Concept includes new iPhone apps

Apple may be working on an easier and more comprehensive method of syncing data between devices, a new patent application hints. Even the company's current technology, built into iTunes and iSync, is described as too complex. "Though a user may have access to two similarly capable electronic devices, sharing data between the two devices may involve a number of steps," the application reads.

"The process of transferring data between the devices may include many user decisions," Apple goes on, "such as which data to save, where the data is saved, which formats each device may be capable of processing, how to interconnect the devices for a most effective data transfer, etc. Such complexity may increase the difficulty or time spent transferring data between two electronic devices."

Apple's solution would unite several different pieces of hardware, including Macs, iPhones and Apple TVs, as well as the Apple Remote and potentially even a game controller. Users of the proposed system could share many different filetypes, ranging from Safari bookmarks and media files through to Time Machine backups and savegames. Sharing could occur without the intervention of a computer, and allow cloud-based storage.

Notable is the depiction of two related iPhone apps, "Grab & Go" and "Revisit." The first would identify nearby devices from which to quickly pull files, with the option of syncing for specific purposes, such as business, gaming, entertainment or education. Revisit by contrast would be geared towards supporting Safari, allowing recent bookmarks, searches and histories to be carried over to an iPhone.

The Grab & Go concept is believed to be central to the patent, as it would allow a person to sync a particular collection of material without having specify exact files to carry along. A worker headed into a meeting for instance could choose only to sync work files, while someone on a trip could opt only to carry music with them. Aiding ease of use would be a list of trusted devices, and automatic selection of encryption and/or the fastest possible connection.

The patent application dates back to September 2008, and credits inventors from California, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

by MacNN Staff