Patents Issued in June 1, 2010
  • Patent number: 7730387
    Abstract: A packet including data and a cyclic redundancy check code is encoded by using a selectable one of N scrambling codes (N>1). The encoded packet is transmitted and received, then decoded N times by using the N scrambling codes. The cyclic redundancy check code is used to decide which one of the N scrambling codes enabled the encoded packet to be decoded correctly, and the correctly decoded data are used. Packets with different formats, in particular with headers of different lengths, can be distinguished by the use of different scrambling codes, so that different formats can be employed without the need to transmit extra data to indicate which format has been used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7730388
    Abstract: An electronic paper file is generated from an enhanced metafile such that data may be converted from multiple applications with different data descriptions to a single electronic paper format having a particular data description. The enhanced metafile includes a series of individual records that provide a sequence of graphic instructions to render properties associated with objects in the document in an output format. The enhanced metafile is parsed into a series of state independent objects to generate an intermediary representation of the document. The objects and corresponding identifying information are temporarily stored in an object storage structure before using the objects to generate the electronic paper file. The object storage structure provides a stateless model of the enhanced metafile such that the objects may be randomly accessed and applied to any output format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Blanding, Zhenjun Zhu
  • Patent number: 7730389
    Abstract: A method and system for integrating a digital map system with a source document is disclosed including detecting a location description in the source document, and replacing the detected location description with a hyperlink linking to a depiction of the location description. Another embodiment may include a method and system for integrating a digital map system with a source document including detecting a location description in a source document, verifying that the location description describes an actual location, and integrating a hyperlink linking a depiction of the location description into the source document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Lars Eilstrup Rasmussen, Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7730390
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for presenting text from multimedia data to a user is provided. In one embodiment, multimedia data containing associated text data is received by a data processing system. The associated text data is extracted from the multimedia data. The associated text data is then outputted without outputting moving images from the multimedia data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Janani Janakiraman, Rabindranath Dutta, Richard Scott Schwerdtfeger
  • Patent number: 7730391
    Abstract: A system and method for rendering ink annotations for a displayed image is disclosed. The invention adjusts the thickness of rendered lines for ink annotations when rendered. Ink annotations are created by capturing and connecting a set of data points input by a user. The invention outlines various pixels and weights saturation of anti-aliasing pixels to improve a user's viewing experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Vikram Madam
  • Patent number: 7730392
    Abstract: A method to provide an electronic web sticky may include placing a web sticky icon proximate to a selected feature on a web page to which the web sticky may be associated. The method may also include providing a plurality of options for selecting a web sticky type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan A. Boyles, Kimberly D. Kenna, Robert Leah
  • Patent number: 7730393
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method to allow users to access and use data services, and then charge for such services using a point of sale system. Information about various services capable of being performed by a multifunction peripheral device is provided to the user, as well as the available payment options. The user selects the services to be performed and then selects the appropriate payment option. The user then provides selected information about the service the user wants to be performed. The user is then presented with the total cost of the service. Upon the user accepting the charges, the service is performed. The details of the transaction are archived and the user is billed for the service. The multifunctional peripheral device submits an authorization request to the point of sale server. The point of sale server authorizes or rejects the transaction request. If the transaction is authorized, the transaction details are transmitted to the point of sale server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Louis Ormond
  • Patent number: 7730394
    Abstract: A word processor application is provided for creating word processor documents wherein the data and presentation can be separated. Data can be stored in a separate location from the presentation surface of the word processor document. Users of the word processor application can establish links (or bindings) between the contents of the data and the presentation surface. A user can modify contents of a word processor document by directly changing the linked data without having to deal with the complexity of the presentation format, which can be constantly changing. A user can modify content of a word processor document, by editing a data store without any knowledge of the current layout of the presentation surface. A user can modify complex backing data through simple document edits, without exposure to the complexities of the data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tristan A. Davis, Marcin Sawicki, Brian M. Jones, Robert A. Little, Mark Sunderland
  • Patent number: 7730395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for transformation of an electronic document through learning transformation rules during training from the original electronic document using visual user feedback and applying the learned transformation rules to either the original electronic document or a second electronic document having a similar structure as the original document or all future instances of the original electronic document. Accordingly, the transformed document is customized to the user's preference learned during training. Preferably, the transformed document is created in a queriable form. For example, the original electronic document can be defined any type of mark-up language or electronic document generation language, such as Hypertext mark-up language (HTML), extended mark-up language (XML), portable data file (PDF) or Microsoft® Word, and the like and the transformed document is defined in a queriable language such as (XML) views and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Tomasz Imielinski, Vince Sgro, Don Smith
