On April 23, 2009, the USPTO revealed a new patent application from Apple that generally relates to Web Browser Audio Controls . Although the idea is rather simple, the fact is that no one has implemented it yet. Apple wants to provide users with the ability to control volume on the Safari browser – be it on an iMac, MacBook or iPhone. Users will, more importantly, be given the ability to pre-program the browser to automatically play, mute or modify audio on specific URLs. For instance, I like to check out financial news on CNN but hate the video that automatically plays when that site is opened. With Apple’s invention, I’d be able to preset that URL to mute so that I never have to hear that unwanted video again or simply play it at a very low volume. Apple’s upgraded Safari browser will come with a mute button and a volume control slider that will be positioned within the search bar itself, as shown below.

Apple’s patent FIG. 3 shown below, illustrates an example data structure 300 for storing audio control settings associated with identifiers (e.g., URLs) for audio sources. In the example shown, the data structure includes a column 302 for storing identifiers (e.g., URLs, domain names, and unique numbers), a column 304 for storing mute control states and a column 306 for storing volume levels.

Today’s patent application 20090106657 was invented by Apple’s Imran A. Chaudhri (San Francisco, CA). Feed the patent number noted above into this search engine.

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Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor.