Patents by Inventor Robert G. Johnston, Jr.

Robert G. Johnston, Jr. 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: 8531480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20100269888
    Abstract: A system for the selectable adjustment of an angle of elevation of groups of PV panels or panel arrays, relative to a roof to which the panels are attached, includes a platform, upon or thru the roof. The platform including horizontally secured rails. Also included are a parallel series of lower couplings, each member of the series provided upon the rails, and having a transverse distance between them sufficient to accommodate a PV panel array. Each of the couplings are provided with integral extensions or tabs, each having an aperture within a portion not in engagement with the platform. The system also includes linear support members secured to undersides of the panel arrays to be selectably elevated, each of the support members substantially co-planar with the rails of the parallel series of lower couplings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventor: Robert G. Johnston, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100011306
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph RUFF, Robert G. JOHNSTON, JR., Robert ULRICH
  • Patent number: 7609279
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 7499024
    Abstract: A method and apparatus providing visual feedback to a computer user while dragging selected text is described. As its first step, the processing logic creates a text object from the selected text once the computer user has initiated a drag. Simultaneously, the selected text is visually de-emphasized. Secondly, the processing logic snaps the text object to the cursor so that the text object follows the cursor without obscuring text at the insertion point. Finally, when the computer user selects the final insertion point, the selected text is visually zoomed from the source location to the final insertion point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Scott Jenson
  • Patent number: 6958758
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Ulrich, Robert G. Johnston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6909437
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6731310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Craycroft, Jeffrey R. Cobb, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert R. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6710782
    Abstract: A method and system are described for creating and editing a theme associated with a graphical user interface (GUI). In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a theme is selected from a plurality of themes. The theme is edited by modifying information associated with at least one GUI definition object, wherein the at least one GUI definition object is associated with the theme. Information associated with the at least one GUI definition object is stored as part of the theme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6690356
    Abstract: A method and apparatus providing visual feedback to a computer user while dragging selected text is described. As its first step, the processing logic creates a text object from the selected text once the computer user has initiated a drag. Simultaneously, the selected text is visually de-emphasized. Secondly, the processing logic snaps the text object to the cursor so that the text object follows the cursor without obscuring text at the insertion point. Finally, when the computer user selects the final insertion point, the selected text is visually zoomed from the source location to the final insertion point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Scott Jenson
  • Patent number: 6664981
    Abstract: The program code for control objects in a graphical user interface is organized in a multi-level hierarchial structure. At one level of the structure, each different type of control defines a class of objects. The definition of a class includes most, if not all, of the functionality associated with the objects of that class. In addition, the class definition includes the overall structure of the object, such as the relative positions of different elements which make up the object. The actual appearance of these elements is defined by user selectable software that resides at a lower level of the hierarchy. Using this approach, only one instance of the program code which defines the functionality and overall structure of each object is required, resulting in smaller the overall memory requirements of the program code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan B. Ashe, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Joseph A. Ruff, Daniel Clifford
  • Patent number: 6466228
    Abstract: A method and system are described for creating and editing a theme associated with a graphical user interface (GUI). In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, at least one GUI object is selected from a library of GUI objects. The theme is edited by adding the at least one GUI object to the theme. Information associated with the at least one GUI object is stored as part of the theme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Ulrich, Robert G. Johnston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6404433
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6307574
    Abstract: The program code for control objects in a graphical user interface is organized in a multi-level hierarchial structure. At one level of the structure, each different type of control defines a class of objects. The definition of a class includes most, if not all, of the functionality associated with the objects of that class. In addition, the class definition includes the overall structure of the object, such as the relative positions of different elements which make up the object. The actual appearance of these elements is defined by user selectable software that resides at a lower level of the hierarchy. Using this approach, only one instance of the program code which defines the functionality and overall structure of each object is required, resulting in smaller the overall memory requirements of the program code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan B. Ashe, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Joseph A. Ruff, Daniel Clifford
  • Patent number: 6243102
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6239795
    Abstract: Systems and method for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. Themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being applied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Ulrich, Robert G. Johnston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6104391
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are disclosed. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert R. Ulrich, Timothy Craycroft, Jeffrey R. Cobb
  • Patent number: 5963206
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. Themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Ulrich, Robert G. Johnston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5959624
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are disclosed. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert R. Ulrich, Timothy Craycroft, Jeffrey R. Cobb
  • Patent number: 5880729
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an enhanced visual appearance to a graphical user interface are described. Control elements portrayed by the graphical user interface on a display are associated with at least two states. When transitioning between states, an animated transition effect can be provided to provide further user or designer customization of the interface appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Elizabeth Robinson Moller, Robert Ulrich