Patents by Inventor Roland E. Williams
Roland E. Williams 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).
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Patent number: 9842143Abstract: Information delivery systems and methods are disclosed. In a system according to the invention, there is a database system, a user appliance, a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The database system may have records that are alterable by a service provider. The user appliance may have an input device with polysemous keys. Further, the user appliance may also have a monitor, which is able to provide the user with information corresponding to records of the database system.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2006Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: ZI CORPORATION OF CANADA, INC.Inventors: William J. Templeton-Steadman, Roland E. Williams
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Publication number: 20160014259Abstract: A method of selecting a service and inputting information to that service, in which an input device having keys is provided. When a key is pressed and released quickly, the user indicates a desire to enter a symbol on the key in order to enter symbols of an entry string. In addition, one or more of the keys may also be used to identify a service and also supply that service with the entry string. For example, by pressing and holding such a key, the entry string may be delimited and then sent to a service corresponding to the pressed key. In this manner, a single key press may be used to both delimit an entry string and also send the entry string to the service. The service may use the delimited entry string to retrieve information, which is then supplied to the input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventor: Roland E. WILLIAMS
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Patent number: 9167075Abstract: A method of selecting a service and inputting information to that service, in which an input device having keys is provided. When a key is pressed and released quickly, the user indicates a desire to enter a symbol on the key in order to enter symbols of an entry string. In addition, one or more of the keys may also be used to identify a service and also supply that service with the entry string. For example, by pressing and holding such a key, the entry string may be delimited and then sent to a service corresponding to the pressed key. In this manner, a single key press may be used to both delimit an entry string and also send the entry string to the service. The service may use the delimited entry string to retrieve information, which is then supplied to the input device.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: ZI CORPORATION OF CANADA, INC.Inventor: Roland E. Williams
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Patent number: 9069822Abstract: User input from a reduced keypad is disambiguated and compared with a first dynamic lexicon, and predicted matches (e.g. either a single word or phrase) are offered. If a user continues to type beyond a boundary condition, then input is no longer predicted from the first lexicon, but instead is interpreted as a request for matches from a second, quasi-static lexicon allowing words or phrases to be entered. When the entry is accepted, data is transmitted to a remote receiver and may be parsed as an inquiry for subsequent operation. Following acceptance, the apparatus invokes a program suitable for interacting with the response generated to the inquiry.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Inventors: Weigen Qiu, Roland E. Williams, William J. Templeton-Steadman
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Publication number: 20140074883Abstract: User input from a reduced keypad is disambiguated and compared with a first dynamic lexicon, and predicted matches (e.g. either a single word or phrase) are offered. If a user continues to type beyond a boundary condition, then input is no longer predicted from the first lexicon, but instead is interpreted as a request for matches from a second, quasi-static lexicon allowing words or phrases to be entered. When the entry is accepted, data is transmitted to a remote receiver and may be parsed as an inquiry for subsequent operation. Following acceptance, the apparatus invokes a program suitable for interacting with the response generated to the inquiry.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Inventors: Weigen QIU, Roland E. WILLIAMS, William J. TEMPLETON-STEADMAN
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Patent number: 8589417Abstract: User input from a reduced keypad is disambiguated and compared with a first dynamic lexicon, and predicted matches (e.g. either a single word or phrase) are offered. If a user continues to type beyond a boundary condition, then input is no longer predicted from the first lexicon, but instead is interpreted as a request for matches from a second, quasi-static lexicon allowing words or phrases to be entered. When the entry is accepted, data is transmitted to a remote receiver and may be parsed as an inquiry for subsequent operation. Following acceptance, the apparatus invokes a program suitable for interacting with the response generated to the inquiry.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: ZI Corporation of Canada, Inc.Inventors: Weigen Qiu, Roland E. Williams, William J. Templeton-Steadman
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Patent number: 8413050Abstract: Presentation of results of a predictive analysis of text is delayed until entry of the text by a user is paused by a particular amount of time. The results are available for selection by the user for another particular amount of time. After the other particular amount of time is expired, the results are no longer available to for selection. If a particular result is selected, the selected result either replaces or supplements the entered text.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Zi Corporation of Canada, Inc.Inventors: Todd G. Simpson, Roland E. Williams, Robert B. O'Dell
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Publication number: 20130005313Abstract: A method of selecting a service and inputting information to that service, in which an input device having keys is provided. When a key is pressed and released quickly, the user indicates a desire to enter a symbol on the key in order to enter symbols of an entry string. In addition, one or more of the keys may also be used to identify a service and also supply that service with the entry string. For example, by pressing and holding such a key, the entry string may be delimited and then sent to a service corresponding to the pressed key. In this manner, a single key press may be used to both delimit an entry string and also send the entry string to the service. The service may use the delimited entry string to retrieve information, which is then supplied to the input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventor: Roland E. WILLIAMS
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Patent number: 8305239Abstract: The invention may be embodied as a method of selecting a service and inputting information to that service. In one such method, an input device having keys is provided. When such a key is pressed and released quickly, the user indicates a desire to enter a symbol on the key in order to enter symbols of an entry string. In addition, one or more of the keys may also be used to identify a service and also supply that service with the entry string. For example, by pressing and holding such a key, the entry string may be delimited and then sent to a service corresponding to the pressed key. In this manner, a single key press may be used to both delimit an entry string and also send the entry string to the service. The service may use the delimited entry string to retrieve information, which is then supplied to the input device.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Zi Corporation of Canada, Inc.Inventor: Roland E. Williams
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Patent number: 8166418Abstract: Methods of and devices for inserting a pictorial artifact into a text document are described. A relational database is used to link possible text-entries with pictorial artifacts. A pictorial artifact has a meaning that corresponds to its linked possible text-entry. When text is entered, the database is searched to determine whether a match exists between the entered text and one of the possible text-entries in the database. If a match is found, the linked pictorial artifact is provided to the user for selection and entry into the text document. The pictorial artifacts may be modified, and modified artifacts may be used in a search of the database to locate linked text-entries, in order to permit the user to select alternate text.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2007Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: ZI Corporation of Canada, Inc.Inventor: Roland E. Williams
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Publication number: 20110258551Abstract: User input from a reduced keypad is disambiguated and compared with a first dynamic lexicon, and predicted matches (e.g. either a single word or phrase) are offered. If a user continues to type beyond a boundary condition, then input is no longer predicted from the first lexicon, but instead is interpreted as a request for matches from a second, quasi-static lexicon allowing words or phrases to be entered. When the entry is accepted, data is transmitted to a remote receiver and may be parsed as an inquiry for subsequent operation. Following acceptance, the apparatus invokes a program suitable for interacting with the response generated to the inquiry.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: ZI CORPORATION OF CANADA, INC.Inventors: Weigen QIU, Roland E. Williams, William J. Templeton-Steadman
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Patent number: 8018439Abstract: A mobile appliance and a method of using a mobile appliance are disclosed. The mobile appliance may include a microprocessor, a data entry device, a monitor, a candidate selection device, and software having instructions for controlling the microprocessor. A series of characters are provided to the appliance, and the series of characters is used to both indicate a function and indicate information for that function.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Zi Corporation of Canada, Inc.Inventors: Jacques LaPointe, Roland E. Williams
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Patent number: 7974979Abstract: User input from a reduced keypad is disambiguated and compared with a first dynamic lexicon, and predicted matches (e.g. either a single word or phrase) are offered. If a user continues to type beyond a boundary condition, then input is no longer predicted from the first lexicon, but instead is interpreted as a request for matches from a second, quasi-static lexicon allowing words or phrases to be entered. When the entry is accepted, data is transmitted to a remote receiver and may be parsed as an inquiry for subsequent operation. Following acceptance, the apparatus invokes a program suitable for interacting with the response generated to the inquiry.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: ZI Corporation of Canada, Inc.Inventors: Weigen Qiu, Roland E. Williams, William J. Templeton-Steadman