  • Patent number: 7730396
    Abstract: A system and method that converts legacy and proprietary documents into extended mark-up language format which treats the conversion as transforming ordered trees of one schema and/or model into ordered trees of another schema and/or model. In embodiments, the tree transformers are coded using a learning method that decomposes the converting task into three components which include path re-labeling, structural composition and input tree traversal, each of which involves learning approaches. The transformation of an input tree into an output tree may involve decomposing the input document, labeling components in the input tree with valid labels or paths from a particular output schema, composing the labeled elements into the output tree with a valid structure, and finding such a traversal of the input tree that achieves the correct composition of the output tree and applies structural rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Boris Chidlovskii, Hervé Dejean
  • Patent number: 7730397
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for presenting structured digital content items. A file is read that defines a hierarchical structure. A display region is divided into regions and each region is mapped to a category within the hierarchical structure. An x-coordinate and a y-coordinate, corresponding to a location on the display, are received. The category that maps to the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven Neil Tischer
  • Patent number: 7730398
    Abstract: A device and method for modifying content for use on a mobile electronic device. The content includes (i) a plurality of content image files each including graphics information for generating an associated image and (ii) computer instructions including references to the plurality of image files for causing the associated images to be displayed on a display screen. A plurality of image files are selected from the content that can be combined together to form a single image file that will have a smaller file size than the sum of the file sizes of the selected image files. The selected image files are combined into a single merged image file. The computer instructions are amended to accommodate the merged image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Gerhard Klassen, David Tapuska
  • Patent number: 7730399
    Abstract: A system and process for enabling programmatic access to the contents of documents containing electronic ink are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brigette E. Krantz, Bryan D. Scott, Kyril Feldman, Reed L. Townsend, Robert J. Jarrett, Steven P. Dodge
  • Patent number: 7730400
    Abstract: A display unit includes a touch point locus detector that detects a locus of a touch point on the touch panel, and a suspended touch detector that detects that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period while the locus is detected. The display unit also includes a graphics identifying section that identifies a graphics indicated by the locus when the suspended touch is detected, and a graphics display section that displays the locus on a display screen, erases the displayed locus after the graphics identification is finished, and displays a graphics obtained through the identification on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Sato
  • Patent number: 7730401
    Abstract: The present invention is a graphical user interface in a computing device having a processor running an operating system and a display. The graphical user interface comprises a touch screen and a driver coupling the touch screen to the operating system. The driver can display a plurality of icons on the touch screen, or a plurality of screen images having at least one icon, with each of the icons associated with operations on the display and/or the touch screen. Other embodiments include the touch screen having unactivated and activated states, as well as the presence of an application programming interface that enables an application to display at least one image on the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: David W. Gillespie, Ray Trent, Andrew C. Hsu, Leslie R. Grate
  • Patent number: 7730402
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for entering input into a computing system. The method involves detecting one or multiple input movements using a sensing panel associated with the computing system and classifying each detected input movement as being of a particular type. Each detected input movement is translated to an instruction signal by consulting a knowledge database. The instruction signals are transmitted to the computing system for execution. Translation of a detected input movement to an instruction signal involves a main process and one or more sub-processes, wherein each sub process is invoked by the main process in response to a particular type of detected input movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Andy Zheng Song
  • Patent number: 7730403
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve the instructional nature of fonts and/or the ability to create instructional fonts. Font characters are modified based on user interaction to enhance the user's understanding and/or fluency of the word. The font characters can have sound, motion and altered appearance. When altering the appearance of the characters, the system operates on a set of control points associated with characters, changes the position of the characters, and changes the influence of the portion of characters on a set of respective spline curves. A designer or other user can customize the fonts and user experience by creating an episode package that specifies words to include in the user interface, and details about actions to take when certain events fire. The episode package can include media effects to play when a particular event associated with the media effect occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Margaret K. Johnson, Heinz W. Schuller, Howard W. Phillips, Michel Pahud
  • Patent number: 7730404
