Focus Control Patents (Class 715/802)
  • Publication number: 20140181740
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, there is, a method, comprising detecting a static touch user input defining, responsive to detecting the static user input, a start point for a selection area, and defining the selection area in dependence on a duration of the static touch user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Kiarie Gachoka, Marko Mikael Myllyluoma, Raphael Mutiso, Julius Sekah Ochiong
  • Patent number: 8762516
    Abstract: In the present invention, observed online CPD or CE activities must be within a designated envelope of acceptable behavior for accredited activity to be recorded in a session log for that user. When a watcher program detects one or more loss of user focus on the activity, it alerts the user and gives them a short opportunity to rectify the situation, otherwise a session timer is stopped and no further credits are added or verified to the user's session log. When a session is ended by a user or the watcher program, only the verified activity that can be accredited to CPD is itemised and catalogued cumulatively in the user's session log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: 4Everlearning Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony Kilcoyne, William Douglas McCaughan
  • Patent number: 8762356
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium for detecting change in rate of input reception. In one aspect, a series of keystrokes input by a user is received. A baseline time interval is determined for the user. A time interval between receiving a particular keystroke and receiving a preceding keystroke is determined. It is determined that the time interval exceeds the baseline time interval by a predetermined amount. Then, characters that correspond to one or more of the keystrokes, are transmitted to a search engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: David Kogan
  • Patent number: 8762882
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: operation accepting means for accept an operation input; image storing means for storing a plurality of images; management information storing means for storing management information corresponding to the plurality of images stored in the image storing means; image drawing means for drawing, in a display area including at least an image display area, at least one of images stored in the image storing means onto the image display area in a predetermined sequence; and controlling means for, when an operation input commanding selection of an image included in the image display area has been accepted by the operation accepting means, controlling recording of the selection of the image to management information stored in the management information storing means in correspondence with the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takuo Ikeda, Makoto Imamura, Hidenori Karasawa, Yoshiyasu Kubota, Takashi Kitao, Shogo Sato
  • Publication number: 20140157193
    Abstract: A computing system may perform a method comprising displaying, on a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of the computing system, a plurality of initial animations to a user, each of the plurality of animations being displayed in response to an identical function call, having an identical visual appearance, and being displayed to prompt an input from the user. The method may also comprise monitoring, by a processor of the computing system, the user's input to each of the plurality of animations. The method may also comprise displaying, by the GUI, a subsequent animation to the user, the subsequent animation being displayed in response to the identical function call but having a different visual appearance than the plurality of initial animations, the different visual appearance of the subsequent animation being based on the monitored inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventor: David M. Moore
  • Patent number: 8739058
    Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Fisher, Paul Erickson, Louis Amadio, Brian Teutsch
  • Patent number: 8726195
    Abstract: A user is enabled to interact with a virtual world environment using an instant messenger application by enabling a user to enter the virtual world environment using the instant messenger application that includes an instant messaging (IM) user interface, generating and managing an avatar to represent the user in the virtual world environment, monitoring a sub-portion of the virtual world environment corresponding to a current location of the user in the virtual world environment, determining descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment based on the monitoring, and providing the user with the determined descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment via the IM user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Bill
  • Patent number: 8719726
    Abstract: In a hierarchical display structure, a high layer window contains one or more input images that serve as a window switchover region for switching into a low layer window. Each of the input images is a first correspondence image that has a unique color. When a manipulation device selects one of the input images and performs a determination input to the selected input image in the high layer window being displayed on a screen of a display device, the display on the screen is switched from the high layer window into the low layer window. The low layer window on the screen contains a background image as a second correspondence image that has a color identical to a color of the input image to which the determination input was performed in the high layer window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8707202
