Thomas D Dougherty

US Patent:

6439459, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Nov 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/721032

Inventors:

Thomas J. Dougherty - Los Altos CA
S. Joy Mountford - Mountain View CA
Jesse L. Dorogusker - Menlo Park CA
James H. Boyden - Los Altos Hills CA
Philip A. van Allen - San Francisco CA
Daniel E. Cummings - San Francisco CA
Brygg A. Ullmer - Cambridge MA

Assignee:

Interval Research Corporation - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546201, 235375

Abstract:

The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book, magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user.

US Patent:

6518950, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Oct 7, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/946327

Inventors:

Thomas J. Dougherty - Los Altos CA
S. Joy Mountford - Mountain View CA
Jesse L. Dorogusker - Menlo Park CA
James H. Boyden - Los Altos Hills CA
Brygg A. Ullmer - Cambridge CA

Assignee:

Interval Research Corporation - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

345156, 23546201, 23546203, 23546204, 23546208, 235375

Abstract:

The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book, magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user.

US Patent:

6540141, Apr 1, 2003

Filed:

Jun 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/177738

Inventors:

Thomas J. Dougherty - Los Altos CA
S. Joy Mountford - Mountain View CA
Jesse L. Dorogusker - Menlo Park CA
James H. Boyden - Los Altos Hills CA
Philip A. van Allen - San Francisco CA
Daniel E. Cummings - San Francisco CA
Brygg A. Ullmer - Cambridge MA

Assignee:

Interval Research Corporation - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546201, 235494

Abstract:

The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having a certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user.

US Patent:

6587859, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Apr 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/841796

Inventors:

Thomas J. Dougherty - Los Altos CA
S. Joy Mountford - Mountain View CA
Daniel Cummings - San Francisco CA
Allison De Fren - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Interval Research Corporation - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06C 1730

US Classification:

7071041, 235375, 358504

Abstract:

The present invention improves the human/computer interface by providing printable interfaces that enable a user to invoke and control computer processes. The present invention teaches an encoded physical medium suitable for use in interfacing a computer user and a computer system such that the user can control and/or access a plurality of computer implemented processes such computer applications and web pages. The encoded physical medium has a Linkmark and an instruction mark. Encoded within the Linkmark is machine readable linking information directing to a computer implemented process. Encoded within the instruction mark is a machine readable operating instruction that, when decoded, may be executed by the computer implemented process. The present invention also teaches that the marks can present human readable information related to the nature of the machine readable information stored therein. For example, the Linkmark may have graphical illustrations indicating content found at the web page, media format of the content, user designation, payment and membership requirements, communication speed, duration of content, etc.

US Patent:

6989816, Jan 24, 2006

Filed:

Oct 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/268117

Inventors:

Thomas J. Dougherty - Los Altos CA, US
S. Joy Mountford - Mountain View CA, US
Jesse L. Dorogusker - Menlo Park CA, US
James H. Boyden - Los Altos Hills CA, US

Assignee:

Vulcan Patents LLC - Seattle WA

International Classification:

G06K 7/10
G06K 19/06
G06K 15/00
G06K 17/00

US Classification:

345156, 23546201, 23546203, 23546204, 23546208, 235375

Abstract:

Providing interaction between a user with remote data stored on a network is disclosed. A physical medium has at least one hot spot encoded with linking data enabling access to remote data. The linking data is encoded according to a spectral encoding scheme. At least part of the linking data is visible and is blended with and appears to comprise at least part of an un-encoded graphic or text visible on the physical medium such that it is not apparent to a viewer of the physical medium that said linking data is encoded in said at least one hot spot. A sensor measures the hot spot and decodes the linking data. A transmitter coupled to the sensor transmits the linking data to a remote computer system. The remote computer system responds to the linking data to retrieve the remote data and present the remote data to the user.

US Patent:

20130226724, Aug 29, 2013

Filed:

Aug 24, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/594148

Inventors:

Andrew C. FELCH - Palo Alto CA, US
Thomas M. DOUGHERTY - New York NY, US

Assignee:

COGNITIVE ELECTRONICS, INC. - Lebanon NH

International Classification:

G06Q 30/08

US Classification:

705 263

Abstract:

An automated auction-based method of determining price to execute one or more candidate programs on a parallel computing system is disclosed. The parallel computing system includes a plurality of computing resources, each having a price per unit of time. For each candidate program, a plurality of executions are performed using different amounts of computing resources. The number of program outputs completed during each execution is measured. A plurality of bids defining a price for completing a desired number of program outputs in a desired amount of time are received. The amount of computing resources required to fulfill each bid is determined. A price per unit of time for the computing resources for each bid is calculated based on the price associated with the bid and the determined amount of computing resources required to fulfill the bids. The bids are fulfilled based on the calculated price per unit of time.

US Patent:

62566385, Jul 3, 2001

Filed:

Apr 14, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/060221

Inventors:

Thomas J. Dougherty - Los Altos CA
S. Joy Mountford - Mountain View CA
Daniel Cummings - San Francisco CA
Allison De Fren - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Interval Research Corporation - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707104

Abstract:

The present invention improves the human/computer interface by providing printable interfaces that enable a user to invoke and control computer processes. The present invention teaches an encoded physical medium suitable for use in interfacing a computer user and a computer system such that the user can control and/or access a plurality of computer implemented processes such computer applications and web pages. The encoded physical medium has a Linkmark and an instruction mark. Encoded within the Linkmark is machine readable linking information directing to a computer implemented process. Encoded within the instruction mark is a machine readable operating instruction that, when decoded, may be executed by the computer implemented process. The present invention also teaches that the marks can present human readable information related to the nature of the machine readable information stored therein. For example, the Linkmark may have graphical illustrations indicating content found at the web page, media format of the content, user designation, payment and membership requirements, communication speed, duration of content, etc.

US Patent:

60767340, Jun 20, 2000

Filed:

Oct 10, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/948891

Inventors:

Thomas J. Dougherty - Los Altos CA
S. Joy Mountford - Mountain View CA
Jesse L. Dorogusker - Menlo Park CA
James H. Boyden - Los Altos Hills CA
Philip A. van Allen - San Francisco CA
Daniel E. Cummings - San Francisco CA
Brygg A. Ullmer - Cambridge MA

Assignee:

Interval Research Corporation - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546201

Abstract:

The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book, magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user.