Apple Wins 6 Patents for iPhoto, Speech Recognition, More

On October 30, the US Patent & Trademark Office published six of Apple’s newly granted patents which cover matters such as Apple’s iPhoto application, speech recognition and Apple’s second generation iMac. The six official patent titles published today include Extended finite state grammar for speech recognition systems, Computer controlled display device, Multi-conic gradient generation, Method and apparatus for image acquisition, organization, manipulation, and publication, Method and apparatus for application building using build styles and Reducing the number of power and ground pins required to drive address signals to memory modules .

Patent: Extended Finite State Grammar for Speech Recognition Systems

Apple’s first publilshed patent win of the day generally relates to speech recognition systems and more particularly to using semantic inference with speech recognition systems.

Apple’s Abstract: An extended finite state grammar structure is generated from a finite state grammar. The extended finite state grammar structure includes word subgraphs representing a set of pre-defined word strings for words in the finite state grammar, and a set of all possible word strings for the words. The extended finite state grammar structure can be used to transform audio input into one or more of the word strings.

Apple’s patent FIG. 3 above, is a block diagram illustrating speech recognition in a voice command and control system using semantic inference and a context-free grammar according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Apple’s patent FIG. 4 is a word graph illustrating a context-free grammar according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Apple lists Jerome R. Bellegarda (Los Gatos, CA) and Kim E. A. Silverman (Mountain View, CA) as the inventors of this patent which was first published in 2004. See patent 7,289,950 for full details.

Patent: Computer controlled display device

Apple’s second published patent win of the day generally relates to the flex arm of their second generation iMac.

Apple’s Abstract: A computer-controlled display device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a flat panel display coupled to one end of a moveable assembly. A base containing computer components is coupled to an opposite end of the moveable assembly. Power and data cables linking the flat panel display to one or more of the computer components are positioned within an interior portion of the moveable assembly. In one embodiment, the moveable assembly includes a first arm coupled to a second arm and provides movement in two or more dimensions simultaneously.

Apple lists the following engineers as the inventors of this patent which was first published in 2003. Hillman; Michael D. (Campbell, CA), Tsai; Frank (Huntington Beach, CA), McBroom; Michael D. (Leonard, TX), McBroom; Daniel L. (Leonard, TX), Sudderth; Brian T. (Leonard, TX), Andre; Bartley K. (Menlo Park, CA), Stringer; Christopher (Pacifica, CA), Riccio; Daniel (Los Gatos, CA), Jue; Clifford (Santa Cruz, CA), Mann; Theo (Palo Alto, CA), Yom-Tov; Opher Doron (San Francisco, CA), Fourt; Jesse Arnold (Menlo Park, CA), Tarbell; Ben (East Palo Alto, CA), Lawson; Tony (Alameda, CA). See patent 7,289,315 for full details.

Patent: Multi-Conic Gradient Generation

Apple’s third patent win of the day generally relates to the field of computer graphics processing. Particularly disclosed is a method and system for generating complex gradients using multiple conics in real time.

Apple’s Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique for computing a complex gradient using multiple conics. In connection with a computer system having a graphics processing unit (GPU) in addition to the normal central processing unit (CPU), gradients can be computed in real time. The conics may be rendered and adjusted in a number of ways, providing a rich palette for creation of gradient graphics. The computational efficiency of the algorithms disclosed herein, when executed on typical GPU hardware, allows rendering frame rates high enough to provide animated gradient images.

Apple’s patent FIG. 2 noted above, schematically depicts a single conic gradient along with various parameters used to specify the appearance of the gradient.

Apple lists Mark Zimmer (Aptos, CA) and Ralph Brunner (Cupertino, CA) as the inventors of this patent which was first published in 2005. See patent 7,289,127 for full details.

Patent: Method and Apparatus for Image Acquisition, Organization, Manipulation, and Publication

Apple’s fourth patent win of the day relates to their iPhoto application. In particular the present invention discloses an intuitive system for digital image acquisition, organization, manipulation, and publication.

Apple’s Abstract: To better realize the great potential of amateur digital photography, the present invention introduces an integrated system for the acquisition, organization, manipulation, and publication of digital images by amateur digital photography enthusiasts. The system of the present invention first acquires images from a number of different image sources. Images acquired in the same image importing session are marked as coming from the same conceptual film roll. Next, a user is empowered to organize and manipulate the acquired images. The images may be organized by tagging the images with informative keywords and grouping images together into conceptual photo albums. Furthermore, the images may be manipulated by rotating, cropping, and removing red-eye. Finally, the system of the present invention provides simple intuitive image publish systems. A selected group of images may be published in a photobook, published onto the World Wide Web, or published as individual image prints with minimal computer knowledge on the part of the user.

Apple’s patent FIG. 3 noted above, illustrates one embodiment of the main display screen of the image organization and publishing system of the present invention.
Apple lists Glenn Reid (Woodside, CA), Aaron Disario (San Jose, CA), Tim Wasko (Santa Clara, CA) and Daniel B. Waylonis (Mountain View, CA) as the inventors of this patent which was first published in 2003. See patent 7,289,132 for full details.

Patent: Method and Apparatus for Application Building using Build Styles

Apple’s fifth patent win of the day generally relates to compilers and software development tools. More specifically, the present invention relates to the building of applications and the construction of software code.

Apple’s Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of building a software product in an integrated development environment using several build styles and a target. The method includes (1) determining an order of precedence for the build styles, where each of the build styles comprises a dictionary of build settings; and (2) building a software product by applying at least one of several build styles to the target based upon the order of precedence. In various embodiments of the invention, the build settings within the build styles are capable of referring to other build settings and concatenating new values with previously defined values.

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 noted above, illustrates the concept of build styles utilized in creating multiple software products in an IDE according to at least one embodiment of the invention.

Apple lists Anders Bertelrud (Los Gatos, CA), John Graziano (Redwood City, CA), Mike Ferris (Oakland, CA) and Christian Molick (Menlo Park, CA) as the inventors of this patent which was first published in 2001. See patent 7,290,243 for details.

Patent: Reducing the Number of Power and Ground Pins Required to Drive Address Signals to Memory Modules

Apple’s last patent win of the day generally relates to the design of circuitry within computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reducing the number of pins on semiconductor chips, which are required to communicate address and control signals to memory modules within a computer system.

Apple’s Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that reduces the number of power and ground pins required to drive address signals to system memory. During operation, the system receives address signals associated with a memory operation from a memory controller, wherein the address signals are received at a buffer chip, which is external the memory controller. The system also receives chip select signals associated with the memory operation at the buffer chip. Next, the system uses the chip select signals to identify an active subset of memory modules in the system memory, which are active during the memory operation. The system then uses address drivers on the buffer chip to drive the address signals only to the active subset of memory modules, and not to other memory modules in the system memory. In this way, the buffer chip requires fewer power and ground pins for the address drivers because the address signals are only driven to the active subset of memor, including the ability to foster/cdit image. The invoice is began on LLN about middle-August.

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 noted above, illustrates a computer system including two buffer chips for address, clock and memory control signals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Apple lists William P. Cornelius (Los Gatos, CA) as the sole inventor of this patent which was first published in 2004. See patent 7,289,383 for full details.

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.