Archive for the ‘patent-watch’ category

Facebook integration into iPhone OS – Apple patent watch

May 17th, 2010

Patently Apple discovered a recently published Apple patent detailing an “Add Contact” workflow and “Social Networking” workflow that specifically uses Facebook as it’s main example. Now that does not mean this patent will not work with other social networks, but Facebook is the current king of the mountain and it makes sense considering that it was just last week heard Apple was looking to integrate Facebook into iPhone OS 4.

With the deep integration of social networking sites on various Android-based devices Apple does have some catching up to do. We all know, when Apple takes their time the final product usually tops all other implementations out there. Cut/Copy/Paste ring a bell? Good things come to those who wait.

[Patently Apple]

Facebook integration into iPhone OS – Apple patent watch is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Posted in News, facebook, iphone, os, patent-watch, patents

Apple Developing iGroups Social Networking App for iPhone? — Patent Watch

March 19th, 2010

iGroups for iPhone

According to Patently Apple, Apple is laying the foundations for a potential iGroups app that would allow like-minded iPhone (or iPod touch and iPad users, presumably) to set up MobileMe-powered social networks at events like WWDC (Apple’s yearly World Wide Developers Conference).

The idea is to allow groups of friends or colleagues attending such events as a concert, a tradeshow, business meeting, wedding or rally to stay in communication with each other as a group to share information or reactions to live events as they’re occurring. The technology behind the new iGroup social networking applications works with a very sophisticated cryptographic key generation system to ensure security and privacy of your communications. Interestingly, the patent states that if one of the devices in your group happens to be without true positioning technology, it appears that Apple’s MobileMe service will provide some sort of “virtual GPS” capability to that user so that they could be aware of the locations of others in the group. Apple’s patent provides us with example scenarios of both a concert and WWDC event to clarify the service. This marks Apple’s fourth social networking application made public since the start of 2010 – which clearly indicates that Apple now has this hot new sector in its crosshairs.

As with anything Apple patent-related, whether or not it ever makes its way in front of consumers is anyone’s guess. Still, this looks interesting and given how other companies and devices are embracing the social experience, it’s something Apple has to be paying attention to.

You want?

Apple Developing iGroups Social Networking App for iPhone? — Patent Watch is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Posted in App Store Apps, Development, MobileMe, News, igroups, patent-watch, social networking

Swipe Backward, Forward, Pause, or Play on Your iPhone via Camera Gestures — Apple Patent Watch

February 25th, 2010

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Patently Apple brings another interesting Apple proposal to our attention — this one involving using the iPhone camera to detect swipes backward, forward, and the accelerometer to detect pause or play for things like Voice Mail without having to move the iPhone away from your ear. But that’s not all:

Consider the following example of navigating the display screen. If the user wishes to scroll down on a webpage or text document, then the user would simply move their finger across the camera lens in an upward direction (i.e., towards the top of the screen 200). This would be consistent with moving the page “up” so as to bring a bottom portion of the page into view. To move the page down (and thereby bring a top portion of the page into view), the reverse needs to occur, i.e., the user needs to swipe across the lens in a downward direction. Note that navigation on the display screen (using a finger swipe across the camera lens) need not be limited to straight up and down, but rather could be performed in other or additional directions (e.g. left and right). Now that Apple is introducing “iBook” – think of flipping the page of a book using this method so that you don’t even have to move your hands from the iPhone or future camera based iPad.

So now we’ve heard of case gestures, bevel gestures, and camera gestures… Of course Apple patents tons of stuff we haven’t and may never see in real products, but are any of these starting to interest you?

[Patently Apple via MacRumors]

Swipe Backward, Forward, Pause, or Play on Your iPhone via Camera Gestures — Apple Patent Watch is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Posted in News, camera, gestures, iphone, patent-watch

Near Field Communication, Multipoint Screen, Video Conferencing, Multitouch Bezel — Apple Patent Watch

February 19th, 2010

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Apple patent applications and awards are so voluminous they could fill an entire blog all by themselves — enter Patently Apple, just such a blog, which brings word of several new and interesting iPhone and iPad patents including near field communication, multipoint screen, video conferencing, and multitouch bezels.

Near field communication would allow incredibly simple, incredibly fast data transfer from an iPhone to a MacBook. It also looks like it would allow an iPhone to control a Mac or unlock a door.

Multipoint screen is all about allowing an iPad to detect multiple touches at the same time via a “transparent capacitive sensing medium”.

Video conferencing has been teased for a long — long — time, but now it’s also being looked at in the context of a location aware social network.

The touch sensitive bezel, when added to the previous touch sensitive back casing patent and the current touch sensitive screen would make a fully capacitive iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad! It could also add Palm Pre and Pixi-style gesture areas.

