Apple Patents

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, tablets and personal computers, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac. It also produces the iPod, Apple Watch and Apple TV, as well as the operating systems and applications that support these devices. The company also sells digital content and applications through its iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, iBooks Store and Apple Music.

Apple Patents by Type
  • Apple Patents Granted: Apple patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Apple Patent Applications: Apple patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Publication number: 20240107500
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for low power page scanning through identifier sensing. An example method includes a first computing device determining that an operation of a first core of the first computing device during a first duration corresponds to a paging message scan by a second core of the first computing device scheduled during a second duration. The first computing device can determine the operation of the first core prevents transmission of a paging message response for establishing a connection with a second computing device via a short range transmission protocol. The first computing device can determine a third duration for the paging message scan such that the operation of a first core does not prevent the transmission of the paging message response. The first computing device can cause the second core to scan for a paging message during the third duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Xianbo Chen, David J. Shaw
  • Publication number: 20240103904
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for effectuating a transaction by an intermediary. An example method can include receiving a first message from a second device, the first message comprising a request for a first item, wherein the first message is received by a backend process executing on the first device. A second message that includes a request for a first information associated with the first item, can be transmitted. A third message comprising the first information associated with the first item can be received. A fourth message comprising a request to initiate a transaction for the first item can be transmitted to a third device. A fifth message can be received from the third computing device, the fifth message comprising a confirmation of the transaction based at least in part on the fourth message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed M. Soliman, Ayman F. Naguib
  • Publication number: 20240102678
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques for optimizing operation of a refrigerant climate control system using an energy management device. In an example process, the energy management device may receive an energy optimization signal that describes a characteristic associated with an electrical energy source. The process may also include the energy management device generating a control signal for a refrigerant climate control system to use the electrical energy source based at least in part on the characteristic of the energy optimization signal. The process may also include the energy management device providing the control signal to a controller of the refrigerant climate control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Gregorich
  • Publication number: 20240102711
    Abstract: The present application relates to techniques for operating a refrigerant climate control system in one of a plurality of operating modes. In an example process, sensor data is received. The sensor data may correspond to a current state of a refrigerant in a receiver of the refrigerant climate control system. The process may also include receiving an energy control signal requesting operation of the refrigerant climate control system. The process may also include determining an operating mode of the refrigerant climate control system based on a signal type of the energy control signal and the current state of the refrigerant in the receiver. The process may also include instructing the refrigerant climate control system to operate in the determined operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Gregorich
  • Publication number: 20240102818
    Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device can proactively determine a destination and request traffic information for routes from a starting location to the destination. In some implementations, a computing device can identify some routes between a starting location and a destination as non-recommended routes and recommend other routes. In some implementations, a computing device can rank routes between a starting location and a destination based on automatically-determined user interest. In some implementations, a computing device can determine a user is familiar with a route and adjust the information presented to the user about the route accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Coleman, Brian J. Andrich, Daniel R. Delling, Dennis Schieferdecker, Ethan T. Bold, Hengbin Luo, Michael Wegner, Rami Khawandi, Lili Cao, Hyo Jeong Shin, Richard B. Warren, Ronald K. Huang
  • Publication number: 20240103715
    Abstract: In some implementations, at least a partial view of a jog wheel user interface (UI) element is displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI). The jog wheel UI element is operable to manipulate one or more secondary elements. In response to a touch input for controlling the jog wheel UI element, a rotation of the jog wheel UI element is animated concurrently with manipulation of the secondary element(s). In some embodiments, the jog wheel UI element is rotated at an initial rotational speed based on the touch input, continues rotating after cessation of the touch input, and is reduced until it reaches zero. In one embodiment, a distance between the contact of the touch input and the jog wheel UI element is used to determine a degree of rotation of jog wheel UI element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Fleischhauer, David Karp, Itrat U Khan, Kenneth C Meehan
