Coaching (e.g., Animated Examples, Or Handholding Or Show Me Execution) Patents (Class 715/709)
  • Patent number: 8291318
    Abstract: Visualizing a mixture of automated and manual steps in a procedure. An application engages a teaching mode in a web-based graphical user interface (GUI), wherein a collection of selectable portions of the web-based GUI is accentuated. The application records a sequence of selections made among the collection of selectable portions of the web-based GUI as well as data entered within the GUI, where the sequence of selections represent a repeatable user-defined procedure for interacting with the web-based GUI. The application replays the sequence of selections within the web-based GUI while displaying a status of the replaying of said sequence of selections that enables a user to differentiate between manual steps that require user intervention and automatic steps that do not require user intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Budreau, Ian D. Chan, Osama S. Hashimi, Wing H. Lee, Robert T. Uthe
  • Patent number: 8271882
    Abstract: A method provides a user with access to resources associated with a life or work event by enabling the user to perform certain operations, including specifying a list of one or more tasks corresponding to the event, specifying one or more resources associated with each task, indicating a task order (including an indication of whether two or more tasks in the task list are to be performed in an order-dependent or in an order-independent manner), and formatting the task list into a presentation format. A system with user interface controls enables a user to perform certain operations, including designating an event, generating a list of tasks associated with the event, and specifying an order for performance of the tasks in the task list that may be followed in processing an instance of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Martin Botscheck, Udo Waibel, Mirjam Sonnleithner, Monty Gray, Wolfram Hepp, Martin Zurmuehl, Heiko Schultze, Mikio Takagi, Wolfgang Kuhn, Herbert Penzkofer
  • Patent number: 8266529
    Abstract: An information processing device of an aspect of the invention has display means having a display region; operation means, having a contact region, for outputting a position signal indicating the position of a contact operation in the contact region; range decision means for deciding a target range of the display region based on the position signals for two points from the operation means; processing menu display means for causing the display means to display a processing menu at a position corresponding to the target range of the display region; processing decision means for deciding the processing of the processing menu corresponding to the position of the contact operation in the contact region; and processing execution means for executing the processing on the target range of the display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Noriko Ooi, Keiichi Murakami, Kentaro Endo
  • Patent number: 8255813
    Abstract: A method for building wizard-style user interfaces (UIs) for a business task is disclosed. The method includes receiving metadata at a computer system, where the metadata comprises information regarding the business task, generating an analysis by analyzing the metadata, generating user guidance information, and executing flow and business logic of the business task. The user guidance information is with regard to the business task, and the user guidance information is based on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Rahim Mohamed Yaseen, Jon Rexford Degenhardt, Sean Kevin Frogner, Sudhakar Kaki, Maria Elisabeth Kaval, Yee Wah Lee, Min Lu, Christopher Scott Nash, Kaushik Roy, Kanchan Shringi, Vipul Shroff, Yu Sui, Alvin H. To, Sanjin Tulac, Dejia Wang
  • Publication number: 20120200574
    Abstract: A user can toggle between GUI input and touch screen input with the GUI hidden using touch gestures correlated to respective hidden GUI elements and, thus, to respective commands for a TV and/or disk player sending AV data thereto. When in the GUI input mode, an animated hand can be presented on the display moving through the touch gesture corresponding to a selected GUI element to train the user on which touch gestures correspond to which GUI elements (and, thus, to respective commands for a TV and/or disk player sending AV data thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Seth Hill, Travis Baurmann
  • Patent number: 8234589
    Abstract: A computer device, such as a mobile phone or PDA for example, is able to output a message based upon selection of a corresponding sequence of symbol. Such symbols can be polysemous in nature and thus be associated with a plurality of different meanings depending upon other symbols sequenced therewith. By utilizing polysemous symbols, a relatively large number of sequences can be developed and associated with stored messages in the computer device. To aid a user in accessing a desired sequence or to aid in training the learning of stored sequences, for example, a category relating to at least two symbol sequences is fed back to the user upon pre-selecting a symbol; a theme relating to at least two symbol sequences is fed back to the user upon selecting a symbol and pre-selecting a next symbol; and/or a message associated with a sequence is fed back to the user upon selecting and/or pre-selecting at least one symbol completing a symbol sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Semantic Compaction Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Baker, Robert V. Conti, Rob Dillon, Dave H. Hershberger, Thomas J. McGrath, III
  • Patent number: 8214745
    Abstract: Assisting navigation of a first browser executing on a first data processing system is provided by navigating, responsive to a second browser executing on a second data processing system, to identify information to be displayed using the first browser on the first data processing system. An identifier is request to associate with the identified information and the identifier is dynamically generated responsive to the request for an identifier. The identifier is associated with the identified information to be displayed using the first browser such that the identified information may be retrieved using the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Chapman
  • Patent number: 8213875
    Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device comprises a touch screen adapted for receiving touch inputs and for presenting a visual display, a processor coupled to the touch screen, and an application. The application, when executed by the processor, analyzes a plurality of inputs to the mobile communication device to infer a behavior pattern and presents a sequence of teachings about how to use selected features of the mobile communication device on the touch screen, the selected features distinct from the inputs and selected based on the inferred behavior pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Devon L. Biere, Jeff Dillon, Michael A. Gailloux
  • Patent number: 8214737
    Abstract: A method allows a user to process a life or work event by enabling the user to perform certain operations, including creating at least one event instance based on an event definition that includes a specification of data required from an external source, a list of tasks to be completed, a task order, and one or more resources associated with each task, and processing the event instance by importing the data from the external source and by iteratively allowing the user to select a task in accordance with the task order and to access the resources associated with the selected task. The imported data may be used to pre-populate forms, or as other input within the tasks. If the imported data is processed or used to produce output data, the output data may be exported to an external destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Martin Botscheck, Udo Waibel, Mirjam Sonnleithner, Wolfram Hepp, Martin Zurmuehl, Heiko Schultze
  • Publication number: 20120144301
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system using an online website that provides personalized and comprehensive fitness, nutrition, motivation, and training information to registered users, typically without directing them to other sites or requiring the purchase of products. The invention provides an interactive, easy to use, personalized homepage for each user. The user has access to selectable Modules focused on different areas of fitness which open within the personalized homepage to help them improve general fitness ability, strength, speed, agility and flexibility or aid in prevention of and recovery from injuries while providing nutritional guidance, injury prevention and treatment tips, and/or coaching instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Eric BASS
  • Patent number: 8196042
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods are provided that facilitates revealing assistance information associated with a user interface. An interface can obtain input information related to interactions between the interface and a user. In addition, the interface can output assistance information in situ with the user interface. Further, a decision component that determines the in situ assistance information output by the interface based at least in part on the obtained input information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Shengdong Zhao, Edward B. Cutrell, Raman K. Sarin, Patrick M. Baudisch, Darryl Yust
  • Publication number: 20120117470
    Abstract: A computing device displays a user interface containing a ribbon-shaped user interface. The ribbon-shaped user interface contains multiple tabs. Each of the tabs contains multiple controls. Furthermore, a challenge and a tab visualization control are displayed in the user interface. The challenge instructs a user of the computing device to perform a task using the ribbon-shaped user interface without instructing the user how to perform the task. In response to receiving selection of the tab visualization control, the computing device displays a popup window in the user interface. The popup window initially contains an image of an initial portion of a given tab in the ribbon-shaped user interface. The image of the given tab is scrolled within the popup window such that a target control in the given tab is visible within the popup window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jennifer Michelstein, Jonas Fredrik Helin, Abhishek Agrawal, Stephen Courtney
  • Patent number: 8176422
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for aligning document actions specified in a documented procedure with demonstrated user actions. The apparatus includes an alignment device for computing an alignment between the document actions and the demonstrated user actions based on at least one similarity metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Bergman, Vittorio Castelli, Eugene Rogan Creswick, Tessa A. Lau, Daniel A. Oblinger
  • Publication number: 20120110451
    Abstract: A method of providing help information for an application program includes capturing, with a computing device, an operation performed for completing a task; recording the operation in correspondence to the task; and indicating the operation in an application program interface for a user to perform the same operation in response to the user's designation of the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiang Yang He, Shun Jiang, Tie Liu, Hao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120110444
    Abstract: Data for performing help document animated visualization is obtained by generating operation records from a text-based help document of an application. Each of the operation records may include data for animating an operation action that is performed on a user interface (UI) element of the application. The help document is further enhanced to include controls that load the operation records. The enhanced help documents and the operation records are distributed for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fan Li, Qingwei Lin, Jiang Li
  • Patent number: 8166335
    Abstract: A specific-equipment management system is equipped with a question generator, a display unit and an input unit and manages a water heater. The water heater is equipment that requires human operation in the vicinity when used. The question generator generates question information. The question information is information regarding a question for specifying a specific-error. The “specific-error” is an error regarding the water heater and includes an error regarding the human operation. The display unit displays the question information. Response information is then inputted to the input unit by the user based on the question information displayed at the display unit. The response information is information regarding the state of the water heater or the state of the human operation. The question generator generates next question information based on the response information. The display unit then displays the next question information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Kawamura, Masaya Nishimura, Ryozo Inada