    Abstract: To simplify an operation for displaying or hiding windows, depending on a user or usage by the user. An information-processing device, according to the present invention, stores for each window, a time during which the window has been displayed together with another window (simultaneous display time), as a relevance table. The information-processing device, when receiving an instruction to display a window (subject window), refers to a relevance table for the subject window to identify a window whose simultaneous display time is the longest (simultaneous display window), and displays the subject window and the simultaneous display window. Also, the information-processing device, when receiving an instruction to hide a subject window, hides the subject window and a simultaneous display window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamada, Eiju Yamada, Dai Kamiya, Izua Kano, Keiichi Murakami, Yasushi Onda
  • Patent number: 8701027
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology to provide a glanceable, interactive user interface associated with one or more prioritized informational items or notifications. Such items can be received from external sources and/or from a notification system, wherein priorities can be assigned by the sources and/or automatically determined by a computer-based prioritization system. The notifications are then arranged and/or located in a graphical display according to the assigned priorities, thus enabling a user to quickly glance at the display and determine how many items are pending, where items have originated from, and what urgency level is associated with respective items. Various shapes, locations, colors, and sounds are utilized in a variety of ergonomic configurations, some controlled by the invocation of a variety of filters and informational lenses to enable users to easily manage a plurality of information sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Maarten R. van Dantzich, Daniel C. Robbins, Eric J. Horvitz
  • Patent number: 8694914
    Abstract: A processing system may include a display device, a primary window manager, and an auxiliary window manager. The primary window manager may display a first remote-enabled window in the display device. The processing system may also include a program to generate a mouse-enabled window, and the primary window manager may prevent the mouse-enabled window from displaying in front of the first remote-enabled window. The auxiliary window manager may detect an attempt to display the mouse-enabled window, and, in response, may automatically display a second remote-enabled window in front of the first remote-enabled window. The second remote-enabled window may include an object that a user can select with a remote control to instruct the processing system to display the mouse-enabled window. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Terry Ryun Bradfield
  • Patent number: 8692927
    Abstract: There is set forth herein an imaging terminal having an image sensor array and a variable lens assembly for focusing an image onto the image sensor array. In one embodiment, an imaging terminal can include one or more focusing configuration selected from the group comprising a full set focusing configuration, a truncated set focusing configuration and a fixed focusing configuration. When a full set focusing configuration is active, a full set of candidate focus settings can be active when the imaging terminal determines a focus setting of the terminal responsively to a trigger signal activation. When a truncated set focusing configuration is active, a truncated range of candidate focus settings can be active when the imaging terminal determines a focus setting of the terminal responsively to a trigger signal activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pease, Scott Garmon, Jeffrey Baker
  • Patent number: 8689134
    Abstract: A method for facilitating window navigation on an electronic display including the steps of rendering at least one elongated strip on opposing sides of a first window wherein the strips are selectable by a user through a user interface device, associating at least one strip with a second window and at least one strip with a third window wherein the strips are each configured to transition one of the second and third windows to the forefront of the electronic display upon selection of the respective strip by the user through the user interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Dana W. Paxson
  • Patent number: 8689135
    Abstract: The invention describes a method of driving an interactive system (1) comprising a user interface system (2) with an inherently sequential input/output modality (12) and comprising a plurality of applications (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An). In this method a first application (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An) is currently controlling the input/output modality (12) for performing an interaction with the user (U), wherein, at least for a certain period of time, a focus level is assigned to the first application (A1, A2, A3, An). The current interaction process of the first application (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An) is only terminated or paused and the control of the input/output modality (12) for performing an interaction is only transferred to a second application (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An) when an application-switching command (ASC) is received from the user (U) and according to the focus level of the first application (A1, A2, A3, . . . , An).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Portele, Christian Benien, Jens Friedemann Marschner
  • Patent number: 8683362
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a card metaphor is established, in which each activity can be represented within an area of the screen referred to as a card. In various embodiments, any of several display modes are available for viewing, interacting with, manipulating, initiating, and dismissing cards. A persistent positional relationship can be established among cards, represented by a one-dimensional sequence. Newly opened cards are generally placed at the end of the sequence, although a new card that bears a relationship to an already open card may, in some embodiments, be placed adjacent to the already open card. In various embodiments, cards may be grouped, with such groups being represented as stacks of cards or by other visually distinctive means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Marc Gatan Shiplacoff, Matias Gonzalo Duarte, Jeremy Godfrey Lyon
