For A Small Display Screen (e.g., Personal Digital Assistant, Palm-top) Patents (Class 715/864)
  • Patent number: 8645874
    Abstract: For a user interface, sorts are performed not just on the items currently visible, but across multiple pages or parts of pages some of which may not be currently visible. In one exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, all pages are virtually joined in the same data storage “bucket.” Sorts performed by the computer may thus be applied across multiple pages some of which are currently visible and some of which may not be. By sorting displayed information, the sort criteria can be applied across and maintained across multiple other pages. In this way, the user sees expected functionality on the page she is currently viewing, and the computer works behind the scenes to consistently sort other items currently hidden from view so that when the user selects those pages they will already have been similarly sorted in a coherent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Tremblay
  • Patent number: 8634939
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling a vehicle speed during a downhill travel. Based on the estimated grade of the downhill travel and further based on an input received from the operator, different combinations of an engine braking torque and a regenerative braking torque are used to maintain the vehicle speed during the downhill travel. A battery rate of charging is also adjusted based on the duration or distance of the downhill travel, as indicated by the operator input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Matthew Allen Warner, Mathew Alan Boesch, Fazal Urrahman Syed
  • Patent number: 8635559
    Abstract: A handheld communication device and method for affecting movement of a highlighting cursor amongst an array of icons on a display screen is described. In an embodiment, the handheld communication device includes a lighted display, a keyboard and an auxiliary user input, e.g. a trackball, located essentially between the display and keyboard. The auxiliary user input is used to move the highlighting cursor from a first icon located on the display screen, to a second icon located on the display screen. In operation, the highlighting cursor is prevented from moving from a first row of icons to a successive second row of icons when a cross-wise directed force is applied to the auxiliary user input and the highlighted cursor has reached a terminal icon of the first row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Richard Lee, Fahd Sohail Butt, Taneem Talukdar
  • Patent number: 8631356
    Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting advertisements based on user interactivity with a web page are provided. According to embodiments of the invention, a web page is rendered on a client device. Gesture interactivity with the web page is monitored on the client device. A trigger is executed which defines an interactive event. When the interactive event occurs, as determined based on the monitored gesture interactivity with the web page, secondary content, such as an advertisement, is downloaded and displayed on the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: John Lai, Mandar Shinde, Calvin Hung, Sven Haiges
  • Patent number: 8631358
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and apparatus, including computer program products, for adjusting a graphical user interface. A motion of a device is detected. A graphical user interface of the device is adjusted in response to the detected motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John O. Louch
  • Patent number: 8629845
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: display means for displaying an image including an object; detection means, which is stacked on the display means, for detecting a contact with the display means; and control means for switching an operation mode of the display means based on a ratio of the area of the object displayed in the display means to the area of a region of the display means in which the contact is detected by the detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Fuminori Homma, Tatsushi Nashida
  • Patent number: 8631353
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for previewing new events in a computing device having a plurality of applications for managing respective events are described. Individual applications are each represented by an application icon on a screen of a graphical user interface for the device. In response to a new event of a one of the applications, the application's icon is visually modified to notify of the new event. A visual modification may be determined in response to the new event, for example, to preview a content of the event. The visual modification may include a count of all new events that remain to be disposed. On a selection of the visually modified icon, additional previewing may be provided. Activation of the application having a visually modified application icon may be configured to automatically initiate the application at the new event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Gerhard D. Klassen, Craig A. Dunk, Christopher R. Wormald
  • Patent number: 8621348
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and associated software are described herein for enabling a regular user of an end user device, such as a cellular telephone, to customize parameters associated with haptic effects applied to the user by the end user device. In one implementation, among several, a method described herein includes enabling a user of an end user device to access software adapted to design or modify haptic effects of the end user device. The method further includes enabling the user to open a haptic track file and enter or modify parameters associated with the haptic effects of the opened haptic track file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Erin B. Ramsay, Robert W. Heubel, Jason D. Fleming, Stephen D. Rank
  • Patent number: 8619034