    Abstract: A method of composing an email message at an electronic device and an electronic device operable to carry out the method are provided. The method includes receiving an email command from a user input of the electronic device through a calendar user interface, the email command relating to at least one of a plurality of intended attendees of a calendared meeting, and providing an email composition interface in response to receiving the email command. The email composition interface includes a user-editable portion of an address field. The user-editable portion of the address field is automatically populated with email address information for the at least one of the plurality of intended attendees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Darrell R. May, Atif Khan, Andrew Bocking
  • Patent number: 7730405
    Abstract: A method and system to preview video content. The system comprises an access component to receive a search request and a loader to simultaneously stream a plurality of videos associated with the search request. The system may further comprise a trigger to detect a pointer positioned over a first video and a mode selector to provide the first video in a preview mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: IAC Search & Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonino Gulli, Antonio Savona, Mario Veri
  • Patent number: 7730406
    Abstract: A machine-implemented image processing method includes segmenting a scene into a background scene portion and a foreground scene portion, forming a mosaic for the background scene portion, enhancing the foreground scene portion, and constructing a composite of the background mosaic and the enhanced foreground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mei Chen
  • Patent number: 7730407
    Abstract: Systems and methods for bookmarking multimedia documents include displaying multiple multimedia streams, creating bookmarks comprising time signatures and snapshots of each multimedia stream based upon single action cues from a user, associating snapshots with portions of multimedia streams, displaying bookmarks and displaying portions of a multimedia stream associated with selected snapshots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Chiu, Laurent Denoue, Tohru Fuse, Qiong Liu, Lynn D. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7730408
    Abstract: A user interface to display and manage a plurality of entities as if a single entity is provided. The user interface includes a representation of the collection of entities as a whole, and a representation of members associated with the entity. If an action is performed on the representation of the entities as a whole, then the action is propagated to the collection of entities, if the action is performed on the representation of the member associated with the entity, then the action is directed to the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Quentin J. Clark, Lara N. Dillingham, Justin Grant, Boyd C. Multerer, Ori M. Amiga, Kent S. Schliiter, Roger W. Sprague, Alexander M. Sutton, Daniel T. Travison
  • Patent number: 7730409
    Abstract: A system for providing a visual representation of electronic, on-line journals, such as those generally referred to as “Weblogs” or “Blogs”, that uses a treemap display object in a graphical user interface to represent social networking characteristics discovered in, and aggregated from a set of on-line journals. The generated display object includes on-line journal representations shown within the social network communities to which they belong. This visual organization is provided through a treemap representation, in which an enclosing region for a set of journals is broken up into sub-regions corresponding to social network communities. Representations of individual on-line journals are provided as inner regions within the sub-regions for the communities. The enclosing region, sub-regions and inner regions may be rectangular, or any other specific geometric shape as appropriate for a given application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Gorzela
  • Patent number: 7730410
    Abstract: A method and system for customizing form elements in a form building application. According to one embodiment, a form builder receives an identification of a user of the form building application, the form building application providing a graphical user interface for the manipulation of a set of form elements, and enables access to a subset of the form elements according to authorization rules, and an access manager determines the authorization rules associated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Thomas Goering
  • Patent number: 7730411
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) connecting to a conference server via a network; (ii) viewing a list of available past meetings and associated forms of access; (iii) selecting a meeting and form of access from the list; and (iv) re-creating the meeting in a context using the form of access. Example forms of access can include a dialing of all meeting participants, re-creating a previous meeting context, summarizing a meeting, displaying action items, and replaying or viewing a portion of a meeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Chotai, Sravan Vadlakonda, Shantanu Sarkar, Aseem Asthana
  • Patent number: 7730412
    Abstract: Methods and systems to include transformation nodes in a business system are provided. A transformation node may provide controlled redundancy of data within the business object hierarchy. Transformation nodes may store data from core nodes without persistency, and permit different data presentation modes than for the core nodes. When a service call is placed to a transformation node, the transformation node may call corresponding services from associated core nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Baré Said
  • Patent number: 7730413
    Abstract: A method of displaying data or images on a multi-level screen display, assigns screen designation codes to respective software components, to determine the physical screen on which the corresponding images or software components are displayed. The screens may include layered liquid crystal displays. The method allows a user to see overlaying objects at the same time, e.g., toolbars or menus can be displayed on a front screen, and a drawing image can be displayed on a background screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: PureDepth Limited
    Inventors: Gabriel Daemon Engel, Pita Witehira
  • Patent number: 7730414
    Abstract: A device may include logic configured to store a number of media files. The media files may include audio files, video files, image files or multimedia files. The device may also include a display configured to display a graphical representation illustrating information associated with the media files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Robert Najdenovski
