Operator Interface (e.g., Graphical User Interface) Patents (Class 715/700)
  • Patent number: 8952894
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates detecting a plurality of inputs simultaneously. A laser component can be coupled to a line generating (LG) optic that can create a laser line from an infrared (IR) laser spot, wherein the laser component and line generating (LG) optic emit a plane of IR light. A camera device can capture a portion of imagery within an area covered by the plane of light. The camera device can be coupled to an IR-pass filter that can block visible light and pass IR light in order to detect a break in the emitted plane of IR light. An image processing component can ascertain a location of the break within the area covered by the emitted plane of IR light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew David Wilson
  • Patent number: 8952972
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus which accepts one of a plurality of processes of different types in accordance with an operation instruction issued on a display screen, comprising: an input unit adapted to input the operation instruction issued on the display screen; an extraction unit adapted to extract an object of interest out of objects displayed on the display screen based on a position where the operation instruction has been input on the display screen; an obtaining unit adapted to obtain information indicating a display size of the object of interest extracted by the extraction unit; and a determination unit adapted to determine executable processing out of the processes of different types in accordance with the display size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Yamamoto, Eri Kanai
  • Patent number: 8955014
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for browsing a plurality of broadcast programs are provided. The method includes classifying a plurality of broadcast programs into one or more broadcast program groups with reference to electronic program guide (EPG) information or viewing records of a user regarding the broadcast programs, one-dimensionally arranging the broadcast programs so that the broadcast program groups are one-dimensionally arranged, displaying the broadcast programs and the broadcast program groups on a screen as a graphic image, and allowing the user to change a rule used for forming the broadcast program groups. Accordingly, it is possible to enable a user to effectively browse broadcast programs and to provide the user with a user interface customized for the user by using a simple one-dimensional input method and intuitively utilizing EPG information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-ho Ryu, Yong-sung Kim, Tae-ung Jung, Dong-hyun Roh, Hee-seon Park, Hye-Soo Lee, So-hee Jang, Chang-hwan Choi
  • Patent number: 8949735
    Abstract: A system for determining scroll direction intent may include one or more processors and a memory. The one or more processors may receive first and second ordered pairs of coordinates of a scroll event. The one or more processors may construct a square that has a first vertex at the first ordered pair of coordinates and an opposite vertex at a third ordered pair of coordinates for which each coordinate has an absolute value that is equal to a maximum absolute coordinate value of the second ordered pair of coordinates, where the signs of the coordinates of the third ordered pair are equivalent to the signs of the corresponding coordinates of the second ordered pair. The one or more processors may determine an intended scroll direction of the scroll event based at least partially on the constructed square and the first and second ordered pair of coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod K. Ramachandran, Grace Kloba, Srikanth Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 8949717
    Abstract: A method of controlling the position and orientation of user controlled computer generated avatars in computer generated virtual world in a manner that tends to bias the user controlled avatar positions and orientations in a way that sends useful non-verbal social cues to outside observers. These non-verbal cues can include cues such as “this conversation is open to outside participants” and “this conversation is private”. The methods can also convey “stage presence” to that can somewhat bias the position and orientation of the user controlled avatars in a manner that takes the viewpoint of an outside observer into account. These effects can be modulated up or down as desired, and may be further modulated by the degree of social connections or past history of virtual world interactions between various users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventors: Yehonatan Rafael Maor, Ofer Rundstein, Meishar Meiri, Gad Mordechi Maor, Adam Rakib, Yossi Sadoun
  • Patent number: 8949858
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods, systems, and storage medium associated with a user interface with information augmented elements are disclosed herein. In one instance, the method may include a computing device determining additional information related to a user interface (UI) control element of a user interface of an application or an operating system component, and augmenting a display of the control element with the additional information. In embodiments, the UI control element may be adjusted so as to accommodate the augmenting a display of the UI control element with the additional information. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Darren P. Wilson, Nicholas R. Richards, Aras Bilgen, Dirk Hohndel
  • Patent number: 8941680
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for displaying volumetric data using motion-based visualization techniques are provided. An apparatus storing computer executable instructions to be executed by a processor, causing the processor to carryout out a method for displaying data with multiple graphical features visually representing portions of the data and to impart motion to a graphical feature relative to a remainder of the volumetric image to highlight the first graphical feature is provided. A method for displaying a volumetric image in which motion is used to highlight a graphical feature visually representing a portion of the volumetric image relative to the remainder of the image is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Robert J. Bobrow, Aaron Mark Helsinger, Michael J. Walczak
  • Patent number: 8942888
    Abstract: In an example, a processing device sends, to a remote network device, a request for an application of a mobile device to utilize a resource of a vehicle head unit, the request including a first profile of the vehicle head unit and a second profile of the mobile device. Responsive to sending the request, the processing device receives an instruction from the remote network device, the instruction to be executed by embedded software of the vehicle head unit so as to enable the application to utilize a resource of the vehicle head unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Airbiquity Inc.