  • Patent number: 8677269
    Abstract: Method, device, and computer product for displaying a single focus on a device. A piece of content is displayed in a first application on a display of the device. The piece of content is enlarged to create a single focus on the piece of content on the display. Parameters of the piece of content are passed to a second application. The piece of content is duplicated as an identical piece of content in the second application, and the identical piece of content is visually exactly positioned behind the piece of content on the display. The piece of content is seamlessly swapped with the identical piece of content of the second application, so that the identical piece of content is visually positioned to be viewable by the user. Tools of the second application are visually presented in an incremental transition until the tools are viewable and available to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ilse M. Breedvelt-Schouten, Matthew Chmiel, David D. Dewar
  • Publication number: 20140068507
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method edit an image in a portable terminal, with the method including displaying one or more icons indicating stylus pen functions; when a highlighter icon corresponding to a highlighter function is selected among the displayed icons, displaying a text selected by a stylus pen in an image in a preset fluorescent color; and storing the displayed text in accordance with the fluorescent color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicants: Seoul National University R&DB Foundation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoon-Gon NAM, Myung-Soo KIM, Hyun-Joon KIM, Yong-Woon PARK, Chul-Woo YANG, Jee-Man LEE, Chang-Hoon BAEK
  • Patent number: 8667409
    Abstract: Systems and methods for setting the focus of an application page after that page is reloaded are provided. Systems for setting focus may comprise a processor coupled to a memory. The processor may be operative to load an application page having two or more elements. The processor may be operative to track which of the one of the two or more elements is in focus. The processor may be operative to reload the application page in response to a server call. The processor may be operative to restore focus of the application page on the element of the application page most recently in focus prior to reloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Sebastien Cherry, Michel Martin
  • Publication number: 20140059485
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing input to a computing device based on a toggle gesture performed during a drag gesture are provided. A drag gesture can be performed on a touch screen to manipulate a user interface object. For example, the drag gesture can move the user interface object or resize the user interface object. Such manipulation commands may have alternate modes or options. For example, a user may want to place a copy of the user interface object rather than simply moving it. Accordingly, a toggle gesture can be performed during the drag gesture to choose an alternate manipulation command. For example, a drag gesture can be performed to move an object, and a toggle gesture can be performed during the drag gesture to copy the object instead of moving it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Matthew LEHRIAN, Zachariah N. Paine, Edward P.A. Hogan
  • Patent number: 8661361
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for navigating between visual components. A first visual component, of a first operating application in a plurality of operating applications, is detected in a first application region of a presentation space of a display device. A first navigation control is presented, in a first navigation region determined based on the first application region, for navigating to a second visual component, of a second application in the plurality, in a second application region in the presentation space. A user input corresponding to the first navigation control is detected. In response to the detected user input, navigation information is sent to navigate to the second visual component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sitting Man, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Paul Morris
  • Publication number: 20140053101
    Abstract: Methods of displaying multiple sources of information in a graphical user interface on a display include separately displaying at least some of the multiple sources of information within graphical user interface components within the graphical user interface. All of the graphical user interface components within the graphical user interface are displayed including a focus graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Buehler, Benjamin Thomas Occhipinti
  • Publication number: 20140052657
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining employer compliance in determining employment eligibility requirements in accordance with federal immigration regulations. Compliance alerts and compliance tips are displayed for guiding employers in verifying employment eligibility. Completed employment eligibility forms are automatically audited to analyze whether the employer has accurately completed the employment verification. The completed forms are audited by applying various compliance rules to a completed employment eligibility form, presently a Form I-9, to determine compliance with the applicable regulations. A listing is provided of various errors and additional data required to complete the audited form. The method is preferably administered by a single service provider for multiple employers, to assure that changes in the applicable regulations are regularly incorporated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Elaine V. Morley, John T. Andersen
  • Patent number: 8650503