    Abstract: A display device includes a touch screen having a display surface that displays images. The touch screen outputs a signal indicating a position on the display surface that has been touched. The display device also includes a first sensor that senses a position of an object relative to the display surface. The display device further includes a controller that generates a virtual keyboard image including a plurality of virtual keys for display on the display surface. The controller generates a left side portion and a right side portion of the virtual keyboard image, and chooses, as a display portion, one of the left side portion and the right side portion of the virtual keyboard image corresponding to the position of the object relative to the display surface as sensed by the first sensor. The controller controls the touch screen to display the display portion on the display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Europe (Belgium) NV
    Inventor: Joel Grad
  • Patent number: 8614709
    Abstract: A programmable effects system for graphical user interfaces is disclosed. One embodiment comprises receiving one or more effect elements to apply to an element in a graphical user interface for a device, ordering the effect elements in a pipeline of operations, and storing the pipeline of operations in an effect template. Then, after the graphics hardware capability for a device is determined, the effect template may be used to create a shader that includes supported effects to render an element in the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Aldinger, Fabian Toader
  • Patent number: 8612210
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate text input. In addition to identifying and outputting representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a text input, the device is able to employ contextual data in certain circumstances to prioritize output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Vadim Fux
  • Patent number: 8612896
    Abstract: A mobile terminal 10 is equipped with an LCD monitor 32 and a touch panel input device 24 mounted on an upper surface of the LCD monitor 32. The LCD monitor 32 displays character input keys and a received mail, so that character strings in a body text of the received mail are arbitrarily selected by operations on the touch panel input device 24. Further, related information of a selected character string is temporarily stored so as to be correlated with an arbitrary character input key. Then, when a touch-and-slide operation is performed from the character input key utilized in the temporary storage to a body text of a transfer mail, the temporarily stored related information can be inserted into the body text of the transfer mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Kakeru Irie
  • Patent number: 8612873
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for operating a displayed area of an electronic map and a recording medium are provided. In the method, a displayed area of an electronic map is displayed first. Then, an indicating object of a point of interest (POI) located outside the displayed area is displayed on an edge of the displayed area towards a direction of the POI with respect to the displayed area. When the indicating object of the POI is selected, the displayed area of the electronic map is changed to the displayed area comprising the POI. Accordingly, users are able to quickly change the displayed area and check a location and related information of each POI in a simple operation manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Bing-Sheng Lin, Rubens Chu
  • Patent number: 8612865
    Abstract: Mobile communications devices display contextually relevant information based on the presence, status, and identification of a user. Lens templates control how the information is displayed and can be customized and designed for specific usage profiles. The lenses that are used can be updated at any time to accommodate changes in a user's presence. The granularity of the lenses and corresponding information can also vary to accommodate different needs and preferences. Lenses can also be specialized for different events or venues. The lenses allow a user to access contextually relevant information from a mobile communications device having limited display and/or browse capabilities without requiring a user to navigate through undesired information, wasting valuable resources in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Friedman, Mike Pell
  • Patent number: 8607141
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting a font size in a mobile terminal having a touch screen. During a font size setting mode, an area of a region where a user's finger touches the screen is detected. A font size corresponding to the detected area is determined from among preset font sizes, and the determined font size is displayed in a specific region on the touch screen. If a font size setting request to the displayed font size is received from the user, the displayed font size is stored for a subsequent display on the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shin-Dong Ryu, Dong-Wook Kwon
  • Patent number: 8606871
    Abstract: A displayed string of emails is effectively compressed for improved readability by deleting some or all headers and/or by skipping the cursor from one message body to another in response to hot key actuation(s) by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Michael Grant Kirkup, Michael Stephen Brown
  • Publication number: 20130326433
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method and apparatus are provided to receive an application type and a platform environment type. An application based on the received application type and the platform environment type is created. The application comprises an instantiation of the received application type configured for the received environment type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Doron Lehmann, Nimrod Barak, Eyal Nathan
  • Patent number: 8599139
    Abstract: A character input method is implemented in a device with a plurality of keys. If a key is activated by a first operation matching a first input pattern, a first route is selected to traverse a plurality of characters corresponded by the key during presentation of the plurality of characters. If the first key is activated by a second operation matching a second input pattern, the plurality of characters corresponded by the first key are orderly retrieved and presented according to a second route in response to operations on the first key. The order for presenting two characters corresponded by the first key in the first route is reversed in the second route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Gold Charm Limited
    Inventors: Chi-Chang Lu, Ming-Chien Hung
