The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 12 granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include one relating to Apple’s Final Cut Studio Soundtrack Pro 2 Surround Mixing wheel which covers surround sound mixing, another relating to Apple’s Finder, one that is interconnected with the iPhone’s GPS and finally one relating to iPhone theft detection.
Final Cut Studio: Surround Mixing
Apple’s patent generally relates to audio signal mixing techniques and, more specifically, to a technique for mixing multiple input channel signals, based on locations of indicators in a GUI, to generate multiple output channel signals. Specifically, the patent covers “Surround Mixing” which could be found in Final Cut Studio.
Apple’s patent states that “At some time after the multiple channel signals have been recorded, one might want to mix the multiple channel signals into an even greater number of output channel signals. For example, one might wish to take two input channel signals and mix them into four output channel signals to produce more of a “surround sound” effect.” The surround mixing tool can be found in Final Cut Studio as shown above – and in patent FIG. 1 below.
Apple credits William George Stewart (Cupertino, CA) and Michael Stephen Hopkins (Mountain View, CA) as the inventors of granted patent 7,549,123 for “Mixing input channel signals to generate output channel signals,” originally filed in June 2005.
Apple Finder Feature
Apple’s patent generally relates to computer systems with graphical user interfaces, such as window based systems; and more particularly to techniques for finding, moving, and copying objects in such systems. Specifically, the patent relates to Apple’s Finder’s spring loaded folders.
A new behavior of the graphical user interface has been provided which allows a user to open and close enclosures, such as folders in the Macintosh Finder environment, while dragging some other object. When the user pauses, gestures, or rolls over a hot spot on the object during the drag, a temporary window corresponding to that object is opened on top of the cursor. This allows the user to browse inside the enclosure and possibly open a hierarchy of enclosures contained within the newly opened window during the drag operation. The user thus has access to the entire storage system hierarchy during a drag operation. By using the spring loaded enclosure mechanism, the user is left free to browse while dragging, rather than being forced to set up source and destination windows before a drag begins. This greatly improves the basic copy and move functions provided by the graphical user interfaces based on windows and icons.
In FIGS. 14A-B, enclosure icon 1400 and a dragged icon 1401 are shown. The enclosure icon 1400 has a hot region, or temporary window open region, 1402 and a main box 1404. If the cursor is moved into the hot region 1402, as illustrated in FIG. 14B, then the sprung open enclosure will be open. If the cursor does not hit the hot region 1402, then no action occurs. If the mouse button is released over the main box 1404, then the dragged object goes inside the enclosure.
Apple credits Thomas J. Conrad (San Jose, CA) and Yin Yin Wong (Menlo Park, CA) as the inventors of patent 7,549,126 for “Computer system with graphical user interface including spring-loaded enclosures,” originally filed in July 2005.
Method of Controlling Movement of a Cursor on a Screen and a Computer Readable Medium Containing such a Method as a Program Code
Apple’s patent generally relates to a method of controlling movement of a cursor on a screen and a computer readable medium containing such a method as a program code. In particular, but not limited thereto, the present invention relates to a method implemented by a computer program for controlling movement of a cursor on a screen which is being used to display graphical data.
Other variations of the computer system can be envisaged. For example, the technology could be used in a specific application such as a GPS system in a car which may not include a keyboard or mouse but rather input buttons and menus on the screen. This patent could have played a part in Apple’s new Maps + Compass application demonstrated advanced GPS during last week’s WWDC.
Apple credits Gerhard Lengeling (Hamburg, DE) and Chris Adam (Norderstedt, DE) as the inventors of granted patent 7,549,131, originally filed in December 2002.
Other Granted Patents Issued Today:
Acceleration-based Theft Detection System for Portable Electronic Devices Apple’s patent generally relates to portable electronic devices. More specifically, this invention relates to theft detection systems for portable electronic devices – like the iPhone. Reference number: 7,548,161. Another security feature was introduced at WWDC 2009 which covers “Locate your iPhone on a map.”
