US Patent Application Review Series

Apple

2nd Week of May 2010 Issue

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Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 1

A few words from the editor

A few words from the editor

If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
- Issac Newton

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Structure of this review IPC Catchword Index is an alphabetical sorted list of

catchwords of the IPC appeared in the review.
The Table of Contents is created based on
alphabetical order of IPC. The patent applications
are also sorted by alphabetical order of IPC. A brief How to use this review?
description of each IPC is shown. We find that the IPC
description could help ‘deciphering’ the abstract of an For creativity stimulation purpose:
patent application. If a patent application belongs to • quickly flip the pages and write down the page
multiple IPC, the patent application will only be shown number of the diagrams that interests you for
under the section of first IPC. later review.
For each patent application, the following information
will be shown: • look up the IPC Catchword Index and go to the
IPC that you are interested
1. App. No. – patent application no. – it is unique
to each patent application. For business intelligent purpose:
2. Assignee – this is owner of the patent • quickly flip the pages and identify the IPC that
application. If there is no assignee being could “ring a bell”
specified, either the inventor of the patent
application own the patent application or the • study all patent applications belong to the
owner of the patent application did not record identified IPC.
such information when the patent application
was filed. For engineering design purpose:

3. Title – this is the title of the patent application. • quickly flip the pages and identify the diagrams
that may be similar to your work.
4. Abstract – this is the abstract of the patent
application. There are rules on how an abstract • click on the patent application link and visit the
should be drafted. Most patent attorneys like to US server for more detailed information of the
have the abstract based on the first claim of the patent application.
patent application.
• read the description of IPC carefully.
5. Pri. Date – priority date – it is the date
of filing of the first application of the patent • if you are interested in IPC, compare the patent
application (a patent application could have applications belong to it.
multiple application dates because of divisional
patents as well as overseas patent applications). Copyright
It is considered to be the effective date of filing
for the examination of novelty and inventive Patent applications are free of copyrights unless the
step or non-obviousness for the subsequent inventor specifically stated so in the patent application.
application claiming the priority of the first However, this review is protected by copyright law due
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Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 2

Table of Contents

G06Q 50/00 - Systems or methods specially

adapted for a specific business sector,
e.g. health care, utilities, tourism or
legal services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
G06T 15/70 - Animation effects . . . . . . . . 9
G08 - Signalling or calling systems 9
Table of Contents G08B 21/00 - Alarms responsive to a
single specified undesired or abnormal
condition and not otherwise provided for 9

H03 - Coding, decoding or code conversion, in

general 9
A few words from the editor 2 H03M 07/00 - Conversion of a code where
information is represented by a given
Table of Contents 3 sequence or number of digits to a
code where the same information is
represented by a different sequence or
B28 - Shaping clay or other ceramic number of digits . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
compositions, slag or mixtures containing H03M 07/40 - Conversion to or from variable
cementitious material, e.g. plaster 4 length codes, e.g. Shannon-Fano code,
B28B 13/06 - Removing the shaped articles Huffman code, Morse code . . . . . . . 10
from moulds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
H04 - Transmission of digital information, e.g.
G02 - 4 telegraphic communication 10
G02F 01/13363 - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 H04L 09/32 - including means for verifying
the identity or authority of a user of the
system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
G06 - Electric digital data processing 4 H04M 03/42 - Systems providing special
G06F 01/16 - Constructional details or services or facilities to subscribers . . . 10
arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 H04N 05/222 - Studio circuitry . . . . . . . . 11
G06F 03/00 - Input arrangements for H04N 05/89 - using holographic recording . . 12
transferring data to be processed into H04N 07/26 - using bandwidth reduction . . . 13
a form capable of being handled by the H04N 13/04 - Picture reproducers . . . . . . 13
computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 H04W 04/02 - Services making use of the
G06F 03/048 - Interaction techniques location of users or terminals . . . . . . 13
for graphical user interfaces, e.g.
interaction with windows, icons or menus 6 H05 - Electric heating 14
H05B 37/02 - Controlling . . . . . . . . . . . 14
G06F 03/14 - Digital output to display device 7
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval . . . . . . 8 Patent Index 15
G06Q 30/00 - Commerce, e.g. marketing,
shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce 8 IPC Catchword Index 16