  • Publication number: 20240107249
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a structure with a substrate, an electronic device, and a molding compound layer. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, where the substrate includes a first opening. The electronic device is disposed on the first surface of the substrate and includes a second opening aligned with the first opening of the substrate. Further, the molding compound layer is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and includes a third opening aligned with the second opening of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kyusang KIM, Ali N. Ergun, Anthony D. Minervini, Bilal Mohamed Ibrahim Kani, Kishore N. Renjan
  • Patent number: 11942090
    Abstract: An example process includes at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory: while the electronic device is in a locked state and in communication with an external accessory device: receiving a natural language input; determining whether the natural language input corresponds to a secure task request; in accordance with a determination that the natural language input corresponds to a secure task request: determining whether one or more states of the external accessory device satisfy a set of authentication criteria; and in accordance with a determination that the one or more states of the external accessory device satisfy the set of authentication criteria: initiating, by the electronic device, a secure task corresponding to the natural language input; and providing an output indicative of the initiated secure task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan D. Webber, Trungtin Tran, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Naresh Kumar Chinnathambi Kailasam, Sue Wen Chiao, Tyler C. Leppek, Brandon J. Newendorp
  • Patent number: 11942806
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method and system for recharging batteries for wireless electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a battery charging and monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a host machine providing a plurality of charging slots and a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a plurality of batteries. The host machine is adapted to communicate with the plurality of wireless devices through a plurality of wireless links to monitor the plurality of batteries coupled to the wireless devices. According to another embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device is adapted to couple with at least a rechargeable battery and to negotiate with the rechargeable battery for an agreed range of power parameters. The electronic device is further adapted to accept power from and to provide power to the rechargeable battery at the agreed range of power parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Harold Aaron Ludtke
  • Patent number: 11942722
    Abstract: Connector inserts having reliable contacts, as well as connector receptacles having improved magnetic circuits for use in electronic devices having a thin form factor. These and other examples can provide connector receptacles that can be easily aligned to an opening in an electronic device, as well as connector inserts and connector receptacles that can be readily manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John C. DiFonzo, Bradley J. Hamel, George Tziviskos, Hao Zhu, Jean-Marc Gery, Paul J. Hack
  • Patent number: 11943559
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to providing live video. An example method includes, at a computer system, while in an editing mode for a presentation, receiving, via one or more input devices, a request to insert an object onto a first slide of the presentation, wherein the request includes associating the object with a source for live video; and while in a presentation mode for the presentation, displaying, via a display generation component, the first slide including concurrent display of the object and one or more visual elements, wherein: in accordance with a determination that the object is associated with a camera, the object includes a live video stream from the camera; and in accordance with a determination that the object is associated with a non-camera external device, the object includes a live video stream that mirrors a portion of a display of the non-camera external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Underwood, Gary W. Gehiere, Michael W. Greiner, Amy W. Hung, Scott G. Marnik, David A. Turner
  • Patent number: 11943279
    Abstract: Improved approaches for media listening amongst different users are disclosed. For example, methods, systems or computer program code can enable users to have a remote listening experience in real time. Advantageously, a remote user at a remote client device can in effect listen to a particular digital media asset that is being played at a local client device of a local user. Media information and/or user profiles can also be provided about themselves and shared with other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine Wormington, Camille Hearst, Steve Saro Gedikian
  • Patent number: 11941818
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that determine a 3D location of an edge based on image and depth data. This involves determining a 2D location of a line segment corresponding to an edge of an object based on a light-intensity image, determining a 3D location of a plane based on depth values (e.g., based on sampling depth near the edge/on both sides of the edge and fitting a plane to the sampled points), and determining a 3D location of the line segment based on the plane (e.g., by projecting the line segment onto the plane). The devices, systems, and methods may involve classifying an edge as a particular edge type (e.g., fold, cliff, plane) and detecting the edge based on such classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vedant Saran, Alexandre Da Veiga
  • Patent number: 11943575