Adaptive context sensitive analysis: Apple’s patent generally relates to the conversion of phonetic characters to written text and more particularly to converting words that are pronounced the same but written differently. Specifically, the patent relates to the Japanese written language of Kanji. Reference number: 7,548,863
Functional DMA performing operation on DMA data and writing result of operation: Apple’s patent generally relates to the field of integrated circuits and, more particularly, to direct memory access (DMA) in systems comprising one or more integrated circuits. Reference number: 7,548,997
Object selection using hit test tracks: Apple’s patent generally relates to methods for selecting objects from a moving image sequence of digitized or synthesized images, and more particularly, to a technique for storing auxiliary data in an item buffer, along with a video track, so as to precisely identify objects which can be selected from within each frame of the video track. Reference number: 7,549,122
Method and apparatus for image blending Apple’s patent generally relates to data processing systems using vector processing and Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) architecture, more particularly to image blending. Reference number: 7,548,248
Generation and use of masks in MPEG video encoding to indicate non-zero entries in transformed macroblocks Apple’s patent generally relates to video encoding. More specifically, the invention relates to use of a non-traditional Zig-Zag Transform for Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video encoding. Reference number: 7,548,583
Using order value for computing motion vector Apple’s patent generally relates to the field of multimedia compression systems. In particular the present invention discloses methods and systems for specifying variable accuracy inter-picture timing. Reference number: 7,548,584
Producing smooth motion compensated frames by combining multiple interpolation results Apple’s patent generally relates to video frame interpolation, and more specifically to combining results of multiple motion compensated interpolations in order to produce smooth motion in interpolated frames. Reference number: 7,548,664
And lastly, Apple was granted a patent for “Simulation of string vibration” (7,548,837).
NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or Issued Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application and/or Issued Patent should be read in its entirety for further details. For additional information on any granted patent noted above, simply feed the individual patent number(s) into this search engine.
Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor
The attendees of this year’s WWDC were abuzz over some of the new iPhone 3G-S features that Apple’s Worldwide Product Marketing VP Phil Schiller introduced during his keynote. They were especially impressed with Apple’s new 3 megapixel autofocus functions along with on-iPhone video editing and Voice Controls. Brian Tong reporting for CNET TV captured the excitement over these particular features this way: “This will feature the touted 3 megapixel camera. It will be able to take photos a lot better. But it has this cool touch focus interface where you touch on an item – the camera and the software knows where to focus so they had house in the background and a flower in the foreground that they the used as example… Also you’re going to be able to get video capture – everyone’s been waiting for this. But the real slick-part about this is the fact that you can actually trim and edit your video clips and then upload them to YouTube, MobileMe or other services. Also some other features that were rumored – was voice control – so that you could actually talk by holding down the home button of your iPhone or iPod touch. It will actually enable you to “controool” your music collection or control it to call people. That was some really cool stuff” This WWDC 2009 Bonus report will show you that these cool features were borne from patents prior to the conference.
Groundbreaking Voice Control
Weeks prior to Apple’s developer conference a key patent report broke the news that Apple was Secretly Adding Voice Command Technology into Apple TV. The patent was credited to Apple’s leading Spoken Language Group engineer Jerome R. Bellegarda. In an effort to stay under the radar of the public eye, Apple’s name was omitted from the credits. But those of us in the know are well aware of Bellegarda’s groundbreaking research and development in this field on behalf of Apple. Apple’s release of this technology into its award-winning iPhone last week – has, without a doubt, poked the air out of Microsoft’s hot-air marketing balloon regarding voice control coming to Project Natal – sometime in 2010.
Additionally, a more detailed patent report titled “Apple Patent Reveals Voice Commands Coming to iPod, iPhone & Apple TV” covers voice commands eventually moving up into other iPhone functions regarding calendar meeting reminder notifications, incoming calls, voicemail, camera and yes, Apple TV. Apple is wise to focus and limit their introduction of voice command technology initially to iPhone-calling and iTunes music functions. It will allow iPhone 3G-S customers time to get familiar with these advanced functions while giving Apple engineers time to work out any of the preliminary foibles that might pop-up over the summer. Then they could begin to crank out a growing list of voice command functions as have been noted above.
Looking back to 2006, prior to Apple even unveiling their revolutionary mobile phone, one of our patent reports keenly pointed to a newly granted patent regarding voice commands and stated the following: “Being that the granted patent discusses the use of this system in relation to a user calling up a document, licence, memo and/or a producer’s agreement, it’s apparent that this patent could easily apply to a future iPhone.” Reporting and forecasting patent technologies accurately, allows our readership the ability to enjoy the roll out of new products even more. For patent sleuths wanting to review this particular patent in detail could do so by simply entering Apple’s patent number 7,127,394 into this search engine.
