Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Fischaber

Thomas E. Fischaber 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: 10673795
    Abstract: Systems and arrangements are provided for filtering language. As presently preferred, these are configured to filter inappropriate language, symbols, words, etc on web sites or used in chat rooms. Embodiments create one or more arrays of inappropriate character strings representing, for example, obscene words and character combinations. Embodiments identify the inappropriate character strings, for example in chat text, and edit them to an appropriate form, for example with cartoon characters, and/or delete the inappropriate character strings. Preferably, at least one embodiment applies the content filter via executing a program of instructions, stored on a tangible storage medium, to achieve this functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Brent Milne, Jeffrey C. Ward, Michael G. Ingoldby, Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Krista M. Marks
  • Patent number: 10089965
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for moving and manipulating graphical objects on a device that may include one or more pointing device, such as a mouse, a touchpad, or a touch screen, some of which may be multi-touch enabled. In some embodiments, a method may include, concurrent with and in response to user input from a pointing device: moving a first graphical object, determining a plurality of alternative target orientations for that first graphical object, selecting one of the target orientations, and gradually changing certain display characteristics of the first object based on characteristics of the selected target orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Simbulus, lnc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Ward, Roger B. Milne, Thomas E. Fischaber, Sean A. Kelly, Krista M. Marks
  • Patent number: 9652551
    Abstract: Techniques are described for estimating the effort involved in creating content on a content site. Embodiments of the invention may collect data by monitoring actions taken by a user creating content on the site, and may then calculate an effort value for the created content based on the collected data. The calculated effort value may then be used, for example, to determine a position in a moderation queue for inserting the user-created content, or to determine whether to feature a particular user on the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ingoldby, R. Brent Milne, Jeffrey C. Ward, Krista M. Marks, Thomas E. Fischaber
  • Patent number: 9620084
    Abstract: Various approaches for selection of graphical objects in a web browser-based application are described. In one approach, a selection overlay is stored in a web document. The selection overlay encompasses a plurality of user-selectable graphical objects in the web document occupies a highest position in layers of graphical objects in the web document and includes a plurality of selection regions. Each selection region is respectively associated with one of the plurality of graphical objects and defines a region of selectability for the associated graphical object. In response to the web browser-based application detecting entry of a user-directed pointer into one of the selection regions in the selection overlay, the graphical object associated with the one selection region is selected for user manipulation and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Roger B. Milne, Krista M. Marks
  • Patent number: 9208174
    Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for searching for electronic information. In one embodiment, a first plurality of objects is presenting for user selection. The first plurality of objects is a first subset of a second plurality of objects that is organized by a plurality of containment categories in a data structure. A plurality of associations is stored, and each association defines a relationship between one of, two different ones of the plurality of categories, or two objects in two different ones of the plurality of containment categories. In response to user selection of one of the first plurality of objects, a second subset of the second plurality of objects is selected. Selection of the objects in the second subset is in part a function of respective weighted relevance values for associations of the selected object to each of the second plurality of objects. The second subset of objects is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Roger B. Milne, Krista M. Marks, Theodore J. Stroomer
  • Patent number: 9141255
    Abstract: Techniques for creating a mosaic using user-created content on a content sharing site. Embodiments of the invention may provide an interface on the content sharing site to allow users to create content. Embodiments may then determine a suitability value between the user-created content and portions of a mosaic, and insert the user-created content into a particular portion of the mosaic based on the determined suitability value for the particular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Stroomer, Jonathan B. Ballagh, Roger B. Milne, Jeffrey C. Ward, Krista M. Marks, Thomas E. Fischaber
  • Patent number: 8947452
    Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for displaying graphical objects. In one approach, first and second graphical objects are displayed in a first state. In the first state a portion of the second graphical object that is overlapped by a portion of the first graphical object is completely obstructed from view by the portion of the first graphical object. When in a second state, the first and second graphical objects are displayed in a manner different from the first state. In the second state the portion of the second graphical object that is overlapped by the portion of the first graphical object is represented as being visible along with the portion of the first object and with muted visibility relative to a portion of the second graphical object that is not overlapped by a portion of the first graphical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Roger B. Milne, Krista M. Marks