  • Patent number: 8166395
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus having the action modes, including an operating mode for performing an operation on the apparatus and an explaining mode for presenting an explanation corresponding to the operation on the apparatus presents the explanation for an operation input made in the explaining mode and stores the operation input. And it makes a movement from the explaining mode to the operating mode as well as executes the action according to the operation input stored in storage unit in accordance with a preset first operation input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Omi, Masayuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8161386
    Abstract: A system provides task-oriented enhancement of a software application that allows for remote, Web-based, technical support. The system observes user-interactive elements in the software application. Based on the observed user-interactive elements, the system generates at least one task indication and at least one respective instruction indication associated with the software application. Generation of the indications may be done dynamically as the software application loads or executes. The system may be activated locally or remotely to provide technical support, or “coaching”, to a user. The system may also be used to generate documentation for the software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Haggai Mark
  • Publication number: 20120089909
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of generating a set of goals is presented. The method entails receiving user input that includes items and an input value associated with each of the items. Individual values are assigned to the items based on the input value. The individual values are then summed to generate a total value, and the items are ranked according to the contributions of their respective individual values to the total value. A difference between the total value and a corresponding reference value is determined. The input value that is associated with the highest-ranking item is changed, and the total value and the difference are then recalculated using the changed input value. The process is repeated with the next highest-ranked item and the next until a condition is fulfilled. A goal is defined based on the changed input value of the items at the time the condition is fulfilled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Torin J Block, Gladys M. Block, Clifford H. Block
  • Patent number: 8155783
    Abstract: A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Walgreen Co.
    Inventors: Vinayak Pandit, Brian Amend, Louie Chin, Jeffrey Elliott, Kathy Emery, Gaurav Hasija, Maureen Isidoro, Lionel Ng, Doug Peterson, Todd Steffen, Patrick Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20120084649
    Abstract: A journal system for promoting a person's personal growth and a method of guiding journal entries are provided. The journal system includes a journal page configured to receive entries from a user and a plurality of repositionable guides. Each repositionable guide of the journal system includes a different intention to assist the user in making an entry on the journal page. The repositionable guides are individually positionable on the journal to provide the intention. The journal system also includes a storage location for the plurality of repositionable guides. The storage location is separate from the journal page so that the plurality of repositionable guides are not viewable on the journal page until the selected one of the plurality of repositionable guides is positioned on the page by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Catherine D. Dowdell, Lillard Wells Culver, III, David Ratfelders, John R. Weaver
  • Patent number: 8151193
    Abstract: Visual images of computer components are provided to remotely guide users through the process of setting up physical connections. Component identifying information is automatically gleaned and provided from a user's computer to a remote administrator. The administrator provides visual images of the components to the user, and remotely annotates them to guide the user through the configuration process. Image annotation can include pointing to a specific section of the image (e.g., the plug into which a cable is to be inserted) and/or drawing or writing on or otherwise marking-up the image to direct the user's attention. The visual image-based guidance can be supplemented by voice communication with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Symantec Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Hernacki, Sourabh Satish, Timothy G. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120079379
    Abstract: A method of automatically designing a plurality of experiments for analyzing at least one data set from a process to determine a relationship of a plurality of process factors of interest to a process output of interest. The method uses a computer to elicit input from a user to determine at least one characteristic of the data set including a quantity of the plurality of factors and whether one or more of the plurality of factors has greater than two levels, selects a design from a plurality of experiment designs based on established conventions for each of the plurality of experiment designs, the design applicable to the elicited at least one characteristic of the data set, and provides a design of experiments including a standard order of the experiments and a run order of the experiments, the design of experiments indicating the combinations of factors and levels for each experiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: William M. Hathaway, Smita Kulkarni Skrivanek
  • Patent number: 8140970
    Abstract: A method for displaying a virtual keyboard with a semi-transparent overlay of an end user's hands. The method begins by receiving a video signal comprising an image of a keyboard and at least one hand belonging to the end user. Next the method creates a virtual keyboard comprising an outline for each key residing in the image of the keyboard. After creating the virtual keyboard, the method sends to a computer screen the virtual keyboard overlaying on top of the image of the keyboard. The overlaying giving an appearance that keys residing in the image of the keyboard obscured by the end user's hand are now visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Stuart Brown, John Falk Kelley, James Robert Rudd, Robert J. Torres