    Abstract: A mockup image can be received at a user interface designer module and a representation of the mockup image can be overlaid with a representation of a user interface that is under construction. One or more visual features of the user interface and one or more visual features of the mockup image can be matched. Also, one or more guides can be matched to one or more features in a mockup image, and one or more features of a user interface that is under construction can be automatically matched to the one or more guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Bogdan Mihalcea
  • Publication number: 20140019908
    Abstract: When the user touches a touch selectable element, the appearance of the computer recognized selected element may be changed so that the user can confirm that the element is, in fact, the element the user intended to select. If it is not, in some embodiments, the user can slide the user's finger to the correct element and, again, that element may be modified in a way to indicate to the user which element has now been selected. When the user removes the user's finger from the touch selectable element, in some embodiments, the element is then selected. Also, the user, in some embodiments, can touch blank areas of the display screen to reveal which elements on the display screen are touch selectable elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Xing Zhang, Ningxin Hu, Xiaoqing Zhao
  • Patent number: 8631328
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit, a memory, a touch screen, and a controller. The wireless communication unit establishes a connection to an external digital picture frame. The memory stores a plurality of images including one or more characters and information mapped to the characters. The touch screen displays a first image stored in the memory. And, the controller transmits the first image and first information mapped to the first image to the digital picture frame via the wireless communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Hyun Kim, Lan Jung
  • Patent number: 8631351
    Abstract: Multiple degrees of context for media content that is consumable on computing platforms including PCs and personal media players is provided by logically organizing context objects into halos that surround each piece of consumable content. The context objects represent information and experiences that are contextually associated with media content to enable users to easily discover content and experiences that they will find interesting in a rich and personal manner. As a user navigates from a content item to a context object in the halo, the context object itself morphs into content that is then surrounded by a new halo of context objects to which the user may navigate. The organization of media content and information into halos enables an effective contextual paradigm that cuts across strict hierarchical structures to allow the user experience to be much more seamless and free-flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Fong, Anton O. Andrews
  • Publication number: 20140013273
    Abstract: A method is performed to refocus a digital photographic image comprising a plurality of pixels. In the method, a set of images is computed corresponding to the digital photographic image and focused at different depths. Refocus depths for at least a subset of the pixels are identified and stored in a look-up table. At least a portion of the digital photographic image is refocused at a desired refocus depth determined from the look-up table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventor: Yi-Ren Ng
  • Publication number: 20130346917
    Abstract: A sequence of user actions is generated from a runtime trace of a client application that is analyzed against a set of detectors to infer a feature-level usage analytic. The feature-level usage analytic identifies a common trait among the various users that use a feature of the application and is used as a basis to reflect the user's experience with the feature. The feature-level usage analytic may be a level of the user's ability with the application or an application state that indicates an outcome of a group of users' usage with a particular feature. The feature-level usage analytic provides a developer with insight into the user's behavior when using the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: ANDREW BRAGDON, PAULA BACH, CURT BECKER, ARUN MATHEW ABRAHAM, ANNA GALAEVA, MARK GROVES
  • Publication number: 20130326401
    Abstract: A multifunction device displays a navigation user interface that includes: a navigation bar having a plurality of unit regions and a plurality of subunit regions. Each of the unit regions represents a range of values. Each subunit region represents a subset of a respective range of values. The navigation user interface also includes a content area for displaying content associated with subunit regions. In response to detecting an input that selects a respective subunit region, the multifunction device updates the content area in accordance with the respective selected subunit region. In response to detecting an input that selects a respective unit region, the multifunction device updates the navigation bar to include subunit regions in accordance with the selected unit region and updates the content area in accordance with at least one of the subunit regions in the updated navigation bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Marcel van Os
  • Publication number: 20130325463
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for identifying related content based on eye movements are disclosed. The system, apparatus, and method display content to a user concurrently in two or more windows, identify areas in each of the windows where a user's eyes focus, extract keywords from the areas where the user's eyes focus in each of the windows, search a communications network for related content using the keywords, and notify the user of the related content by displaying it concurrently with the two or more windows. The keywords are extracted from one or more locations in the two or more windows in which the user's eyes pause for a predetermined amount of time or, when the user's eyes pause on an image, from at least one of the text adjacent to and the metadata associated with that image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: CA, INC.
