Apple wins video, notebook patents

Apple today was awarded two patents from the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office relating to advanced video and portable notebooks. One invention, titled "Determining the Number of Unidirectional and Bidirectional Motion Compensated Frames to be Encoded for a Video Sequence and Detecting Scene Cuts in the Video Sequence," details advanced video in television broadcasting as well as internet streaming and teleconferencing in real or post-time. The second patent, titled "Self aligning foot assembly," explains a foot assembly for Apple notebooks that includes a snap as well as a first alignment feature coupled to the base of the laptop.

The video-oriented invention addresses methods for determining the number of unidirectional and bidirectional frames for encoding a video sequence, as well as a method for detecting scene cuts in the video sequence. Apple's new technology relates to various video encoding applications like DVD, digital storage media, TV broadcasting, communication, and more. The technology is also usable with video encoding standards like H.263 and H.264 -- also known as MPEG-4/Part 10.

Filed under: Apple