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 3

G06F 01/16

B28B 13/06: Shaping clay or other ceramic compositions, slag or mixtures

containing cementitious material, e.g. plaster Ü Feeding the unshaped
material to moulds or apparatus for producing shaped articles Ü Discharging
the shaped articles Ü Removing the shaped articles from moulds
App. No. 20100119634 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Carbon composite mold design
Abstract A mold assembly or system includes a moldbase that holds mold inserts and has embedded
fluid lines to facilitate cooling during part formation. Mold inserts combine to form mold cavities
that receive carbon fiber and resin components to form a carbon composite based part. A
permanent release coating along a mold component surface that contacts the carbon fiber and
resin components facilitates the release of the finished part from the mold component. Guide
pins and guide pin receiving holes facilitate accurate alignment of mold components. Ejector pins
within respective ejector pin shafts help eject a finished part from a respective mold component.
An ejector pin shaft cover transfers force from an ejector pin to eject a finished part and also
prevents substantial passage of resin into the ejector pin shaft. A fluid actuated ejection system
provides fluid based mechanical forces to the ejector pins to facilitate finished part ejection.
Pri. Date 20070405 App. Date 20091109 Pub. Date 20100513

G02F 01/13363:
App. No. 20100118235 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title display that emits circularly-polarized light
Abstract One embodiment of the present invention provides a display that emits circularly-polarized light.
This display includes a display mechanism that emits linearly-polarized light and a layer placed
in the path of the linearly-polarized light. The layer receives the linearly-polarized light on
one surface, converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light, and then emits the
circularly-polarized light from another surface. By emitting circularly-polarized light, the display
reduces the perceived distortion found at some angles when the display is viewed through a
linearly-polarizing filter.
Pri. Date 20081110 App. Date 20100119 Pub. Date 20100513

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 4

G06F 03/00

G06F 01/16: Electric digital data processing Ü Details not covered by

groups and Ü Constructional details or arrangements
App. No. 20100118485 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Docking station for hand held electronic devices
Abstract A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a single docking station and
a plurality of inserts that are placed in the docking station so that the docking station can
accommodate hand held devices with differing sizes and shapes. The docking system is
configured with a docking station and insert that matingly engage with one another via a rotating
action. The docking system is also configured with a latching retention mechanism that secures
the insert to the docking station when the insert is rotated into engagement with the docking
station.
Pri. Date 20081112 App. Date 20100125 Pub. Date 20100513

G06F 03/00: Electric digital data processing Ü Input arrangements for

transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled
by the computer
App. No. 20100122166 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Preview of next media object to play
Abstract A system and method for presenting reproduction of media objects. A plurality of media objects is
retrieved. The plurality of media objects is reproduced one after another on a media reproduction
system. One or more graphical objects are presented on a display of the media reproduction
system. Each graphical object of the plurality of graphical objects corresponds to each of
the plurality of media objects being reproduced. As each of the plurality of media objects is
reproduced, a corresponding graphical object presented on the display moves from a beginning
side of the display to an end side of the display in relation to an amount of the corresponding
media object being reproduced. As reproduction of the plurality of media objects transitions from
one media object to a next media object, the graphical object corresponding to the next media
object to be reproduced is presented from the beginning side of the display.
Pri. Date 20070216 App. Date 20081112 Pub. Date 20100513

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 5

G06F 03/048

G06F 03/048: Electric digital data processing Ü Input arrangements for

transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled
by the computer Ü Input arrangements or combined input and output
arrangements for interaction between user and computer Ü Interaction
techniques for graphical user interfaces, e.g. interaction with windows,
icons or menus
App. No. 20100121741 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Audio sampling and acquisition system
Abstract Techniques for facilitating purchase of media items, such as digital media assets, are disclosed.
A computing device, e.g., a portable media device, can save media indicia pertaining to one or
media items of interest to a user. The media indicia can thereafter be use to purchase the one or
more media items or other products associated therewith.
Pri. Date 20070112 App. Date 20100119 Pub. Date 20100513