  • Publication number: 20120054608
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a content display module, a storage, and a reading control module. A guidance list is stored in the storage, which defines a relationship between users and guidance behaviors relating to the users, the guidance behaviors includes guide speeds and word changes corresponding to the user. The reading control module includes a font changing sub-module and a page flipping control module. The font changing sub-module searches the guidance list to obtain the guide speed and the word changes corresponding to a particular user, and controls the fonts of the words on a current page of the file to change sequentially according to the guide speed and the word changes. The flipping control sub-module signals the content display module to flip to a next page when the current page is finished. A related method of guide reading is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JI LI, HUA-DONG CHENG, CHIH-SAN CHIANG, HAN-CHE WANG
  • Publication number: 20120054609
    Abstract: The invention relates to a client-server system for interactively creating a personalized starting page at a user's computer, which comprises: (a) a client wizard that interfaces between a user and a content unit which is located at said server, wherein said wizard guides the user through a process for the creation of said personalized starting page; and a content unit at said server for providing content to said wizard, wherein the user selects items from said content during said process for the creation of said personalized starting page; wherein said creation process involves automatic adaptation to the user at said wizard, with respect to said content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: WOOLIK TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Ido Sher Sever, Eytan Fishman, Ethan Hall
  • Patent number: 8112710
    Abstract: Providing run book and web user interface automation via and manual and automatic web-based procedures. An application engages a teaching mode in a web-based graphical user interface (GUI), wherein a collection of selectable portions of the web-based GUI is accentuated. The application records a sequence of selections made among the collection of selectable portions of the web-based GUI as well as data entered within the GUI, where the sequence of selections represent a repeatable user-defined procedure for interacting with the web-based GUI. The application replays the sequence of selections with the web-based GUI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Cheng, David B. Lindquist, Robert T. Uthe
  • Publication number: 20120017112
    Abstract: An automated method for provisioning a grid used to run a load test on a target website includes sending one or more requests in a multi-threaded manner to at least one cloud provider, the one or more requests for an allocation of N load server instances and M result server instances which comprise the grid. Requests received back from the cloud provider are also handled in a multi-threaded manner; any errors occurring during the allocation being corrected automatically. The N load server instances and the M result server instances are then verified to be operational and correctly running software deployed to provide defined test services. Errors identified during the verification are automatically corrected either by attempting to restart a failed instance or allocating a different instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Tal Broda, Matthew Solnit, Kenneth C. Gardner, Craig R. Powers, Michael Hemmert, Charles A. Vazac, Kendall Cosby
  • Patent number: 8099673
    Abstract: Some embodiments of user interface annotations have been presented. In one embodiment, comments are retrieved from a database coupled to a client machine executing an application program, wherein subjects of the comments comprise at least one of a graphical user interface (GUI) of the application program and one or more user interface (UI) elements in the GUI. Then annotations of the comments are presented on the GUI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven W. Parkinson
  • Patent number: 8094330
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes service modules for performing system side processes on image formation, wherein applications can be added to the image forming apparatus separately from the service modules, and the image forming apparatus includes an application launch part for referring to launch selection information indicating at least a location that stores one or more applications, and launching the one or more applications from the at least a location according to the launch selection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ohishi, Kohji Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20110306024
    Abstract: At least an expiratory period during which a user is instructed to take an expiratory action as a respiratory action and an inspiratory period during which the user is instructed to take an inspiratory action as the respiratory action are set. One of enlargement and reduction of a first object is performed during the expiratory period, and the other of the enlargement and the reduction of the first object is performed during the inspiratory period, the first object representing a loop path. During the expiratory period, a second object is caused to move along and complete one full circuit of the path in a time from a beginning to an end of the expiratory period, and during the inspiratory period, the second object is caused to move along and complete one full circuit of the path in a time from a beginning to an end of the inspiratory period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicants: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norikatsu Furuta, Makoto Yoshizawa, Tomoyuki Yambe, Norihiro Sugita
  • Patent number: 8077333
    Abstract: This invention discloses a printing control apparatus capable of allowing even an inexperienced operator to execute a printing process by properly and efficiently using a plurality of printing devices in accordance with the contents of each job, printing conditions, and the like. A printing control apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of this invention determines device combinations suitable for the attributes of a printing job from performance information of the devices and the attributes of the printing job. The printing control apparatus presents the combinations so as to be able to select one of them, and displays an explanation of printing process steps using the selected combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihito Mori, Akihiko Noda
