With Specific Input Device Patents (Class 715/831)
  • Patent number: 11847715
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a region extraction part extracts an image of the sky as an image of a target object not included in an object of interest in a moving image of content, on the basis of at least any of changes in pixel values, a frequency at which a line of sight is directed, a distance from a camera, registered information designating the target object, and the like. In the extracted region, a different image presentation part displays an image indicative of a magnified image of a player and character information for cheering as an image different from the sky image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Masashi Nakata
  • Patent number: 11758046
    Abstract: A system and method for assisting with interactions between agents and customers using an artificially intelligent assistant is disclosed. The artificially intelligent assistant monitors interactions between agents and customers and identifies assistive actions to be taken that increase efficiency of the interaction as well as customer satisfaction. The artificially intelligent agent can also identify new communication modes appropriate for assistive actions, allowing agents to seamlessly communicate with customers over a wide range of different communication modes, such as phone calls, texts, emails and other messaging applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Jerry John Maestas
  • Patent number: 10062085
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture allow adjusting the relative weighting associated with evaluation criteria associated with a unified view of dissimilar data. The operation generally includes collecting data regarding attributes of a user interacting with an application, where the collected data has associated evaluation criteria. The data is collectively represented according to the evaluation criteria. The systems, methods and articles of manufacture then allow dynamically modifying the evaluation criteria before evaluating and collectively representing the data according to the adjusted criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay Dheap, Jimmy Ming-Der Hsu, Michael David Whitley
  • Patent number: 10019423
    Abstract: A method of creating an electronic document in a mobile terminal is provided. The method includes displaying an electronic document screen, sensing a hover-in event of an input unit when the electronic document screen is displayed, enlarging a size of the electronic document screen in response to the hover-in event of the input unit, creating the electronic document according to a user input on the enlarged electronic document screen, sensing a hover-out event of the input unit when the enlarged electronic document is displayed, and reducing a size of the enlarged electronic document screen in response to the hover-out event of the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohan Lee, Giyong Lee
  • Patent number: 9607289
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a plurality of content items is displayed. The content items are of a plurality of content types. In response to a user selecting a specific content type, only those content items of the specific content type are displayed. In response to the user unselecting the specific content type, all the content types are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Matas
  • Patent number: 9485569
    Abstract: A sound signal processing apparatus includes a sliding operation detecting section to which a sound signal collected by a microphone is inputted, and which determines start and end of a sliding operation by a determination process using a sliding sound signal component in the inputted sound signal, the sliding sound signal component being produced by the sliding operation on the microphone itself or its vicinity, and a control section that performs a predetermined control process that is set with respect to the sliding operation, during a period from the start to the end of the sliding operation determined by the sliding operation detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Kitazawa, Kohei Asada
  • Patent number: 9035887
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for navigating an electronic document. In one implementation, a method includes executing a command associated with a region selected by a tap gesture. In another implementation, a method includes displaying a slider on a slide bar including an expanded part corresponding to a section of the electronic document. The expanded part is disproportionately larger than other parts of the slide bar corresponding to other sections of the electronic document. Methods and apparatuses are provided for activating an element of an electronic document. In one implementation, a method includes activating the element selected by a touch gesture. Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling a perceived brightness of an electronic document. In one implementation, a method includes displaying a partially opaque graphical object in front of the electronic document. The perceived brightness of the electronic document being based on an opacity of the graphical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Lexcycle, Inc
    Inventors: Marc Prud'Hommeaux, Augustus A. White
  • Patent number: 8990731
