access between an information source and a mobile communication device includes a transcoding system and a first network device. The transcoding system includes a plurality of transcoders, and each transcoder is operable to transcode information content from a respective first content type into a respective second content type. The first network device is in communication with the transcoding system and includes a connection handler system. The connection handler system is operable to receive connection data for a connection between the information source and the mobile communication device and to select a corresponding connection handler. The connection handler is operable to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders to transcode the information content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Salim H. Omar, Russell N. Owen, Herbert A. Little, Tomasz K. Rybak, Michael S. Brown, David P. Yach
  • Patent number: 8564590
    Abstract: Processes and techniques for imparting three-dimensional visual characteristics to images in a two-dimensional space are described. In one implementation, a graphical image is received in a two-dimensional space (e.g., a user interface on a computing device). A shape palette is presented to a user, the shape palette comprising a visual representation of three-dimensional visual information. Based on user markup of the shape palette, three-dimensional visual information is extracted from the shape palette and correlated with the graphical image. The three-dimensional visual information is processed to render the graphical image with three-dimensional visual characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tai-Pang Wu, Chi-Keung Tang, Michael S. Brown, Heung-Yeung Shum