    Inventors: Darren L. Garrett, Leon Hong
  • Patent number: 8943371
    Abstract: A system for computer-aided identification of technical phenomena and related methods, particularly with technical problems is described. The system is equipped with a computer executing a program and provided with means for inputting alphanumeric data, means for entering graphical information, and a visual display. The execution of said program causes the computer to work by displaying a sequence of request and input windows for a description of the technical phenomenon by way of an alphanumeric, human natural language and/or a graphical image and according to specific logic and construction rules of the human natural language expression or of the graphic expression, at a detailed level, which construction rules change from window to window and are displayed at the margin of a data input field in the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Bigflo SRL
    Inventors: Davide Russo, Valentino Birolini
  • Patent number: 8943423
    Abstract: Systems and methods for user interface (UI) flagging. The methods involve setting a first visual indicator on or adjacent to a first UI element of a UI when code that generates the first UI element has been added to an application or modified so as to change at least one functional characteristic of the first UI element. The methods also involve setting a second visual indicator on a first UI object of the application when code that generates the first UI object has been modified so as to remove a second UI element therefrom. The visual indicators are set by adding UI flagging code to the code that generates the first UI element and/or first UI object. Also, third visual indicators can be set on or adjacent to second UI objects that have “trails” to the first UI element and/or the first UI object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan K. Merrill, Valerie M. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8942363
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for abstracting telephony functions is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a User Interface (UI) element that presents a plurality of Graphical User Interface (GUI) elements that abstract a corresponding plurality of telephony functions, and a telephony element that initiates a telephony process in response to a selection by an end user of the terminal device of two or more of the plurality of GUI elements to form a combined telephony function. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Larry B. Pearson
  • Patent number: 8938465
    Abstract: A method and system for providing access to content on an electronic device is provided. One embodiment includes receiving contextual information and querying a packaged content source for content related to the contextual information. Available content relating to the contextual information from the packaged content source is then indicated for user access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alan Messer
  • Patent number: 8938492
    Abstract: A method and system for enabling efficient review of media objects associated with a client device is described. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes detecting a media object associated with the client device, automatically generating a reduced version of the detected media object, and transmitting the reduced version to a remote data storage location over a network connection from the client device to be reviewed by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Symantec Corporation
    Inventor: John Patrick Kelly
  • Patent number: 8938688
    Abstract: An operating sequence for a handheld computing device manages the device to automatically detect cues describing the device's environmental and user actions performed with the device, learn which cues and cue combinations are relevant to predict user actions, and then in response to occurrence of the relevant cues, predictively implementing the appropriate user action or configuring the device in anticipation of user action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan R. Bradford, David J. Kay, Michael Longe, Pim Van Meurs, Gaurav Tandon
  • Patent number: 8937685
    Abstract: Method and system for overlaying videos in a television include: receiving a plurality of video signals directly from a plurality of video sources by the television; receiving and processing a script by the television, the script includes instructions for placing a first picture from a first video signal of the plurality of video signals in a first position at a first depth value on a display coupled to the television, and instructions for placing a second picture from a second video signal of the plurality of video signals in a second position at a second depth value on the display; and simultaneously displaying the first picture and the second picture on the display by the television in an overlayed manner, the first picture being displayed at the first position and at the first depth value, the second picture being displayed at the second position and at the second depth value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: TP Lab, Inc.