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the same. When a plurality of items displayed on a screen is scrolled, a scroll speed of some of the plurality of items is controlled to be different from a scroll speed of the other items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electtronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jieun Park, Shinhae Lee, Hayang Jung, Seunghyun Woo
  • Patent number: 8977972
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and machine-readable mediums for implementing gesture-based signature authentication. In one embodiment, a system may include several modal input devices. Each modal input device is capable of retrieving a stream of modal input data from a user. The system also includes modal interpretation logic that can interpret each of the retrieved modal input data streams into a corresponding of set of actions. The system additionally includes modal pairing logic to assign each corresponding set of actions to control one of the displayed objects. Furthermore, the system has modal control logic which causes each displayed object to be controlled by its assigned set of actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Anderson, Rina A. Doherty
  • Patent number: 8977987
    Abstract: A computer-implemented user interface method include displaying an image on a graphical user interface of a mobile computing device, receiving a first user input indicating an intent to perform a zooming operation on the graphical user interface, transitioning the mobile computing device into a zooming mode in response to the user input, sensing motion of the mobile computing device in one or more of a plurality of directions, correlating the sensed motion in one or more of a plurality of directions with either a zooming in or a zooming out zooming direction, and changing a zoom level of the display of the image on the graphical user interface to correspond to the correlated zooming direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Korn, David Held
  • Patent number: 8896620
    Abstract: Computer input devices are described herein for use in manipulating digital images on a display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventor: Jared M. Orrock
  • Patent number: 8826160
    Abstract: A preferred contact group centric interface for a communication device can be used to facilitate communications by a user. The user interface can be arranged to activate from a user's “home page” on the display, from an idle screen that is accessed after a timeout period expires, or any other appropriate mechanism that activates the preferred contact group centric experience. A user selects the preferred contact group from among an array of the user's contacts. Once the contact group is configured, a minimal number of navigation/selection features is necessary to activate any number of communication modes available to the contacts. The contact group is configured such that simple and quick navigation between the contact members is achieved. The contact group can be presented in 2D and 3D arrangements, in any number of list or geometric configurations. A pricing plan can optionally be tied to each member of the contact group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Sherrard, Warren McNeel, Jasdeep Singh Chugh, Stephen John O'Connor, Mikkel Crone Koser, Richard Paul Turnnidge, Michael Thomas Hendrick, Gary Sentman, Karl Warfel, Wen-Hsing Chang, Sally Abolrous, Adrian Buzescu
  • Patent number: 8826180
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: a storage section for storing a plurality of content items sorted using categories of a higher level; a display section for displaying either of the content items or the categories; an operating section generating a first operation signal according to a first operation performed with a weak pressing force and a second operation signal according to a second operation performed with a pressing force stronger than that of the first operation; and a control section receiving the input of the first operation signal and the second operation signal and controlling a display image displayed on the display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomotaka Ogura, Tetsuo Morimoto, Shunichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 8797364
    Abstract: When a display position for any of a plurality of images is designated using a touch panel, an instruction accepting section enlarges, for a predetermined period of time, an area for accepting the input of an instruction associated with any of the image of the plurality of images that is displayed in the designated display position, in accordance with speed of change that is detected by a speed detector at the time of the designation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Matsuki
  • Patent number: 8799818
    Abstract: A method and a terminal for displaying content in a mobile terminal is disclosed. The method includes displaying a first content list collectively including a plurality of different content types, receiving a request from a user, and displaying responsive to the request a second content list which only includes content items comprising a content type which is associated with the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Hwan Kim, Tae Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8726191
    Abstract: A device may be controlled by: detecting a first user input associated with an element of a graphical user interface associated with at least one controllable device; detecting at least one second user input; and transmitting at least one device control signal to the at least one controllable device associated with the element of the graphical user interface when the first user input and the second user input are at least partially contemporaneous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Molander, Todd Eischeid, Patrick Bohrer