    Inventors: Steven L. GREENSPAN, Carrie E. GATES
  • Patent number: 8601385
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for image layout and display on a display such as a PACS workstation display. Certain embodiments provide a method for image layout on a display. The method includes detecting an event related to movement of an image for placement on a display. The method also includes overlaying a navigation grid on at least a portion of the display. The navigation grid includes one or more sections corresponding to sections for content on the display. The method further includes indicating a section of the grid into which the image is to be positioned. In addition, the method includes updating the display to reflect the position of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander Natanzon, Andrei Leontiev
  • Publication number: 20130318472
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method and device for an electronic terminal to realize desktop switching, and the electronic terminal thereof to avoid monotonous desktop switching through screen sliding and to enrich the functions of the electronic terminal. The method includes that: a current motion state of an electronic terminal is acquired by way of an acceleration sensor arranged in the electronic terminal; a primary desktop switching mode corresponding to the current motion state is determined according to a stored corresponding relation between a motion state and a desktop switching mode; and desktop switching is performed according to the primary desktop switching mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hailiang Liao, Zhiping Zhang, Qiuyi Chen
  • Patent number: 8584044
    Abstract: Technologies, systems, and methods for exploring a virtual space without cluttering or obscuring a field of view of the virtual space with overlaid names, labels, symbols, markers, and the like. Instead, a user may select objects of interest presented in a context bar to locate them in the field of view. Further, the user can make use of various forms of selection to zoom in on objects or points in the field of view and access information regarding the virtual space and objects without adding persistent clutter to the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Curtis Glenn Wong
  • Patent number: 8578297
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of browsing a set of media items on a display device. A sequence of thumbnail images corresponding to a portion of the set are initially displayed in a looping arrangement. A first thumbnail image of the sequence is displayed at a size larger than other thumbnail images of the sequence. The first thumbnail image corresponds to a focus position in the sequence. The arrangement responds to a user scrolling action to replace display of a second thumbnail image adjacent to an insertion point in the displayed sequence with a third thumbnail image corresponding to a media item of the set not displayed prior to the user action. The method then updates the focus position and insertion point and replaces a display of the first thumbnail image with display of a fourth thumbnail image corresponding to the updated focus position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Steven David Webster, Ernest Yiu Cheong Wan
  • Patent number: 8566732
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable mediums, user interfaces and other implementations are disclosed for synchronizing widgets and dashboards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John O. Louch, Eric Steven Peyton, Christoper Hynes, Scott Forstall, Gregory N. Christie
  • Patent number: 8560967
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a display unit configured to display information; a wireless Internet module configured to wirelessly access the Internet; and a controller configured to display an Internet access history including web page images of captured web pages previously accessed through the wireless Internet module in a first area of the display unit, to group the web page images by categories, and to display the grouped web page images in the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Keunjae Heo
  • Patent number: 8555193
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the automated layout and scrolling of windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Can Sar, Jesse Young, Tristan Harris
  • Patent number: 8555198
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for capturing, displaying, and navigating text annotations in a non-modifiable document. In some embodiments, a determination is made that a text annotation is to be created and a system determines the file position of the selected object. The file position of the selected object can be stored along with the created text annotation in another file or a non-read only portion of a file storing the document. Using the file position, the text annotation may be identified with the selected object without modifying the non-modifiable document. In some embodiments, once a text annotation is displayed a user may easily navigate among the captured annotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John L. Beezer, Marco A. Demello, David M. Silver
  • Patent number: 8555166
    Abstract: A method of returning target scenes from a user link request is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a user link request on a user interface; comparing the received user link request to a plurality of entries in a lookup table; for each entry in the plurality of entries in the lookup table that matches the received user link request, identifying a target scene that corresponds to the matched entry in the lookup table; determining a closest one of the target scenes if multiple entries in the lookup table match the user link request; and transitioning to the closest target scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Stanchfield
  • Publication number: 20130263048
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes an operation detector detecting an operation indicating a movement direction, an object analysis device specifying an object to which a focus is moved by a one-time operation among objects displayed on a screen and operated by a user, as an object of a first group, and a display properties setting device setting display properties of the object of the first group so that the user may distinguish the object of the first group from other objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiromi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8547347
    Abstract: A method for generating multiple windows frames, an electronic device thereof, and a computer program product using the method are provided. In the present method, first, a touch trajectory generated by continuously touching a touch panel of the electronic device is detected, wherein the center of the touch panel is a display area, and a non-display area surrounds the display area. Then, whether the touch trajectory is started from one side of the non-display area and passed through the display area to be extended to another side of the non-display area is determined. If so, the display area is split according to the touch trajectory to display at least two windows frames. As a result, an intuitional and convenient method for generating multiple windows frames in the display area is provided, and the operation of the electronic device is made very convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Liang Chiang, Chi-Pang Chiang, Chih-Wei Tai, Chao-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 8543933
