Patents by Inventor Steven Friedlander

Steven Friedlander 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: 20140358423
    Abstract: A driver caution threshold that varies by time of day and/or by driver activity load factor is compared a vehicle driver's activity. Responsive to a determination that vehicle driver's activity violates the driver caution threshold, a prompt to take a break and/or directions to a nearby restaurant are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David George Thiele, Marvin DeMerchant, Steven Friedlander
  • Publication number: 20140359456
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus determines whether it is disposed in a vehicle and, based on a determining that it is in the vehicle, automatically presents a first user interface (UI) that is simplified and/or easier to manipulate while driving relative to a second UI that would otherwise be presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: David George Thiele, Marvin DeMerchant, Steven Friedlander
  • Publication number: 20140347436
    Abstract: A local teleconference participant can view a near-life-size image of a remote teleconference participant on a thin transparent upright display. Because the display is transparent, local background images that surround the image of the remote participant can be viewed through the display just as they would be if the remote participant were present locally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marvin DeMerchant, David Andrew Young, Steven Friedlander, David George Thiele
  • Publication number: 20140342753
    Abstract: Two friends can pair wireless communication devices which subsequently exchange positional information peer-to-peer or through a cloud server. Each device presents a map showing its location and the location of the paired device. Instructions can be provided to the device playing a follower role of how to reach the current location of the other device, which plays a leader role. In turn the leader device can present information as to the location of the follower device so that a user of the leader device can ascertain if the follower is off-track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marvin DeMerchant, Steven Friedlander, David Andrew Young, David Thiele
  • Publication number: 20140343834
    Abstract: When a driver leaves a vehicle as indicated by a separation event such as the driver's portable wireless communication device (WCD) losing Bluetooth connectivity with the vehicle, the WCD uploads to a cloud server its GPS location before the driver has been able to walk away from the vehicle an appreciable distance. The location is recorded and the driver subsequently can use its WCD to communicate with the server to obtain map information showing the current location of the WCD and the location recorded at the separation event, so that the driver knows the location of her vehicle relative to her current location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marvin DeMerchant, David Andrew Young, Norifumi Takaya, David Thiele, Steven Friedlander
  • Patent number: 8886541
    Abstract: A method of operation of a remote controller consistent with certain implementations involves determining a spatial orientation of the remote controller based upon an output signal from a position detector; and setting a voice mode of operation of the remote controller as active or inactive based upon the spatial orientation of the remote controller as determined by the position detector, where the voice mode determines whether or not the remote controller will accept and process voice information from a microphone. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Friedlander
  • Patent number: 8881016
    Abstract: A digital device comprises data processing unit displaying a graphic user interface (GUI) and an initial setup module. The initial setup module includes autodetection module, contextual help module, and advertisement module. The autodetection module automatically detects at least one of a network, a television cable, and a plurality of inputs connected to the digital device, and populates a connections list in a second panel including the result of the automatic detection. The contextual help module displays at least one of texts, images and animations in a first panel that help the user understand the steps of the initial setup. The advertisement module displays advertisements in the first panel when the digital device is loading. The digital device may be loading at least when the autodetection module is automatically detecting or when the contextual help module is loading the at least one of texts, images and animations to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tracy Barnes, Travis Baurmann, Steven Friedlander, Seth Hill, Yuko Nishikawa, Sabrina Yeh, Hyehoon Yi
  • Publication number: 20140325355
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) such as a TV includes content panels which can be selected for searching for additional information related to the content underlying the content panels. A history of previous searches is maintained in memory “stacked” notionally to the left or right of the current display so that a viewer can easily review previous search results using a simple scroll command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Steven Friedlander, David Young, Sabrina Tai-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 8866895
    Abstract: A television (TV) includes a display and a processor controlling the display and receiving signals representing human gestures. The processor is programmed to respond to gestures from a first viewer to control the display. Also, the processor is programmed to respond to gestures from a second viewer to control the display only responsive to a determination that the first viewer has both looked toward the second viewer, and that the first viewer has confirmed, as a separate act from looking toward the second viewer, a desire to transfer control of the TV to the second viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Friedlander, David Thiele
  • Patent number: 8823541
    Abstract: First, a user may select an illumination color for a bezel framing a display of an electronics device. Second, the illumination of a digital picture frame may be established based on sensed motion nearby and/or ambient light. Third, the color of a user interface presented on a display can be established to match the color of the room in which the display is disposed, as indicated by colorimetry from a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Hardacker, Steven Friedlander, Rafael Calderon, Steven Richman
  • Publication number: 20140245149