  • Publication number: 20110302492
    Abstract: In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a remote user interface (UI) client is provided, the method comprising: establishing a first connection with a UI server; receiving a document over the first connection; closing the first connection; running the document, wherein the document contains first instructions on how to operate a user interface and second instructions on establishing a persistent connection with the UI server; and establishing a second connection with the UI server based on the second instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Russell A. BERKOFF, Alan MESSER
  • Publication number: 20110252321
    Abstract: A user interface programmed to create a digital dashboard includes a dashboard workspace including one or more zones, and a dashboard elements area including a plurality of dashboard elements. A dashboard element of the dashboard elements is dragged and dropped onto one of the zones to add the dashboard element to the digital dashboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Van de Walker Handy, Leif Christian Brenne, Peter Birkedal Peterson, Eric Friedrichsen, Scott W. Bishel
  • Publication number: 20110239118
    Abstract: There is provided a gesture input device including an input unit to which at least one of image information and voice information representing a user's action is input, a detection unit that detects the user's action based on the input at least one of the image information and the voice information, a prediction unit that predicts one or more gestures that the user desires to input based on a detection result of the action, and a notification unit that notifies the user of an action to be performed next by the user in order to input the predicted one or more gestures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Yamaoka, Jun Yokono, Yuichi Hasegawa, Ning Zhou, Hirotaka Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110231759
    Abstract: To guide a user on a method for operating an application program. When the user pushes an activation button 5A, a navigation process is started. When the user selects a desired task, a subtask window 7 that shows a plurality of subtasks configuring this task is displayed in an application window 5. When the user selects a subtask, a plurality of action windows 8 related to this subtask are displayed simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Shimada, Yuji Mizotz
  • Patent number: 8006182
    Abstract: The exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a means for the simulating of real world activities within a virtual environment. Information retrieved from locally executing applications (e.g., such as a screen saver, voice over IP phone system, etc.) or sensor information is utilized to deliver messages from a client application to the virtual environment in order to put an avatar in a state that visually indicates that a system user is busy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cary Lee Bates, Zachary A. Garbow
  • Patent number: 7985955
    Abstract: A radiation detecting cassette and a radiation image capturing system are provided. A radiation detecting cassette has a radiation detector for detecting a radiation having passed through a patient and converting the detected radiation into radiation image data, a transceiver for transmitting the radiation image data by way of wireless communications, a cassette controller for controlling the radiation detector and the transceiver, a power supply for energizing the radiation detector and the transceiver, and a remaining power supply power level detector for detecting a remaining power level RC [%] of the power supply. The cassette controller includes a data transmission and reception controller. The cassette controller stops transmitting the radiation image data by way of wireless communications and prioritizes the capturing of a radiation image when the detected remaining power level of the power supply is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Ohta, Eiichi Kito, Tsuyoshi Tanabe, Takuya Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 7979796
    Abstract: The present invention provides a search capability to allow a user to easily locate a menu command or other user interface element associated with a search result. In one embodiment, a user enters a search term (or a portion thereof) in a search field. A list of results is displayed, for example in a results menu. The user can select or highlight any of the listed results; in response, the corresponding command is brought into view in context within the user interface, and is highlighted. The user can activate the selected command directly from the search results menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Matthew Williams, Tristan Arguello Harris, Patrick Coffman, Giulia Pereyra Pagallo, Christina E. Warren, Steve Ko, Celia Vigil
  • Publication number: 20110153054
    Abstract: An electronic lens processing system receives a lens prescription and performs lens calculations to create a work ticket for manufacturing the lens. Information that the system used to create the work ticket, such as data files for lens materials and machine settings for controlling lens manufacturing equipment, are stored. The work ticket includes a form that specifies work ticket calculations and/or a graphic of the lens or lenses to be manufactured. The system displays the work ticket on an electronic screen, and a laboratory technician can select elements from the work ticket to receive supplemental information on those elements to aid in processing the lens or determining why a lens prescription is not manufacturable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Douglas Scott Hagen, Gordon Keane
  • Publication number: 20110153279