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 6

G06F 03/14

G06F 03/14: Electric digital data processing Ü Input arrangements for

transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled
by the computer Ü Digital output to display device
App. No. 20100118037 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Object-aware transitions
Abstract Techniques for accomplishing slide transitions in a presentation are disclosed. In accordance with
these techniques, each object on a slide is individually manipulable during slide transitions. In
certain embodiments, the presence of an object on both the outgoing and incoming slides may be
taken into account during slide transition. Likewise, in certain embodiments, derivative objects,
such as shadows or reflections, may be handled as distinct objects in generating a transition
between slides.
Pri. Date 20090617 App. Date 20100126 Pub. Date 20100513

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 7

G06T 15/70

G06F 17/30: Electric digital data processing Ü Digital computing or

data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific
functions Ü Information retrieval
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100121741 page 6

G06Q 30/00: Data processing systems or methods, specially adapted

for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or
forecasting purposes Ü Commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing,
auctions or e-commerce
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100121741 page 6

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 8

H03M 07/00

G06Q 50/00: Data processing systems or methods, specially adapted

for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or
forecasting purposes Ü Systems or methods specially adapted for a
specific business sector, e.g. health care, utilities, tourism or legal
services
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100121741 page 6

G06T 15/70: Image data processing or generation, in general Ü Three

dimensional (3D) image rendering, e.g. from a model to a bit-mapped
image Ü Animation effects
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100118037 page 7

G08B 21/00: Signalling or calling systems Ü Alarms responsive to a

single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise
provided for
App. No. 20100117841 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Water detection arrangement
Abstract An electronic device having an enclosure is disclosed. The electronic device includes a hole
disposed at least partially through the enclosure. The electronic device also includes a detector
configured to provide at least one visual indication after being immersed in water. The detector
may include a moisture-indicating portion and a light-permitting moisture-proof membrane. The
detector may be disposed inside at least one of the enclosure and the hole such that at least a
portion of the detector is visible through the hole from outside of the enclosure without dismantling
or opening the electronic device. The distance between the light-permitting moisture-proof
membrane and an opening of the hole in the enclosure may be less than the distance between
the moisture-indicating portion and the opening of the hole.
Pri. Date 20070411 App. Date 20100115 Pub. Date 20100513

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 9

H04M 03/42

H03M 07/00: Coding, decoding or code conversion, in general Ü Conversion

of a code where information is represented by a given sequence or
number of digits to a code where the same information is represented
by a different sequence or number of digits
App. No. 20100117875 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title System and method for compressing a stream of integer-valued data
Abstract A method and system are provided to minimize the size and complexity of bitstreams associated
with encoded data by using a new compression scheme. An entropy encoder receives a list
of run/data value pairs and entropy encodes separately the runs and data values, selecting their
codewords according to length and magnitude, respectively, and catenates the resulting codeword
pairsx2014;run codeword firstx2014;in an encoded bitstream.
Pri. Date 20081110 App. Date 20081110 Pub. Date 20100513

H03M 07/40: Coding, decoding or code conversion, in general Ü Conversion

of a code where information is represented by a given sequence or
number of digits to a code where the same information is represented
by a different sequence or number of digits Ü Compression Ü Conversion
to or from variable length codes, e.g. Shannon-Fano code, Huffman
code, Morse code
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100117875 page 10

H04L 09/32: Transmission of digital information, e.g. telegraphic communication

Ü Arrangements for secret or secure communication Ü including means
for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
App. No. 20100122327 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Secure authentication for accessing remote resources
Abstract Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for secure
authentication for accessing remote resources are disclosed. In some implementations, a user
is authenticated for a first time on an interface using a first communications channel; the user is
authenticated a second time on the interface using a second communications channel; access
privileges are determined based on authenticating the user for the second time; and a random
Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is generated based on the access privileges, where the random
URL is single-use and indirectly associated with a requested resource.
Pri. Date 20070716 App. Date 20081110 Pub. Date 20100513

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 10

H04N 05/222

H04M 03/42: Telephonic communication Ü Automatic or semi-automatic

exchanges Ü Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
App. No. 20100120450 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Location specific content
Abstract Systems, methods, and computer program products communicate location information associated
with a device, such as a mobile device, to a server. Content identified by the server is received at
the device, from the server and/or from a content service. The content can include an application
associated with the location information. The content received at the device is displayed on the
device only while the device is at or near a particular location identified by the location information.
Pri. Date 20081113 App. Date 20081113 Pub. Date 20100513