    Inventors: Chi Fai Ho, Shin Cheung Simon Chiu, Bok Knun Randolph Chung
  • Patent number: 8935212
    Abstract: The identifying folder paths for backup techniques include a method, a system, and/or a computer software product. In some embodiments of these techniques, the method includes scanning a client device for folders. The method further includes identifying one or more folder paths on a client device according to a pre-defined criteria associated with a backup policy for the client device. The method further includes consolidating the one or more folder paths into a consolidated list of folder paths. The method further includes presenting the consolidated list of one or more folder paths to a user. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Carbonite, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Titchener, Robert Ian Morgan
  • Patent number: 8935673
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for enhanced navigation along execution time and code space in a debugger to assist a user in remediating errors, streamlining, or reverse engineering a computer program and the source code thereof. Snapshots of system states are recorded, a causality tree of commands is constructed through execution of the program to be debugged, and an intelligent display of system states captured during runtime and indexed or cross-referenced by time are displayed to the user in an intelligent manner to aid the user with certain debugging tasks. Additionally, further features in assisting the user to locate a root cause of an error or unexpected value and remediate that cause are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yonatan Ashkenazi, Nadav Chazan, Tal Tabakman, Yaron Peri-Glass, Ronen Shoham
  • Patent number: 8935392
    Abstract: At a server system, event data is received that was sent over a network to the server system. The event data reflects one or more application events generated by at least one hosted application. The hosted application is executed on one or more servers and being accessible by a user over a network using a user client device. The event data is stored at the server system. A request to view information regarding events generated by the hosted application is received at the server system and from an administrator client device over a network. The stored event data is received. At the administrator client device and based on the retrieved event data, a display of information regarding application events is generated by the hosted application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Parag Samdadiya, Peeyush Ranjan, Jaideep M. Mirchandani
  • Patent number: 8928812
    Abstract: A system for controlling ambient light effects comprises a receiving device including at least one processor programmed to parse incoming video content to detect at least one portion of the incoming video content and determine at least one ambient light effect to be associated with the portion of the video content. The system further comprises a home automation controller in communication with the processor and at least one lighting device in communication with the receiving device and the home automation controller. The processor of the receiving device is programmed to send a command to the home automation controller specifying the ambient light effect determined by the processor to be associated with the portion of the video content. The lighting device generates the ambient light effect specified in the command when the portion of the video content is displayed to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Li, Megan Farrell, Aixin Liu, Djung Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8930841
    Abstract: An embodiment of a user interface of an electronic device is configured to display user interface elements along a timeline. Each displayed user interface element is associated with an event that is characterized by one or more event attributes. The event attributes include a temporal attribute (e.g., a date and/or time). Each user interface element is relatively positioned along the timeline based on its temporal attribute, and each user interface element is displayed with a visual representation of a set of its associated event attributes. The displayed set of event attributes for a particular user interface element is determined based on a position of the user interface element along the timeline and/or a spatial zoom level at the time. The spatial zoom level and/or position along the timeline of each user interface element may be modified based on user inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Chen Je Huang, Gillian A. Fry, Carol E. Lee
  • Patent number: 8925358
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building control systems and, more particularly, to methods and devices for configuring and/or displaying parameters or other information such as menu screens on a programmable wall module of a building control system. In an illustrative embodiment, a configuration tool may be configured to create a number of screens for the user interface of the programmable wall module based on a number of user inputs received via the user interface of the configuration tool. In some cases, the number of user inputs received via the user interface of the configuration tool may be less than, and sometimes far less than, the number of screens that are created by the configuration tool. Regardless, with the number of screens created, the configuration tool may upload the number of screens to the programmable wall module for use on the user interface of the programmable wall module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Gary P. Kasper
  • Patent number: 8930831