  • Patent number: 8665207
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes an input unit which has plural types of keys and accepts an operation of a key from the user, a display unit which displays a screen which allows the user to operate the input unit, and a display controller which selectively displays plural screens of the display unit in accordance with the types of keys operated on the input unit. When the display controller controls the display unit to display a screen for making the user make a key operation using any one type of key of the plural types of keys, and accepts an operation of a key of a type other than the any one type of key, it switches the screen to another screen for making the user make an operation using the other type of key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Urashima, Eriko Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8584029
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting user interaction with physical objects. A system may include an interactive display surface configured to display visual output and receive a physical object, where the object possesses encoded data including data other than data directly identifying the object. The system may include a computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions executable by the surface computer to implement software applications. In response to the display surface receiving the object, the surface computer may be configured to read the encoded data passively with respect to the object, without using an active electronic interface between the surface computer and the object, and to display a user interface for software applications dependent upon the passively read encoded data, such that one or more elements of the user interface are visually associated on the interactive display surface with the physical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Gerde, Jeffrey M. Wolfe, Michael J. Rainwater
  • Patent number: 8552992
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for specifying textual input for a computing device using a multi-directional input device. Each character of a textual group is associated with a different angle. Each character of the textual group is displayed on a display screen at the associated angle. A swipe angle of a directional swipe received at a multi-directional pointing device is determined. The associated angle closest to the swipe angle is identified. The character of the textual group corresponding to the identified angle on the display screen is highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Kim, Robert Wai-Chi Chu, Steven Ka Cheung Moy, Laurent An Minh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8418084
    Abstract: A method of using a single gesture to initiate a pre-defined action is described. The single gesture, in one example, is a single contiguous sequence of vector inputs starting with engagement and ending with disengagement. Using a single gesture to initiate a pre-defined action facilities ease of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8375334
    Abstract: Predetermined travel locuss are set in a three-dimensional virtual space. Menu panels displaying menu items are arranged along the travel locuss assuming a display position set as a local origin so that the normal to each LCD panel will face a virtual camera. The transparency of a menu panel is raised in accordance with its distance to the virtual camera. A scroll operation moves menu panels along the travel locuss connecting display positions P until a selected specific menu panel reaches the display position P0. A display screen is drawn with the virtual camera and menu panels are three-dimensionally displayed in rolls. By sliding a stylus pen on the LCD panel, the menu screen displayed on the LCD panel scrolls at a velocity corresponding to the drag velocity. When the stylus pen is released from the LCD panel, an application program corresponding to the menu display entity (crosshatched) is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Nakano, Masao Nakazawa, Yoshio Sasaki, Eiji Takeuchi, Yosuke Miho, Hajime Ishikawa, Takeo Kobayashi, Tomoki Myoi, Hiroshi Kasakawa, Akiko Watanabe, Shinsuke Sato
  • Publication number: 20130036386
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the same. When a plurality of items displayed on a screen is scrolled, a scroll speed of some of the plurality of items is controlled to be different from a scroll speed of the other items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jieun PARK, Shinhae LEE, Hayang JUNG, Seunghyun WOO
  • Patent number: 8253690
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selecting characters and a device thereof. The method comprises the steps of sensing a touch on a first key, which has a plurality of characters marked thereon; confirming the touch and displaying the plurality of characters associated with the first key on a display unit; sensing a shifting motion of the touch on the first key; and selecting one of the plurality of characters associated with the first key in response to the shifting motion of the touch. The present invention further provides a character input module and an electronic device for implementing the character selection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: High Tech Computer, Corp.
