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Ledbetter, WA

Carl Ledbetter, Mercer Island, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090259327METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UNIFIED AUDIO CONTROL ON A PERSONAL COMPUTER - A system and method for improved audio controls on a personal computer is provided. The system and method provide a unified architecture for audio controls across hardware and software interfaces of the personal computer. An intelligent facility may automatically change audio controls for users to simply interact with various communications and media applications. To this end, a configurable audio controller intelligently handles various aspects of the system's audio devices by following various rules that may be based at least in part on user-configurable settings and a current operating state. The present invention also provides audio controls so that a user may easily change audio settings such as the volume of an audio output device. There are many applications that may use the present invention for automatic control of audio devices based upon the user's context.10-15-2009
20090305695REAL-TIME COMMUNICATIONS ARCHITECTURE AND METHODS FOR USE WITH A PERSONAL COMPUTER SYSTEM - A system and method for improved real-time communications in a computer system that eliminates the distinctions between various communication devices, communication channels and types of communication, including voice, text and video, is provided. When connected for communication, the user may easily move between modalities, including switching devices on which the user is communicating, switching networks, and transitioning between types of communication. A computer system includes various integrated communications-related devices, and a controller controls those devices based on user actions entered via buttons or user interface software and provides notifications to the user. The user is able to input data via any appropriate input mechanism, and receive data on any suitable output mechanism. Improved non-linear caller ID navigation is also provided.12-10-2009
20100008488METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UNIFIED AUDIO CONTROL ON A PERSONAL COMPUTER - A system and method for improved audio controls on a personal computer is provided. The system and method provide a unified architecture for audio controls across hardware and software interfaces of the personal computer. An intelligent facility may automatically change audio controls for users to simply interact with various communications and media applications. To this end, a configurable audio controller intelligently handles various aspects of the system's audio devices by following various rules that may be based at least in part on user-configurable settings and a current operating state. The present invention also provides audio controls so that a user may easily change audio settings such as the volume of an audio output device. There are many applications that may use the present invention for automatic control of audio devices based upon the user's context.01-14-2010
20100010653METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UNIFIED AUDIO CONTROL ON A PERSONAL COMPUTER - A system and method for improved audio controls on a personal computer is provided. The system and method provide a unified architecture for audio controls across hardware and software interfaces of the personal computer. An intelligent facility may automatically change audio controls for users to simply interact with various communications and media applications. To this end, a configurable audio controller intelligently handles various aspects of the system's audio devices by following various rules that may be based at least in part on user-configurable settings and a current operating state. The present invention also provides audio controls so that a user may easily change audio settings such as the volume of an audio output device. There are many applications that may use the present invention for automatic control of audio devices based upon the user's context.01-14-2010

Patent applications by Carl Ledbetter, Mercer Island, WA US

Carl J. Ledbetter, Lynnwood, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120086640User Notification System with an Illuminated Computer Input Device - A user notification system and a computer input device, such as a mouse. The computer input device includes an illumination member that enables a user to quickly and accurately position the input device during poor lighting conditions and determine whether the computer is ON. The input device includes a housing and an illumination device that is supported by the housing. Illumination from the illumination device is visible when the input device is placed on a support surface. The illumination member is also used to notify the user if one or more of various events have occurred in a computer application being run on the computer. The notification information is presented to the user by changing the state of the illumination member. An example of event for notification includes the receipt of a message in a communications program such as an e-mail message. The notification can make the illumination member blink as a function of the number of messages received. This enables information to be conveyed to the user without the need for text or audio, and without the need to view the computer monitor.04-12-2012

Carl J. Ledbetter, Lynwood, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090189861INPUT DEVICE INCLUDING A WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR SCROLLING AN IMAGE IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS - A computer input device having a housing and an engagable scroll wheel. The scroll wheel is rotatable about an axis to preferably cause vertical scrolling of an image on a display. The rotatable member is laterally movable relative to the housing. A sensor is preferably positioned within the housing for sensing lateral movement of the rotatable member. In response to sensed lateral movement of the rotatable member, the image is horizontally scrolled, preferably in the direction of the lateral movement. The scrolling speed can be affected relative to the amount of displacement of the rotatable member and/or the amount of time that the rotatable member is displaced a predetermined amount. The computer input device having the rotatable member may take the form of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackbal device, or another type of computer input device.07-30-2009

Carl J. Ledbetter, Mercer Island, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080270715Life Moment Tagging and Storage - A secure memory device and method for obtaining and securely storing information relating to a life moment is disclosed. In the method, a parameter is received and inputted in a search heuristic. A search is made for the information according to the search heuristic and, upon finding the information, metadata is appended to the information. The information and metadata is then stored in a secure memory location. The secure memory location has a housing fabricated to withstand a predetermined stress, a detachable connection to a computer and a memory that stores the information and protects it from unauthorized deletion. In some embodiments, the stored information may be selectively deleted in a safe and controlled manner.10-30-2008
20090146958Ergonomic Hand-Held Text Input Device - A hand-held text input device includes a game controller and a keyboard. The device comfortably accommodates the hands of a user while the thumbs and fingers are associated with actuators of the game controller and keys of the keyboard. The overall configuration of the device and the arrangement of the actuators and keys permit the user to operate all of the functions provided by the device while the forearms are in a neutral posture zone between pronation and supination of the forearm, while the wrists are minimally extended, and while the fingers are comfortably flexed.06-11-2009