  • Patent number: 8593407
    Abstract: A character input method is implemented in a device with a plurality of keys. If a key is activated by a first operation matching a first input pattern, a first route is selected to traverse a plurality of characters corresponded by the key during presentation of the plurality of characters. If the first key is activated by a second operation matching a second input pattern, the plurality of characters corresponded by the first key are orderly retrieved and presented according to a second route in response to operations on the first key. The order for presenting two characters corresponded by the first key in the first route is reversed in the second route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Gold Charm Limited
    Inventors: Chi-Chang Lu, Chen-Hong Chao
  • Patent number: 8593426
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias
  • Patent number: 8589808
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed which include gathering future location information of one or more friends of a user, receiving from a computing device, an indication of a second future date, displaying the future locations that are associated with a first future date that matches the second future date, receiving, at the computing device from the user, a selection of one of the future locations displayed, displaying one or more friends of the user associated with the selected future location, determining that a digital connection does not exist between the first friend and the second friend in a social network, providing an indication on the computing device showing that the digital connection does not exist, receiving an indication from the user to initiate contact between the first friend and the second friend, and providing a first notification to the first friend and the second friend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ribbon Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Alfaro, Austen Boyd, Robert Palmer
  • Patent number: 8588866
    Abstract: Signal strength and battery level are presented on a display associated with a mobile communications device. A scene is presented on the display, where the scene includes constituent items that collectively convey the battery level and the signal strength. Different states of the constituent items correspond to different states of the battery level and the signal strength. The constituent items together form a representation of a real-world situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Chris Michael Edwards
  • Patent number: 8588859
    Abstract: A method for controlling communication setting of a mobile terminal, includes: outputting a communication setting widget indicating an operational state of at least one data communication function associated with the mobile terminal; receiving a signal for changing the operational state, the signal being associated with at least a part of the outputted communication setting widget and changing the operational state of at least one of the at least one data communication functions according to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Deog Kim, Jun Sung Kim, Tae Hoon Shin
  • Patent number: 8584050
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a device displays content on a touch screen display and detects input by finger gestures. In response to the finger gestures, the device selects content, visually distinguishes the selected content, and/or updates the selected content based on detected input. In some embodiments, the device displays a command display area that includes one or more command icons; detects activation of a command icon in the command display area; and, in response to detecting activation of the command icon in the command display area, performs a corresponding action with respect to the selected content. Exemplary actions include cutting, copying, and pasting content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bas Ording, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Bradford Allen Moore, Marcel van Os, Richard Williamson, Scott Forstall
  • Patent number: 8584023
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile terminal device that can improve operability for editing a mail with a simple configuration. A cellular telephone device 1 is provided with a control unit 38, which controls so that, when a received mail message is displayed on a display part 21, an unsent mail message associated with the received mail message is read out in response to a predetermined operation by way of an operation unit 11, and the unsent mail message is displayed on the display part 21; and when an unsent mail message is displayed on the display part 21, a received mail message associated with the unsent mail message is read out in response to a predetermined operation by the operation unit 11, and the received mail message is displayed on the display part 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneo Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8584051
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed which include displaying a circular slider on a mobile device, the circular slider displaying a current date, displaying a geographic map relative to the circular slider on the mobile device, receiving from a user of the mobile device, at a location on the circular slider, a touch gesture indicating a circular motion; in response to the touch gesture indication of the circular motion being received, changing the current date on the circular slider to a future date for each predetermined amount of circular motion received, and displaying on the geographic map on the mobile device, a representation corresponding to each of one or more future locations indicating that one or more friends of the user are going to be physically present at on the respective future location on the future date.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ribbon Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Alfaro, Austen Boyd, Robert Palmer
  • Patent number: 8584041