    Inventors: John C. Wang, Yun-Long Tun, Yi-Shen Wang, Cheng-Chieh Chuang
  • Publication number: 20120174033
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing a user interface in a portable terminal without a touch screen are provided. The method includes outputting one of a plurality of menu pages, each menu page including a plurality of icons respectively linked to a specific function and arranged in multiple columns and rows, determining whether a key signal requesting movement is input, determining whether the input key signal exceeds a preset reference value when the key signal is input, and moving another of the plurality of menu pages when the input key signal exceeds the preset reference value, and moving a focus on the output menu page when the input key signal does not exceed the preset reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Han Jo JOO
  • Patent number: 8205170
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus arranged to be able to perform a plurality of functions, one or more of a plurality of functions being selectively performable when the apparatus is placed in a corresponding functional mode, the apparatus having a user interface to allow user operation of the plurality of functions, each of the functions being user operable using a particular region of the electronic apparatus user interface, the apparatus comprising a user moveable cover arranged to be moveable into a plurality of positions, wherein each of the cover positions is associated with a particular functional mode of the apparatus and is arranged to cover one or more regions of the user interface not associated with the particular functional mode and to reveal one or more regions of the user interface associated with the particular functional mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Mikko Aarras, Niilo Alfthan, Simon Bradford, Claus Allan Christensen, Anthony Dalby, Axel E. Meyer, William Sermon, Sameer Shirgaonkar, Crispian (Pip) Tompkin, Chee Wong
  • Patent number: 8141000
    Abstract: When an initial character is specified by striking a character input key, the first destination candidate, according to the alphabetical order, is displayed. After this, in response to each striking of the same character input key, the display screen is switched to displaying the next destination candidate. In particular, when there is no more next destination candidate having the character specified by the character input key as its initial character, the turn returns to the first destination candidate having the same character as its initial character and this destination candidate is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 8120580
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic apparatus including a display screen having a first menu display area and a second menu display area, and a direction key provided on a side; first menu items arranged in a right-left direction are displayed in the first menu display area, and second menu items arranged in an up-down direction are displayed in the second menu display area, the direction key and the first menu display area are positioned substantially on a straight line extending in the right-left direction, the first menu items can be selected when a front portion/back portion of the direction key is pressed, the second menu items corresponding to the selected first menu items can be selected when an upper portion/lower portion of the direction key is pressed, and the selected menu items can be confirmed when a center portion of the direction key is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sony (China) Limited
    Inventors: Yasufumi Yamaji, Katsuji Miyazawa, Zhongsheng Hong
  • Patent number: 8063884
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that allows a display to show a plurality of windows on a same screen is disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes: a detecting means for detecting a signal sent in response to a press of a button allocated on a remote controller; a control means for outputting to an operating system a signal indicating that a first key and a second key provided on a keyboard are pressed and allowing the operating system to switch a representation on the display when the detecting means detects that a first button provided on the remote controller is pressed in accordance with a state of the representation on the display; and a measuring means for measuring a time period from the detection of a signal corresponding to the press of the first button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirohito Kondo, Akari Hoshi, Satoshi Akagawa, Tomohiro Tsuyuhara, Zhezhu Jin
  • Patent number: 7895537
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for setting attributes and initiating actions associated with list items. An action icon menu is displayed with options for a user to select related to each item in the list. The user may set an item from the list for a selected action by choosing from the action icon menu or by performing a gesture associated with the desired action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Gruen, Li-Te Cheng, Devon J. Rueckner
  • Patent number: 7877705
    Abstract: A system and methods for facilitation of user interactions with an electronic device. A number of user interface methods are described and may be used alone or in combination with one another to present an enhanced interface to a user. A method of providing user interaction using a compact status indicator is described. A method for providing a virtual scroll wheel to a user for interaction with content sets is described. A method for allowing a user to dynamically modify a scalable user interface is described. A method for providing gesture based input to a user via a virtual gesture pad is described. A method of providing an interactive graphic search query interface is described. A method for indicating and selecting available content type is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Chambers, Wayne Scott, Cheryl Scott, Allen Yuh, Paul D. Arling
  • Patent number: 7818032