As always, Apple files for and obtains a large amount of patents, and we never know when, if ever, we’ll see them in actual products. That being said, any of these make your want list?

[Thanks to Duvi for the tip!]

Near Field Communication, Multipoint Screen, Video Conferencing, Multitouch Bezel — Apple Patent Watch is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Posted in News, Video Conferencing, ichat video, ipad, iphone, ipod touch, multipoint screen, multitouch bezel, near field communication, patent-watch

Apple Exploring Contacts on the Home Screen… for iPhone 4.0? – Apple Patent Watch

January 15th, 2010

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The Apple patents keep on rolling out and today the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office accepted Apple’s filing for a patent that would allow for contact icons to be placed on the home screen, along with the ability to invoke apps, retrieve and display contacts information, or dynamically display related information all tied to an individual contact.

“The icon can also be used to invoke one or more applications that are personalized to the contact. The icon can be modified to display information related to the contact. In one aspect, an icon associated with an entity can be temporarily displayed on the mobile device based on the proximity of the mobile device to the entity.”

This is pure speculation on our part but it’s possible you will see this patent come to life in the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0. Hopefully when January 27th comes we all will see what is in store for the future of the iPhone OS.

Now please excuse me while I go add a few more contacts on the home screen of my Moto Droid, since it’s been doing that for a while. ;)

One more screen shot after the break!

[Via Redmond Pie]

contacts_4.0_2

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple Exploring Contacts on the Home Screen… for iPhone 4.0? – Apple Patent Watch


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Posted in 4.0, Apple, News, contacts, home screen, iphone, iphone 4.0, patent, patent-watch

Apple Exploring iPhone/iTablet Stylus and Dynamic Multi-Model User Interfaces — Patent Watch

January 14th, 2010

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AppleInsider brings word of two interesting Apple patents, one involving user interfaces that changed depending on the user’s situation, the other — wait for it — for an iPhone/iTablet stylus.

The stylus patent, credited to John G. Elias, co-founder of multitouch maestros, FingerWorks, involves:

“A metallic or otherwise conductive disk may be attached to one end of the stylus. The disk may be sized so as to guarantee sufficient electrical interaction with at least one sensory element of the touch sensor panel.”

The dynamic multi-model seeks to give the iPhone UI some context sensitivity:

For example, using the device in the car or in the gym could show a different design on the screen. Devices could also be controlled in different fashions when they are docked and less portable, and a different design and input method might make more sense.

Next to your bed at night, in the car when navigating, linked to your home stereo for a party — the possibilities are endlessly intriguing.

As always, just because Apple applies for a patent on something doesn’t mean we’ll ever see it in a consumer product. Still, would you benefit from a stylus? From context-sensitive user interfaces? Let us know!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple Exploring iPhone/iTablet Stylus and Dynamic Multi-Model User Interfaces — Patent Watch


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Posted in News, dynamic user interface, patent-watch, stylus

3D Multitouch Interface… for iTablet and/or iPhone 4.0? Apple Patent Regurgitation!

January 5th, 2010

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The Baltimore Sun has regurgitated a recent Apple patent filing for a 3D, multitouch, zooming user interface. So the speculation jumps immediately to iTablet/iSlate and iPhone 4.0? Is this the “surprising interaction method” we’d heard rumored? Or just another in a long list of patents Apple may or may not ever get around to implementing in a real device? Place your bets in the comments!

[Baltimore Sun via Engagdet]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

3D Multitouch Interface… for iTablet and/or iPhone 4.0? Apple Patent Regurgitation!


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Posted in News, iphone 4.0, itablet, patent-watch

Multi-touch Tactile Keyboard for iTablet — Apple Patent Watch

December 24th, 2009

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AppleInsider has come across an interesting patent from Apple, titled “Keystroke Tactility Arrangement on a Smooth Touch Surface that details a multi-touch tactile keyboard for an iTablet-like device:

“The articulating frame may provide key edge ridges that define the boundaries of the key regions or may provide tactile feedback mechanisms within the key regions. The articulating frame may also be configured to cause concave depressions similar to mechanical key caps in the surface.”

“Preferably, each key edge comprises one to four distinct bars or Braille-like dots. When constructed in conjunction with a capacitive multi-touch surface, the key edge ridges should separated to accommodate the routing of the drive electrodes, which may take the form of rows, columns, or other configurations.”

“Specifically, the recognition software commands lowering of the frame when lateral sliding gestures or mouse clicking activity chords are detected on the surface.”