    Abstract: A request to display a portion of a full-screen content overlay options menu of a multiple media player device is detected by the multiple media player device that represents less than all of the full-screen content overlay options menu. A media type of content media currently accessed by the multiple media player device is determined. A current setting status of an available adjustment of the multiple media player device associated with the portion of the full-screen content overlay options menu based upon the determined media type of content media currently accessed by the multiple media player device is determined. A first graphical menu pane of the full-screen content overlay options menu, including the current setting status of the available adjustment, is displayed over full-screen content on a display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Seth Hill, Hyehoon Yi, Sabrina Yeh, Tracy Barnes, Steven Friedlander
  • Publication number: 20140240273
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for interacting with a user are provided. The apparatus includes a display device operable to display a user interface where the user interface is overlaid on a two-way reflective mirror. The apparatus further includes at least one capacitive sensor coupled to the two-way reflective mirror where the at least one capacitive sensor is operable to generate one or more proximity signals in response to detection of a touchless interaction of an object with the two-way reflective mirror. Further, the apparatus includes one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one capacitive sensor where the one or more processors are operable to determine whether one or more values of the generated one or more proximity signals are greater than one or more predefined threshold values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Friedlander, Louis Luat Le
  • Patent number: 8819555
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) such as a TV includes content panels which can be selected for searching for additional information related to the content underlying the content panels. A history of previous searches is maintained in memory “stacked” notionally to the left or right of the current display so that a viewer can easily review previous search results using a simple scroll command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Friedlander, David Young, Sabrina Tai-Chen Yeh
  • Publication number: 20140211099
    Abstract: A consumer electronics (CE) device includes at least one processor and at least one computer readable storage medium accessible to the processor. The medium is programmed with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute logic including detecting the position of the CE device and sending a command to at least one apparatus at a location distanced from the CE device to establish at least one configuration of the apparatus. The command is sent responsive to a determination that the CE device is passing a predefined distance from a location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dipendu Saha, Prem Venkatesan, Steven Friedlander, Nobuyuki Fujiwara, Paul Douglas Heavener, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8793613
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) on an audio video display device (AVDD) can be operated in at least first and second input modes. When the first input mode is active the GUI has a first behavior and/or appearance whereas when the second input mode is active the GUI has a second behavior and/or appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Friedlander, David Young, Sabrina Tai-Chen Yeh
  • Publication number: 20140195918
    Abstract: A method for providing a graphic interface is disclosed. The method includes the steps displaying a set of interface tiles on a display device, detecting a location of a user's gaze, identifying that a user is looking at one tile of the set of interface tiles for a set period of time, displaying a expansion tile along with the set of interface tiles, the expansion tile comprises additional content associated with an identified tile of the set of interface tiles that the user is looking at.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Steven FRIEDLANDER
  • Patent number: 8756502
    Abstract: A request to display a portion of a full-screen content overlay options menu of a multiple media player device is detected by the multiple media player device that represents less than all of the full-screen content overlay options menu. A media type of content media currently accessed by the multiple media player device is determined. A current setting status of an available adjustment of the multiple media player device associated with the portion of the full-screen content overlay options menu based upon the determined media type of content media currently accessed by the multiple media player device is determined. A first graphical menu pane of the full-screen content overlay options menu, including the current setting status of the available adjustment, is displayed over full-screen content on a display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Seth Hill, Steven Friedlander, Tracy Barnes, Sabrina Yeh, Hyehoon Yi
  • Publication number: 20140013227
    Abstract: A method for providing content related to a multimedia program on a display device, including: monitoring a currently viewed multimedia program by a user on a display device; retrieving content related to the currently viewed multimedia program from a content source based on information obtained from said currently viewed multimedia program; and displaying at least a portion of the content on a flexible user interface on the display device upon request by the user; in which the user is able to adjust a size and position of the flexible user interface on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicants: SONY ELECTRONICS INC., SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Friedlander, Tracy Ho, Yuko Nishikawa, Sabrina Yeh, Hyehoon Yi
  • Publication number: 20140002741
    Abstract: A viewer of an audio video display device (AVDD) and transition from a nine panel graphical user interface (GUI) showing a summary degree of metadata to a six panel GUI showing a higher degree of metadata using a horizontal motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: David Young, Steven Friedlander, Sabrina Tai-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 8607159
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) on an audio video display device (AVDD) can be operated in at least first and second input modes. When the first input mode is active the GUI has a first behavior and/or appearance whereas when the second input mode is active the GUI has a second behavior and/or appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Friedlander, David Young, Sabrina Tai-Chen Yeh