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (1) and a method (20, 27) for providing access to task data objects as well as a method (37, 44) for navigating through a set of task data objects is provided. The graphical user interface (1) may comprise a reference area (2) representing a reference data object and at least one classification belt (3, 4, 10) in a concentrical arrangement. On the classification belts (3, 4, 10) at least one task area (5) representing a task data object can be displayed. The classification belt (3, 4, 10) may at least partly surround the reference area (2). The method (20, 27) for providing access to task data objects may comprise the steps of comparing data entries of task data objects with classes of data entries and the step of displaying task areas (5) on the classification belts (3, 4, 10) based on the comparison. The method (37, 44) for navigating may comprise the steps of radially or rotationally scrolling of the classification belts (3, 4, 10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventors: Dirk Gamboa Tuesta, Markus Schulz
  • Patent number: 8581849
    Abstract: A character input method is implemented in a device with a plurality of keys. If a key is activated by a first operation matching a first input pattern, a first route is selected to traverse a plurality of characters corresponded by the key during presentation of the plurality of characters. If the first key is activated by a second operation matching a second input pattern, the plurality of characters corresponded by the first key are orderly retrieved and presented according to a second route in response to operations on the first key. The order for presenting two characters corresponded by the first key in the first route is reversed in the second route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Gold Charm Limited
    Inventor: Chi-Chang Lu
  • Patent number: 8584010
    Abstract: A device and method for modifying content for use on a mobile electronic device are described. In one embodiment, there is provided an automated method for modifying content for use on a mobile electronic device, comprising: selecting image files from a plurality of image files; combining the selected image files into a single merged image file that has a smaller file size than the sum of the file sizes of the selected image files; and sending the single merged image file to the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Gerhard Klassen, David Tapuska
  • Patent number: 8584037
    Abstract: A process is set forth for viewing an enlarged area of an image. The image is stored on a server and re-sized for viewing on a mobile communication device based on screen size and color display capabilities of the device. The image is enlarged within the server by modifying binary raw data of the original image based on crop rectangle coordinates entered at the mobile communication device. The process allows users to quickly retrieve any relevant part of a large image attachment that has been resized by the server. This minimizes bandwidth usage, device memory/CPU consumption, and request/response latency while still allowing the user to view an image area in its original level of detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Olav A. Sylthe, Jianwei (Oliver) Yuan, Dan Dumitru
  • Patent number: 8581854
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and method of generating a key signal therein are disclosed, by which the key signal can be generated in a manner of adjusting touch sensitivity. The present invention includes a touchpad for a key signal input, a controller generating a key signal corresponding to a touched position if the touchpad is touched by a user and a strength of the touch is equal to or greater than a reference value, and a sensitivity adjusting unit adjusting the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Hwan Kim, Seung Woo Yang
  • Patent number: 8581876
    Abstract: An active, portable, stand alone memory device storage unit, comprising a housing containing a plurality of memory device receptacles, a touch sensitive display screen, and a programmed processor circuit coupled to the plurality of receptacles and the touch sensitive display. The unit provides access to each memory device installed in a receptacle to determine its identity, contents, capacity occupied, etc. and enables viewing the data stored on a memory device or transferring portions of the data from one device memory device to another, either inside or outside the storage unit, all without connecting the storage unit to a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventors: Dutch Eugene Wickes, Cheryl Dalton Wilson
  • Patent number: 8584031
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display includes simultaneously displaying a character input area operable to display text character input and emoji character input selected by a user, a keyboard display area, and a plurality of emoji category icons. In response to detecting a gesture on a respective emoji category icon, the method also includes simultaneously displaying: a first subset of emoji character keys for the respective emoji category in the keyboard display area and a plurality of subset-sequence-indicia icons for the respective emoji category. The method also includes detecting a gesture in the keyboard display area and, in response: replacing display of the first subset of emoji character keys with display of a second subset of emoji character keys for the respective emoji category, and updating the information provided by the subset-sequence-indicia icons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford Allen Moore, Bas Ording, Elizabeth Caroline Furches, Stephen J. Chick, Kenneth L. Kocienda
  • Patent number: 8584048
    Abstract: The inventive system comprises a touch screen on a mobile device and an application that defines a set of functioning components that provide the functionality for navigating media. The inventive application comprises components including event handling touches on the touch screen, presentation and layout interacting with event handling, content cache storing media and metadata, and content loading connecting to and loading the media and the metadata from a remote storage device, such that the event handling component invokes one or more of the presentation and layout component, the content cache component and the content loading component in response to various touch screen interactions. The various touch screen interactions perform setting a browser shape, setting a range, focus, zoom in and out, and/or level of detail of the media segments, moving laterally in time, resetting a view, annotating and/or viewing annotations, playing, pausing, and stopping the media summarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Telcordia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin W. Falchuk
  • Patent number: 8576166
    Abstract: A character input method is implemented in a device with a plurality of keys. If a key is activated by a first operation matching a first input pattern, a first route is selected to traverse a plurality of characters corresponded by the key during presentation of the plurality of characters. If the first key is activated by a second operation matching a second input pattern, the plurality of characters corresponded by the first key are orderly retrieved and presented according to a second route in response to operations on the first key. The order for presenting two characters corresponded by the first key in the first route is reversed in the second route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Gold Charm Limited
    Inventor: Chi-Chang Lu
  • Patent number: 8572492
    Abstract: An audience platform is disclosed. In a first example case, a first question is received. A preference event associated with the first question is received. A score is determined for the first question based at least in part on the preference. In a second example case, indications of a first and second potential interviewee are received. Preference events associated with the first and second potential interviewees are received. Scores are determined for the first and second potential interviewees based at least in part on the received preference events. A designated interviewee is selected based on the first and second scores. In a third example case, indications of a first and second potential awardee are received. Preference events associated with the first and second potential awardee are received. Scores are determined for the first and second potential awardees based at least in part on the received preference events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation
    Inventor: R. Kevin Rose
  • Patent number: 8572489
    Abstract: A vehicle audio system having handlebar mounted controls that permit an operator to control the audio system utilizing finger controls mounted on the handlebars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Millington, Steven Montealegre, Angelo A. Giannotti
  • Patent number: 8566725
    Abstract: An audience platform is disclosed. In a first example case, a first question is received. A preference event associated with the first question is received. A score is determined for the first question based at least in part on the preference. In a second example case, indications of a first and second potential interviewee are received. Preference events associated with the first and second potential interviewees are received. Scores are determined for the first and second potential interviewees based at least in part on the received preference events. A designated interviewee is selected based on the first and second scores. In a third example case, indications of a first and second potential awardee are received. Preference events associated with the first and second potential awardee are received. Scores are determined for the first and second potential awardees based at least in part on the received preference events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation
    Inventor: R. Kevin Rose
  • Patent number: 8558787
    Abstract: An input device includes an operating unit that a user grasps and operates in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operate an information processing device; and a transmitting unit to transmit a signal for a first gesture in the free space of the operating unit to set a mode, and a signal for a second gesture in the free space of the operating unit which differs from the first gesture to execute processing in the mode set based on the first gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Kumagai, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Hideo Niikura, Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Hidetoshi Kabasawa, Toshio Mamiya
  • Patent number: 8560947
    Abstract: The present invention is a graphical user interface in a computing device having a processor running an operating system and a display. The graphical user interface comprises a touch screen and a driver coupling the touch screen to the operating system. The driver can display a plurality of icons on the touch screen, or a plurality of screen images having at least one icon, with each of the icons associated with operations on the display and/or the touch screen. Other embodiments include the touch screen having unactivated and activated states, as well as the presence of an application programming interface that enables an application to display at least one image on the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: David W. Gillespie, Raymond A. Trent, Andrew C. Hsu, Leslie R. Grate
  • Patent number: 8560974
    Abstract: In an aspect, a method includes the actions of displaying, at a touch-sensitive display, a plurality of characters that each represent a distinct consonant included in a language script; receiving, at the touch-sensitive display, a touch selection of a first character from the plurality of characters, the touch selection being received at a location on the touch-sensitive display at which the first character is displayed; and in response to receiving the touch selection: detecting a gesture input, selecting a vowel marker based at least in part on an association of the gesture input with one or more vowel markers; and displaying, at the touch-sensitive display, an updated representation of the first character based at least in part on the selected vowel marker. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer programs, configured to perform the actions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Davinci Yonge-Mallo
  • Patent number: 8555179
