Patents by Inventor Philip A. van Allen

Philip A. van Allen 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: 7177954
    Abstract: A system and method for providing interaction between a user and a computer system is disclosed. A computer system has a sensor configured to read and interpret a content hotspot and to read and interpret a context hotspot, and a processor configured to perform an operation that is based on content information interpreted from the content hotspot. The operation is influenced by context information interpreted from the context hotspot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
    Inventors: Philip A. van Allen, J. Edward Carryer
  • Patent number: 6540141
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having a certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dougherty, S. Joy Mountford, Jesse L. Dorogusker, James H. Boyden, Philip A. van Allen, Daniel E. Cummings, Brygg A. Ullmer
  • Patent number: 6439459
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book, magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dougherty, S. Joy Mountford, Jesse L. Dorogusker, James H. Boyden, Philip A. van Allen, Daniel E. Cummings, Brygg A. Ullmer
  • Patent number: 6411994
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a computer interface system for providing content to a user using at least two encoded hotspots. A first hotspot is a context hotspot which activates functions in the computer system, selects databases and/or sets selection criteria. A second, content, hotspot is decoded based on its encoded information as well as the information decoded from the context hotspot. Content of the second hotspot includes direction and indirection content and may access data or executable programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
    Inventors: Philip A. van Allen, J. Edward Carryer
  • Publication number: 20020002598
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a variety of computer interface methods and systems for providing content to a user through an indirection. One interface system has an encoded physical medium, a sensor, a network device, a routing server, and a content server. The encoded physical medium has at least one indirection hotspot with a content ID encoded therein. The sensor decodes the content ID and then transmits the decoded content ID to a network device. In turn, the network device transmits the decoded content ID over a network to the routing server. The routing server responds to the receipt of the content ID (which is essentially a request for content) by redirecting the request to a given content address corresponding to the given content ID. Additionally, the routing server may log information regarding the content request on a service access log maintained on a computer readable medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: PHILIP A. VAN ALLEN, J. EDWARD CARRYER
  • Patent number: 6164541
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book, magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Interval Research Group
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dougherty, S. Joy Mountford, Jesse L. Dorogusker, James H. Boyden, Philip A. van Allen, Daniel E. Cummings, Brygg A. Ullmer
  • Patent number: 6076734
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book, magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dougherty, S. Joy Mountford, Jesse L. Dorogusker, James H. Boyden, Philip A. van Allen, Daniel E. Cummings, Brygg A. Ullmer