H04N 05/222: Pictorial communication, e.g. television Ü Details of

television systems Ü Studio circuitry
App. No. 20100118179 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Image capture using display device as light source
Abstract A digital image capture system and method uses a display device to illuminate a target with light
for improved image capture under poor lighting conditions. Various characteristics of the flash
(e.g., brightness, color, duration, etc.) can be adjusted to improve image capture. Users are
provided with feedback (e.g., live video feed, audio and/or visual countdowns, etc.) to assist them
in preparing for image capture. The captured images are seamlessly integrated with existing
applications (e.g., video conferencing, instant text messaging, etc.).
Pri. Date 20081110 App. Date 20100115 Pub. Date 20100513

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 11

H04N 05/89

H04N 05/89: Pictorial communication, e.g. television Ü Details of television

systems Ü Television signal recording Ü using holographic recording
App. No. 20100118118 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Three-dimensional display system
Abstract A three-dimensional display system provides a projection screen having a predetermined
angularly-responsive reflective surface function. Three-dimensional images are respectively
modulated in coordination with the predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function
to define a programmable mirror with a programmable deflection angle.
Pri. Date 20070321 App. Date 20100114 Pub. Date 20100513

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 12

H05B 37/02

H04N 07/26: Pictorial communication, e.g. television Ü Television systems

Ü Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code
modulation Ü using bandwidth reduction
App. No. 20100119215 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Video spoiler alert
Abstract A system in accordance with the present invention may include one or more processors, memory
that receives instructions from the one or more processors according to a clock operating at a
frequency, one or more programs stored in the memory, with instructions to open a media file
that may be stored locally or remotely; play the content of the media file at a default speed; and
control access to the non-played content of the media file according to one or more conditions,
which may be used to prevent the spoilage or viewing ahead of the non-played content.
Pri. Date 20041027 App. Date 20081112 Pub. Date 20100513

H04N 13/04: Pictorial communication, e.g. television Ü Stereoscopic

television systems Ü Picture reproducers
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100118118 page 12

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 13

H05B 37/02

H04W 04/02: Wireless communication networks Ü Services or facilities

specially adapted for wireless communication networks Ü Services making
use of the location of users or terminals
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100120450 page 11

H05B 37/02: Electric heating Ü Circuit arrangements for electric light

sources in general Ü Controlling
App. No. 20100117549 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Pulse-width modulation control for backlighting of a video display
Abstract A pulse-width modulated backlight control for a video display restarts the pulse-width modulated
pulse train on occurrence of a video refresh pulse. In order to prevent an undesirable momentary
increase in brightness in the event that the last pulse of the pre-refresh pulse train occurs too
close to the first pulse of the post-refresh pulse train relative to the normal pulse interval, the
width of the first pulse following refresh may be reduced from a first value determined by the
desired brightness to a second value that bears the same proportion to the first value that the
interval between the beginning of the previous pulse and the occurrence of the refresh pulse bore
to the normal pulse interval. In that way, the duty cycle during the shortened pulse interval is the
same as during a normal pulse interval, avoiding or minimizing perceptible increase in backlight
brightness.
Pri. Date 20070424 App. Date 20090211 Pub. Date 20100513

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 14

Patent Index

Patent Index
Patent Application Page Patent Application Page Patent Application Page
20100117549 14 20100117841 9 20100117875 10
20100118037 7 20100118118 12 20100118179 11
20100118235 4 20100118485 5 20100119215 13
20100119634 4 20100120450 11 20100121741 6
20100122166 5 20100122327 10

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 15

IPC Catchword Index

IPC Catchword Index

Catch Word IPC Page

BANDWIDTH reduction for television signal transmission H04N 07/26 13
CODE(S) conversion of CODE(S) H03M 07/00 10
COMPILING statistics G06 4
COMPUTER(S) G06 4
DATA processing G06 4
DIOPTRICS G02 4
EQUATIONS solving EQUATIONS G06 4
FUNCTIONS evaluating FUNCTIONS G06 4
HACK covers B28 4
INFORMATION electric digital computers for INFORMATION retrieval G06F 17/30 8
INPUT for electric digital computers G06F 03/00 5
OUTPUT for electric digital computers G06F 03/00 5
STUDIO EQUIPMENT for television H04N 05/222 11

Apple - 2nd Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 16