    Abstract: A portable information communication terminal includes an operation unit composed of an integrated combination of a first operation detection device for detecting an operation in a first direction substantially parallel to a predetermined axis direction of a terminal housing and a second operation detection device for detecting an operation in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction, a display unit provided with a screen disposed in a direction substantially parallel to the predetermined axis direction and capable of displaying a hierarchical menu structure, and a control unit for sequentially changing and displaying menu hierarchies in descending hierarchical order in the first direction on the screen of the display unit in accordance with an operation in the first direction and for sequentially changing and displaying menu hierarchies in ascending hierarchical order in the second direction on the screen in accordance with an operation in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Mayu Irimajiri
  • Patent number: 7802202
    Abstract: Described is a computer-implemented system and method that dynamically detects which input device (e.g., pen or mouse) is currently in use, and based on the device, varies a program's user interaction model to better optimize the user's ability to interact with the program via that input device. A tablet input subsystem receives pen and touch data, and also obtains keyboard and mouse data. The subsystem analyzes the data and determines which input device is currently active. The active device is mapped to an interaction model, whereby different user interface appearances, behaviors and the like may be presented to the user to facilitate improved interaction. For example, a program may change the size of user interface elements to enable the user to more accurately scroll and make selections. Timing, tolerances and thresholds may change. Pen hovering can become active, and interaction events received at the same location can be handled differently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric B. Fox, Emily K. Rimas-Ribikauskas, Robert J. Jarrett, Leroy B. Keely
  • Patent number: 7774717
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise techniques to detect support for a given input device by a screen element of a graphical user interface (GUI). In one embodiment of the invention, a runtime version of a screen element's program code is examined to detect an ability to process a device's events. In another embodiment of the invention, a determination is made at runtime whether a screen element delegated processing of a given input device's events to other program code. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the runtime version of a screen element's program code is examined to detect a declaration of program code that is indicative of a screen element's support or non-support of a given input device. In yet another embodiment of the invention, one or more of the previously-identified embodiments can be combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kuldipsingh Pabla
  • Patent number: 7743344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for optimizing the use of client capacity when providing information contents to a user. First, two modes of navigation of the client are defined: a first, continuous navigation mode, characterized by restricted movement among the contents, and a second, discontinuous mode, characterized by unrestricted movement among the contents. Then it is determined which mode of navigation the user is currently using, and the utilization of client capacity is adapted based on the currently used mode of navigation. In the first mode of navigation, user action can be more easily anticipated, and the client capacity can be used for improving the ongoing media consumption. In the second mode of navigation, user action is more difficult to predict, and client capacity may be needed for handling unexpected actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Handmark, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantin Zervas, Tomas Aronsson
  • Patent number: 7735021
    Abstract: A shortcut system for use in a mobile electronic device having several types of shortcuts allows a user to execute shortcuts of different types using a single mechanism. The shortcut system includes a display, an operating system, a shortcut data store, and one or more applications, including a shortcut application used to create shortcuts and edit shortcut information contained in the shortcut data store. The shortcut data store contains target information associated with applications of various types, indexed by a shortcut tag. When a new application is installed in the mobile electronic device, the user can add shortcut information associated with the new application to the shortcut data store. The target information can define content associated with an application. When a shortcut to content is executed, the associated application is launched and begins operating on the content data. Further, the shortcuts can be created with different types of tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Padawer, Jessie D. Tenenbaum
  • Patent number: 7703047
    Abstract: A notepad computer with a page display region displaying a page of a document on which a user can write using a pen or stylus type writing tool is provided. Associated with the page is an interface that can be used with the pen. The interface includes a core task tool region adjacent to the page where tool icons are partially visible until the pen is brought near one of the icons. The tool icon becomes fully visible when the pen is within the region of the icon. The tool when activated can pop-up a radial pop-up menu located at an edge of the document where all the menu choices are located in a semi-circle away from the edge so that the users hand while holding the pen and making a selection does not block the choices. A page flipping tool is located in a corner of the page and is an explicit two-stroke menu allowing selection of a next or previous page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Leroy Bertrand Keely, Jr., Douglas Alan Young, Andrew James Palay