Groundbreaking Video Editing
The next coolest feature that is now available on the new iPhone 3G-S is their jaw dropping real-time video editor. This groundbreaking technology was first revealed to us in a 2008 Apple patent titled “Gestures for controlling, manipulating, and editing of media files using touch sensitive devices”
Right out of the gate in Apple’s patent abstract, they stated that “Specifically, gestural inputs of a human hand over a touch/proximity sensitive device can be used to control, edit, and manipulate files, such as media files including without limitation graphical files, photo files and video files.” Furthermore, in a report filed covering this patent, I pointed to a particular patent figure that covered Apple’s editing capabilities on a camera and noted that “While this may indicate a future Apple camera, it’s likely that the concept is meant to work with the camera on the iPhone.” Even Apple’s still camera autofocusing feature is generically covered in this patent. I say generically because Apple’s autofocus is a marketing trademark and therefore wouldn’t be discussed. Instead, the raw terminology used in the patent describes all-manner of zooming functions. The reference to zoom can be found listed 48 times in this patent. The zoom-in and zoom-out functions were covered in Phil Schiller’s keynote with the example of the “House and Flower.” A simple touch on the display on one of these objects would alter the view of the photo. It was a simple yet powerful visual.
What’s the Next Great Thing?
Just as we saw with the roll out of Apple’s 2006 patents being the precursor to the great 2007 iPhone – or even last week’s new iPhone 3G-S features being foretold in 2008 patents – Apple will continue to provide us with real insights, real facts and some really exciting concepts pointing us towards the next great thing. Every week MacNN’s patent blog is proud to present you with the very best patent news coverage to keep the excitement burning. And if the patent-pattern of the last two years is any indication – then we may be in store for Apple’s response to the emerging “smartbook.” Not because the rumor mill dreams of such – but because the facts bear that out. Stay tuned for a special report on this subject in the coming weeks – and stay connected year-round with our patent blog.
To Apple’s engineering teams and their greater developer community at large: Thanks for the great show and may I extend a hearty – Cheers!
Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor
On June 11, 2009, the US Patent & Trademark Office published an Apple patent generally relating to a method and system for prolonging emergency calls on the iPhone. The patent also details how an emergency phone call is made more difficult to disconnect by accident, how it preserves battery life by disabling non-essential hardware components – and how emergency mode enables emergency-phrase buttons on the iPhone that could easily communicate with an emergency operator your location (supported by GPS), a specific condition and/or the fact that you’re unable to speak due to your emergency condition.
The iPhone’s Emergency-Mode Processor
In Apple’s patent FIG.1 we see a schematic of the iPhone’s communication subsystem architecture (104) which includes an emergency-mode processor to process emergency calls. Once an emergency call is initiated, the iPhone’s emergency mode mechanisms kick in to prolong the length of the emergency call and avert premature termination.
Preserves Battery Life by Disabling Components
The iPhone’s emergency-mode processor may also preserve battery power by disabling non-essential hardware components, reducing power to the touch screen, disabling software applications, and/or reducing processor speeds. A non-essential hardware component may correspond to any hardware component that is not necessary for the emergency call to be conducted. For example, non-essential hardware components may include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transceivers, secondary I/O devices, and/or camera sensors. However, hardware components that may be helpful in emergency situations, such as a GPS transceiver, may continue to be active in emergency mode.
Preventing Emergency Call Disconnect
To prevent an inadvertent end to the emergency call, the emergency-mode processor may make the emergency call harder to disconnect. For example, if the user presses a button to disconnect an emergency call, the emergency-mode processor may query the user for confirmation before disconnecting the call. The confirmation may be in the form of a button, a code or password, a verbal acknowledgement, and/or other input by the user. The emergency-mode processor may even disable the user’s ability to disconnect the call. As a result, the call may only be disconnected by someone (e.g., an emergency operator) on the other end of the emergency call. Further, the user may select settings to specify the level of difficulty and the methods of disconnecting emergency calls. The user may also select settings for each individual emergency number. For example, the user may disable the ability to disconnect a 911 call while activating a disconnect confirmation in other emergency calls.