Patent applications by Carl J. Ledbetter, Mercer Island, WA US

Carl Joseph Ledbetter, Mercer Island, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090238395CABLE MANAGEMENT FOR PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYER ACCESSORIES - An arrangement for managing cables of accessories such as earphone sets, chargers, and synchronization arrangements used with portable electronic devices is provided by a flexible and elastically deformable loop that extends from a base that optionally includes a hook or other loop retention feature. The base may be alternatively configured to be integrally formed with a component of an accessory, or be configured as a discrete clip that may be detachably coupled to the component, or to the cable portion of the accessory. The elastically deformable loop is configured to be removably fastenable by a user to articles such as buttons on clothing to help keep cables out of the way when the accessory is in use. In addition, the elastically deformable loop may be used to keep an accessory cable neatly stowed during storage by being stretched around a bundled cable and then secured on the hook.09-24-2009
20090245549IDENTIFICATION OF EARBUDS USED WITH PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYERS - An arrangement for identifying the left and right earphones in an earphone set is provided in which the acoustically transparent grills positioned over the transducers in the earphones are configured to provide a visual effect that identifies the correct orientation of the earphone set during use by indicating which earphone is intended for which ear. In an illustrative example, the transducer grills on respective left and right earphones are configured with a series of openings that are arranged in a pattern which indicate “L” and “R.” In other illustrative examples, the transducer grills have embossed or molded markings. As an alternative to the “L” and “R” markings, the transducer grills may be configured to convey other information or graphics such as logos.10-01-2009
20090323260SLIDE AND CLICK COMBINATION SWITCH FOR A PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYER - In a personal media player, a slide and click combination switch enables several operational functions to be integrated into a single interface. The operational functions include user control lock and power state management. The combination switch includes a button that is arranged to laterally slide between two discrete switch positions (locked and unlocked) as well as move axially between unactuated and actuated positions against a spring force that is normally biased towards the unactuated position. When the button in the combination switch is slid to the locked position, the button cannot be actuated, the user controls on the player are disabled, and the power status of the player (i.e., either on or off) is maintained in its current state. When the button is slid to the unlocked position, the user controls on the player are enabled, and the button may be actuated to implement different device power management scenarios.12-31-2009

Jeffrey Ledbetter, Shoreline, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120020965Molecules that bind CD180, compositions and methods of use - The present invention provides novel CD180 binding molecules, methods for their identification, and methods for their use.01-26-2012

Jeffrey A. Ledbetter, Seattle, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090186037METHODS FOR INHIBITING AN IMMUNE RESPONSE BY BLOCKING THE GP39/CD40 AND CTLA4/CD28/B7 PATHWAYS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR USE THEREWITH - The present invention provides a method for inhibiting an immune response and a method for inhibiting rejection of transplanted tissues. This method comprises preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of gp39 and CD40 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand and preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of CTLA4, CD28, and B7 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand. The prevention of such molecules from binding their ligand thereby blocks two independent signal pathways and inhibits the immune response resulting in transplanted tissue rejection.07-23-2009
20090317397Soluble CTLA4 mutant molecules and uses thereof - The invention identifies the CTLA4 receptor as a ligand for the B7 antigen. The complete amino acid sequence encoding human CTLA4 receptor gene is provided. Methods are provided for expressing CTLA4 as an immunoglobulin fusion protein, for preparing hybrid CTLA4 fusion proteins, and for using the soluble fusion proteins, fragments and derivatives thereof, including monoclonal antibodies reactive with B7 and CTLA4, to regulate T cell interactions and immune responses mediated by such interactions.12-24-2009

Patent applications by Jeffrey A. Ledbetter, Seattle, WA US

Jeffrey Alan Ledbetter, Shoreline, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100330089ANTI-CD20 THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS - The present invention provides materials and methods for treatment of diseases involving aberrant B-cell activity, using a CD20-specific binding molecule, in particular, antibodies or antigen binding fragment thereof. The compositions disclosed herein is useful for the treatment and diagnosis of B-cell disorders, such as B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases.12-30-2010

Thomas Arthur Ledbetter, Bellevue, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110295844ENHANCING FRESHNESS OF SEARCH RESULTS - Methods, systems, and computer-storage media for improving the freshness, or the apparent freshness, of search results are described. In an embodiment, the first portion of search results presented on a search results page are based on responsiveness to the search query and a second portion of results describe only recently published documents that are responsive to the search query. In an embodiment, a more recent version of the document, which is not directly used to determine responsiveness, is used to build the caption for a search result. Another way to make search results appear fresh is to include a publication time within the search result caption. In one embodiment, the publication time is generated by calculating a point in time between when a document is first added to a search index and the previous time the search engine visited the site where the document was found.12-01-2011