On July 24, the US Patent & Trademark Office published three of Apple’s newly granted patents which are respectfully titled Method and apparatus for automated remote volume mounting using a plug-in installed on a client, System and method for processing graphics operations with graphics processing unit (which is really about Core Imaging), and Apparatus for air cooling of an electronic device . The following is a summary report. .

Method and apparatus for automated remote volume mounting using a plug-in installed on a client

Apple’s Summary of the Invention: The invention is a method and apparatus for remotely and automatically mounting volumes over a network. The invention makes use of an interface, such as a web browser, to connect a client to a server.

Volume mounting parameters are retrieved from generic or specific profiles that are accessed in accordance with a request from the client to the server. The server supplies volume mounting parameters specific to the client via a plug-in installed on the client. The plug-in then interacts, in one or more embodiments of the invention, with an application programming interface and/or system software on the client which automatically mounts the volume(s) in accordance with the supplied parameters.

In at least one embodiment of the invention, the server assembles a mounting command block consisting of retrieved volume mounting parameters and a mount command. Additionally, in some embodiments, the plug-in must first verify as approved the server returning the mounting command block in order for volume mounting to proceed.

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 illustrates remote automated volume mounting according to at least one embodiment of the invention.

More information on this patent could be viewed here. inventor noted on this patent is Mark Zimmer.

Apple’s Core Imaging

Apple’s Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for processing graphic operations on a plurality of data structures of an image with a graphics processing unit and memory. The disclosed techniques of the system and method create an accumulation buffer of the data structures for accumulating changes to the data structures. A separate buffer is then created from at least a portion of the data structures of the accumulation buffer. The disclosed techniques read the data structures from the separate buffer with the graphics processing unit. The graphics processing unit operates on the data structures read from the separate buffer with the operation. Then, the disclosed techniques write the results of the operation onto the portion of the accumulation buffer corresponding to the separate buffer.

Apple’s patent figure provides a description of common computing software architecture as expressed in layer diagrams of FIG. 3, noted above. In this case, Apple states, “we express layers starting with the O/S kernel so we have omitted lower level software and firmware. Our notation is generally intended to imply that software elements shown in a layer use resources from the layers below and provide services to layers above. However, in practice, all components of a particular software element may not behave entirely in that manner.

With those caveats regarding software, referring to FIG. 3 (a), layer 31 is the O/S kernel, which provides core O/S functions in a highly protected environment Above the O/S kernel, there is layer 32 O/S core services, which extend functional services to the layers above such as disk and communications access. Layer 33 is inserted here to show the general relative positioning of the OpenGL library and similar resources. Layer 34 is an amalgamation of functions typically expressed as two layers: applications frameworks and application services. For purposes of our discussion, both these layers provide high-level and often functional support for application programs with reside in the highest layer shown here 35. Item 3100 is intended to show the relative positioning of “Core Imaging,” a software suite and moniker, which provides a vehicle for describing many embodiments of the current invention (when referring to a software suite that comprises some, any or all or the inventive embodiments, we will generally use the term “Core Imaging”).

Referring now to 3 (b), item 101 represents the relative positioning of the Core Imaging suite. It is evident in the diagram 3 (b) that, by comparison to 3 (a), a layer has been added 324 for another graphics function–compositing. It is the compositor’s job to perform window composition and management in a windowing system, like that which is discussed for many embodiments. ”

Apple’s Patent reviews various aspects of Core Image in sub-headers noted as follows:

Trees and Graphs, Core Imaging and the Core Imaging API, Basic functions of a Core Imaging Embodiment, Creating a Context, Creating an Image, Create a Filter, Render an Image to Context, Optimizing, Caching of Intermediary Results, Graph Re-Writing to Reduce or Simplify the Graph, An Embodiment for Combining Two Nodes, Limiting Computation and Storage to the Domain of Definition, Recursive Execution Embodiments, Core Imaging Producing CPU and GPU Code, Emulation: Core Imaging Producing CPU Code, Multiple CPUs, Texture Look Ups and Byte-Coded Virtual Machine.

For those interested in reviewing Apple’s Core Imaging patent, click here. The sole inventor noted on this patent is Mark Zimmer.

Apparatus for air cooling of an electronic device

Apple’s Abstract: An apparatus for air-cooling an electronic device is disclosed. A contoured panel channels a flow of air within the housing of an electronic device so as to channel the flow of air more directly over heat producing elements such as the microprocessor and peripheral cards. A sensor can also be employed to determine whether the panel is present and properly placed. If not, measures can be taken to reduce the heat generated by the heat producing elements. For example, a warning can be displayed, or the microprocessor can be instructed to enter sleep mode.

Air Cooling System

Apple’s patent FIG. 2 illustrates a computer system 110 employing such a contoured panel 10. Shown here is an exploded view illustrating the placement of various components within the housing of the computer system. The computer system contains a number of known components such as fans 120 for cooling, a microprocessor 130 (not seen from this perspective), cooling fins 140 mounted on and configured to cool the microprocessor 130, and peripheral cards 150.

In Apple’s patent FIG. 3 noted below, you’ll see that it illustrates a cross sectional view of the computer system 110 of FIG. 2, more clearly highlighting the two thermal zones 180, 190, and the air flow through each. Recall that the thermal zones, 190 are divided according to the shelf 170, which is placed so as to create separate thermal zones for the microprocessor 130 and peripheral cards 150, as the peripheral cards 150 often generate a different amount of heat than the microprocessor 130, and often can be cooled at different rates. It should be noted, though, that the shelf 170 can be placed at any location within the housing 100 so as to create thermal zones encompassing any combination or permutation of the microprocessor 130, peripheral cards 150, or other heat producing elements or components. For example, additional shelves can be placed above or below the thermal zones 180, 190 so as to further isolate various heat producing elements into separate thermal zones.

In the first thermal zone 180, a fan 120 directs a flow of air (shown by the arrows) past the peripheral cards 150. Often, microprocessors 130 consume more power and thus generate more heat than peripheral cards 150. Consequently, in the second thermal zone 190, two fans 120 direct a flow of air through the cooling fins 140 and over the microprocessor 130. Here, a dual microprocessor 130 configuration is shown containing two processors. Two fans are employed to reflect the extra cooling often required by this configuration. However, any number of cooling fans 120 can be used in any thermal zone. In each thermal zone, air enters and exits through known openings in the front panel 200 and rear panel 210, respectively.

For those interested in reviewing Apple’s Air Cooling System in depth, click here. Apple lists Steven Holmes and Douglas L. Heirich as the inventors of this patent.

NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.

Written and researched by Neo.