Patents by Inventor Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy 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: 8255001
    Abstract: A method of performing expedited communication functions on a mobile device includes monitoring the duration-of key press on a keyboard of the mobile device and determining if the monitored duration of the key press is greater than a threshold duration. If the monitored duration of the key press is determined to be less than a threshold duration, then a primary key function associated with the pressed key is activated. If the monitored duration of the key press is determined to be greater than a threshold duration, then an expedited communication function associated with the pressed key is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hardy, Mihal Lazaridis, Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott
  • Publication number: 20120209927
    Abstract: An e-mail filter may be associated with a schedule defining a recurrent active time period. As such, some e-mail filters may be active at specific times of day and on specific days of the week and inactive the rest of the time. Before applying any filters, the current time is determined and it is determined which filters are active. The determination of which filters are active is based on the current time being within the active time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Darrell Reginald May, Michael Thomas Hardy
  • Publication number: 20120203851
    Abstract: To perform thread-based message prioritization, metadata may be extracted from a received electronic message. Based on the extracted message metadata and accumulated metadata extracted from previously received messages, a message thread to which the received electronic message belongs may be identified. Based on a set of thread priority assessment criteria, a priority level for the message thread may be determined. At least part of the message thread may be processed according to the priority level. The processing may be altering a notification behavior of an electronic messaging client for electronic messages of the message thread. Thread priority assessment may be based on user-configurable criteria that may be set via a graphical user interface. Message thread identification may also be based on user-configurable criteria that may be set via a graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Thomas HARDY, Piotr Konrad TYSOWSKI, Atif KHAN
  • Patent number: 8234347
    Abstract: An enhanced email system incorporating mobile wireless communication devices includes program logic for efficiently managing (i.e., at least partially synchronizing) “messages sent” files in the mobile device and in a related message server. The exemplary program logic also more efficiently handles resending of previously sent email messages from the mobile wireless communication device (especially in the context of synchronized messages sent files) by sending to the message server only abbreviated unique message ID in the first instance. In this way, wireless bandwidth is conserved as is the device battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Anthony G. Burns, Michael Thomas Hardy, Darrell R. May
  • Publication number: 20120166565
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for communicating calendar appointment acknowledgements to a sender from a recipient device, in particular a mobile communication device capable of receiving SMS messages. The sender creates a calendar object comprising calendar event data, designates a recipient, and selects a transport method for delivering the calendar event data. If the transport method is SMS, then a calendar object message in plaintext SMS format is prepared, comprising a unique identifier, and transmitted to the recipient. The recipient's mobile communication device receives the SMS message and parses the message to extract the calendar event data, and transmits an acknowledgement to the sender including the unique identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Thomas HARDY, Darrell MAY, Catherine Michelle COODE
  • Patent number: 8204521
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for communicating calendar appointment acknowledgements to a sender from a recipient device, in particular a mobile communication device capable of receiving SMS messages. The sender creates a calendar object comprising calendar event data, designates a recipient, and selects a transport method for delivering the calendar event data. If the transport method is SMS, then a calendar object message in plaintext SMS format is prepared, comprising a unique identifier, and transmitted to the recipient. The recipient's mobile communication device receives the SMS message and parses the message to extract the calendar event data, and transmits an acknowledgement to the sender including the unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hardy, Darrell May, Catherine Michelle Coode
  • Patent number: 8180841
    Abstract: To perform thread-based message prioritization, metadata may be extracted from a received electronic message. Based on the extracted message metadata and accumulated metadata extracted from previously received messages, a message thread to which the received electronic message belongs may be identified. Based on a set of thread priority assessment criteria, a priority level for the message thread may be determined. At least part of the message thread may be processed according to the priority level. The processing may be altering a notification behavior of an electronic messaging client for electronic messages of the message thread. Thread priority assessment may be based on user-configurable criteria that may be set via a graphical user interface. Message thread identification may also be based on user-configurable criteria that may be set via a graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hardy, Piotr Konrad Tysowski, Atif Khan
  • Patent number: 8176136
    Abstract: An e-mail filter may be associated with a schedule defining a recurrent active time period. As such, some e-mail filters may be active at specific times of day and on specific days of the week and inactive the rest of the time. Before applying any filters, the current time is determined and it is determined which filters are active. The determination of which filters are active is based on the current time being within the active time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Darrell Reginald May, Michael Thomas Hardy
  • Patent number: 8156187
    Abstract: A set of email messages is received at a wireless communication device. Each of the email messages has at least one attachment. For each attachment, an indicator of whether any content of the attachment has been presented at the wireless communication device (e.g. displayed on a display or played on a speaker) is maintained. A subset of the set of email messages is identified and displayed on the basis of the indicators and a user-specified parameter, which may be specified via a graphical user interface. Alternatively, a subset of the set of email messages is identified, wherein each email message of the subset has at least one attachment whose content is presentable at the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hardy, Andrew Douglas Bocking
  • Patent number: 8131803
    Abstract: A system for integrating an address book application with an instant messaging application in a mobile station is provided. An instant messaging database may be used to store instant messaging data, the instant messaging data including instant messaging contacts and instant messaging (IM) presence information to indicate whether the instant messaging contacts may currently be accessed by the instant messaging application. An address book database may be used for storing address book data. An aggregated data viewer may be used to relate instant messaging data from the instant messaging database with address book data from the address book database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hardy, Craig A. Dunk, Gerhard D. Klassen
  • Publication number: 20120016879
    Abstract: Approaches to displaying image search results, and image content of computer readable media include providing a matrix display of images, with an interface to insert and remove floating date dividers, each indicative of a day on which one or more of the images was created. Available images can be abstracted according to a respective month in which the images were created, up to a determined maximum number of months, after which images are abstracted according to a year in which they were created. Selecting a month causes display of a matrix of images created during that month, while selecting a year causes display of a list of months. A selected thumbnail can be displayed for each month or year of a displayed list. Search results can grouped according to how each result satisfied the search criteria, such as a separate group for images that had names matching a search criteria, and one or more separate groups for images that satisfied a date range criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Brian Roy Groux, Michael Thomas Hardy, Andrew James Turcotte
  • Publication number: 20120014684
    Abstract: A touch screen on a camera is provided. The touch screen comprises a button, wherein removal of contact from the button by lifting contact from the touch screen causes a photograph to be taken, and wherein removal of contact from the button by maintaining contact with the touch screen while moving contact to a portion of the touch screen other than the button causes a photograph not to be taken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Richard D'Souza, Michael Thomas Hardy
  • Patent number: 8099467
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system, method, and user interface for searching for messages with attachments on mobile devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a messaging application is programmed such that, in operation, a user is presented with a search screen in which the user may define search parameters for a search. A search parameter associated with an option to search for messages of a specified type is provided, and more specifically, an option to search for messages (e.g. electronic mail messages) having one or more attachments is made available to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hardy, Andrew Douglas Bocking
  • Publication number: 20110314118
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system, method, and user interface for searching for messages with attachments on mobile devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a messaging application is programmed such that, in operation, a user is presented with a search screen in which the user may define search parameters for a search. A search parameter associated with an option to search for messages of a specified type is provided, and more specifically, an option to search for messages (e.g. electronic mail messages) having one or more attachments is made available to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hardy, Andrew Douglas Bocking
  • Publication number: 20110269431
    Abstract: An interrupt message is sent over one of a plurality of transport mediums from a first mobile device to a second mobile device. The interrupt message may include a first mobile device identifier associated with a transport medium that is independent of the plurality of transport mediums. Upon receipt of the interrupt message at the second mobile device an interruption of any current mobile device operation may occur to notify a user of the interrupt message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hardy, Gerhard D. Klassen, Christopher R. Wormald
  • Publication number: 20110270938
    Abstract: An e-mail filter may be associated with a schedule defining a recurrent active time period. As such, some e-mail filters may be active at specific times of day and on specific days of the week and inactive the rest of the time. Before applying any filters, the current time is determined and it is determined which filters are active. The determination of which filters are active is based on the current time being within the active time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Darrell Reginald May, Michael Thomas Hardy
  • Publication number: 20110231401
    Abstract: A category may be associated, in a personal information manager (PIM) application, with a data item by associating a category pattern with the data item. Where the PIM application already associates keyword patterns with data items for enabling keyword searching, the category pattern may have a format of an ordered plurality of elements that satisfies at least one rule for the format of the keyword patterns. Optionally, the first element of the ordered plurality of elements may be an element predetermined to be specific to pluralities of elements associated with categories. Advantageously, this approach to the association of a category with a data item allows for the association of more than one category with a single data item. Such an allowance provides for more accurate synchronization with a PIM application on a desktop that also allows the association of more than one category with a data item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Andrew D. Bocking, Ronald Scotte Zinn, Michael Thomas Hardy
  • Patent number: 8005496
    Abstract: An interrupt message is sent over one of a plurality of transport mediums from a first mobile device to a second mobile device. The interrupt message may include a first mobile device identifier associated with a transport medium that is independent of the plurality of transport mediums. Upon receipt of the interrupt message at the second mobile device an interruption of any current mobile device operation may occur to notify a user of the interrupt message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hardy, Gerhard D. Klassen, Christopher R. Wormald
  • Publication number: 20110199322
    Abstract: Methods and devices are described pertaining to graphical user interfaces that enable users to manage and play their media content on a portable electronic device. For example, a method is described in which a first source icon associated with a first set of media selections is displayed and a second source icon associated with a second set of media selections is also displayed. In addition, a first function icon indicative of a first function is superimposed on the first source icon, and a second function icon indicative of a second function is superimposed on the second source icon. A selection input associated with either of the first source icon or the second source icon is received and the first function is executed when the selection input is associated with the first icon, and the second function is executed when the selection input is associated with the second icon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael George Langlois, Andrew Robert Patterson, Michael Thomas Hardy, Arun Kumar
  • Patent number: 8001203
    Abstract: An e-mail filter may be associated with a schedule defining a recurrent active time period. As such, some e-mail filters may be active at specific times of day and on specific days of the week and inactive the rest of the time. Before applying any filters, the current time is determined and it is determined which filters are active. The determination of which filters are active is based on the current time being within the active time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Darrell Reginald May, Michael Thomas Hardy