Proximity Detection Patents (Class 715/862)
  • Patent number: 8713670
    Abstract: A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining which of a plurality of users detected in proximate vicinity of a computing device has primary control of the computing device, the computing device designed for presenting one or more items; ascertaining one or more particular formats for formatting the one or more items based, at least in part, on said determining; and presenting, via the computing device, the one or more items in the one or more particular formats. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 8707203
    Abstract: An object display apparatus displays a plurality of object at respective display positions, and receive a designation to set one of the plurality of displayed object as an object of interest. Upon reception of an addition or deletion instruction of one or more objects with respect to the plurality of displayed objects, a display of the objects is updated by moving object other than the object of interest while keeping the display position of the designated object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoko Yamamoto, Shigeki Hirooka, Keiichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8701050
    Abstract: A computing device can be configured to receive an indication of a first input gesture, a first portion of the first input gesture indicating a first character key of a plurality of character keys of a graphical keyboard and a second portion of the first input gesture indicating a second character key of the plurality of character keys. The computing device also can be configured to determine, based at least in part on the first character key and the second character key, a candidate word. The computing device can be configured to output, for display at a region of a display device at which the graphical keyboard is displayed, a gesture completion path extending from the second character key. Further, the computing device can be configured to select, in response to receiving an indication of a second input gesture substantially traversing the gesture completion path, the candidate word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thad Eugene Starner, Nirmal Patel, Shumin Zhai
  • Patent number: 8694910
    Abstract: Techniques pertaining to efficient scrolling are disclosed. One of the features of the efficient scrolling is the enablement of a search right at an appropriate item in a large list of items, thus avoiding going through the long list and wandering back and forth around a desired item. According to one embodiment, an indexing display is used. The indexing display includes a list of indexes, each corresponding to a group of items that sharing one or more common characteristics (e.g., a character or a kind). The indexing display is allowed first to be scrolled for a desired index. Once the desired index is confirmed, searching for a desired item in the large list starts at an item indexed by the desired index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Lambourne, Steve Holmgren
  • Patent number: 8689144
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic apparatus having a superiority in a selecting operation to an object. When contents of documents having a plurality of objects are displayed, a default focus is automatically given to one object located near to a display center by a focus control program. When the display is scrolled by cursor keys of a remote controller, objects to be given the focus are sequentially changed in conjunction with the scroll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Takabe, Tadao Ogaki, Masahiro Torii
  • Patent number: 8674946
    Abstract: A method and apparatus adjusts a timing of state change of an electronics apparatus having an input device by measuring user's input speed for the input device and a distance of user's finger from the input device. The method includes the steps of measuring a current interval CI between recent two input operations in a series of input operations conducted through the input device, calculating an average interval AI of the series of input operations, calculating a reference interval RI determined from the equation: RI=K×AI, where K denotes a proportional coefficient, determining whether a current interval CI is equal to or less than the reference interval, and suspending an occurrence of the second system state change until a first system state has been responded in case when the current interval CI is equal to or less than the reference interval RI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Linh Doan, Michael Sabin
  • Patent number: 8677262
    Abstract: A visualization system that generates visualization(s) in an industrial automation environment is provided. An interface component receives input concerning displayed objects and information. A context component can detect, infer or determine context information regarding an entity. A reference component infers or determines relevance of respective display objects as a function of the context information. A visualization component dynamically generates a visualization from a set of display object, and spatially organizes the display objects as a function of the inferred or determined relevance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Baier, Clifton Harold Bromley, Mark Hobbs, Teunis Hendrik Schouten, Douglas James Reichard, Kevin George Gordon, Taryl Jon Jasper, Robert Joseph McGreevy, Bruce Gordan Fuller
  • Patent number: 8671365
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for providing a cursor for indicating context data in a mapping application. An electronic device may display a map to a user via a mapping application having a cursor. A user may provide input selecting a type of context data to be represented by the cursor. The cursor may be positioned at a location on the map, and the electronic device may obtain context data based on the user input relating to the position and area proximate the position of the cursor on the map. The electronic device may then update a representation of the cursor using visual and other indicia to reflect the context data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Bernard Berus
  • Publication number: 20140059499