Enabling Emergency Phrase Buttons
The iPhone’s emergency-mode processor may also enable emergency phrase buttons to shown on the display. In one example, the emergency phrase buttons are used by the user to communicate that they’re unable to speak. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the emergency phrase buttons allow preset and/or pre-recorded audio clips of phrases to be played in the emergency call. Certain phrases may be included with the iPhone and/or specified by the user. In addition, the phrases may be stored as audio files on the iPhone or generated in real-time using the iPhone’s speech synthesizer. For example, if the user is choking, the user may press an emergency phrase button that states his/her physical condition to a 911 operator. For example, a preset or prerecorded message could clearly communicate that the user has asthma and contain additional information about effective treatments specific to the user. See FIG. 2C below.
The user may also press buttons to communicate other information, such as his/her location (via GPS), and/or request the 911 operator to contact a friend and/or family member.
The numbers stored in the emergency number list may include, for example, police stations, fire stations, medical emergency lines, crisis hotlines, emergency family numbers, and/or work-related numbers.
Alternatively, the user may manually designate a call as an emergency by pressing a button, using a voice command, and/or providing other input upon connecting the call. If the call is an emergency, an emergency mode is activated (operation 308). If the call is a normal call, the emergency mode is not activated and the call is conducted normally.
Apple’s patent FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the process of activating the emergency mode.
Apple lists Michael M Lee (San Jose, CA) as the sole inventor of patent application 20090149153.
Apple’s Emergency Call Warning: Apple’s iPhone Emergency Call webpage makes the following statement:
IMPORTANT: You should not rely on wireless devices for essential communications, such as medical emergencies. Use of any cellular phone to call emergency services may not work in all locations. Emergency numbers and services vary by region, and sometimes an emergency call cannot be placed due to network availability or environmental interference. Some cellular networks may not accept an emergency call from iPhone if it doesn’t have a SIM, if you locked your SIM, or if you haven’t activated your iPhone.
Other Patent Applications Published Today: Five additional patent applications from Apple were published today by the USPTO which include several on the subject of a Liquid-Metal Thermal Interface (20090145802, 20090149021, 20090146294), one on systems and methods for operating multi-level flash cells – multiple NAND flash memory cells specifically (20090147570) – and lastly, a continuation patent on Activity monitoring systems and methods (20090150114) which was covered in Apple’s granted patent as reported by us in March. The patent reveals sensors relating to extreme sports.
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. For additional information on any of today’s listed patent applications, simply feed the patent numbers into this search engine.
Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor
On May 28, 2009 or eleven days prior to Apple’s unveiling of their next generation iPhones, Apple sought short and indefinite confidential treatment for documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission. In the first term, Apple requested that certain documents be withheld from the public for a short term of forty-five days. These documents included Test Setup Photographs, External Photographs, Internal Photo graphs and the iPhone’s User Manual. In the second term, Apple requested Permanent Confidentiality for five distinct documents pertaining to the iPhone which included a Block Diagram, Operational Description, a Radio Schematic, Radio Bill of Material and Antenna and Patterns. According to Apple, the said documents reveal detailed technical and design information that is protected by Apple as confidential and proprietary trade secrets. The public documents posted by the FCC on June 8, reflect Apple’s request for confidentiality. Below is a full copy of Apple’s formal request.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of seven newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include one relating to a design win for Apple’s second generation iPod nano, another for Dashboard, Apple’s OS X feature for hosting widgets and an iPhone related patent titled “Multimedia data transfer for a personal communication device.” Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs appears in the credits of two patents, notably one for the iPod nano and one for presentation software, likely Keynote, titled “Dynamic guides.”