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system can have first and second loudspeakers selectively operable in a single-channel mode or in a multi-channel mode. In the single-channel mode, the first and the second loudspeakers are configured to simultaneously reproduce a substantially identical signal. In the multi-channel mode, the first loudspeaker reproduces a first-channel signal and the second loudspeaker reproduces a second-channel signal. The first-channel signal and the second-channel signal can constitute respective portions of a multi-channel signal. Such loudspeaker systems can also have a mode selector configured to select one of the single-channel mode and the multi-channel mode. In some embodiments, such selection can occur in response to one or more detected proximities of another loudspeaker system. Multi-zone loudspeaker systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Giuliani, David Jeon, Gabriel Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11943576
    Abstract: A contextual audio system configured to adjust audio playback in response to positional data. The contextual audio system may include a wearable audio device and, optionally, a sensing device. In some embodiments, the sensing device and the wearable audio device are the same. Generally, the contextual audio system employs different types of data to determine a user's location and/or activity (both of which are examples of “context”) and adjust audio output of the wearable audio device portion of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Kathleen A. Bergeron, Jay K. Blahnik
  • Patent number: 11943791
    Abstract: The present application relates to devices and components including apparatus, systems, and methods for lower-layer activation and release of dynamic downlink positioning reference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Seyed Ali Akbar Fakoorian, Wei Zeng, Dawei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11941667
    Abstract: Embodiments set forth techniques for managing advertisement auctions on a client device. The method can include the steps of (1) receiving, from a server device, a plurality of objects, where each object is associated with a respective digital asset, and each object includes, in association with the respective digital asset (i) a server-derived digital asset vector, (ii) a server-derived predicted tap-through rate, and (iii) a bid amount. In turn, and for each object of the plurality of objects, the client device (2) generates a respective estimated cost per impression for the object based on the information provided by the server device as well as information derived by the client device. Subsequently, the client device (3) identifies, among the plurality of objects, the object associated with the highest respective estimated cost per impression, and (4) causes an advertisement for the respective digital asset associated with the identified object to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kanishka Bhaduri, Bernard H. Everson, Jeremy M. Bunyard, Boon C. Hwang
  • Patent number: 11938922
    Abstract: A motion control system that includes a support motion control system and a body motion control system. The body motion control system includes passive motion control components and active motion control components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Akhil J. Madhani, Robin A. Auckland, Giles D. Wood, Peteris K. Augenbergs, Xingchen Fan, Jonathan L. Hall, Paul J. Keas
  • Patent number: 11941551
    Abstract: This is directed to systems and methods for integrating hotel services in a single application available to a portable electronic device. Using the single application, a user can access and control hotel services before arriving at the hotel, upon arriving at the hotel, in the hotel room, in the local vicinity, and after leaving the hotel. Such services can include, for example, checking-in and checking out, purchasing in-room dining or in-room entertainment, making reservations at local restaurants or local attractions, scheduling hotel guest reminders, and controlling room setting either within the room or outside of the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kaiann Drance, Stanley Carl Ng, Courtnee Westendorf
  • Patent number: 11937904
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include wearable devices and techniques for detecting cardio machine activities, estimating user direction of travel, and monitoring performance during cardio machine activities. By accurately and promptly detecting cardio machine activities and automatically distinguishing between activities performed on different types of cardio machines, the disclosure enables wearable devices to accurately calculate user performance information when users forget to start and/or stop recording activities on a wide variety of cardio machines. In various embodiments, cardio machine activity detection techniques may use magnetic field data from a magnetic field sensor to improve the accuracy of orientation data and device heading measurements used to detect the end of a cardio machine activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Ochs, Mariah W. Whitmore, Mark P. Sena, Julia K. Nichols, Erin Paeng, Vinay R. Majjigi, Karthik Jayaraman Raghuram, Hung A. Pham
  • Patent number: 11937938
    Abstract: Sleep conditions such as moderate-to-severe sleep apnea can be assessed using a multi-night assessments. A respiration signal (e.g., acquired from a sensor strip) can be processed via a computing device. The respiration signal can be segmented and the segments can be classified to identify one or more apnea/hypopnea events. In some examples, some of the segments can be normalized such that each segment input for classification can be of the same size. The identified one or more apnea/hypopnea events can be used to estimate a nightly parameter indicative of a severity of (or presence of) sleep apnea. The nightly parameters from a multi-night period can be used to estimate a multi-night parameter indicative of the severity of (or presence of) sleep apnea. In some examples, quality checks can be performed to filter out some data (e.g., to exclude data from entire nights or exclude a portion of data from individual nights).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Travis Bianchi, Alexander Mark Chan, Fredrik J. Sannholm, Lifeng Miao, Siddharth Khullar