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and a display control method for the same are provided. The display control method enables the mobile terminal to detect hovering input of a pen and to display a different pointer according to the attribute of the hovering input position. The display control method includes detecting a hovering input, identifying a position of the hovering input, determining an attribute associated with the hovering input position; and displaying a pointer corresponding to the determined attribute at the position of the hovering input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Taeyeon KIM, Sanghyuk KOH, Jihye MYUNG, Chihoon LEE, Hyemi LEE, Yuran KIM, Hyunmi PARK
  • Patent number: 8656315
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques for moving a graphical selector. In one example, a method includes activating, by a computing device, a graphical key that is displayed with a presence-sensitive interface of the computing device. Upon activation of the graphical key, the method also includes receiving gesture input corresponding to a directional gesture using the presence-sensitive interface of the computing device and moving a graphical selector displayed with the presence-sensitive interface from a first graphical location to a second graphical location by at least one selected increment based on a property of the gesture input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Ficus Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 8643621
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive user interface includes a sensor element providing a plurality of sensing areas, a measurement circuit coupled to the sensor element and operable to iteratively acquire measurement signal values indicative of the proximity of an object to the respective sensing areas, and a processor operable to receive the measurement signal values from the measurement circuit and to classify a sensing area as an activated sensing area for a current iteration according to predefined selection criteria, wherein the predefined selection criteria are such that activation of at least a first sensing area in a current iteration is suppressed if at least a second sensing area has previously been classified as an activated sensing area within a predefined period before the current iteration. Thus a sensing area may be prevented from being activated for a predefined period of time after another sensing area has been activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Esat Yilmaz
  • Publication number: 20140033024
    Abstract: A method includes executing instructions on a computer system to determine position information of one or more page items on a page. The method further includes executing instructions on the computer system to determine position information of one or more gaps associated with the one or more page items on the page. A gap of the one or more gaps may be adjusted by repositioning one or more of its boundaries using a gap tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard A. Gartland, Michael A. Ninness, Amanda McCoy Bast
  • Publication number: 20140033132
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to determine a substantially perpendicular current distance from a cursor guide line that passes through a given current cursor location, to a reference point. Additional activity may include determining candidate guide lines that comprise a subset of a larger group of guide lines and that are associated with at least one drawing object, each one of the subset having a substantially perpendicular reference distance to the reference point that is within a range defined by a snapping tolerance and the current distance. A snapping location can be displayed on the closest one of the subset as measured from the current cursor location. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: Gaurav Jain
  • Publication number: 20140033124
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a system and method is illustrated that includes receiving a first cursor actuation signal from a cursor controlling device where the first cursor actuation signal received at a first cursor position in a graphical user interface. Further, the system and method includes determining an old hierarchy level, determining a new hierarchy level based on the first cursor position and the old hierarchy level, and selecting a target object based on the new hierarchy level and the first cursor position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul H. Sorrick
  • Patent number: 8640044
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. To provide greater access and consolidation to frequently used items in the graphical user interface, a userbar is established which includes a plurality of item representations. To permit a greater number of items to reside in the userbar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the userbar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bas Ording, Steven P. Jobs, Donald J. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 8627197
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for annotating an electronic document independently of its content is provided. According to one variation, a tablet and stylus-based computer is programmed with a document browser that permits a user to annotate documents viewed through the browser. The annotations are stored separately from the viewed document pages but are correlated with the pages such that when a previously annotated page is revisited, annotations relating to that page are retrieved and displayed on top of the page as an “ink” layer. Three different annotation modes are possible: ink, highlight, and erase. Each mode can be selected through a user interface supplied through the browser or through controls embedded in a document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Susan D. Woolf, Andrew Baird, Sheng Jiang, John L. Beezer, Darryl E. Rubin
  • Patent number: 8610744