Second Generation iPod nano Design Win
Apple has been granted a design win for their second generation iPod nano which debuted in September 2006. This is also the date of their original patent filing. Apple credits CEO Steve Jobs, Senior Design VP Jonathan Ives and the following engineers as the inventors of design patent D593, 994:
Andre; Bartley K. (Menlo Park, CA), Coster; Daniel J. (San Francisco, CA), De Iuliis; Daniele (San Francisco, CA), Howarth; Richard P. (San Francisco, CA), Ive; Jonathan P. (San Francisco, CA), Jobs; Steve (San Francisco, CA), Kerr; Duncan Robert (San Francisco, CA), Nishibori; Shin (San Francisco, CA), Rohrbach; Matthew Dean (San Francisco, CA), Satzger; Douglas B. (Menlo Park, CA), Seid; Calvin Q. (Palo Alto, CA), Stringer; Christopher J. (Portola Valley, CA), Whang; Eugene Antony (San Francisco, CA) and Zorkendorfer; Rico (San Francisco, CA)
OS X Dashboard
Apple has been granted a patent for their OS X feature known as Dashboard. Dashboard is an application used for hosting mini-applications known as widgets. First introduced in Tiger, it is a semi-transparent layer that is invisible to the user unless activated by clicking its icon in the Dock.
Alternatively, the user can invoke Dashboard by moving the cursor into a preassigned hot corner, or by pressing a hot key, both of which can be set to the user’s preference.
Apple’s patent FIG. 5B shows a document user interface 500a for editing the back side of a user interface element, or widget 303, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Like the front side document user interface 500A, the back side document user interface 500B includes a user interface element display area 505, a contents area 510, and a library area 515.
Apple credits John O. Louch (San Luis Obispo, CA), Andrew M. Grignon (Campbell, CA), Timothy Wayne Bumgarner (Sharpsburg, MD), Eric Steven Peyton (Lisle, IL) and Max Drukman (San Francisco, CA) as the inventors of Issued Patent 7,546,543 titled “Widget authoring and editing environment,” originally filed in June 2005.
Other Granted Patents Issued Today: An iPhone related patent titled “Multimedia data transfer for a personal communication device” (7,546,083); Another granted patent which credits Steve Jobs as one of the inventors titled “Dynamic guides.” This particular patent generally relates to document processing and particularly to the creation and editing of objects in documents, presentation software, graphical user interface (GUI) development tools, drafting and drawing applications, various other single-media and multimedia creation/editing tools using a dynamic guide (7,545,392). Lastly there are three other patents respectfully titled “Method and apparatus for creating multimedia presentations” (7,546,544), “Method and apparatus for digital image manipulation to remove image blemishes” (7,545,994) and “Electrical connector with flexible interconnect” (7,544,066).
NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or Issued Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application and/or Issued Patent should be read in its entirety for further details. For additional information on any granted patent noted above, simply feed the patent number(s) into this search engine.
Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor
On June 4, 2009, the US Patent & Trademark Office published yet another interesting patent of Apple’s that generally relates to methods and apparatus for providing holes through housing components and other external surfaces of electronic devices. While that may sound like a yawner, the patent actually shows us how it will improve the aesthetics of many an Apple product in the future. The one that Apple emphasizes in this most recent patent, however, is none other than their yet unreleased Unibody iPod Classic that was first revealed in April – with an illuminating twist or two along the way of course. While the main focus of the patent is on enhancing the aesthetics of future iPods and other devices, the flipside is all about providing function. The first and most prominent feature that will be of immediate value to future iPod owners is it’s almost invisible microphone that will appear as a series of microscopic holes in the unibody chassis that Apple claims “may be invisible to a user’s naked eye.” In fact, Apple uses the term “invisible hole.”
The Illuminating iPod with Hidden Microphone
Apple’s patent FIG. 1 is a top, front, right perspective view of a Unibody iPod Classic or next generation iPod. Figure 5 is a top elevational view of a future iteration scroll wheel that illustrates micro holes supporting backlighting effects such as shown here in the form of arrows and the illuminated word “menu.”
The lights could also be used to represent Apple’s logo and/or any logo, icon, number, letter, figure, symbol and words representing functions such as pause, play, stop, fast forward, reverse and so forth.
The microphone, for the sake of a visual, is shown above in FIG.1 as patent point 650. Some of these holes will be considered invisible holes. Patent point 650 also covers audio speakers, according to the patent. Let’s hope that we could finally get a little better sound out of an iPod touch or iPhone speaker.
The patent also briefly covers ambient light sensing (“ALS”) – which are designed to control the brightness of LED-back-lighted LCD displays, like those in Apple’s MacBooks or iPods.
