Patents by Inventor Wayne C. Westerman

Wayne C. Westerman 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: 8201109
    Abstract: Methods and graphical user interfaces for editing on a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display are disclosed. While displaying an application interface of an application, the device detects a multitouch edit initiation gesture on the touch screen display. In response to detection of the multitouch edit initiation gesture, the device displays a plurality of user-selectable edit option icons in an area of the touch screen display that is independent of a location of the multitouch edit initiation gesture. The device also displays a start point object and an end point object to select content displayed by the application in the application interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Van Os, Bas Ording, Stephen O. Lemay, Wayne C. Westerman, B Michael Victor
  • Publication number: 20110201381
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity of an object and operate a proximity sensor of a portable device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output, and altering, based on the ALS output, an effect of a proximity sensor output on control of a proximity determination. The ALS sensor and the proximity sensor may be located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device. In some cases, the proximity determination may be a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect may include changing the proximity of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Scott M. Herz, Roberto G. Yepez, Wayne C. Westerman, Steven P. Hotelling
  • Patent number: 7957762
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity of an object and operate a proximity sensor of a portable device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output, and altering, based on the ALS output, an effect of a proximity sensor output on control of a proximity determination. The ALS sensor and the proximity sensor may be located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device. In some cases, the proximity determination may be a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect may include changing the proximity of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Herz, Roberto G. Yepez, Wayne C. Westerman, Steven P. Hotelling
  • Patent number: 7876310
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying an object in close proximity to, but not in contact with, a multi-touch touch-screen device are described. By way of example, a cheek or ear hovering a short distance from the touch-surface (e.g., approximately 1 to 3 centimeters) may be identified and distinguished from physical contacts to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Steve Hotelling
  • Patent number: 7855718
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying and discriminating between different input patterns to a multi-touch touch-screen device are described. By way of example, large objects hovering a short distance from the touch-surface (e.g., a cheek, thigh or chest) may be identified and distinguished from physical contacts to the surface. In addition, rough contacts due to, for example, ears and earlobes, may be similarly identified and distinguished from contacts due to fingers, thumbs, palms and finger clasps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne C. Westerman
  • Publication number: 20100235780
    Abstract: A system, a computer readable storage medium including instructions, and computer-implemented method for displaying at least one word based on a sequence of keyboard events. A sequence of keyboard events representing keystrokes is received. The sequence of keyboard events is processed by: accessing and traversing nodes of a trie data structure in accordance with the sequence of keyboard events and upon arriving at a word node of the trie data structure, identifying one or more corresponding words to be displayed, and displaying at least one word of the one or more corresponding words to be displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Drew M. Wilson, Deborah E. Goldsmith, Leland D. Collins
  • Patent number: 7643010
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying and discriminating between different input patterns to a multi-touch touch-screen device are described. By way of example, large objects hovering a short distance from the touch-surface (e.g., a cheek, thigh or chest) may be identified and distinguished from physical contacts to the surface. In addition, rough contacts due to, for example, ears and earlobes, may be similarly identified and distinguished from contacts due to fingers, thumbs, palms and finger clasps. In one implementation, a unique technique to reduce the noise in segmented image peripheral pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Steve Hotelling
  • Publication number: 20090228792
    Abstract: Methods and graphical user interfaces for editing on a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display are disclosed. While displaying an application interface of an application, the device detects a multitouch edit initiation gesture on the touch screen display. In response to detection of the multitouch edit initiation gesture, the device displays a plurality of user-selectable edit option icons in an area of the touch screen display that is independent of a location of the multitouch edit initiation gesture. The device also displays a start point object and an end point object to select content displayed by the application in the application interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Marcel van Os, Bas Ording, Stephen O. Lemay, Wayne C. Westerman, B. Michael Victor
  • Patent number: 7479949
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises: detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display, applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device, and processing the command. The one or more heuristics comprise: a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a one-dimensional vertical screen scrolling command, a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a two-dimensional screen translation command, and a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set of items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Jobs, Scott Forstall, Greg Christie, Stephen O. Lemay, Scott Herz, Marcel van Os, Bas Ording, Gregory Novick, Wayne C. Westerman, Imran Chaudhri, Patrick Lee Coffman, Kenneth Kocienda, Nitin K. Ganatra, Freddy Allen Anzures, Jeremy A. Wyld, Jeffrey Bush, Michael Matas, Paul D. Marcos, Charles J. Pisula, Virgil Scott King, Chris Blumenberg, Francisco Ryan Tolmasky, Richard Williamson, Andre M. J. Boule, Henri C. Lamiraux
  • Publication number: 20080174570
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises: detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display, applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device, and processing the command. The one or more heuristics comprise: a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a one-dimensional vertical screen scrolling command, a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a two-dimensional screen translation command, and a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set of items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Jobs, Scott Forstall, Greg Christie, Stephen O. Lemay, Scott Herz, Marcel Van Os, Bas Ording, Gregory Novick, Wayne C. Westerman, Imran Chaudhri, Patrick Lee Corrman, Kenneth Kocienda, Nitin K. Ganatra, Freddy Allen Anzures, Jeremy A. Wyld, Jeffrey Bush, Michael Matas, Paul D. Marcos, Charles J. Pisula, Virgil Scott King, Chris Blumenberg, Francisco Ryan Tolmasky, Richard Williamson, Andre M.J. Boule, Henri C. Lamiraux
  • Publication number: 20080167834
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity of an object and operate a proximity sensor of a portable device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output, and altering, based on the ALS output, an effect of a proximity sensor output on control of a proximity determination. The ALS sensor and the proximity sensor may be located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device. In some cases, the proximity determination may be a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect may include changing the proximity of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Scott M. Herz, Roberto G. Yepez, Wayne C. Westerman, Steven P. Hotelling
  • Publication number: 20080122796
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises: detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display, applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device, and processing the command. The one or more heuristics comprise: a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a one-dimensional vertical screen scrolling command, a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a two-dimensional screen translation command, and a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set of items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Steven P. Jobs, Scott Forstall, Greg Christie, Stephen O. Lemay, Scott Herz, Marcel Van Os, Bas Ording, Gregory Novick, Wayne C. Westerman, Imran Chaudhri, Patrick Lee Coffman, Kenneth Kocienda, Nitin K. Ganatra, Freddy Allen Anzures, Jeremy A. Wyld, Jeffrey Bush, Michael Matas, Paul D. Marcos, Charles J. Pisula, Virgil Scott King, Chris Blumenberg, Francisco Ryan Tolmasky, Richard Williamson, Andre M.J. Boule, Henri C. Lamiraux