Limited Time Selection Opportunity Patents (Class 715/814)
  • Patent number: 8136050
    Abstract: A portable electronic device (100,400) and user interface (425) are operated using a method including initiating entry of a content string; determining the most probable completion alternative or a content prediction using a personalized and learning database (430); displaying the most probable completion alternative or next content prediction; determining whether a user has accepted the most probable completion alternative or next content prediction; and adding the most probable completion alternative or next content prediction to the content string upon user acceptance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Heiko K. Sacher, Maria E. Romera, Jens Nagel
  • Publication number: 20120047460
    Abstract: In response to a first message received at a desktop of a data processing system from a message source, at least a portion of the first message is displayed in an area along an edge of a desktop screen presented by the desktop. In response to a first signal indicating that a cursor has been positioned within a predetermined distance of the displayed first message, further detailed information of the first message is displayed by increasing size of the area towards the edge of the desktop screen in an animated fashion, including displaying an input field without launching a separate window or process to allow a user to respond to the first message. In response to a second message entered into the input field by the user, the desktop transmits the second message to the message source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: RED HAT, INC.
    Inventor: William Jon McCann
  • Publication number: 20110320947
    Abstract: A method of guiding a menu, including storing route information generated based on hierarchical relationships of menus according to a tree structure, and displaying menu items using an on screen display and displaying a location and a function of a menu a user would like to find through a simulated menu using route information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Chang-sun KIM
  • Patent number: 8044932
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a pointer, such as changing between a pointer mode for activating the pointer and a search key mode for deactivating the pointer, in a mobile terminal having a pointing device. The method of controlling a pointer includes detecting movement input by the pointing device; identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode; if the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode, displaying the pointer by changing the current display mode to a pointer mode; identifying whether a specific key is input; and if the specific key is input, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to a search key mode. Additionally, if elapsed time measured after displaying the pointer exceeds a predetermined value, the display mode of the mobile terminal may automatically be changed to a search key mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Seok Ryu, Nho Kyung Hong, Jae Joon Hwang, Myoung Hwan Han
  • Patent number: 7889185
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and graphical user interfaces for activating hyperlinks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable electronic device: displays content on a touch screen display, wherein the content includes a plurality of links to additional content; detects a contact by a finger with the touch screen display, wherein the contact includes an area of contact; determines a point within the area of contact; determines a link in the plurality of links that satisfies two or more predetermined criteria with respect to the point, including a closest proximity criterion and a maximum proximity criterion; and activates the determined link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Blumenberg, Richard Williamson
  • Patent number: 7889184
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and graphical user interfaces for displaying hyperlink information are disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable electronic device with a touch screen display: displays content on the touch screen display, wherein the content includes a plurality of links to additional content; detects a contact by a finger with the touch screen display, wherein the contact includes an area of contact; determines a point within the area of contact; choosing a first link in the plurality of links based on proximity of the first link to the determined point; and displays information associated with the first link over the displayed content, wherein the information associated with the first link includes information other than anchor text of the first link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Blumenberg, Francisco Ryan Tolmasky, Richard Williamson
  • Publication number: 20100302151
    Abstract: An image display device and an operation method thereof are provided. This may include displaying an image on a display, displaying a pointer that moves in correspondence with an operation of a pointing device on the display, and displaying an object for receiving a command or representing image display device-related information on the display when the pointer moves to a predetermined area of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Hae Jin BAE, Jae Kyung LEE, Kun Sik LEE, Gyu Seung KIM
  • Publication number: 20100245251