  • Patent number: 7685530
    Abstract: A preferred contact group centric interface for a communication device can be used to facilitate communications by a user. The user interface can be arranged to activate from a user's “home page” on the display, from an idle screen that is accessed after a timeout period expires, or any other appropriate mechanism that activates the preferred contact group centric experience. A user selects the preferred contact group from among an array of the user's contacts. Once the contact group is configured, a minimal number of navigation/selection features is necessary to activate any number of communication modes available to the contacts. The contact group is configured such that simple and quick navigation between the contact members is achieved. The contact group can be presented in 2D and 3D arrangements, in any number of list or geometric configurations. A pricing plan can optionally be tied to each member of the contact group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Sherrard, Warren McNeel, Jasdeep Singh Chugh, Stephen John O'Connor, Mikkel Crone Koser, Richard Paul Turnnidge, Michael Thomas Hendrick, Gary Sentman, Karl Warfel, Wen-Hsing Chang, Sally Abolrous, Adrian Buzescu
  • Patent number: 7665034
    Abstract: A system and method for accelerating scrolling of a display is disclosed. When a wheel of a wheeled pointing device is actuated by a user at a first rotational rate, the display in a window scrolls up or down one line at a time. When the wheel is rotated at a second rotational rate, the display in the window scrolls up or down multiple lines at a time. In additional embodiments, the scrolling technique shifts from one line at a time/multiple lines at a time to a page or pages at a time when the wheel is rotated for at a rotational rate for a minimum period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Alessandro Levi Montalcini
  • Patent number: 7661072
    Abstract: A system and method for accelerating scrolling of a display is disclosed. When a wheel of a wheeled pointing device is actuated by a user at a first rotational rate, the display in a window scrolls up or down one line at a time. When the wheel is rotated at a second rotational rate, the display in the window scrolls up or down multiple lines at a time. In additional embodiments, the scrolling technique shifts from one line at a time/multiple lines at a time to a page or pages at a time when the wheel is rotated for at a rotational rate for a minimum period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Alessandro Levi Montalcini
  • Patent number: 7657844
    Abstract: Accessibility compliance is provided within advanced componentry, such as a browser in which an on-demand editor can be launched. A toolkit of functionality that is executable on a server is preferably provided, from which selections can be made to configure an instance of a client editor or similar client-side viewer. Techniques are disclosed that enable flexible specification of the controls to be added to the viewer instance, as well as specification of details for configuring the controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Becky J. Gibson, Michael C. Wanderski, Zhiling J. Zheng
  • Patent number: 7627822
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a display unit, a plurality of types of input units, an input unit recognizing unit that recognizes a type of input unit via which input is being performed, and a display control unit. If a function menu has been selected of the first screen via the input unit, the display control unit displays a second screen, on the display unit, for selecting an item in the function menu selected on the first screen. Herein, based on a type of input unit recognized by the input unit recognizing unit when the function menu was selected on the first screen, the display control unit displays the second screen that corresponds to the recognized input unit on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeo Konuma, Kimikazu Saitoh, Tadashi Tenda
  • Patent number: 7624931
    Abstract: A visual display system for use with a digital thermostat is provided. The visual display system provides an adjustable display resolution for the temperature readout provided thereon. This adjustable display resolution may be changed as desired by a user via a resolution adjustment menu. The display resolution may be adjusted to display the temperature information in tenths of degrees, half degrees, whole degrees, etc. as desired by a user. Such a display system accommodates different display resolution requirements of different original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers who may desire different displayed resolutions without having to manufacture and stock different models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: John Gilman Chapman, Jr., Tony Gray
  • Patent number: 7607107
    Abstract: A navigation device that allows a user to quickly navigate a television environment that provides multiple services, features and options. The navigation device of the present invention is a graphical user interface and minimum of commands from a remote control to navigate through the services provided. The present invention is made up of three basic parts; an anchor, menus, and control bars. An anchor is the base or foundation of the device and includes branding, a progress bar for indicating the number of available menus, and other services such as the current date and time. Other device elements extend from the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommi J. Iten, Brian Black, Eric J. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20090235201
    Abstract: A method for controlling displaying information contained in a menu on a display device is disclosed. Items in the menu may be selected using a control device. Initially a first portion of the menu may be shown in a display area on the display device. The method may include monitoring a position of an indicator. The indicator may be controlled by the control device. The method may also include concealing at least a first section of the first portion of the menu if a portion of the indicator is in a first zone on the display device and if no button of the control device is currently pressed. The method may also include showing a second portion of the menu if the portion of the indicator is in the first zone on the display device and if no button of the control device is currently pressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Aaron Baalbergen, Demian Martin