  • Patent number: 11943699
    Abstract: An example method for wireless communication includes: configuring a wireless device to access a wireless network using a set of at least three components carriers (CCs); dividing the at least three component carriers into groups of component carriers based on whether the component carriers share a span pattern and a starting span for monitoring a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) of each component carrier; determining a number of non-overlapping control channel elements (CCE) to monitor for each group of component carriers; and configuring the wireless device to monitor the non-overlapping CCEs based on the determined number to monitor for each group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Oghenekome Oteri, Chunxuan Ye, Dawei Zhang, Haitong Sun, Hong He, Wei Zeng, Weidong Yang, Yushu Zhang, Sigen Ye, Chunhai Yao
  • Patent number: 11940594
    Abstract: Textured cover assemblies for electronic devices are disclosed. The textured cover assemblies may be placed over a display and may provide anti-glare and anti-reflection properties to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mingxia Gu, Janos C. Keresztes, Jun Qi, Jungwook Park, Victor H. Yin, Yanming Li
  • Patent number: 11940931
    Abstract: A turnstile OS primitive is provided that enables support for owner tracking and waiting. The turnstile primitive enables a common framework that can be adopted across multiple different types of synchronization primitives to provide a common service for priority boosting and wait queuing. A turnstile can also provide a mechanism to enable a turnstile to block on another turnstile, allowing multi-hop priority boosting within a chain of multiple blocking turnstiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jainam A. Shah, Jeremy C. Andrus, Daniel A. Chimene, Kushal Dalmia, Pierre Habouzit, James M. Magee, Marina Sadini, Daniel A. Steffen
  • Patent number: 11941319
    Abstract: A computer system causes output of audio information from a first application to a set of one or more audio output devices in accordance with a first audio output mode previously selected for the first application using a system audio output setting control. After, the computer system receives a request to play audio from a second application different from the first application. In response, the computer system causes output of audio information from the second application to the set of one or more audio output devices, including, in accordance with a determination that a second audio output mode, different from the first audio output mode, was previously selected for the second application using the system audio output setting control, causing output of the audio information from the second application via the set of one or more audio output devices in accordance with the second audio output mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Taylor G. Carrigan, Charles C. Hoyt, Cyrus D. Irani, Christopher J. Sanders
  • Patent number: 11941175
    Abstract: Contact or movement gestures between a first body part and a second body part can be detected. Sense circuitry can be configured to sense a signal at the sense electrode (e.g., configured to contact the second body part) in response to a drive signal applied to the drive electrode (e.g., configured to contact the first body part). Processing circuitry can be configured to detect contact in accordance with a determination that one or more criteria are met (e.g., an amplitude criterion and a non-distortion criterion). Additionally or alternatively, processing circuitry can be configured to detect a movement gesture in accordance with a determination that one or more criteria are met (e.g., a contact criterion and a movement criterion).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Beyhs
  • Patent number: 11941191
    Abstract: Button functionalities for user interfaces, e.g., for use with a portable multifunction device, are disclosed. Exemplary button functionalities are described for an electronic device with a display, a rotatable and depressible input mechanism, and/or a button. Different device features may be accessed, depending on whether the rotatable and depressible input mechanism or the button is activated, and further depending on whether the activation represents a single press, a double press, or an extended press on the rotatable and depressible input mechanism or the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Patrick Foss, Anton M. Davydov, Dylan Ross Edwards, Imran Chaudhri, Alan C. Dye, Jonathan P. Ive, Stephen O. Lemay, Kevin M. Lynch, Lawrence Y. Yang, Dennis S. Park
  • Patent number: 11941214
    Abstract: Touch sensor panels/screens can include metal mesh touch electrodes and routing in the active area. In some examples, the touch sensor panel/screen can include row electrodes and column electrodes disposed over the active area of the display. In some examples, the routing traces for the row electrodes and/or column electrodes can be disposed in a border region and some of the routing traces for the row electrodes and/or column electrodes can be disposed in the active area. In some examples, some row electrodes can be shaved down to create an offset from the edge of the active area to accommodate routing traces in the active area. In some examples, the row electrodes can be formed in a first metal mesh layer and some routing traces in the active area can be formed in a second metal mesh layer, different from the first metal mesh layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashray Vinayak Gogte, Christophe Blondin
  • Patent number: 11941235