    Abstract: A method is used to switch input method editors (IMEs) in a mobile phone. The mobile phone includes a switch key, a screen, and a group of information input keys. The method includes the following steps. The switch key is firstly pressed to switch to an Arabic numeral IME. An information input key is pressed to input information., Corresponding Arabic numeral is shown on the screen for being inputted. If the Arabic numeral is not accepted within a pre-set time, the screen shows a plurality of letters corresponding to the pressed key of the group of information input keys. One key is pressed to switch to an English letter IME, and a letter is chosen from the plurality of letters to input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YE YUAN, RUO-YU WANG, RUO-JING WANG
  • Patent number: 7788604
    Abstract: A three state icon for a computer is disclosed. The icon prevents inadvertent starting of an operation on a computer. The icon has a first state which conceals a second state. Upon selection of the first state with a computer pointing device (i.e., mouse), the icon will change to the second state. Upon selecting the icon in the second state, the operation on the computer will start. Accordingly, only upon selecting the icon in the first state and then the second state, the operation will commence on the computer thereby preventing accidental startup of the operation. Once the second state has been selected, the icon will change to a third state which indicates that the operation is proceeding on the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Wasko, Steven P. Jobs
  • Patent number: 7730421
    Abstract: A method for controlling a screen display system in vehicles is provided, including a setting element or actuator that can be arbitrarily operated, and information that can be displayed on a screen according to the setting of the setting element. According to the invention, the amount of image information contained in the image information is set by using the setting element. The method graphical displays a hierarchical menu structure consisting of menus, submenus, functions and/or a functional value. The assignment of different menu items to the amounts of image information assigned to the settings of the setting element ensues according to the frequency with which the respective menu item has been selected during preceding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hermann Kuenzner
  • Patent number: 7712040
    Abstract: When reserved mail fails to be transmitted, an error message is promptly displayed in a partial field of a display unit for a predetermined period of time. A user operates a specific key in the predetermined period of time, thereby allowing the user to return to a screen for editing the failed mail. The user can promptly take an appropriate action on the failed reserved mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Susumu Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20100100849
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing user interfaces are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a menu having a number of icons can be provided on a display device such that the icons are arranged around an initial cursor position, or an area that is touched by a user's finger or stylus, for example. Due to the icons being arranged around the initial cursor position, any one of the icons from the menu can be chosen with relatively small cursor movement. In certain embodiments, the menu can be divided into regions that overlap with the icons, such that cursor movement from the initial cursor position into a given region has a similar effect as movement into the corresponding icon itself (without actually moving the cursor onto the desired icon).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: DR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Evan K. Fram
  • Patent number: 7679617
    Abstract: The present starburst target expansion technique connects targets to peripheral screen space to produce reasonably sized tiles for all targets including those that are located inside of a cluster. The resulting layout is characterized by lines escaping from the cluster center. By providing targets located inside a cluster with access to empty screen space, the present starburst target expansion technique is able to assign screen space to targets that remain small if expanded using the traditional Voronoi approach. If used on a device with limited input accuracy, such as a pen-based tablet or a touch screen-based kiosk system, target expansion via the starburst target expansion technique can lead to substantial performance improvements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corp.
    Inventors: Alexander Kolmykov-Zotov, Patrick Baudisch
  • Publication number: 20090319949
    Abstract: Methods and systems that improve the way media is played, sorted, modified, stored and cataloged are disclosed. One aspect relates to a browse window that allows a user to navigate through and select images that are related to media items. Another aspect relates to a graphical user interface of a media management program that utilizes multiple browse windows. Another aspect relates to simultaneously displayed media browse windows whose operations are integrated together so that the content shown therein is automatically synched when selections are made. Another aspect relates to resetting browsed content to the currently playing media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Dowdy, David Heller, Anne Jones
  • Patent number: 7634741
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for managing a selection list include accessing previous entries in the history log for a particular field and displaying such entries in a selection list pull-down menu. A determination is made whether the selection is related to other recently made selections. Items from the selection list that are considered to be incorrect may be automatically deleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Udo Klein
  • Publication number: 20090271724
    Abstract: A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user's screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Imran A. Chaudhri, John Louch, Andrew M. Grignon, Gregory N. Christie