  • Patent number: 7730415
    Abstract: A control system, a safety system, etc., within a process plant may each use one or more state machine function blocks that can be easily integrated into a function block diagram programming environment. Such a state machine function block may include one or more inputs, which may cause a state machine implemented by the state machine function block to change states. The state machine function block may determine a next state to which it is to transition based, at least in part, on data indicative of the next state to which to transition, if any. The configuration data may be retrieved from a database based on the current state of the state machine and at least one of the inputs. The state machine function block may also include one or more outputs that are generated based on the state of the state machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary K. Law, Michael G. Ott, Kent A. Burr, Godfrey R. Sherriff
  • Patent number: 7730416
    Abstract: A communication apparatus and display method are capable of displaying one frame of a plurality of frames, and displaying automatically an appropriate frame for a user in the case that there are changes in display contents. A display part displays screen data while enlarging a frame which is specified by the user and is included in Web data including a plurality of frames received by a data communicating part. While the screen data of the frame specified by the user is displayed, a frame configuration management part judges that changes took place in display contents of other frames that are not displayed. A data processing part performs data processing so as to cause all frames included in the received Web data to be displayed on the display part when it is judged that the changes took place in the display contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Ueda, Yoshiaki Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 7730417
    Abstract: Upon reception of data updating information from a server apparatus (14) in a situation in which a presentation window is “closed” or “minimized” on a display unit (24) of each of terminal apparatuses (11-13), that presentation window is displayed on the display unit (24). The user who uses each of the terminal apparatuses (11-13) can always recognize a change in situation of the presentation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7730418
    Abstract: Described is a method and system by which a computer program window is sized based on the content to display. The window may automatically resize itself as content changes. When laying out an element tree of elements that contain the content, the elements provide desired size information to a parent container, and so on, up to the root element (e.g., a window). If a window property is set to size to the content, a window size is computed during layout, having a height and/or width based on the child elements plus X and Y deltas for a window non-client area and borders. Logic attached to window message handling controls changes to the content/window, such as to automatically resize for changed content, and to selectively turn off or persist the size to content property. Sizing to content may be programmatically limited to one dimension, with the other dimension fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Workman Nydegger
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Anup R. Manandhar, Julia H. Farago, Mark A. Alcazar, Sujal S. Parikh, Hamid Mahmood
  • Patent number: 7730419
    Abstract: A system for communication between browser windows includes a first web page configured to enable a first browser window into which the first web page is loaded to write a first message into a cookie; a second web page configured to enable a second browser window into which the second web page is loaded to retrieve the first message from the cookie; wherein the second web page is configured to enable the second browser window into which the second web page is loaded to write a second message into a the cookie; and wherein the first web page is configured to enable the first browser window into which the first web page is loaded to retrieve the second message from the cookie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Haim Schneider
  • Patent number: 7730420
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating one or more playlists of a predefined length. The invention allows dynamic creation of different playlists for differing times, locations, and other circumstances and also provides for the dynamic selection of products for inclusion in a playlist based on the content of one or more of the individual products. Creation of a playlist may be based on a priority scheme with priority values indicating the relative importance of the products. Creation may also involve determining or adjusting the lengths of one or more products selected for the playlist so that the total length of the playlist will equal a set, predetermined, or otherwise predefined playlist length. Methods and systems according to the present invention provide flexible, efficient, and manageable techniques for creating different playlists of similar product types for both varying circumstances (e.g., time, location, etc.) and varying products of those product types (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: The Weather Channel, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby Miller, Chris McClellen, Stephen Reuben Windham, Jr., Thomas A Pratt, Bradley Shawn Grant, Scott E Storch
  • Patent number: 7730421
    Abstract: A method for controlling a screen display system in vehicles is provided, including a setting element or actuator that can be arbitrarily operated, and information that can be displayed on a screen according to the setting of the setting element. According to the invention, the amount of image information contained in the image information is set by using the setting element. The method graphical displays a hierarchical menu structure consisting of menus, submenus, functions and/or a functional value. The assignment of different menu items to the amounts of image information assigned to the settings of the setting element ensues according to the frequency with which the respective menu item has been selected during preceding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hermann Kuenzner
  • Patent number: 7730422