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a natural media painting application may receive user inputs through tablet stylus gestures. Various digital painting and image editing tasks may be invoked and/or controlled using such gesture-based inputs. The application may detect stylus gestures that mimic real-world actions of artists, and may perform appropriate painting and image editing actions in response to detecting and recognizing the stylus gestures. The system may provide an automatic zoom mode in which, as the stylus is moved into proximity of the tablet, the application zooms into a displayed image to focus on an area of interest. The system may also provide an automatic panning mode that allows the user to pan an image when the stylus is in proximity to, but not touching, the tablet. One or more thresholds for determining whether the stylus is in proximity with the tablet may be pre-defined or may be user configurable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Jerry G. Harris
  • Patent number: 8605219
    Abstract: Techniques include outputting a graphical user interface including a widget and any combination of objects on a television. Thereafter one or more key events may be received from a remote control. The graphical user interface can be updated by moving the widget in response to each direction key activation if the one or more key events indicate activation of one or more direction keys on the remote control. In addition, a function designated by a given object may be initiated in response to the activation of the enter key if the widget is determined to be proximate the given object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics
    Inventors: Victor Carvajal, Jaime Chee, Lin Jun Wong
  • Patent number: 8600107
    Abstract: A method of determining locations of at least two pointers in a captured image frame comprises generating a vertical intensity profile (VIP) from the captured image frame, the VIP comprising peaks generally corresponding to the at least two pointers; determining if the peaks are closely spaced and, if the peaks are closely spaced, fitting a curve to the VIP; analyzing the fitted curve to determine peak locations of the fitted curve; and registering the peak locations as the pointer locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: David Holmgren
  • Patent number: 8595653
    Abstract: In a method and a device for the implementation of a medical examination via a user interface of at least one imaging device determination and input of a group of measurement parameters take place via an input device of the user interface. Spatially resolved image information are generated with the at least one imaging device depending on the group of measurement parameters. The image information is stored on a storage medium. The image information is presented as data symbols on a screen of the user interface. Multiple data symbols are presented in a predetermined arrangement on the screen for a medical assessment. An interest value is generated for each of the multiple data symbols with enlarged or reduced presentation of data symbols with higher interest value occurring relative to adjacent data symbols with lower interest value, such that the arrangement of the data symbols with lower interest value in n columns and m rows and at their respective size is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karlheinz Glaser-Seidnitzer, Johannes Kling
  • Publication number: 20130311954
    Abstract: There is described herein a compact, efficient, browsable, and self-revealing method and tool for command selection. The command selection includes a wide breadth and an implicitly learned expert mode. In addition, there are described herein efficient methods and tools for modifying the selected command and for selecting scope to which the selected command is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: GEEGUI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sami Minkkinen
  • Patent number: 8587448
    Abstract: A sensor activated broken screen simulator is provided for simulating a screen breaking in response to a detected motion. The simulator includes a frame configured for coupling to a monitor. The monitor has a viewing portion and the frame is positioned such that the frame extends around the viewing portion of the monitor. A screen is coupled to and positioned in the frame such that the screen is positioned over the viewing portion of the monitor when the frame is coupled to the monitor. The screen is transparent when inactive but displays an image of broken glass when activated. A sensor is coupled to the frame and operationally coupled to the screen to activate the screen upon detection of a pre-determined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Edward H. Culleny
  • Patent number: 8578302
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for a gesture recognizer system architecture. A recognizer engine is provided, which receives user motion data and provides that data to a plurality of filters. A filter corresponds to a gesture, that may then be tuned by an application receiving information from the gesture recognizer so that the specific parameters of the gesture—such as an arm acceleration for a throwing gesture—may be set on a per-application level, or multiple times within a single application. Each filter may output to an application using it a confidence level that the corresponding gesture occurred, as well as further details about the user motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Relja Markovic, Gregory N. Snook, Justin McBride
  • Patent number: 8576253
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method for simulating grasping of a virtual object. Virtual 3D objects receive simulated user input forces via a 2D input surface adjacent to them. An exemplary method comprises receiving a user input corresponding to a grasping gesture that includes at least two simulated contacts with the virtual object. The grasping gesture is modeled as a simulation of frictional forces on the virtual object. A simulated physical effect on the virtual object by the frictional forces is determined. At least one microprocessor is used to display a visual image of the virtual object moving according to the simulated physical effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8566752
    Abstract: Methods and method and apparatus are disclosed herein for marking electronic documents with one or more persistent selection marks. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving input representing one or more marks on a document image; determining whether the one or more marks represents a selection of a persistent selectable area that delineates information in the document image; and storing data corresponding to the selection to enable a user in the future to obtain the information in the document image by performing an action with respect to the one or more marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt Piersol, Gabriel Johnson