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Patent number: 7949513Abstract: A verbal interface appliance uses an attachable language-specific processing module to perform language-specific tasks. The language module implements an API by which the appliance can submit language-specific processing requests. The appliance submits data representing a user input gesture and receives both data representing appropriate feedback to the user in the language implemented by the language module and one or more candidates selected as likely interpretations of the user's input gesture. The language module also provides font data lookup service to the appliance. The language module can support more than one written language and can support more than one textual input mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: ZI Corporation of Canada, Inc.Inventor: Roland E. Williams
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Publication number: 20100121876Abstract: Presentation of results of a predictive analysis of text is delayed until entry of the text by a user is paused by a particular amount of time. The results are available for selection by the user for another particular amount of time. After the other particular amount of time is expired, the results are no longer available to for selection. If a particular result is selected, the selected result either replaces or supplements the entered text.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2009Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventors: Todd G. Simpson, Roland E. Williams, Robert B. O'Dell
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Publication number: 20090150383Abstract: User input from a reduced keypad is disambiguated and compared with a first dynamic lexicon, and predicted matches (e.g. either a single word or phrase) are offered. If a user continues to type beyond a boundary condition, then input is no longer predicted from the first lexicon, but instead is interpreted as a request for matches from a second, quasi-static lexicon allowing words or phrases to be entered. When the entry is accepted, data is transmitted to a remote receiver and may be parsed as an inquiry for subsequent operation. Following acceptance, the apparatus invokes a program suitable for interacting with the response generated to the inquiry.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2008Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventors: Weigen Qiu, Roland E. Williams, William J. Templeton-Steadman
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Publication number: 20080288665Abstract: The invention may be embodied as a method of selecting a service and inputting information to that service. In one such method, an input device having keys is provided. When such a key is pressed and released quickly, the user indicates a desire to enter a symbol on the key in order to enter symbols of an entry string. In addition, one or more of the keys may also be used to identify a service and also supply that service with the entry string. For example, by pressing and holding such a key, the entry string may be delimited and then sent to a service corresponding to the pressed key. In this manner, a single key press may be used to both delimit an entry string and also send the entry string to the service. The service may use the delimited entry string to retrieve information, which is then supplied to the input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventor: Roland E. Williams
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Publication number: 20070276814Abstract: Methods of and devices for inserting a pictorial artifact into a text document are described. A relational database is used to link possible text-entries with pictorial artifacts. A pictorial artifact has a meaning that corresponds to its linked possible text-entry. When text is entered, the database is searched to determine whether a match exists between the entered text and one of the possible text-entries in the database. If a match is found, the linked pictorial artifact is provided to the user for selection and entry into the text document. The pictorial artifacts may be modified, and modified artifacts may be used in a search of the database to locate linked text-entries, in order to permit the user to select alternate text.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2007Publication date: November 29, 2007Inventor: Roland E. Williams
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Patent number: 7075520Abstract: Multidirectional keys of a reduced keypad are used to disambiguate between multiple symbols associated with a single key. For example, pressing a key identifies a collection of two or more symbols associated with the key and subsequently rocking the key selects one of the two or more symbols as unambiguously identified by the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2001Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Zi Technology Corporation LTDInventor: Roland E. Williams
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Patent number: 7035646Abstract: A mobile station communicates with both a cellular network, by which it is assigned a mobile identification number, and to a cordless cellular base station utilizing the same cellular frequency range and communications protocol. The cordless cellular base station is preferably connected to a public switched telephone network and is assigned a landline number. The cordless cellular base station acts as a conduit between the mobile station and the public switched telephone network. When the mobile station comes within range of a cordless cellular base station, it deregisters automatically from the cellular network and register with the cordless cellular base station. Once the mobile station is communicating with the cordless cellular base station, the cordless cellular base station communicates with the cellular network to instruct the cellular network to route all calls for mobile identification number to the cordless cellular base station's landline number.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Cingular Wireless II, LLCInventors: Michael A. Raffel, Michael D. Bamburak, David R. Glass, Keith Jarett, Masud Kibria, Christopher G. Lawr nc, Tony S. Lee, Ileana A. Leuca, Joseph P. Marx, Roderick Nelson, Paul B. O'Neill, Roland E. Williams, Peter L. Winship