  • Publication number: 20090254863
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an information handling system may include a processor, a display that may provide a user interface allowing a user to select one or more system utilities to be accessed, memory that may include a plurality of memory partitions storing a plurality of system utilities, and a management controller. During a configuration of the information handling system, the management controller may receive a request from the user via the user interface to access one or more selected system utilities; identify one or more memory partitions storing the one or more selected system utilities; and cause the display to display one or more user-selectable icons corresponding to the one or more identified memory partitions to provide the user access to the one or more identified memory partitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Jon Robert Hass, Charles Terrence Perusse, JR., Elie Jreij, Abhay Arjun Salunke
  • Patent number: 7600195
    Abstract: System, method and program for user selection of a menu option. A multiplicity of menu options are automatically and sequentially displayed, one at a time, in a display window of a computing device. A user selection is received at a time during the automatic and sequential display of the menu options. A determination is made which of the menu options corresponds to the user selection based on the time that the user selection was received in relation to time periods during which the menu options were displayed. Optionally, there is a two step process to selecting a menu option. Display of a corresponding menu option is temporarily frozen in the window. A predetermined time period is waited for receipt of confirmation from the user that the user wants to select the corresponding menu option which is frozen in the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy D. Greer
  • Patent number: 7543244
    Abstract: An operating system program launch menu, such as a Start menu, provides various mechanisms for a user to quickly and efficiently locate and launch desired data items such as programs, data files, storage locations, and the like. A search box within the program launch menu may be used to quickly locate programs, documents, communications, and other data items. An auto-complete feature may be used, e.g., when the user restricts the locations searched for the user-entered search text. A most commonly used program list may include programs based on various criteria including both frequency of use and recent use, thereby always including a most recently used item. An all programs view may display programs and documents in a hosted-tree view within the original confines of the program launch menu, thereby negating the need to open sub-menus on top of a large portion of the desktop displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Matthews, Charles W. Stabb, Mark R. Ligameri
  • Patent number: 7519921
    Abstract: A method and system for selecting a dynamic object in a Graphical User Interface (GUI), is provided. The GUI is represented by a matrix comprising a plurality of objects and a plurality of data values associated with each object. The method includes selecting a first row that includes a first non null data value in a textually represented matrix derived from the matrix; selecting a row in the textually represented matrix based on a predefined input; calculating the difference in the number of rows between the selected row and the row that includes the first non null data value; selecting a least index key from a plurality of index keys, with each index key identifying each of a plurality of selected objects in the matrix; and locating an object from the plurality of selected objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bharathi Raghavan, Nagappan Subramoni
  • Publication number: 20090083664
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating on at least one display device a graphics display of data descriptors. The data descriptors, describing items of data, are arranged on an interactive timeline as interactive timeline elements along with interactive data elements. The interactive timeline elements and the interactive data elements allow retrieval of the items of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Susanne Bay, Lutz Gundel, Labib Khanafer, Rafl Krumtunger, Matthias Thorn
  • Publication number: 20090077497
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a touch screen and a method of controlling an operation thereof are provided. The method of controlling an operation of a mobile terminal includes: displaying a thumbnail image corresponding to an image file on a touch screen to be randomly overlapped; selecting any one of thumbnail images by touch input; and displaying the selected thumbnail image together with an option icon for selecting a quick menu to be distinguished from other thumbnail images. Therefore, a list of stored image files can display thumbnail images in a new arrangement manner and it possible to quickly enter a related menu from the thumbnail image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hang Jun Cho, Min Joo Kim, Jeong Hyuk Yoon, Yoon Hwan Kang, Sang Hyun Lee, Min Soo Park, Hyo Jin Suh, Hye Youn Cho, Hye Eun Shin, Se Il Hwang
  • Patent number: 7350158
    Abstract: An icon display system is provided in which an icon train selectable on an icon menu screen is managed by a display icon management table and non-display icon management table to visualize a part of the entire icon train. This is done by disposing the visualized icon train in an orbit while holding the other part of the icon train as invisible icons on the screen and displaying the invisible icons by moving the icon train in the orbit. Some icons are made to visually disappear at a discontinuity of the orbit by moving the icon train in the orbit and the new icons can be made to appear at the discontinuity to the screen. With this system, patterns of individual icons can be prevented from being indiscernible from each other no matter how many icons are set selectable on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Yamaguchi, Kouichi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7281219