  • Patent number: 8552999
    Abstract: A method includes displaying a user interface of an application on a device's touch-sensitive display. The user interface includes a plurality of regions, including a respective region at a respective hierarchy level. The respective region has two or more child regions at a hierarchy level below the respective hierarchy level. The method includes detecting a first contact at a location that corresponds to the respective region and that does not correspond to any of the two or more child regions. When the application is configured to process the first contact, not in conjunction with the respective region, but in conjunction with at least one child region of the two or more child regions, the method includes identifying a respective child region in accordance with positions of the child regions relative to the location, and processing the first contact in conjunction with the identified respective child region using the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Andrew Cooke Dale, Christopher Brian Fleizach
  • Patent number: 8549443
    Abstract: A GUI interface, a method of programming a GUI interface, and an apparatus which enables functions of controls in the GUI to be activated by a movement to a control and then another subsequent movement related to that control. It may be defined more precisely below. A GUI in which, when a pointer 0 is immediately adjacent or passes over a control area 1, a procedure is initiated whereby subsequent movement of the pointer over a predetermined path area 3 generates a ‘click’ event which simulates direct clicking of the control 1 and moving outside the predetermined path area 3 prior to completion of the path 3 resets the control to as if the pointer has never started along the predetermined path area 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Nes Stewart Irvine
  • 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: 8549399
    Abstract: For a document with content that has been structured into a set primitive areas, a novel method for performing contiguous selection of document content across different primitive areas in the document is disclosed. The method defines a contiguous section in the ordered list by identifying the first and last primitive elements of the contiguous selection. The first primitive element is identified as the primitive element that is closest in reading flow to a start selection point on the page, while the last primitive element is identified as the primitive element that is closest in reading flow to an end selection point on the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Andrew Mansfield, Michael Robert Levy, Derek B. Clegg
  • Patent number: 8539383
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media process and distinguish user input device gestures, such as gestures input via a pen in a pen-based computing system, e.g., to quickly and reliably distinguish between electronic ink entry, single taps, double taps, press-and-hold actions, dragging operations, and the like. Systems, methods, and computer-readable media also are provided for dynamically calibrating a computer system, e.g., calibrating a displayed input panel view based on input data recognized and received by a digitizer. Such systems and methods may operate without entering a dedicated or special calibration application, program, or routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander J. Zotov, Reed Townsend, Steven P. Dodge
  • Patent number: 8539380
    Abstract: Described are methods that utilize a geographic location technology (e.g., GPS) to determine user location data, and existing network-based websites (e.g., Internet websites) for searching and accessing data related to the location data such that the user context can be developed and stored. A location component is provided that determines location data of a wireless communications device of a user. A context component is provided that accesses context data based on the location data to define a context in which the device is located. Activities, goals, and overall context of a user can be inferred through statistical fusion of multiple sources of evidence. The context data is presented to the user via the wireless device such that the user can make decisions as to where to go, for example. User preferences can be accessed and applied to filter context data according to what the user desires to see and access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Krumm, Eric J. Horvitz, Ramaswamy Hariharan
  • Publication number: 20130239068
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and article of manufacture of the present invention provide improved rate of text presentation to a reader. The invention provides a method for defining a region of the display at which text is preferably read, and further provides a user interface for adjusting the speed of text display according to a screen location corresponding to that at which text is being read at any time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventor: Philip R. KRAUSE
  • Patent number: 8516369
    Abstract: A method for providing a GUI which uses a pointer with a sensuous effect showing that the pointer is moved by gravity is provided. The GUI providing method moves a pointer toward a specific position of a GUI-component if the pointer enters the GUI-component, and outputs at least one of an auditory effect and a tactile effect while the pointer moves toward the specific position. Accordingly, the user moves the pointer to the GUI-component more easily and enjoys entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-june Yoo, Sang-on Choi, Byung-seok Soh, Eun-seok Choi, Jong-hyuk Jang
  • Patent number: 8516397
    Abstract: In certain exemplary embodiments, data representative of a proximity heuristic specifying a plurality of levels of an object detection zone associated with a display screen is maintained, an object is detected within the object detection zone, one of the levels is selected based on at least one attribute of the object, and an action associated with the selected level is performed. In certain examples, the action includes modifying a graphical user interface view displayed on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian Roberts, George M. Higa