Another candidate for the rumored “surprising” tablet interaction method?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Multi-touch Tactile Keyboard for iTablet — Apple Patent Watch


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Posted in News, haptics, itablet, multi-touch, patent-watch, tactile

Hyper-Reality 3D Displays and Dynamic Music and Video for Better iPhone Battery Life — Apple Patent Watch

December 17th, 2009

Tis the season for Apple patents, with both hyper-reality 3D displays, and a dynamic music and video system for better battery life on the iPhone and iPod.

First up, the hyper-reality 3D display — perfectly timed for the Avatar hype as well, we’ll note — involves changing the perspective of 3D object on the display to match the tracked head position of the user. As MacRumors points out, this sounds similar to what Johnny Chung Lee has previously demonstrated with a Wiimote (see video embedded above).

Next up, Apple wants to track user preferences for volume and other settings and automagically apply them, and de-emphasize or skip songs the user seldom listens to. MacRumors also points out a second patent which would also alert users when there’s not enough battery life left to play the movie they’ve just selected and offer to downgrade the video quality and/or reduce the brightness levels to try and get the whole thing in anyway.

As always, no one outside Steve Jobs knows if we humble consumers will ever see products using these patents, but it’s nice to glimpse one of our possible infinite (loop) futures.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Hyper-Reality 3D Displays and Dynamic Music and Video for Better iPhone Battery Life — Apple Patent Watch


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Posted in 3d, News, dynamic music, dynamic video, hyper-reality displays, patent-watch

Retro iTablet, Remote Mac Control via iPhone, Mighty Morphing iPhone Dock — Apple Patent Watch

December 16th, 2009

iPhoneMacRemote

In the ever-envigorating game of “What’s That Apple Patent for Anyway?” this time we get a look at a multi-touch click-wheel iTablet, a way to remotely control your Mac from your

First up, an un-thin looking iTablet-style device with a retro click-wheel but an even more interesting backstory, according to 9to5mac, as:

One of the patent applicants for Apple is a one Dr. Carlin Vieri. He’s no longer with Apple (hel left just over a year ago). He happens to be the VP of Engineering for [rumored Apple iTablet screen supplier] Pixel Qi right now.

Second, a patent to allow the iPhone to remotely control your Mac either via gestures, specialized on-screen buttons, and/or Voice Control, as well as support for peripherals like printers. PatentlyApple has the goods, but from the sounds of it, you could email that new PDF home, launching Preview, deleting some pages, then sending it to the printer so it’s waiting, warm and ready when you get in door.

Last, PatentlyApple also shows off a new kind of universal dock. It employs an elastic, spongy material that can morph into the shape of any iPod or iPhone, past, present, or future. Yes folks, it might just make the dock insert extinct.

As always, there’s no telling when, if ever, Apple will make use any of these patents in ant consumer-facing product. But it’s fun to watch.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Retro iTablet, Remote Mac Control via iPhone, Mighty Morphing iPhone Dock — Apple Patent Watch


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Posted in News, dock, itablet, patent-watch, remote control

Apple Looking at “Grab and Go” Simplified Sync for iPhone, Mac, Apple TV — Patent Watch

November 5th, 2009

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AppleInsider has the goods on yet another Apple patent, this one for a “grab and go” simplified sync solution that would let iPhone users more easily and organically share bookmarks, iTunes content, Time Machine backups, business and personal documents, video game status, etc. between Macs, Apple TVs, the cloud, and other gear real and imagined:

The filing with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office suggests a scenario where a user is sitting at their desk working on a document, when they are called into an unexpected meeting. While the user may have a number of personal applications running, they would only want to bring their work-related content with them. The preferences would allow the user to “grab” only files and data related to work from the computer.

As always, just because Apple applies for a patent doesn’t mean there are immediate (or even eventual) plans to release products that offer those features. Still, we want. How about you?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple Looking at “Grab and Go” Simplified Sync for iPhone, Mac, Apple TV — Patent Watch


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Posted in News, grab and go, patent-watch, sync

Apple Reviewing 100 New Claims to Add to 10+ Year Old (QuickTime?) Patent

November 4th, 2009

Peter Hoddie Apple Patent Tweet

Apple is reviewing 100 new claims they want added on a 10+ year old patents says Peter Hoddie on Twitter.

Hoddie ran the QuickTime team at Apple after the departure of original lead, Bruce Leak, and is currently co-founder of Kinoma, which develops multimedia solutions for Windows Mobile and Nokia S60. While he didn’t elaborate on which patents or what additions were being reviewed, but given his former position, it’s not hard to imagine it has to do with Apple’s own multimedia framework.