    Abstract: Intelligent rearrangement of icons on a desktop in response to changes in desktop size, such as orientation, may be provided using a number of approaches. Desktop area in multiple orientations may be divided into a grid having equal numbers of rows and columns, and placement of icons in each orientation may use common grid coordinates. Icons may alternatively be reflected along a diagonal of desktops in different orientations, such that some icon positional relationships may be maintained. Placement of icons on a desktop may be restricted to a predefined subset region of the desktop, where the subset region will fit in multiple orientations without requiring adjustment. Additionally, areas of a desktop in multiple orientations may be reserved for predefined types of icons, and changes in orientation may result in placement of icons in corresponding reserved areas based on icon attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas P Russo
  • Patent number: 7730423
    Abstract: A graphical user interface that presents document organization in terms of objects readily familiar to the user is provided by the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing documents in a computer system includes a step of producing a representation of a document that indicates to the user the contents of the document. A step of associating the representation with the document in the memory of the computer is also part of the method. The method includes a step of displaying a document closet image on the display. The document closet image can include a plurality of document images. A step of selecting a document image from the document closet in response to an input from the user is also part of the method. The method can also include turning the document image selected for display to the user so that the user can readily view the representation of the document's contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jamey Graham
  • Patent number: 7730424
    Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating communications and commerce between remote device users and merchants or sponsors, particularly adapted for small-screen portable devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants. The invention enables sponsors to quickly and easily, without the requirement for specialized or expensive equipment, establish Web sites to advertise their products and services. The invention provides unique, intuitive graphical interfaces enabling users to find Web sites of interest easily and quickly amongst many sites. In addition to real-time, direct sponsor-user communications, the system further includes features such as response time prioritization, which enable users to quickly determine the relevance of a sponsor response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Gloto Corporation
    Inventors: Warren Citrin, Eric Conn
  • Patent number: 7730425
    Abstract: A function-oriented user interface presents users with selections related to what they want to do, rather than selections related to what tool they want to use. Functions may be dragged onto elements (data objects) or elements may be dragged onto functions to initiate activity. The elements themselves may present icons representing functions that are available such as adding a voice note or addressing to another person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Isabelo de los Reyes, Nathanael Roberton, Brian Calvery, Timothy J. E. Turner, Adrian Chandley, Daniel Makoski, Paul Henderson, Egor Nikitin, Tarek Elabbady, Phillip Joe
  • Patent number: 7730426
    Abstract: A Visual Thesaurus program is provided that allows a user to find media clips through successive queries by example. Clips similar to the example clip may be retrieved based on artistic style, color and shape, or keywords. Clips retrieved based on keywords may be found based on a single keyword, multiple keywords, or all keywords associated with the example clip. The keyword may be the clip format (e.g., “mpeg” or “gif”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dean A Slawson, Tjeerd Hoek, Eric L Brechner
  • Patent number: 7730427
    Abstract: The present invention introduces a “contextual icon” to an icon-driven interface in which a single icon represents a shortcut to a suite of computer applications. The icon is associated with a single main application that may be invoked if an operator double-clicks on it or enters some other predetermined quick launch command. The desktop icon also may be associated with a context menu that reveals ancillary applications or tools that are related to the suite and typically are used less frequently than the main menu. The context menu may be opened with an ancillary interaction command (example: right clicking on the icon) and, thereafter, an operator may browse through and select an application from the context menu that may be desired. In this way, the contextual icon management scheme reduces desktop clutter while maintaining a highly intuitive navigation scheme among related applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Johan C. Peters
  • Patent number: 7730428
    Abstract: A resource manager receives selection of a particular icon from an expandable tree of icons displayed in a first region of a display screen. The selected particular icon represents a corresponding group of resources associated with a storage area network. In response to receiving the selection, the resource manager displays a set of selectable view mode icons in a second region of the display screen. The set of selectable view mode icons enable a user to select different subsets of resources from the corresponding group of resources in the first region for viewing in a table. The table is also displayed in the second region of the display screen. After initially populating the table, the resource manager provides the selectable view mode icons in the second region of the display screen along with the table to enable further selection of different subsets of resources for viewing in the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Hanna Yehuda, James M. Apple
  • Patent number: 7730429
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a computer software program that implements a graphical workspace for idea management. This includes a graphical user interface (GUI) with an idea map window and a word processor document window. The idea map represents ideas as a hierarchical network of nodes and links. An interface automatically updates the word processor document using sequencing information from the hierarchical network. A routine automatically arranges nodes in the 2D representation. Another routine automatically generates virtual 3D representations of the idea map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Spark-Space Ltd.