  • Patent number: 8510670
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus inputs instructed coordinates to a display screen, and selects an object displayed at a coordinate position that corresponds to the input coordinates. When a drag operation for the object that was selected by the selection unit has been detected, a determination is made of whether or not the distance between the coordinate position of the selected object and input coordinates after the drag operation was detected exceeds a predetermined distance. If that distance does not exceed the predetermined distance, a moving amount of the object is made less than a moving amount of the drag operation, or the selected object is not moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Shimamura
  • Patent number: 8508470
    Abstract: An N-screen computer display system is described that includes N panels having N screens capable of displaying a cursor. The system also includes a cursor repositioning component having N screen selectors associated with the N screens. Each of the N screen selectors can be activated to reposition the cursor such that if a particular one of the N screen selectors is activated, the cursor is repositioned to a location on a particular screen associated with the particular one of the N screen selectors. Also described is a cursor location identifier to identify the location of a cursor in a computer display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Jerry Moscovitch
  • Patent number: 8509842
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mobile phone and a method for answering such a phone automatically without user input. In one embodiment, the mobile phone detects that a call is being received. A proximity sensor is then used to detect the presence of a nearby object. For example, this allows a determination to be made whether the mobile phone is within a pocket of the user while the phone is ringing. Then a determination is made whether the proximity sensor changes states. For example, if a user removes the phone from their pocket, the proximity sensor switches from detecting something proximal to detecting that the phone is no longer in the user's pocket. Next, a determination is made whether the proximity sensor is again next to an object, such as an ear. If so, the mobile phone can be automatically answered without further user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Raman Kumar Sarin, Monica Estela Gonzalez Veron, Kenneth Paul Hinckley, Sumit Kumar, James Kai Yu Lau, Joseph H. Matthews, III, Jae Pum Park
  • Patent number: 8497838
    Abstract: A computing system translates a world space position of a hand of a human target to a screen space cursor position of a user interface. When the cursor overlaps a button in the user interface, the computing system actuates the button in response to a movement of the hand in world space that changes the cursor position by a depth threshold along a z-axis regardless of an initial z-axis position of the cursor. When the button includes an activation lock, the computing system unlocks the activation lock, prior to button actuation, if the cursor path satisfies unlocking criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Adam Jethro Langridge
  • Patent number: 8495489
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are computer-implemented systems and methods for allowing an end-user to create and share annotated comments, modify published images, and/or otherwise interact with images published on digital content platforms (e.g., images published on a webpage, mobile application, etc.). The systems and methods may include: (1) providing an annotation interface to allow a first end-user to create an annotation on a published image; (2) providing a comment entry interface to receive a comment from the first end-user; (3) linking the annotation and the comment; (4) identifying when a second end-user accesses the image or comment on the digital content platform; and (5) displaying the comment and/or annotation to the second end-user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Luminate, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Everingham
  • Publication number: 20130185679
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of detecting a mouse click on a virtual mirror display can include displaying a selectable object on the virtual mirror display. The method can include displaying a cursor position by displaying a circle on the virtual mirror display. The cursor position can correspond to a hand position. The method can include detecting the mouse click in response to the circle hovering over at least part of the selectable object. The circle can remain steady over the selectable object on the virtual mirror display for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Lisa Fretwell, Clive Grinyer
  • Patent number: 8484570
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for manipulating screen objects utilizing multiband regions of influence. Positioning a reference point of an object within a particular band invokes a particular functionality or operation related to that band. In one embodiment, three types of functionality are provided. Moving a reference datum (for example, a line representing an edge or a user defined reference point) of an object A into a first band of an object B places object A under the influence of object B's gravity, causing object A to be pulled into precise alignment with object B. Moving the reference point of object A from the first band into a second band turns off object B's gravity, allowing object A to be freely moved to any arbitrary position near the object B. Moving the reference point of the object A to a position outside all bands causes object B's gravity function to be turned back on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Murat N. Konar, Josh Rosen
  • Publication number: 20130174099