Additionally, the patent likewise briefly covers infra-red light (“IR”) – which is associated with an antenna, proximity detector, motion detector and other suitable I/O. Infrared is the most common way for remote controls to command appliances – so this likely covers Apple’s Remote as well.
Apple lists Douglas Joseph Weber (Arcadia, CA) as the sole inventor of patent application 20090141459.
Side Note: Apple’s Attention to Detail Never Ceases to Amaze Me
Okay. Sometimes reading a patent could make your head spin. This is one of them for me. Apple never shuts up about holes. Holes that are tiny, no tinier – and even so tiny that they sit in the middle of other tiny holes that Apple admits are so tiny that they may be imperceptible or invisible to the unaided human eye. Apple actually calls these holes “invisible holes.” Apple’s attention to detail is magnified in this patent and it’s evident that Apple is the champion of microscopic holes. Hell, let it be known that I even fell into one of their invisible holes while reading this patent. Ha!
For more information on Apple’s fanatical attention to detail in respect to notebooks, see their Re-Everythinged video.
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. For more information on today’s patent application 20090141459, simply feed the patent number into this search engine. Just beware of the holes!
Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor
On June 4, 2009, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for Apple’s iPhone. Apple reveals that rich two way communications will be included in a future iteration of the iPhone that will allow users to finally transmit and/or share a selected tune, a video of your own or perhaps one from YouTube, a voicemail, podcast, photo and/or document to each other, all in real-time. Apple also clarifies that the iPhone will offer ichat (videoconferencing) and yet leaves the door open for other communication devices; perhaps a future iteration of Apple TV or future smartbook – or should I say iBook. That would be an interesting development, especially for enterprise users. Yet in another striking twist, this patent reveals that an iteration of an iPhone could provide enterprise users with the ability to use the iPhone as a mini projector. But it could likewise be a blast just between friends as you’ll discover.
Pico Projector Capabilities Built-in to iPhone or iPod touch
Buried in the finer details of the patent, Apple reveals indirectly that it will include a pico projector into a future iteration of the iPhone – or perhaps even the iPod touch. See the dual distinction that Apple makes for patent point 204 noted as display in figure 2 above. “For example, display 204 may include a screen (e.g., an LCD screen) that is incorporated in communications device 200. As another example, display 204 may include a movable display or a projecting system for providing a display of content on a surface remote from communications device 200 (e.g., a video projector).
To give you an idea of just how cool a pico projector is and how a pico projector works, you could view this YouTube video. You’ll note that it is intimated (at the 1:50 mark of the video) that an embedded version of a pico projector could be designed for devices like the iPod. The company rep is holding an iPod when he makes that very point. And a video for the young at heart will show you how you could have a blast watching music videos on your ceiling or elsewhere. The possibilities of this feature are endless for work and play.
Futuristic Two-Way Communications
Apple’s futuristic two-way communication capabilities that were outlined for the iPhone in our introduction are given a face of operation in patent figures 4-7 below. Here, we begin to see the self-evident options available to us in button form.
Transmit consecutively or simultaneously more than one media item: In some embodiments, the user may choose to transmit consecutively or simultaneously more than one media item of one or more media types. For example, the user may transmit a video to a recipient during a communications operation and may thereafter or simultaneously transmit a song during the same communications operation, in each instance selecting the media item after first selecting the appropriate media type. Cancel: If the user desires to cancel a selection of a particular media type in favor of a different media type, then the user may select Cancel option 690 and return to display screen 500 to select another media type.
Apple’s patent FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a display screen for viewing selectable media item options during your phone call.
Split Screen Mobile iChat: Video Conferencing
In patent point 61 we learn of Mobile iChat or video conferencing: “A split-screen approach may also be employed by display screen 700 if the user is conducting a video-based communications operation, such as a video conference.” Screen 700 is shown below, but there isn’t an illustration showing us how the split screen would appear. And – you have to wonder if the camera is hidden beneath the surface of the iPhone because the camera is not presented on any patent figure. Sounds a little “out there,” but you never know with Apple’s great industrial design team.
