Patents by Inventor Ward W. Smith

Ward W. Smith 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).

  • Graphical user interface supporting method and system for remote order generation of furniture products
    Patent number: 6052669
    Abstract: A graphical user interface to a method and system for configuring office furniture includes interface objects for obtaining configuration criteria from a user; presenting the user with at least one typical configuration satisfying the criteria; selecting a typical configuration from the at least one typical configuration; modifying aspects of the selected typical configuration to produce a modified configuration; and checking the validity of the modified configuration. The configuration criteria include conferencing criteria; privacy criteria; power criteria; communications criteria; storage criteria; and area criteria. A typical can be modified by adding, deleting, or repositioning a component, changing the fabric or finish or the shape or size of the component. A cluster configuration based on the typical configuration is formed. The entire product line can be changed. At any time the entire typical or cluster configuration can be checked for validity and priced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward W. Smith, John M. Ellis, Michael P. McNutt, Renee E. Schoeppe