A quick search of the US Patent Office shows Hoddie listed in the following QuickTime-related patents:

  • User interface for presenting media information
  • Techniques for capturing information during multimedia presentations
  • Apparatus and method for storing a movie within a movie
  • Methods and apparatuses for transmitting data representing multiple views of an object
  • Method and apparatus for identifying user-selectable regions within multiple display frames
  • Method and apparatus for synchronization of data retrieval and presentation
  • System for data retrieval by scheduling retrieval if number of units scheduled equals or less than predetermined number and retrieving before or at time elapsed
  • Method and apparatus for identifying user-selectable regions within multiple display frames

QuickTime has become one of the core display layers of both Mac OS X and iPhone OS X. So is Apple trying to secure against the future or setting up for some more patent pugilism? As Hoddie states, there’s clearly a reason…

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple Reviewing 100 New Claims to Add to 10+ Year Old (QuickTime?) Patent


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Posted in News, kinoma, patent-watch, peter hoddie, quicktime

MobileMe Media Sync — Apple Patent Watch

October 20th, 2009

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Synchronization of Media State Across Multiple Devices, one of the latest patents filed by Apple, aims to use MobileMe to make sure if you start watching a movie in iTunes or on the AppleTV, then switch to your iPhone, you’re at the exact same place in the movie (and back again) — with no USB sync required.

Last month, prompted by reader Seth Clifford, TiPb asked for just such “WhisperSync” (to use the Amazon Kindle term) functionality. Not only would this be great for users with multiple Windows, Macs, iPhones, and/or iPod touches, but it would be a great way for Apple to add value to MobileMe, whose $99 a year is non-competitive to say the least, especially for Windows users (who don’t benefit from iLife, Back to my Mac, Mac sync, etc.) So, yeah, Apple — make this happen!

[Patently Apple via Macworld via Engadget. Thanks @sethclifford!]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

MobileMe Media Sync — Apple Patent Watch


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Posted in MobileMe, News, media sync, patent-watch

Patent Watch: Apple Wants to Lock Down Your iPhone

October 5th, 2009

iphone-lock

Apple has applied for a patent for “provisioning” services on a mobile device based on a custom carrier profile:

Carrier provisioning profiles are distributed to computing devices via an activation service during the provisioning process. The carrier provisioning profiles specify access limitations to certain device resources which may otherwise be available to users of the device.

What this all means for the carriers is that Apple could essentially give them control of approved and unapproved features and applications that come on the iPhone at the point of purchase. So if Verizon (or China) were to carry the iPhone and they see fit to remove Wi-Fi, it can be done. Or say AT&T wants you to use their AT&T Navigation application and no other GPS applications — that too can be done. For Apple this means they free themselves from having to create various versions of firmware for each individual carrier.

Sadly for all of us, this could be a very bad sign of things to come. One of the main reasons we love the iPhone is the fact that Apple does not allow carriers to junk up the device with their own bloatware, common on other devices. Unfortunately that may all be coming to an end.

[Thanks for the tip Jeremiah! Via Arstechnica]

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Patent Watch: Apple Wants to Lock Down Your iPhone


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Posted in Apple, Lock, News, iphone, patent-watch

Ten-Finger, Dual-Hand Multi-Touch — Apple Patent Watch

October 2nd, 2009

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AppleInsider has found yet another multi-touch patent application, this one expanding on Apple’s already massive portfolio to include the ability to recognize which finger is touching, distinguish between palms and fingers, and enable all manner of restin

unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device

Check out the full article for more, and let us know if you think this is more fuel for the iTablet hype machine, or if Apple could have something else up their sleeve?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Ten-Finger, Dual-Hand Multi-Touch — Apple Patent Watch


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Posted in News, fingerworks, itablet, multi-touch, patent-watch

Location-Based Home Screens, Speech to Text, Image Transport, Event-Based Contacts, In-Call File Transfer — Apple iPhone Patent Watch!

August 27th, 2009

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Like an old episode of Star Trek, Apple patents provide us with a look at many possible futures for the iPhone, some of which — but not all of which — may one day be ours. Cases in point, AppleInsider rounds up the latest batch from Cupertino:

  • Location-based home screen means a user would be presented with a dynamically generated Home Screen based on factors such as location (get off the plane, automagically be presented with local weather, maps, contacts, etc.)

  • Speech-to-text would take what you say into the iPhone and transcribe it into editable text (similar to what many 3rd party apps offer now).

  • Image transportation, where picture are automagically scaled and sent for display on a TV or similar external monitor.

  • Event-based contact lists, hosted server-side, that would allow access for event participants.

  • In-call file transfer would let users share a file with someone they’re already talking to on the phone.

Yeah, iPhone 4.0 is coming when again?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Location-Based Home Screens, Speech to Text, Image Transport, Event-Based Contacts, In-Call File Transfer — Apple iPhone Patent Watch!


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Posted in News, event-based contacts, image transportation, in-call file transfer, location services, patent-watch, speech to text