    Abstract: A system and method including retrieval of a markup language file, the markup language file defining a business process including a plurality of steps, each of the plurality of steps being associated with a plurality of actions; and automatic generation of code executable based on the markup language file to present a first user interface associated with a first one of the plurality of steps of the business process, the first user interface comprising a first plurality of user interface controls, where each user interface of the first set of user interface controls corresponds to one of a plurality of a actions that are associated with the first one of the plurality of steps and is selectable to execute the corresponding one of a plurality of actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Nick Bartomeli, John Hack, Gregory Laguarigue
  • Patent number: 8928657
    Abstract: A digital map of a geographic area is displayed via a user interface, and a 3D representation of a building located in the geographic area is displayed on the digital map. A virtual camera is used to view the digital map, and the location of the virtual camera is changeable in response to user input. The external shell of the 3D representation is made increasingly transparent as a virtual camera approaches the 3D representation of the building to reveal indoor information for the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Zhou Bailiang
  • Patent number: 8924458
    Abstract: This patent application relates generally to processing devices in the medical device area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Levin, Martin Joseph Crnkovich, Fei Wang, Michael Emmanuel Kotsos, Gregg Eric Fuhriman
  • Patent number: 8922721
    Abstract: A display apparatus and a control method thereof are provided The display apparatus includes: an image processor configured to process an image of content; a display configured to display the processed image of the content; a camera configured to capture an image of a remote controller; a storage configured to store information regarding a plurality of appearance states of the remote controller corresponding to user commands; and a controller configured to determine an appearance state from among the plurality of appearance states of the remote controller based on the image of remote controller captured by the camera, and control the display section to display the image of the content according to a user command corresponding to the determined appearance state of the remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Do-sung Jung, Nam-hyun Park, Hae-sung Park, Ri-na Shin, Hyung-ho Hwangbo
  • Patent number: 8922575
    Abstract: Tile cache techniques are described. In at least some embodiments, a tile cache is maintained that stores tile content for a plurality of tiles. The tile content is ordered in the tile cache to match a visual order of tiles in a graphical user interface. When tiles are moved (e.g., panned and/or scrolled) in the graphical user interface, tile content can be retrieved from the tile cache and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian J. Garside, Milena Salman, Vivek Y. Tripathi
  • Patent number: 8924887
    Abstract: A system includes determination of a layout of graphical representations of dataset members displayed by a display device of the apparatus, determination of a plurality of display device movements to monitor based on the layout, detection of one of the plurality of display device movements, and execution of an action associated with the detected movement on at least one of the graphical representations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Laurent Pontier, Ali Meziani, Valdrin Koshi
  • Patent number: 8924865
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying an ancestry graph within a social networking service are provided. In some aspects, an indication of a subset of social contacts of the first user, where an ancestry of the first user includes the subset of the social contacts of the first user, and an indication of ancestry relationships between the first user and the subset of the social contacts of the first user are received, via an account associated with a first user of a social networking service. A first ancestry graph including representations of the subset of the social contacts of the first user and representations of the ancestry relationships among the subset of the social contacts are provided for display, via the account associated with the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Prachi Tiwari, Prasanthi Kolisetty
  • Patent number: 8918712
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for dynamically generating a mobile application. A server receives a request from a mobile device to launch an application on the mobile device. The server generates a configuration file based on the launched application. The server transmits the configuration file to the mobile device for generation of a user interface of the launched application using the configuration file. The user interface includes a first display area using browser functionality of the mobile device to display one or more web page elements formatted by the server to appear as native to the mobile device. The user interface further includes a second display area having one or more interface elements that are native to an operating system of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: FMR LLC
    Inventors: Jorge Nario, Wen-Ying Chu, Rob Chapman, Paul Martel, Yevgeny Safontchik, Mark Moore, Edward Kelly
  • Patent number: 8918733