    Abstract: A group is defined by a user to include two or more different applications executed on a computing device. The group is associated with one foreground window and one or more background windows on a screen of the computing device. Images of one application selected as a foreground application is displayed in the foreground window. The applications not selected as the foreground application displays images in the background windows. The foreground window is overlaid on the top of the windows of other applications, thereby partially or totally occluding the windows of other applications in the same group. The foreground application changes with elapse of time or upon detection of an event. Therefore, the same foreground window display images for different applications in the group at different times. The number of windows cluttering a screen of the application can be reduced because the user can interact with different applications in the group using the same foreground window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Emtrace Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Nae Kwon Jung
  • Patent number: 8539359
    Abstract: A machine-implemented social networking system includes a hierarchy tree containing topic nodes. New nodes are added as new topics emerge in online public forums. Each topic node can link to an on-topic real time chat room whose occupants are currently discussing the topic of the node. A node-seeking automated process operates in the background and seeks out nodes that currently have topics appearing to be the same as or similar to what topics the user appears to have in mind. Content browsing experience of the user is enhanced by addition of an invitations displaying subsystem that automatically invites him or her to co-compatible chat rooms currently discussing the topic(s) the user appears to have in mind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Rapaport, Seymour Rapaport, Kenneth Allen Smith, James Beattie, Gideon Gimlan
  • Patent number: 8531480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ruff, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 8533591
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided that includes: a display unit configured to display a webpage having a plurality of sections; a wireless communication unit configured to provide Internet access; a memory unit configured to store history information regarding usage of the webpage; and a control unit configured to control a display of a preferred section of the plurality of sections of the webpage upon an access of the webpage such that the preferred section is visually distinguishable from other sections of the plurality of sections, wherein display of the preferred section is based on the stored history information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joo Woo Lee, Kyung Hye Seo, Ho Young Hwang, Sun Jung Lee
  • Patent number: 8533626
    Abstract: Graphical viewing of shapes and descriptive information in displayed graphical images. In one aspect, shape information is displayed in a graphical interface using a computer system and includes causing a display of an image and one or more shapes in the image, and causing a display of a cursor on the display device. Labels are displayed on the display device, each label associated with a different displayed shape. One or more of the labels are displayed within a zone of focus of eyes of a user of the graphical interface and one or more of the labels are displayed outside the zone of focus, where the labels displayed in the zone of focus are displayed differently than the labels displayed outside the zone of focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chayan Majumder, Donald J. O'Riordan, Shagufta Siddique
  • Patent number: 8522165
    Abstract: A computing device includes a processor executing instructions to provide a graphical user interface displayed on a display device and for facilitating navigation through a collection of files stored in a storage device, the user interface including a primary icon displayed on the display device and representing a selected file, a temporal axis defined across at least a portion of the primary icon, and one or more secondary icons displayed on the display device, each representing a respective additional file, the secondary icons being positioned separate from the primary icon, wherein the secondary icons are arranged along the temporal axis in temporal order of each additional file represented by the secondary icons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Stefan Cameron, Alexander Di Nardo
  • Patent number: 8521857
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing, sharing, storing and playing widgets and associated media content on a personal audiovisual device, such as a digital photo frame, are described. In one implementation, widgets may be selected by a user for rendering based on capabilities of a user's device, with the widgets then provided to the device for playback. Digital content such as audio files, images, and/or video may be rendered in conjunction with playback of the widget. Widgets may be shared between users so as to facilitate sharing of media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: BBY Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Stewart Maxwell, Andrew S. Huang, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen L. Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler
  • Patent number: 8521641
    Abstract: A system and method for an event driven virtual workspace are described. According to one example method, a trader can define a plurality of windows to be associated with a virtual workspace. Also, the trader could define one or more triggering events, the combination of which may be used to activate the virtual workspace. In such an embodiment, when the system detects the one or more triggers, the system can attempt to activate the virtual workspace. According to the example method, the trader may place a number of limiting conditions before any states of the currently displayed windows are modified such that the triggered virtual workspace could be displayed. If no limiting conditions are detected, the system can display the triggered virtual workspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. West
  • Patent number: 8510673
    Abstract: The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for pinning a tab in a tabbed browser. Briefly stated, browsing software is configured to recognize a “pin” event, such as a hot key, a menu selection, and the like. Upon recognizing the pin event, the browsing software splits a display screen into a pinned window and a tabbed window. The tabbed window displays one or more open tabs and the content of the currently in focus tab. The pinned window may display content that was previously displayed within one of the tabs in the tabbed window or may display new content. The browsing software may configure the navigation of the pinned window differently than the navigation for the tabs in the tabbed window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron J. Sauve, Charles Cummins, Cornelis K. Van Dok, Tony E. Schreiner