Six new Apple patents

Apple has been recently granted six new patents, including one for a cup holder-based electronic device accessory as well as an electronic device holder and protective case for the iPod shuffle. According to MacNN's patent blog, the cup holder invention can secure an electronic device, such as an iPod digital music player, and be inserted into a conventional cup holder. One embodiment of the invention includes a spool about which connecting cable can be wound, according to the filing. Users would be able to use the cup-holder in a variety of sizes using adaptive sleeves that fit around the base to adjust to holders of different shapes and sizes. Apple was also granted patents for managing file extensions, triggering system actions based on insertion of CD or other media into a computer, and for for spreading and concentrating information to constant-weight encode data words on a parallel data line bus while allowing communication of information across sub-word paths.

by MacNN Staff