As a minor random point, it should be noted that Apple’s patent point 28 qualifies some of the media involved with sharing as being QuickTime, MobileMusic.app, or MobileVideo.app. MobileMusic.app is associated with Shazam and available on BlackBerry, iPod/iPhone, Android and others. Apple also mentions BlackBerry in patent points 18 and 19 and in this minor statement: It “may support protocols used by wireless and cellular phones and personal email devices (e.g., a Blackberry).” Yes, it’s quasi generic patent talk but referred to enough to make you wonder if these two smartphone giants will collaborate with each other in minor ways. Anyways, it’s worth noting.
Apple lists Jeffrey J Terlizzi as the sole inventor of this patent application.
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. For more information on today’s patent application, simply feed patent number 20090143007 into this search engine.
Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor
On June 4, 2009, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals various concepts behind a newly advanced multi-touch scroll-wheel in development. Apple’s current iPod Classic uses a single-point contact Click-Wheel which severely limits the types of applications that could be controlled on this iPod. Today’s patent advances a new concept of multi-touch instructions that could go beyond circular motions to that of a wide range of input. Different regions of sensor elements can aid in sensing gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel. For example, linear motion, such as a swipe across the scroll wheel, would support an app like Cover Flow. Multitouch input would also enable zooming applications that could be used with an iLife app like iPhoto or an iWork app like pages or better yet, keynote. Apple introduces us to “Gesture mode” that will activate these advanced features. Lastly, if Apple’s FIG.1 noted above is to be taken at face value, then it would indicate that the iPod Classic could be getting a much larger display and smarter scroll wheel. Considering the apps it will be able to run, it stands to reason. Whether this pops up during Apple’s WWDC next week is unknown – but it’s not that much of a stretch. Traditionally however, patents don’t always translate to market that quickly. We could hope though.
Zooming Function
In Apple’s patent FIGS. 16 and 17 we see that the scroll wheel is used to control a zooming feature or function. To enable this function, the user has to go to the menu to change “legacy wheel mode” to that of “gesture mode.” Gesture mode will be used in conjunction with iLife, iWork or other applications suitable for the iPod. If the larger display for an iPod Classic materializes, then you’d also be able to use your iPod at home or in any WiFi area to surf the net with Safari.
Swipe Function, List Navigation
In Apple’s patent FIG. 15, the scroll-wheel 1510 can detect a linear input gesture to enable the iPod to provide list navigation. In a portrait orientation, the iPod could display a list of items on its display screen. When it detects a vertical swipe in an up-to-down direction, the iPod could scroll the list in a downward direction in response to the applied input.
New Possible iPod Classic Apps
Today’s patent discusses various apps that would support a multi-touch scroll wheel based iPod Classic but doesn’t illustrate them. They do however point to other related patents for such. Below is one of the examples that could apply.
Apple lists the following engineers as the inventors of patent application 20090141046: Rathnam; Lakshman; (Cupertino, CA) ; Bokma; Louis; (Cupertino, CA) ; Rothkopf; Fletcher; (Cupertino, CA) ; Mucignat; Andrea; (Cupertino, CA) ; Kocalar; Erturk; (Cupertino, CA) ; Lyon; Benjamin; (Cupertino, CA) and Fisher; Joseph; (Cupertino, CA). A great number of new engineers are listed here.
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. For more information on today’s patent application simply feed the patent number into this search engine.
Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of nine newly Issued Patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include one relating to a design win for Apple’s iPod Classic along with two additional patents that detail both anti-shock and freefall protections for portables such as Apple’s iPod and iPhone line-ups. Apple’s freefall patent also extends to protect other devices such as a stand-alone camera, onboard vehicular computers and in a related patent not published today, a possible two-handed gaming tablet.
Apple Granted iPod Classic Design Patent
Apple has been granted a design patent for an “Electronic device” which is generally understood to be the iPod Classic, as the illustrations confirm.
Apple credits the following engineers and CEO Steve Jobs for the iPod Classic Design: Andre; Bartley K. (Menlo Park, CA), Coster; Daniel J. (San Francisco, CA), De Iuliis; Daniele (San Francisco, CA), Howarth; Richard P. (San Francisco, CA), Ive; Jonathan P. (San Francisco, CA), Jobs; Steve (San Francisco, CA), Kerr; Duncan Robert (San Francisco, CA), Nishibori; Shin (San Francisco, CA), Rohrbach; Matthew Dean (San Francisco, CA), Satzger; Douglas B. (Menlo Park, CA), Seid; Calvin Q. (Palo Alto, CA), Stringer; Christopher J. (Portola Valley, CA) and Whang; Eugene Antony (San Francisco, CA). Apple’s granted patent D593,536 was originally filed in October 2008.