  • Patent number: 7574672
    Abstract: A method includes displaying a first tray and a second tray in a display of the portable communications device. The first tray is configured to display one of more characters that were selected by a user using a click wheel. The second tray includes a first plurality of icons that correspond to a set of characters and one or more recommended words. The first tray includes a first region in a graphical user interface and the second tray includes a second region in the graphical user interface. Scrolling through the first plurality of icons and the one or more recommended words occurs in accordance with one or more navigation commands received from a click wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Jobs, Scott Forstall, Greg Christie, Bas Ording, Imran Chaudhri, Stephen O. Lemay, Marcel Van Os, Freddy Allen Anzures, Mike Matas
  • Patent number: 7562308
    Abstract: A method of providing user input values for input controls includes receiving, in a graphical user interface wherein input controls are associated with predefined alternative input values, a first input identifying user selection of at least some of the input controls. The method includes receiving a second input identifying user selection of at least one of the predefined alternative input values that is associated with each of the selected input controls. The second input is made using one of the selected input controls. The method includes entering the selected predefined alternative input value in each of the selected input controls. The value may be automatically entered upon receiving the second input. A third input, for example made with a context menu, may be required to enter the value in the selected controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Aurobinda Pradhan, Jackson Mathai, Srivatsan Santhanam, Prabha Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 7562309
    Abstract: A system, method, and medium for enhancing a GUI and viewing environment for a computer user is disclosed. Enabling a user to fully navigate and operate a computer through the use of a remote control device, the present invention includes at least a PC mode of operation and a theater mode of operation, wherein the theater mode is designed for distance use with the remote device. While operating in theater mode, received function key signals are interpreted by the computer system to operate various functions which have been modified to accommodate remote viewing and control. To enable the remote device to fully control the applications executable on the computer, the disclosed process notifies the various applications of the current operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph H. Matthews, III, David W. Plummer, David A. Barnes
  • Patent number: 7529772
    Abstract: A method for providing user comments relating to a scene captured by an image capture device and a digital imaging device configured to implement the method are described. In one aspect, a scene to be captured is displayed to a user through a display device of the image capture device. The image capture device uses an eye-tracking system to track where the user is gazing as the user views the scene, and detects and collects a user input that comprises user comments. While the user views the scene, a processor in the image capture device associates the user input with a location in the scene corresponding to an area where the user is gazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Scenera Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mona Singh
  • Publication number: 20080295030
    Abstract: A temperature controller for controlling the temperature of an inside space that is serviced by one or more pieces of HVAC equipment. The temperature controller may include a controller having a control algorithm for controlling one or more pieces of HVAC equipment as well as a user interface that may be configured to display a hierarchical menu structure and to permit a user to traverse the menu structure. The user interface may be configured to display breadcrumbs that provide an indication to the user of the current location within a hierarchical menu structure, and in some cases, provide instructional information in a designated or common display area that helps instruct the user in using a particular menu or menu option. These and other features may help make the special purpose controller more intuitive to set up, program and operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jason C. Laberge, Sinem C. Goknur, Jakub Andrzejewski, Jacqueline Lee Belleau, Dan Clements
  • Patent number: 7385590
    Abstract: A workstation for a surveillance system comprising a display, a user input device and a control unit in communication with the display and the user input device. The user input device has a plurality of keys and a light source to light the keys with a plurality of different colors. The control unit generates an image on the display that has a plurality of differently colored icons with each of the icons symbolizing a function to be performed by the control unit. The control unit generates a control signal to the user input device causing the light source to light the plurality of keys in the user input device in colors to correspond to the colors of the icons in the image on the display. The control unit performs the control function corresponding to a particular icon from the plurality of differently colored icons when a user activates a key from the plurality keys having the color that corresponds to the color of the particular icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Pelco, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Max Millar, Jim George