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus and a method for controlling thereof are provided. The method for controlling the electronic apparatus includes displaying an icon and a pointer to perform a motion task mode when a motion start command is input, moving the pointer in accordance with a first user motion, and executing a function corresponding to the icon when a second user motion is input while the pointer is placed on the icon. Accordingly, the user controls the electronic apparatus using the user motion more conveniently and intuitively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-jin HAN, Yong-hwan KWON, Jung-geun KIM
  • Publication number: 20130152023
    Abstract: An input apparatus includes a display unit, an input unit, and a control unit. The display unit displays function items on a display window. The input unit selects and determines one function item with a pointer. The control unit controls a movement of the pointer by setting coordinates of the pointer based on position information transmitted from the input unit. Each function item includes a button region and a selection region. When the pointer moves to one of the button region and the selection region, the function item is selected. When the pointer is set to an equivalent stop state in the selection region, coordinates of the pointer are set as coordinates of a stop state position. When the pointer is set to the equivalent stop state in the button region, the coordinates of the pointer are set as coordinates of a predetermined position of the button region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Denso Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130145326
    Abstract: A display apparatus including: a display unit; a communication unit which receives information about a coordinate from an input device; and an image processor which displays an image including an object and a cursor on the display unit, and moves the cursor toward the object according to a position of the object in the image with respect to information about movement corresponding to a first input coordinate at an input start point and a second input coordinate at an input termination point, wherein the first input coordinate and the second input coordinate are received from the input device through the communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130125066
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which a user's cursor movement is assisted to help select elements of a user interface that may be otherwise difficult to target. An area cursor is provided that may intersect more than one element. If so, a computation result (e.g., a percentage) is computed for each intersected element that is based upon intersection with the cursor and a total size of the element; the largest percentage intersection is selected. The computation (e.g., intersected area divided by total element area) favors smaller elements as they have a smaller area in the denominator. Also described is changing the cursor size to help hit elements and/or based upon one or more criteria. Still further described is determining the total size of an element based upon weighting, in addition to or instead of the element's actual size. Weighting may be based upon one or more criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Klein, Peter D. Rosser
  • Publication number: 20130125067
    Abstract: A display apparatus and method capable of controlling the movement of a cursor are provided. The display apparatus includes an input unit which receives a cursor movement command; a display unit which displays a cursor and at least one object on a screen and moves the cursor in accordance with the cursor movement command; and a control unit which, in response to the cursor being placed in contact with the at least one object, controls the display unit to automatically move the cursor to a target point in the at least one object, wherein a size of the cursor varies depending on properties of the movement of the cursor. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the probability of a cursor mistakenly being moved to an object automatically against the intention of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130125065
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment, in a graphical user interface, an interactive element in a first file format, such as hypertext markup extension language, may be converted into a second file format, such as portable document format, wherein the interactivity of the interactive element may be preserved in the conversion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Sven Skwirblies
  • Patent number: 8443302
    Abstract: A contactless display system enables a user to interact with a displayed image by moving a finger, or pointer, toward a selected portion of the image. Images can be enlarged, or translated dynamically in response to detected movement. Operational methodology can be manually switched between contact-type and contactless operation to enhance flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Zhang, Yingfei Wu, Thomas A. Plocher
  • Patent number: 8432392
    Abstract: A method of operation of a display system includes: receiving a current input image with current input pixels; identifying an input object, having input object pixels, based on differences in characteristics of the current input pixels; calculating an object pixel depth for the input object pixels from an image depth map of the current input image based on a weighted average of depth candidates; and generating a processed image, having a perceived depth, from the current input image with the image depth map and the object pixel depth for displaying on a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon Kyung Kim, Zhi Zhou, Yeong-Taeg Kim
  • Patent number: 8423915
    Abstract: Provided is a terminal device including: operation means for receiving an input operation by a user; non-operation detection means for detecting whether a non-operation state in the operation means has continued for a predetermined period of time; and icon display means used when it is detected that the non-operation state has continued for the predetermined time, for shifting to another mode different from the current mode and displaying an icon corresponding to the new mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Access Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Aida, Noboru Takahashi, Koji Matsuzawa, Ohki Chiba