| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080284642 | OPTIMIZING BANDWIDTH OF A GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM - A method and system for optimizing a global positioning system. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an indication of at least one change in coordinate attributes, determining a plurality of cost and transaction rules based on at least one user preference, and processing a plurality coordinate transactions based on the least one cost and transaction rule. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080291021 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING THE STATUS OF A CONFERENCE ROOM AND METHOD OF USE - A method for determining availability of a conference room is disclosed. The method comprises transporting a mobile device into a conference room by a user wherein the conference room has an RFID tag, a conference room number, and is identified in a reservation system. The method further includes utilizing the mobile device to retrieve a conference room number by scanning the RFID tag within the conference room. Next, the mobile device is utilized to query the reservation system. The method further comprises determining whether the conference room is currently reserved. Next, the mobile device is utilized to alert the user if the reservation system indicates that the conference room is currently reserved. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080308630 | USER-REQUIREMENT DRIVEN SHOPPING ASSISTANT - Device, method and system for providing shopping assistance information to customers using RFID tagged items in a store equipped with on-board or hand-held shopping cart RFID readers and display devices modified to have a personal product specification criteria data input interface. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090010617 | Method and Apparatus for Optimizing Space Allocations for Digital Video Recordings - A method for processing a digital video recording that includes storing the digital video recording onto a storage, in which the digital video recording is to be subsequently viewed by a user. The method further includes receiving user input selecting the digital video recording for viewing, and responsive to the user input, playing back the digital video recording to the user. The method further includes simultaneously deleting a viewed portion of the digital video recording from the storage as the user views the digital video recording during playback of the digital video recording. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090015406 | Television Or Other Display Device With Embedded RFID Reader For Managing Media Collections - A method and system in accordance with the present invention enables the user to access and locate specific media items such as CDs and DVDs quickly and easily, even if there are large number of them located in one space, and they appear to be very disorganized. Additionally, it gives the user the capability of not only locating specific media items, but also instantly viewing information about them, such as title, genre, performer, date of performance, for example, and even to access and link this information with Internet search and sale-type programs. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090023456 | Method And System For Providing Route Alternatives While Using A Cell Phone - A method and system in accordance with the present invention integrates information from cell phone coverage maps with a user's GPS system, thereby making possible the suggestion of alternative routes based on coverage strength and chances of dropping calls in different geographical areas. The method and system in accordance with the present invention can also generate warnings if a user is approaching an area of low or nonexistent coverage, so that the user can take action, such as utilizing a different route or telling the party on the line that the connection may be dropped or disconnected. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090036200 | LIGHT-EMITTING FIBERS INTERTWINED IN GRASS RELATED TO A PLAYER'S OR GAME OBJECT'S POSITION - A method, system and computer program product for improving accuracy and experience of a game. Signals are sent from a computer system to appropriate sensors based on a player's or game object's position to activate connected light-emitting fibers that are blended with grass on a playing field. The light-emitting fibers are activated in such a manner to display light to indicate an infraction (e.g., a player was in an offside position), a successful play (e.g., team made a first down), appropriate maneuvers, boundaries for a play, etc., thereby ensuring the game is fair and accurate and enhancing the experience of the game. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090036205 | Accuracy and Experience of Game By Activating Appropriate Light-Emitting Fibers Intertwined In Grass Related To A Game Object or Player Entering Or Leaving A Hot Zone Area - A method, system and computer program product for improving accuracy and experience of a game. Hot zone areas are determined using game rules. “Hot zone areas” are areas on the playing field where a call may be made based on the rules of the game. Signals are sent from a computer system to appropriate sensors to activate connected light-emitting fibers that are blended with grass on the playing field to indicate when a player and/or game object enters or exits a hot zone area. The light-emitting fibers are activated in such a manner as to display an image (e.g., footprint) indicating the entrance/exiting of a player and/or game object in/from a hot zone area (e.g., out of bounds line) thereby ensuring the game is fair and accurate and enhancing the experience of the game. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090046115 | Method and System to Change Printed Document Based on Printer Ink Levels - A method and system in accordance with the present invention modifies a document or a section of a document to be printed, based on available ink levels in a printer. The modification process may be carried out automatically, or may be user-selected and defined, in order to maximize the quality of the printer output. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090063945 | Synchronization of Media Presentation Software - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for synchronizing a media presentation. A locally stored electronic copy of the media presentation is displayed on a presenter's presentation device and a locally stored copy of the media presentation is displayed on each of one or more participants' presentation devices. The presenter's presentation device and each participant's presentation device is operable to communicate with each other through a communications network. In response to the presenter performing an action on the electronic copy of the media presentation on the presenter's presentation device during the media presentation, data pertaining to the action is transmitted through the communications network to each participant's presentation device. The appearance of the media presentation on each participant's presentation device is changed in accordance with the data transmitted from the presenter. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090063992 | System and Method to Utilize Mood Sensors in an Electronic Messaging Environment - A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for determining the behavioral mood of an electronic messaging system user. User input is provided through one or more input receptors of an electronic device. The user input is collected by the mood identification system. The collected input is processed to generate behavioral biometrics, which are in turn correlated to predetermined behavioral moods, each of which has a corresponding behavioral mood indicator. The behavioral mood of the recipient user is indicated by applying text attributes applied to the user's identifier (ID) or by displaying an icon proximate to the user's ID. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090064143 | Subscribing to Progress Indicator Treshold - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a notification to a user about the progress of a task running on a digital processing device. A user input identifying a progress indicator for the task running on the digital processing device is received. A user input selecting a threshold value is received. The threshold value indicates a point on the progress indicator at which the user is to be notified about the progress of the task. A notification is provided to the user when the threshold value is reached. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090083106 | Automatically Updating Contingent Events in Electronic Calendar Systems - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for managing contingent events in an electronic calendar system. A priority is associated with each event among two or more events. The two or more events are at least partly overlapping in the electronic calendar system. When a high priority event of the two or more events is canceled from the electronic calendar system, the high priority event is automatically replaced with a lower priority event from the two or more events. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090083112 | Automated Event Modification in Electronic Calendar Systems - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for modifying an event in an electronic calendar system. An event invitation is created in the electronic calendar system. A first timeout value is associated with the event invitation. The first timeout value specifies a time for replying to the event invitation. The event invitation is sent to one or more invitees and the first timeout value is applied to at least a subset of the one or more invitees. If a response to the event invitation is not received from an invitee with an applied timeout value within the time specified by the first timeout value, a first action relating to the event is performed. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090085921 | Populate Web-Based Content Based on Space Availability - A method, system and computer usable medium are disclosed for managing the display of content elements within a predetermined display area of a user interface. Content requests are submitted from a browser to a content server. In response, the content server acquires candidate content elements for display within the browser. A content element manager determines the dimensions of a target display area within the user interface (UI) of the browser. The content element manager then determines the space required to display each of the candidate content elements. Calculations are then performed to determine the maximum number of content elements that will fit within the dimensions of target display area. Once determined, the content elements are selected and displayed in the display area. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090088234 | ACCURACY AND EXPERIENCE OF GAME BY ACTIVATING APPROPRIATE LIGHT-EMITTING FIBERS INTERTWINED IN GRASS RELATED TO A PLAYER'S OR GAME OBJECT'S POSITION - A method, system and computer program product for improving accuracy and experience of a game. Signals are sent from a computer system to appropriate sensors based on a player's or game object's position to activate connected light-emitting fibers that are blended with grass on a playing field. The light-emitting fibers are activated in such a manner to display light to indicate an infraction (e.g., a player was in an offside position), a successful play (e.g., team made a first down), appropriate maneuvers, boundaries for a play, etc., thereby ensuring the game is fair and accurate and enhancing the experience of the game. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090092237 | Call-Initiated Social Information Acquisition and Exchange - To simplify the acquisition and exchange of social information, a social information acquisition application could be triggered when the calling party initiates a call to a called party. The application adds a request to the called dialing sequence for a list of all available social information repositories associated to the called party. If multiple repositories exist, one of those repositories this selected either by the calling party or by applying selection rules. Information retrieved from the selected repository could be presented to the calling party and/or used to update social information repositories maintained on behalf of the calling party. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090106077 | Facilitating in-transit meetings using location-aware scheduling - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for facilitating in-transit meetings between users. Transit information is received for several users. The transit information for at least some users is compared. If an opportunity for an in-transit meeting between at least two users is detected when comparing the transit information, the at least two users are notified about the opportunity for the in-transit meeting. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090144829 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO PROTECT SENSITIVE CONTENT FOR HUMAN-ONLY CONSUMPTION - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for protecting sensitive content. In response to receiving a selection of content, the process determines whether the content is of a sensitive content type based on a policy. The process then designates the content as the sensitive content in response to the content being of a sensitive content type. Thereafter, the process generates a sensitive content reference for publication and stores the sensitive content in a data structure, wherein the data structure associates the sensitive content with the sensitive content reference. Subsequently, in response to receiving a request from a requester for the sensitive content reference, the process obfuscates the sensitive content using a selected obfuscation algorithm to form obfuscated content, and returns the obfuscated content to the requester. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090176540 | AUDIO SELECTION CONTROL FOR PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES - The distribution of audio signals to either a headset or to a base unit (such as a cell phone) is determined by whether the headset is ready for use when a call is made or received. The headset is considered ready for use if it is powered on, has been initialized to exchange signals with the base unit using a standard communications protocol (such as Bluetooth), and is in place on the user's head. The headset includes a proximity sensor that provides a signal indicating that the headset is in place. If the headset is ready for use, audio signals are automatically distributed to the headset. Otherwise, the audio signals were distributed to a cell phone audio system. The invention may also be used by a personal computer user having an audio headset. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090177997 | Populating Dynamic Navigational Content in Disparate Application Environments - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing document-specific widgets in an application program. An application program is launched in a digital device. A document is opened in the application program. Configuration data pertaining to document-specific widgets to be included in the application program user interface is loaded. The document-specific widgets are specific to the opened document. Each document-specific widget defining a document-specific operation to be performed with respect to the document upon activation by a user The document-specific widgets are displayed in the application program user interface and the opened document is displayed to a user of the digital device in accordance with the configuration data. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090220063 | Using Personalized Tones To Indicate When A Participant Arrives And/Or Leaves A Conference Call - A method, system and computer program product for identifying which participant joined or exited a conference call. A participant to a conference call is able to select a personalized tone from a list of predetermined tones or to upload a personalized tone to a designated site, where the personalized tone is to be played upon the participant joining and/or exiting the conferencing call. In this manner, the other participants of the conference call would know which participant joined or exited the conference call. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090231158 | GUIDED VIDEO FEED SELECTION IN A VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE NETWORK - In V2V or other networks in which multiple video feeds are available to a participant, the participant's ability to select a particular video feed for display can be eased through the use of guided scanning. A guided scanning strategy is built based on operator inputs and used to select a particular set of video feeds that are initially shown as a video “slideshow” on the display used by the participant. Each video feed appears only for a limited period of time to enable easy participant review. Once the participant sees a particular video feed of interest, that video feed to can be selected for persisted presentation on the display. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090231431 | DISPLAYED VIEW MODIFICATION IN A VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE NETWORK - In V2V or other networks in which multiple video cameras can share video data, a user may elect to modify a primary view by electronically “removing” obstructing objects from the primary view. The user begins by identifying the objects to be electronically removed from the simulated view, either by designating the boundaries of the objects or by identifying classes of objects to be removed. Pel locations associated with obstructing objects are identified in the primary data set. Video data provided by cameras other than a primary video camera is analyzed to identify common features in the primary and secondary views and to identify pels that correspond with object-associated pels in the primary view. A merged data set, consisting of pel data from the primary data set and from at least one of the secondary data sets, provides the video data presented in the simulated view. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090231432 | VIEW SELECTION IN A VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE NETWORK - In V2V or other networks in which multiple video cameras can share video data, a network participant ordinarily has the option of selecting a particular video data stream (either generated by local cameras or received from other network participants. To facilitate the process of selecting a video data stream for presentation, the user's vehicle (in a V2V network) receives video data streams generated by other network participants along with identifiers indicating the video data stream actually being presented to the sender. The receiving system identifies the received video data stream by the greatest number of network participants and displays the identified video data stream on the user's in-vehicle video display. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090231433 | SCENE SELECTION IN A VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE NETWORK - In V2V or other networks in which multiple video feeds are available to a participant, a participant can select a particular video feed for display. The participant has the option of selecting or locking onto a particular camera so that the display continues to show scenes captured by that camera without regard to what appears in those scenes. As an alternative, the participant may select or lock onto a particular scene. If a scene is selected, the current video feed is analyzed to identify key features. The video feed is monitored. If the key features disappear from the video feed, video feeds available from other cameras are analyzed for the presence of the key features. A new video feed (i.e., camera) is selected from the set of video feeds currently generating images including the key features. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090241071 | Served ads as previews and summaries - When an appropriate context-sensitive ad is created for readers of a content page, it can also serve as a summary of page. In this context, the content indicates anything triggering a user's experience that may be used to decide what ad to show. This could be a particular web site, an application on user's computer, a virtual world, or even a physical location. An embodiment of this invention provides a method to serve the ads previously given on a page or other content to a user, at a time other than when the user is actually consuming that content. This Ads-as-a-summary concept can take various forms. It can also be leveraged at various times, such as a preview. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090249476 | Using Multi-Touch Gestures to Protect Sensitive Content Using a Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA) - The invention described herein uses a multi-touch manager for authorizing multi-touch devices by first providing a multi-touch test to a multi-touch device. In turn, the multi-touch manager receives a multi-touch response from the multi-touch device. The multi-touch manager then compares the multi-touch response with a multi-touch answer and authorizes the device based upon the comparison. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090258331 | INTERACTIVE RECIPE PREPARATION USING INSTRUCTIVE DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED ACTUATORS TO PROVIDE TACTILE FEEDBACK - A user selects a recipe from a list of recipes. Preparation steps corresponding to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store, such as a database. Each of the retrieved preparation steps is displayed sequentially to the user on a horizontal surface display that is included in an interactive cooking preparation device. During at least one preparation step, a selected kitchen appliance is identified, such as a configurable burner surface. The identified preparation step also includes one or more appliance parameters that correspond to the selected kitchen appliance. The selected kitchen appliance is controlled by sending one or more signals from the interactive cooking preparation device to the selected kitchen appliance. At least one of the signals sent to the appliance includes one of the appliance parameters. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090258332 | INTERACTIVE RECIPE PREPARATION USING INSTRUCTIVE DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED ACTUATORS TO PROVIDE TACTILE FEEDBACK - An interactive cooking preparation device that includes a flexible horizontal display surface is presented. A set of actuators located under the flexible horizontal display surface that, when activated, cause a tactile sensation on the display surface. A user selects a recipe from a list of recipes. A set of preparation steps that correspond to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store. Each of the preparation steps are displayed to the user on the flexible horizontal surface display. A current preparation step that is being performed by the user is identified. The user is directed to an area of the interactive cooking preparation device using a tactile feedback mechanism. The tactile feedback mechanism causes a physical sensation on the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device. The physical sensation is felt by the user when the user is touching the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090259687 | Interactive Recipe Preparation Using Instructive Device with Integrated Actuators to Provide Tactile Feedback - An interactive cooking device is provided. A user selects a recipe from a list of available recipes. Preparation steps corresponding to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store along with a set of ingredients. The retrieved preparation steps are sequentially displaying to the user on a display that is included in the interactive cooking preparation device. The user's preparation actions are monitored, using one or more sensors. Gestures that correspond to the current preparation step are retrieved from the data store along with thresholds that correspond to each of the gestures. The user's actions are compared to the retrieved gestures using the retrieved thresholds. If the user's actions vary from the gestures by more than the thresholds, an alert is generated. The user is then provided with a suggested course of correction. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090259688 | Interactive recipe preparation using instructive device with integrated actuators to provide tactile feedback - An interactive cooking preparation device is presented. The user places ingredients that the user wishes to use in a recipe. The interactive cooking preparation device detects the ingredients placed by the user in the detection area of the interactive cooking preparation device using sensors. The detection results in a set of ingredient identifiers that correspond to the placed ingredients. A recipes database is then searched for the detected set of ingredient identifiers. The database search results in one or more suggested recipes. The suggested recipes are displayed to the user on a display device that is included in the interactive cooking preparation device. The user then selects one of the suggested recipes. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090259689 | Interactive recipe preparation using instructive device with integrated actuators to provide tactile feedback - A way of delivering recipe preparation instruction to disabled individuals is provided using an interactive cooking preparation device. The device retrieves an instruction delivery preference that corresponds to a user with a disability, such as a hearing or sight disability. The user then selects a recipe from list of recipes. Preparation steps that correspond to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store, such as a database. The retrieved preparation steps are provided to the user using the interactive cooking preparation device that provides the preparation steps in an alternative delivery mode based on the user's delivery preference. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090275317 | CONNECTING A PHONE CALL TO A MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE BASED ON THE TIME OF DAY THAT THE COMMUNICATION IS INITIATED - A method, system, and computer-readable medium with executable code for connecting an outgoing phone call to a user destination device based on the time the phone call is initiated. A user of a user destination device transmits a policy information packet containing contact numbers of a primary user destination device and all secondary user destination devices that the user may be reached at during specific times of the day to a call originating device. In response to the user of a call originating device initiating a request to connect a phone call to the user destination device, the call originating device autonomously selects the correct recipient user destination device by interpreting the policy information packet. The call originating device then connects the phone call to the primary user destination device or to a secondary user destination device depending on the current time of day. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090287777 | OFF-LINE SMARTPHONE FILE SYSTEM SNAPSHOTS - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for distributing a file by email from a mobile device. An email is composed on the mobile device. A user selection is received of a file to be attached to the email. The selection is made from an off-line snapshot of a remote file system in which the file is located. A link corresponding to the location of the file in the remote file system is embedded into the email. The email with the link is placed in a queue on the mobile device. The email with the file corresponding to the link is sent in response to the remote file system becoming available to the mobile device. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090293017 | System and Method to Assist in Tagging of Entities - A method to assist in tagging an entity includes a user selecting at least one threshold for the user's activity of at least one entity; monitoring user activity of the at least one entity; and when the at least one threshold is reached, automatically suggesting or recommending to the user that the at least one entity be tagged. The user has the option to tag or not tag the at least one entity. Usage data is associated with a tagged entity. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090313351 | KEEPING CONVERSATIONS CONFIDENTIAL - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for keeping confidential records pertaining to selected communications made with a communication device. A user input is received designating one or more contacts with whom communications made with the communication device are to remain confidential. Information about the designated one or more contacts is transmitted to a server which stores records pertaining to communications made with the communication device. A statement is generated for the communications made with the communication device based on information stored on the server. Records pertaining to communications that are to remain confidential are displayed as an alias on the statement. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100045609 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURING AN INTERACTIVE DEVICE BASED ON ORIENTATION OF A USER RELATIVE TO THE DEVICE - A method and apparatus are provided for use in association with a computer operated interactive device having a surface, wherein the interactive device is responsive to contact between its surface and persons or objects, and is adapted to selectively display images upon its surface. One embodiment, comprising a method, includes enabling the interactive device to access specified information pertaining to the user. Also, the device is selectively configured for interaction with a user, during a time related to performance of a specified activity. The method further includes using at least some of the specified user information to determine the orientation of the user with respect to a reference position of the surface, at a time related to performance of the specified activity. The method also includes performing a task, wherein performance of the task is related to the determined user orientation. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100076802 | Autonomously Rescheduling Appointments - A method, system, and computer program product for autonomously rescheduling a future meeting in response to receiving a meeting cancellation notice of a previously scheduled meeting. A meeting rescheduling logic (MRL) of a server receives a cancellation of a scheduled meeting of an identified contact. The MRL may select a highest priority meeting from a plurality of meetings that has been flagged with an auto-move-up status. The MRL determines if all attendees of the selected meeting are available to attend the meeting at the open time slot of the identified contact's calendar. Upon determining that all attendees of the selected meeting are available at the open time slot, the MRL reschedules the selected meeting at the open time slot, and notifies all attendees. Additionally, the MRL may cancel a lower priority meeting of the attendees to accommodate moving a higher priority meeting into the open time slot. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100194525 | Securing Premises Using Surfaced-Based Computing Technology - An approach is provided that that uses an electronic multi-touch floor covering that has numerous sensors to identify shapes. The electronic multi-touch floor covering identifies a shape of an object that is in contact with the surface of the electronic multi-touch floor covering. An entity record is then retrieved from a data store, such as a database, with the retrieved entity record corresponding to the identified shape. Actions are then retrieved from a second data store with the actions corresponding to the retrieved entity record. The retrieved actions are then executed by the computer system. | 08-05-2010 |