  • Patent number: 8832326
    Abstract: Quick key-based ordering of data words is provided. A memory is arranged to receive the keys at an address input port. The memory is adapted to provide at a data output port one of a plurality of ordered sets of identifiers. Each key is associated with a respective one of the data words and each identifier of the one of the ordered sets identifies a respective one of the data words. Each of a plurality of multiplexers is arranged to receive a respective identifier of the one of the ordered sets from the memory and to receive the data words. Each multiplexer is adapted to select the respective one of the data words identified by the respective identifier. A program storage medium may be configured with instructions to perform operations including generating configuration data for a programmable device. The configuration data may implement the memory and the multiplexers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Fischaber
  • Patent number: 8207969
    Abstract: Various approaches are disclosed for generating an output graphical object from an input graphical object. In one approach, vector graphics data representing the input graphical object in a memory are stored. A first subset of the vector graphics components of the vectors graphics data to leave unchanged for the output graphical object, a second subset of vector graphics components to alter for the output object, and a third subset of vector graphics components to discard from the output object are determined. Each vector graphics component in the second subset is altered, and the first and altered second subsets of vector graphics components as the output graphical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Roger B. Milne, Krista M. Marks
  • Publication number: 20120159348
    Abstract: Techniques for creating a mosaic using user-created content on a content sharing site. Embodiments of the invention may provide an interface on the content sharing site to allow users to create content. Embodiments may then determine a suitability value between the user-created content and portions of a mosaic, and insert the user-created content into a particular portion of the mosaic based on the determined suitability value for the particular portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Stroomer, Jonathan B. Ballagh, Roger B. Milne, Jeffrey C. Ward, Krista M. Marks, Thomas E. Fischaber
  • Publication number: 20120079390
    Abstract: Various approaches for selection of graphical objects in a web browser-based application are described. In one approach, a selection overlay is stored in a web document. The selection overlay encompasses a plurality of user-selectable graphical objects in the web document occupies a highest position in layers of graphical objects in the web document and includes a plurality of selection regions. Each selection region is respectively associated with one of the plurality of graphical objects and defines a region of selectability for the associated graphical object. In response to the web browser-based application detecting entry of a user-directed pointer into one of the selection regions in the selection overlay, the graphical object associated with the one selection region is selected for user manipulation and displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Roger B. Milne, Krista M. Marks
  • Publication number: 20120054638
    Abstract: Techniques are described for estimating the effort involved in creating content on a content site. Embodiments of the invention may collect data by monitoring actions taken by a user creating content on the site, and may then calculate an effort value for the created content based on the collected data. The calculated effort value may then be used, for example, to determine a position in a moderation queue for inserting the user-created content, or to determine whether to feature a particular user on the site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Ingoldby, R. Brent Milne, Jeffrey C. Ward, Krista M. Marks, Thomas E. Fischaber
  • Patent number: 8091030
    Abstract: Various approaches for selection of graphical objects in a web browser-based application are described. In one approach, a selection overlay is stored in a web document. The selection overlay encompasses a plurality of user-selectable graphical objects in the web document occupies a highest position in layers of graphical objects in the web document and includes a plurality of selection regions. Each selection region is respectively associated with one of the plurality of graphical objects and defines a region of selectability for the associated graphical object. In response to the web browser-based application detecting entry of a user-directed pointer into one of the selection regions in the selection overlay, the graphical object associated with the one selection region is selected for user manipulation and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Roger B. Milne, Krista M. Marks
  • Patent number: 7911481
    Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for allowing the selection of graphical objects in a graphical user interface. In one embodiment, selection overlays are generated for each of a plurality of graphical objects. The selection overlays are sorted into layers over the layers of the graphical objects, with the sorting based in part of a characteristic of the associated graphical objects other than the layers to which those objects are assigned. The plurality of objects and the selections overlays (which may be transparent) are displayed. In response to user input (e.g., mouse click or mouse motion) relative to a screen region associated with one selection overlay, the state of the overlay and the associated graphical object are updated and displayed accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Roger B. Milne, Krista M. Marks
  • Publication number: 20110035456
    Abstract: Systems and arrangements are provided for filtering language. As presently preferred, these are configured to filter inappropriate language, symbols, words, etc on web sites or used in chat rooms. Embodiments create one or more arrays of inappropriate character strings representing, for example, obscene words and character combinations. Embodiments identify the inappropriate character strings, for example in chat text, and edit them to an appropriate form, for example with cartoon characters, and/or delete the inappropriate character strings. Preferably, at least one embodiment applies the content filter via executing a program of instructions, stored on a tangible storage medium, to achieve this functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Brent Milne, Jeffrey C. Ward, Michael G. Ingoldby, Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Krista M. Marks
  • Patent number: 7668186
    Abstract: A buffer management system for a data processing system can include a plurality of tokens wherein each token is associated with one of a plurality of buffers, and a plurality of first-in-first-out (FIFO) memories. Each FIFO memory can be associated with a stage of the data processing system and is configured to store at least one of the tokens. The buffer management system also can include control logic configured to determine a state of one or more selected buffers and transfer the token associated with the selected buffer from a source FIFO memory to a target FIFO memory. The target FIFO memory can be selected according to the state of the selected buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventors: Roscoe Conkling Nelson, IV, Stacey Secatch, Thomas E. Fischaber, Tony Viet Nam Le
  • Patent number: 7590965
    Abstract: Methods of generating a PLD design implementation according to a design architecture tailored to specified requirements. A hardware description language (HDL) description for the PLD design includes at least one parameter value for the PLD design that will affect the preferred implementation of the design. This parameter value is passed to a high-level language (HLL) function, which is used to determine a tailored design architecture in accordance with the specified needs of the target application. The HLL function returns data specifying the tailored design architecture. This data is used in generating an implementation of the PLD design that follows the constraints imposed by the tailored design architecture. The result can be, for example, a logic gate representation of the PLD design, a netlist of the design, or a bitstream implementing the design in a target PLD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael George Ingoldby, James E. Ogden, Jeffrey C. Ward, Stacey Secatch, Restu I. Ismail, Thomas E. Fischaber
  • Patent number: 7535789
    Abstract: Circuits and methods of concatenating first-in-first-out memory circuits (FIFOs). A concatenated FIFO includes first and second FIFOs. The data output terminals of the first FIFO are coupled to the data input terminals of the second FIFO. The read clock of the second FIFO is the system read clock, and the write clock of the first FIFO is the system write clock. Communication between the first and second FIFOs is controlled by the faster of the two system clocks. A control circuit coupled to both the first and second FIFOs has a local clock input terminal coupled to the read clock input terminal of the first FIFO and the write clock input terminal of the second FIFO. The control circuit is driven by status signals from the first and second FIFOs, and generates a read enable signal for the first FIFO and a write enable signal for the second FIFO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Fischaber, James M. Simkins, Peter H. Alfke
  • Patent number: 7092906
    Abstract: Methods and circuitry are disclosed for decoding a keystream. A set of test bits is generated, and a set of attempted keystream bits are generated from differences between the test bits and an input set of cipher bits. A set of current keystream bits are generated from a current seed using a parallel feedback shift register, and the attempted keystream bits are compared to the current keystream bits. In response to attempted keystream bits being equal to the current keystream bits, the current keystream bits are fed back as a new current seed. In response to attempted keystream bits being not equal to the current keystream bits, the attempted keystream bits are fed back as the new current seed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Campbell, Thomas E. Fischaber
  • Patent number: 6925014
    Abstract: A blockRAM based FIFO utilizes the blockRAM components to implement a one-cycle latency read FIFO. This FIFO implementation, while utilizing blockRAM, provides fast clock to out times by registering all data in a register prior to presenting it to the user. Because this implementation transparently registers the data, the user interface remains identical to conventional FIFO implementations, while solving the slow clock-to-out time associated with blockRAM based FIFOS. A blockRAM based zero-cycle latency read FIFO is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Fischaber, Scott J. Campbell