    Abstract: A technique is provided for enhancing the performance of an interface device. A collection of device elements having properties including a visual representation and a functionality are instantiated in a global container. The global container includes the device elements that are required for various screen views. Device elements that are not required in a currently displayed screen view are torn off in the global container so that memory and processing requirements are reduced, while increasing the speed and performance of the interface, particularly in switching between screen views.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton Duane Britt, Joseph Francis Mann
  • Patent number: 8917611
    Abstract: A system for managing wireless devices in a wireless network comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to: receive a diagnostic request to analyze a problem associated with a wireless device operating in the wireless network; retrieve diagnostic information associated with the wireless device from the wireless network; retrieve diagnostic information associated with the wireless device from the wireless device; determine at least one solution for the problem associated with the wireless device based on the retrieved diagnostic information from the wireless network and the wireless device; transmit the at least one solution; and receive a confirmation that the problem has been resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Jasper Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence Poon, Suparna Kumar, Sunil P. Sheshadri, Carl Keller, Amit Gupta, Scott Potter, Curtis Govan, Macario Namie, Jahangir Mohammed, Daniel Collins, Scott Barkley, Jack McGwire
  • Patent number: 8918275
    Abstract: With use of GPS, an action-history recording apparatus obtains latitudes and longitudes representing places of user's action where a user is acting, and stores action-history data containing place names indicating the places of user's action at a predetermined processing timing. In the case where, the place of user's action is a specific place unique to the user, where the user visits customarily or frequently, the user is allowed to enter an arbitrary name independent of the latitude and longitude. The name entered by the user is used as a pace name to be contained in action-history data. In this way, the apparatus obtains a place name appropriate for the user and the user can use the name conveniently as the place name of the user's action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Sakazaki
  • Patent number: 8914437
    Abstract: Systems and methods of managing URLs including capturing and recording URLs are presented. A digital processor detects a URL in a communication communicated between a sending-user and a receiving-user. The detected URL is automatically stored in a cache memory specific to the sending-user or receiving-user. The cache memory allows bookmarking of URLs to be avoided and centrally stores the URLs in browser history of the respective user improving his searching efficiency. The cache memory serves as a pre-bookmark incubator or filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir Singh Bhogal, William Arthur Griffith, Mark William Talbot
  • Patent number: 8914790
    Abstract: A reduced capability subset of an application referred to as a “starter application” is provided on a computer device prior to purchase and intended for use by a user purchasing the computer device. The starter application may monitor input from the user when the starter application is executing to ascertain opportunities to inform the user of an upgrade and then solicit the user for purchasing the upgrade. The starter application may use a limited access browser to contact a server to assist in the solicitation and complete the transaction. Upon completing the transaction, the upgrade is provided to the computing device. The upgrade may comprise the full capability version of the application, templates, clip art, or other software. The upgrade may entail transmitting the upgrade to the computer device or providing an authorization key to unlock the upgrade that is already stored on the computer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Terry Farrell, Norbert van Woerkom, Robert McQuillan, David Mowatt, Pieter Kasselman
  • Patent number: 8910048
    Abstract: A computing platform constructs an application from source code such that the application detects an attempt to access at least one secured entity of the application. Further, the at least one secured entity is registered with an authorization system by providing metadata that is descriptive of the at least one secured entity to the authorization system so that authorization metadata is generated based upon the metadata and a global unique identifier is assigned to the application and the metadata to identify the application and the metadata. The authorization metadata indicates an access policy to the at least one secured entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Doron Grinstein
  • Patent number: 8908106
    Abstract: A mobile device stores a TV application for serving as a remote control capable of controlling a TV receiver. The mobile device starts the process of starting the TV application and transmits, to the TV receiver, control signals to turn on the TV receiver before the TV application has been started. More particularly, the mobile device transmits the control signals to turn on the TV receiver while performing the process of starting the TV application. When the mobile device has started the TV application and then the TV receiver has been turned on in normal mode, a user can control the TV receiver by using the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Mori
  • Patent number: 8907977
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the same are provided which may allow for enhanced icon and widget manipulation and use. The mobile terminal may include a display module configured to display a first zone and a second zone. The first zone may include at least one execution zone where an application is executed. The mobile terminal may also include a user input module configured to receive a command from a user, and a controller configured to control at least one icon corresponding to an application executed in the at least one execution zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Roth, Hyojin Suh, Youneui Choi, Youngjun Kim, Mikyung Kim, Jaehee Chung