    Abstract: A blended learning solution is defined by determining degrees of elements in learning zones. The zones are defined by the types of interactions of the learners. Both formal and informal learning is defined for each zone. A specialized circular display is constructed to depict the optimal blended learning solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Hamilton, Janis A. Morariu, Tony M. O'Driscoll, James J. Sharpe, Mark F. Sidlauskas, Inderpreet S. Thukral
  • Patent number: 7278114
    Abstract: The present invention relates to various aspects of managing display of supplemental on-screen windows known as popup windows. In one embodiment, an exemplary method includes detecting a first window on a screen, determining whether the first window qualifies as a popup window, and if the first window qualifies as a popup window, searching for other windows on the screen that satisfy certain testing conditions and closing the first window without a user request upon failing to find any other window on the screen that satisfies the testing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: ViewSpace Technologies
    Inventor: Eugene Lapidous
  • Patent number: 7249326
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for use in a computer system for organizing and displaying notification items associated with the system, applications or other components, within a notification area. The system monitors items that are placed in the notification, comparing the period of placement with a predetermined time threshold value, If the item has remained inactive for longer than the predetermined threshold period, the item is hidden from the notification area. Additionally, the system monitors the hidden items for changes in icon appearance and will unhide the item upon a change in appearance or specific selection by a user. New items and unhidden items are arranged in the order of the most recent addition to the notification area. The system also allows a user to customize the behavior associated with individual notification items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Stoakley, James B. Kurtz, Todd J. Green, Ramkumar Ramasubramanian, Chris J. Guzak, James F. Springfield
  • Patent number: 7159191
    Abstract: A data input method in user terminals having a limited-size keyboard with two different data input methods linked in such a way that toggling between the modes does not require from the user any special action during text input, since the change of mode is automatically performed as a result of keystrokes which are normal when a text is being edited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Flextronics Sales & Marketing A-P Ltd.
    Inventor: Tapio Koivuniemi
  • Patent number: 7131072
    Abstract: The execution process registration unit is a function unit for causing a user to register in advance the information about the process (function) that is assigned to each button, and for storing the information. A command display unit controls an initial screen display, an execution process display unit controls the screen display during operation, and a command execution unit executes the process in accordance with the operation (time), on the basis of the information that is registered in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Noriyasu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7123272
    Abstract: A game machine capable of causing a player to pay attention to a game title image. The game machine comprises a default game title image storing section (52), an optional game title image storing section (54), an operation input section (60), a selection section (62), and a display section (64). When no game operation input is made within a predetermined time after a predetermined timing, the selection section (62) selects a default game title image so that the default game title image is displayed by the display section (62). When any game operation input is made within a predetermined time, on the other hand, either a default or optional game title image is displayed by the display section (62) depending on whether the content of the game operation input satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Konami Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Moriyama
  • Patent number: 6961912
    Abstract: A feedback mechanism usable with graphical user interface systems that do not have a cursor improves the usefulness of such graphical user interfaces. Locating, identifying and/or selecting hyperlink targets or active areas within a displayed image map or within a Web page is facilitated by providing distinctions to the hyperlink targets or active areas or by providing other locational indicators for a designated time period in response to a single user gesture. The distinctions or locational indicators may be provided in combination with other distinctions or locational indicators to further aid the hyperlink target or active area location, identification and/or selection process. After a designated time period expires, the distinctions, locational indicators, or their combination, are removed from the display without any additional user gesture. This increases the efficiency and convenience of locating, identifying and/or selecting hyperlink targets or active areas in a graphical user interface system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Aoki, Richard R. Burton, Amy K. Hurst, Allison G. Woodruff, Victoria M. E. Bellotti