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal having a camera module and a touch screen is provided. The mobile communication terminal transmits and receives text data while performing the video call with at least one other party's terminal. The touch screen displays at least one images when the text data transmission and reception function is started, an input window for displaying text data input through the touch screen, an output window for displaying the transmitted and received text data, and at least one soft key, and a controller for controlling, when the input window or one of the at least one soft key is selected, the touch screen for changing a display method of at least one of the first image, the second image, the input window, the output window, and the at least one soft key and for displaying a touch pad comprising a plurality of keys for inputting text data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ha Youn Lee, Eun Young Lee, Min Hak Lee, Moon Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 8554283
    Abstract: The locating software for smartphone and PC is a software application that lets people know other people's job during walking outside the house. The present software can be downloaded by a client or App store. All people can use it. It helps people to access nearby emergency services. Doctors, police, firemen and the like are immediately accessible using the present software. The present software may also be used for quickly seeking friends. The present software works with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G, GPS, and the like. The present software integrates with other communication technology that is used in smartphones and PCs. It works within Bluetooth range (about 100 feet), in homes, malls, parks, theaters, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Fawzi Q. M. A. O. A. Behbehani
  • Patent number: 8547466
    Abstract: An unlocking method of a touch screen and an electric device with camera function thereof are disclosed. A camera module is used for capturing a plurality of images. A touch screen shows an application function icon, a shooting mode icon, an activate area and a slide path connecting the icons and the activate area while the touch screen is locked. A processing module is electrically connected with the camera module and the touch screen. While detecting that the application function icon or the shooting mode icon is dragged to the activate area through the slide path, the processing module transmits an unlocking signal to the touch screen. The touch screen unlocks according to the unlocking signal and shows a screen of application function operation or a screen of camera function. Therefore, users would feel more convenient than before while using an electric device with camera function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Yi Chao
  • Patent number: 8548527
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile communication terminal that can execute, by designation by an application program, novel image conversions that cannot be executed in the conventional mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal 20 includes application program execution managing means 211, displaying means 12, image display controlling means 213 and image conversion processing means 214. The image conversion processing means selectively executes, based on conversion-contents designating information received from the application program execution managing means, at least one drawing-type image conversion process of an enlargement process, a contraction process, and a pseudo semi-transparent process for partial hiding by use of a transmissive mask pattern, for the image data subject to image conversion process stored in the image data storage means 211b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
    Inventors: Osamu Otaka, Hideyuki Ikeda
  • 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: 8542205
    Abstract: Techniques for outputting different content on a touch-sensitive display of a device based at least in part on an amount of force applied to the touch-sensitive display. For instance, when a user reads an electronic book (eBook) on a device having a touch-sensitive display, the user may select a word and the device may accordingly display information associated with the selected word. Thereafter, the user may apply a greater or lesser amount of force to the selected word and, in response, the device may output other instances or uses of the selected word. This document also describes techniques for refining search results associated with a particular word or phrase based at least in part on a measured amount of force associated with a selection. For instance, the device may refine (e.g., expand or narrow) illustrated search results based on the user providing greater or lesser force on the touch-sensitive display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin E. Keller
  • Patent number: 8543934
    Abstract: A method includes, displaying a content selection icon on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting touch input at a touch location on the display operable to select a content selection function associated with the content selection icon, and, modifying the displayed content selection icon to display a touch portion at a location on the display corresponding to said detected touch location and a content selection portion operatively coupled to, but spatially separated from, the touch portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Simon Martin Thorsander, Margaret Elizabeth Kuo, Nils Roger Andersson Reimer
  • Patent number: 8543166
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal equipped with flexible display. The controller changes a screen displayed on the flexible display or controls the operation according to a bent part of the flexible display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kil Soo Choi, Sang Won Jung, Dae Hyun Baek, Kyung Ju Lee, Byung Ean Bong, Kyung Jin Seo, Kwang Suh Jung, Yeong Seok Kim
  • Patent number: RE44583
    Abstract: A method for automatically forwarding and replying short message is provided. Firstly, a local user joins a message chat room. If the user presses a key for forwarding a message, the message chat room provides structuralized, modularized and hierarchy message menu to the user, else the local user waits for a plurality of pre-established reply messages provided by a server or a remote cellulous phone. At this time, the local user can press a modify key to modify the reply messages and the message chat room provides an editing window to facilitate modify operation. Afterward, the local user presses a send key after selecting a replay message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Guan Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Chien, Cadmus Chen, Xavier Sun, John Chang, Edward Kuo