    Abstract: A system which may enable users to plan, design and observe various building systems in an abstract and intuitive view, such as with a map view. In this view, virtually all facility information and objects may be displayed as simple shapes (e.g., rectangles). Just by some drag-and-drop, a user may provide shapes and rearrange positions of these shapes quickly to reflect a desired space relationship. Objects (e.g., components, devices, controllers, and the like) may be placed, moved around, and associated with each other on a facility layer or floor. Further, the map view may be used together with a tree view and a list view to provide alternative design ways. Changes made in any of the views may be synchronized with the other views. Various presentations of the facility may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yajun-Edwin Zhang, Zhao Xia Jin, Jerry Qi Huang, Andrew D. Halford, Chengyi Liu, Curtis Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20110133946
    Abstract: An ambulatory infusion pump can include a guided user help system that allows for a user to correct an error with the pump without needing to summon a home healthcare aide or other medical professional. When an error occurs with the pump, the user can select an option to receive help with the error. The help screen can display a possible solution for correcting the error that the user can follow. Additional help screens can display additional possible solutions if prior possible solution prove ineffective at correcting the problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin Sean Kopp, Mary Ward-Welisevich, David DeBelser
  • Patent number: 7958449
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for presenting input fields from a document. A selected indicator associated with a set of mandatory input fields in the document is identified. The set of mandatory input fields is presented. Further, the mandatory input fields may be pre-filled using data from a repository associated with a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Yen-Fu Chen
  • Publication number: 20110119216
    Abstract: A computing device that detects precursory user-input preactions executed in an instructive region and user-input action gestures executed in a functionally-active region is provided. The computing device includes a natural input trainer to present a predictive input cue on a display in response to detecting a precursory user-input preaction performed in the instructive region. The computing device also includes an interface engine to execute a computing function in response to detecting a successive user-input action gesture performed in the functionally-active region subsequent to detection of the precursory user-input preaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daniel J. Wigdor
  • Patent number: 7936356
    Abstract: An information processor for information registration, capturing means captures a graphics processing command, and database registering means registers, as information about completed work in the database, information about a series of graphics processing commands concerning completed works out of the captured graphics processing commands. In an information processor for information retrieval, proceeding work detecting means detects a work in progress as a proceeding work based on the captured graphics processing command, and information acquiring means searches a database for the information about the work in progress which has been done before based on the graphics processing command concerning the proceeding work and acquires the information about the work in progress which has been done before.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sanehiro Furuichi, Susumu Shimotono, Tetsuya Noguchi, Jun Sugiyama, Hassan Hajji
  • Publication number: 20110098637
    Abstract: A method of configuring an insulin infusion device includes receiving body weight information of a patient or total daily dose (TDD) information of the patient. The insulin infusion device is programmed for operation based on the received information and default rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Michael A. Hill
  • Publication number: 20110099474
    Abstract: A tool data engine displays instructional information to an end-user of a software application that pertains to one or more tools associated with the software application. The tool data engine displays the instructional information within a graphical user interface (GUI) after the user has indicated interest in that tool. The instructional information includes a detailed description of the tool and one or more video clips associated with the tool. The tool data engine also allows end-users to record and/or upload video clips that demonstrate usage of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Tovi Grossman, George Fitzmaurice
  • Publication number: 20110099475
    Abstract: A user operations engine allows an end-user to select a specific region of a document. The user operations engine then provides the end-user with access to one or more video clips that demonstrate modifications that were made to the selected region of the document using one or more tools associated with a software application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Tovi GROSSMAN, George Fitzmaurice
  • Publication number: 20110093781
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for building wizard-style user interfaces (UIs) for a business task includes identifying a collection of metadata associated with the business task, and processing the collection of metadata to provide a set of wizard-style UIs pertaining to the business task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: ORACLE CORPORTION
    Inventors: Rahim Mohamed Yaseen, Jon Rexford Degenhardt, Sean Kevin Frogner, Sudhakar Kaki, Maria Elisabeth Kaval, Yee Wah Lee, Min Lu, Christopher Scott Nash, Kaushik Roy, Kanchan Shringi, Vipul Shroff, Yu Sui, Alvin H. To, Sanjin Tulac, Dejia Wang
  • Patent number: 7925996
    Abstract: A plurality of elements is identified by a user for input to the computing system by at least one of sequential and simultaneous selection of elements presented on a display of a computing system. Based on the elements thus identified, which may include at least one operator and at least one operand, the computing system recognizes a function to be performed by the computing system and causes a visual indication to be presented on the display. The computing system thus may present a visual indication showing a connection between, for example, the operator and an operand, or an operand and a functional area of the display associated with the function to be performed as a result of the elements identified. The visual indication thus confirms to the user the elements that the user has identified, and the resulting function that will be initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Hofmeister, Dane T. Storrusten, Ann Valencia