  • Patent number: 8903928
    Abstract: A method for organizing a message thread containing one or more messages. A root message and reply groupings are identified, each reply grouping depending from the root message. Each reply grouping has one or more child reply messages depending from a common parent message. The child reply messages within each reply grouping are ordered in chronological order based on the time of each of the one or more child reply messages was received or sent. The reply groupings are hierarchically ordering based on a relationship between the reply grouping and its parent message. A single display allows a user to view the message thread and the content of all of the messages in accordance with the hierarchical ordering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Staats
  • Patent number: 8904220
    Abstract: An electronic device includes at least one memory unit, a plurality of applications residing on at least one of the memory units, a display screen and a portable power supply. The electronic device also includes a power management module, which has a power monitor for monitoring an amount of remaining power available from the portable power supply. A processor is operatively associated with the memory units, display screen and portable power supply. The processor is configured to indicate to a user that one or more predetermined ones of the applications should not be used in order to conserve power when the remaining power falls below the first threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Maher Saba
  • Patent number: 8902307
    Abstract: A machine vision system editing environment is provided for a part program in which a continuous stream of image acquisition operations are performed during a run mode. In one embodiment, a new common syntax and representations are utilized wherein continuous image acquisition operations are recorded in the same way as regular operations, with the running of the part program being performed in two stages. In the first stage, the portion of the part program that is to have the continuous stream of image acquisition is scanned for image acquisition operations, and the most efficient order for acquiring the images is determined, after which the image acquisition process is begun. Then, in the second stage, while the image acquisition process is being performed, the portion of the part program is scanned again, with the image analysis operations then being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Delaney, Barry Saylor
  • Patent number: 8903691
    Abstract: Systems and computer program products for providing usability predictions are set forth herein. A system includes a test case collector for obtaining test cases for analyzing usability of a graphical user interface of a given software application, the test case collector having at least a memory storing the test cases. The system further includes a human performance model generator for automatically generating a human performance model based on the test cases. The system also includes a usability predictor for generating the usability predictions based on the human performance model. The test case collector automatically generates at least some of the test cases from an analysis of the given software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rachel K. E. Bellamy, Myra B. Cohen, Bonnie E. John, Padmanabhan Santhanam, Amanda M. Swearngin
  • Patent number: 8903690
    Abstract: Methods of providing usability predictions are set forth herein. A method includes obtaining test cases for analyzing usability of a graphical user interface of a given software application. The method further includes automatically generating, using a processor, a human performance model based on the test cases. The method also includes generating the usability predictions based on the human performance model. At least some of the test cases are generated automatically from an analysis of the given software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rachel K. E. Bellamy, Myra B. Cohen, Bonnie E. John, Padmanabhan Santhanam, Amanda M. Swearngin
  • Patent number: 8896466
    Abstract: In one aspect of the method for displaying an image on a screen of a cockpit of an aircraft, control means: control a first display on the screen of an image comprising a background; and then control a second display so that, in at least one zone of the image that is determined independently of the background, the background presents a non-zero second mean luminance that is less than a first mean luminance that it presented during the first display. In another aspect, the control means control the display on the screen of an image comprising a background in such a manner, that at least in a zone of the image that is determined independently of the background, the background presents non-zero mean luminance that is less than mean luminance of the remainder of the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.), Airbus (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Laurent Georges, Remi Cabaret De Alberti, Laetitia Lambinet, Laurent Brunet
  • Patent number: 8897146
    Abstract: A Core Service Platform (CSP) system is integrated with an operator network and IT system to provide services to subscribers and operators. Based on information collected from the operator network and IT system, the CSP system delivers alerts to a subscriber's device and provides offers to resolve the condition causing the alerts. The CSP system provides customized contextual offers to the subscriber's device based on contextual assessments of a subscriber's current context, such as time in contract, loyalty status, data and voice usage, value of customer, time, location and purchase history. The CSP system also provides an operator a suite of tools for the operator to manage its pricing, offers, campaigns and other subscriber-related issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Jasper Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence Poon, Suparna Kumar, Sunil P. Sheshadri, Carl Keller, Amit Gupta, Scott Potter, Curtis Govan, Macario Namie, Jahangir Mohammed, Daniel Collins, Scott Barkley, Jack McGwire
  • Patent number: 8893056
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a selection and/or execution of an application can be designated using a list of applications currently executed in a multitasking environment. The present invention includes a display unit, a user input unit configured to receive an input of a command from a user, and a controller, when a plurality of applications are being executed, if there is a first input via the user input unit, controlling a list of a plurality of the currently executed applications to be displayed on a first region, the controller, if one of at least one or more applications running in the background in the list is selected by a second input via the user input unit, controlling the selected application to be displayed on a second region of the display unit by having a prescribed visual effect applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Cheol Jung, Hong Joo Kim, Jae Woong Yun
  • Patent number: 8892998
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an receiving unit that receives e-mail via a first path, an acquiring unit that acquires an acquired file via a path other than the first path, a determining unit that determines whether an attached file and synthesization information for synthesizing the attached file and the acquired file are included in the received e-mail, and a synthesizing unit which, when the attached file and the synthesization information are included in the received e-mail, synthesizes the attached file and the acquired file based on the synthesization information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8892224
    Abstract: Continuous change of state directions are graphically provided on a display screen to assist a user in performing necessary action(s) for transitioning between operating modes in a medical robotic system or performing corrective action. A graphical representation of a target state of an element of the medical robotic system is displayed on a display screen viewable by the user. Current states of the element and indications directing the user to manipulate the element towards the target state are continuously determined and graphical representations of the continuously determined current states and indications are displayed on the display screen along with that of the target state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Mohr, David W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8893052
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling a mobile terminal application using a gesture may identify a gesture corresponding to a contact signal input to a display screen. The gesture may then be verified in an event table as corresponding to a command event for one of many possible different applications, and command event may be performed by an application associated with the gesture. The application may be running in the background of the mobile terminal, and may not be displayed on the mobile terminal display screen when the command event is executed. The method may include executing a first application, executing a second application while executing the first application, identifying a gesture corresponding to a contact signal, verifying a command event corresponding to the gesture, and controlling the first application to perform the command event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Pantech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yun Gwan Ryu
  • Patent number: 8884872
    Abstract: Systems and methods for gesture repetition that is easy to repeat quickly. A user is able to quickly repeat any activation of a key, including any of the alternate, overloaded functions that are associated with the key. In addition, by appropriately defining the gesture, a large number of these repetitions can be quickly generated. These repeated activations can be generated much faster than a key can be repeatedly tapped with sufficient accuracy, and far faster than an alternative function can be repeatedly generated when each repetition would require again waiting past an initial time threshold. Furthermore, the number of repetitions can be easily and precisely controlled by the user. As the desired number of repetitions is approached, the user simply begins to repeat the gesture at a slower pace until precisely the desired number of repetitions is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford A. Kushler
  • Patent number: 8887095
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for recommending digital content to a user of a digital content application based on continually learned patterns of behavior. Based on metrics collected from a current session of the digital content application, properties associated with one or more users interacting with the application are inferred. The inferred properties are matched against previously defined patterns of behavior to identify digital content that could be presented to the one or more users for optional selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Kumar Krishnamurthy, John Funge, Neil D. Hunt, Todd Scot Yellin, Jonathan Michael Sanders