    Inventors: Elaine Kruse, Andres Kruse
  • Patent number: 7730430
    Abstract: A method for enhancing a mouse cursor is presented. During the mouse cursor update display cycle, a test on the current mouse speed is made. If the mouse cursor's speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated and displayed on the computer screen. According to one embodiment, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated by increasing the size of a standard mouse cursor in proportion to the speed of the mouse cursor. According to an alternative embodiment, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated by interpolating the mouse cursor's path and adding a motion-blur effect along the interpolated path. According to yet another embodiment, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated by interpolating the mouse cursor's path and a plurality of mouse cursor images are displayed along the interpolated path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick M. Baudisch, George G. Robertson, Edward B. Cutrell
  • Patent number: 7730431
    Abstract: The relative placement orders of cells with respect to circuit diagram information received are automatically determined, and the cells are automatically placed in relative positional relationships according to the placement orders given to the circuit diagram information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kitano
  • Patent number: 7730432
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for designing an integrated circuit (IC). The IC comprises a plurality of cells, and each of the cells comprises a plurality of transistors. The method achieves a target objective of a transistor, of a cell, or of part of or the entire IC. The method of designing the IC includes reshaping a basic shape of the transistor. The method includes determining a reshaping bias solution of the transistor. The method further includes modifying the basic shape of the transistor channel, based on the reshaping bias solution, and preparing a reshaped layout design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Tela Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Puneet Gupta, Andrew Kahng, Dave Reed
  • Patent number: 7730433
    Abstract: An analog retargeting system and method are disclosed for converting a circuit from a source technology to a target technology. Thus, an analog circuit in a source technology can be converted to another technology while maintaining substantially the same circuit behavior and specifications as the original design. The conversion includes analyzing and resizing the circuit at the device level. For example, the analysis may include determining a mode of operation for a transistor and resizing the transistor based on the mode of operation. In another example, the analysis may include determining node voltages coupled to a device and the resizing strategy may be adjusted based on the determined node voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Sherif Ahmed Abdel-Wahab Hammouda, Mohamed Amin Ibrahim Dessouky, Mohamed Sameh Tawfik
  • Patent number: 7730434
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck
  • Patent number: 7730435
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for efficiently generating test components for testing and evaluating a design under test. As a design is being configured, generated test components are made available. In one example, test components are automatically generated and included in a simulation testbench based on selected components in the design. Generally, the test components complement the selected components in the design. Moreover, the test components can be automatically seeded with initial contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Orion Pritchard, Todd Wayne
  • Patent number: 7730436
    Abstract: A simultaneous satisfiability algorithm, or SSAT, allows simultaneous checks to be made efficiently for a number of literals, x1, . . . ,xn whether x1 is true under any satisfying assignments of a formula (written in conjunctive normal form) built from the variables of these literals and other variables (or, equivalently whether x1 is a logical consequence of the formula). Thus, several related satisfiability checks are performed simultaneously in SSAT. Temporal induction algorithms allow the verification of the sequential behavior of finite state machines, e.g., hardware. Temporal induction algorithms may employ a SSAT solver to perform simultaneous model checking of several invariant (or safety) properties efficiently. These SSAT-based temporal induction algorithms are double-incremental, such that all learned clauses in the SSAT solver are re-used both across verified properties as well as across time frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Zurab Khasidashvili, Alexander Nadel, Amit Palti, Ziyad Hanna