Method and apparatus for detecting free fall Patent
Apple has been granted a patent that generally relates to data storage devices, such as hard disc drive assemblies and data processing systems. In particular, the invention relates to data storage devices that are subject to free fall or other changes in acceleration, for example, storage devices used in portable computers, cameras, onboard vehicular computers, and similar electronic devices. `Free fall` produces a change in the force, i.e. acceleration, of gravity as perceived in the frame of reference in which the data storage device is at rest.
Apple’s patent FIG. 1 is an exemplary view of a data processing system in free fall. As shown, the data processing system contains a hard disc operatively coupled to a read/write head. An embodiment of the present invention has sensed free fall and safely parked the actuator and magnetic head prior to impact. Apple’s patent FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating how system electronics within a data processing system can monitor an embodiment of the present invention and command a data storage device, such as a hard disc drive, to park an actuator and magnetic head when a state of free fall is detected.
Apple Paul James Wehrenberg (Palo Alto, CA) as the sole inventor of granted patent 7,541,551 which was filed in March 2008 though it was a continuation of patents dating back to several dates including 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
It should be noted that Paul J. Wehrenberg’s expertise in this field has also been instrumental in another Apple patent titled “Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer:” A patent which reveals a two-handed style gaming tablet that Apple’s labs have been working on since 2004. Additional information on that patent will be revealed in the days ahead.
Mounted Shock Sensor Patent
Apple’s newly granted patent for a mounted shock sensor is for an application that applies to Apple’s handheld devices such as the iPod and iPhone. The shock sensor includes both active and passive shock detection methods that allow a technician to determine whether the electronic device was subjected to a shock event that exceeded an impact threshold level. The shock sensor may include shock detection contacts that form an electrical circuit that remains open in the absence of a shock event that exceeds an impact threshold level.
Apple’s portable devices are designed for the active digital lifestyle and therefore require protective technologies such as shock sensors and freefall detection – especially if the user is going to “Rock the Gym” with Nike + iPod.
Apple’s patent FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an illustrative shock sensor system that includes both active and passive attributes in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, while patent FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an illustrative device in which a shock sensor is implemented.
Apple credits both Stephen P. Zadesky (Portola Valley, CA) and Fletcher R. Rothkopf (Mountain View, CA) as the inventors of granted patent 7,541,939. The patent was originally filed for in March 2007.
Other Granted Patents Issued Today
Apple was granted additional patents today which included the following: a Board connector (7,540,742); Method and system for operating a portable electronic device in a power-limited manner (7,541,776); Universal Serial Bus plug and socket coupling arrangements (7,540,754); Backward compatible connector system (7,540,788); Quiet fan speed control (7,541,698) and Robust temporal dithering and filtering (7,542,620).
Menlo Trademark Follow-up: Apple’s trademark for Menlo was published yesterday in Europe and today, the USPTO has published the US application for same, under application 77745991. Nothing new was added to the US filing.
NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or Issued Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application and/or Issued Patent should be read in its entirety for further details. For additional information on any granted patent noted above, simply feed the patent number(s) into this search engine.
Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor
Menlo Park is an affluent city in San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It’s also home to an Apple Store location in New Jersey. And yet on this day, we find it to be the subject of Apple’s latest trademark filing in Europe. Apple’s Menlo was filed under International Classification 009 – which technically represents “Electrical and scientific apparatus.” A classification which covers deep subject matter such as scientific, nautical, electric, photographic, cinematographic and optical, amongst other things, which could get one thinking about advanced optical technology in relation to communications and it’s link to the iPhone. But instead, Apple has limited class 009 to that of “Typeface fonts recorded on computer software.” Being that we’re closing in on Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference, perhaps Apple’s developers will be introduced to Menlo at that time.
Apple asserts a claim of priority based on Trinidad and Tobago application number 40550, filed in late 2008. Apple’s European application 008328461 was filed in London England by Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK, LLP.
NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents and/or trademarks 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 and/or trademark applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.
Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor