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to managing weather information. In some embodiments, methods and user interfaces for managing weather information are described. In some embodiments, methods and user interfaces for displaying daily weather information are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Caroline J. Crandall, Ian V. Bambao, Dylan O. Boelte, Wyatt R. Mitchell, Ricky Lee Richards
  • Patent number: 11941428
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to an I/O agent circuit. The I/O agent circuit may include one or more queues and a transaction pipeline. The I/O agent circuit may issue, to the transaction pipeline from a queue of the one or more queues, a transaction of a series of transactions enqueued in a particular order. The I/O agent circuit may generate, at the transaction pipeline, a determination to return the transaction to the queue based on a detection of one or more conditions being satisfied. Based on the determination, the I/O agent circuit may reject, at the transaction pipeline, up to a threshold number of transactions that issued from the queue after the transaction issued. The I/O agent circuit may insert the transaction at a head of the queue such that the transaction is enqueued at the queue sequentially first for the series of transactions according to the particular order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sagi Lahav, Lital Levy-Rubin, Gaurav Garg, Gerard R. Williams, III, Samer Nassar, Per H. Hammarlund, Harshavardhan Kaushikkar, Srinivasa Rangan Sridharan, Jeff Gonion
  • Patent number: 11941042
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to techniques for presenting operations in a presentation. A technique is provided for allowing a user to insert media items on consecutive slides. During a presentation mode, the media items are determined to be two instances of a same media item, and matched such that the media item plays continuously across multiple slides. Another technique is provided to allow a user to utilize a user input to override a linearly-defined set of actions within a presentation. Another technique is utilized to temporarily select a visually obstructed object in a graphic editing interface such that the visually obstructed object may be manipulated during the temporary selection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Flider, James E. Tilton, Robert S. Moyer
  • Patent number: 11940848
    Abstract: An electronic device display may have pixels formed from crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies, organic light-emitting diodes, or other pixel structures. The pixels may be formed on a display panel substrate. A display panel may extend continuously across the display or multiple display panels may be tiled in two dimensions to cover a larger display area. Interconnect substrates may have outwardly facing contacts that are electrically shorted to corresponding inwardly facing contacts such as inwardly facing metal pillars associated with the display panels. The interconnect substrates may be supported by glass layers. Integrated circuits may be embedded in the display panels and/or in the interconnect substrates. A display may have an active area with pixels that includes non-spline pixels in a non-spline display portion located above a straight edge of the display and spline pixel in a spline display portion located above a curved edge of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Elmar Gehlen, Zhen Zhang, Francois R. Jacob, Paul S. Drzaic, Han-Chieh Chang, Abbas Jamshidi Roudbari, Anshi Liang, Hopil Bae, Mahdi Farrokh Baroughi, Marc J. DeVincentis, Paolo Sacchetto, Tiffany T. Moy, Warren S. Rieutort-Louis, Yong Sun, Jonathan P. Mar, Zuoqian Wang, Ian D. Tracy, Sunggu Kang, Jaein Choi, Steven E. Molesa, Sandeep Chalasani, Jui-Chih Liao, Xin Zhao, Izhar Z. Ahmed
  • Patent number: 11941108
    Abstract: An apparatus, a method, and a system are presented in which the apparatus includes an interface control circuit that may be configured to receive a message including a cryptographic keyword and a policy value. The policy value may include one or more data bits indicative of one or more policies that define allowable usage of the cryptographic keyword. The apparatus also includes a security circuit that may be configured to extract the cryptographic keyword and the policy value from the message, and to apply at least one policy of the one or more policies to usage of the cryptographic keyword in response to a determination that an authentication of the message succeeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Paaske, Weihua Mao, Shu-Yi Yu
  • Patent number: 11940936
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to coordinating the operations of subsystems in a communication system of an electronic device where a coexistence hub device monitors the state information transmitted as coexistence messages over one or more multi-drop buses, processes the monitored coexistence messages and sends out control messages as coexistence messages to other systems on chips (SOCs). The coexistence hub device can also update the operations of the communication system. The coexistence hub device may receive an operation policy from a central processor and may execute the operation policy without further coordination of the central processor. The coexistence hub device broadcasts the control messages as coexistence messages according to the executed operation policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Helena Deirdre O'Shea, Matthias Sauer, Jorge L. Rivera Espinoza, Bernd Adler
  • Patent number: 11941764
    Abstract: A computer system displays a representation of a field of view of the one or more cameras, including a representation of a portion of a three-dimensional physical environment that is in the field of view of the one or more cameras. The computer system receives a request to add a first virtual effect to the displayed representation of the field of view of the one or more cameras. In response to receiving the request to add the first virtual effect to the displayed representation of the field of view of the one or more cameras and in accordance with a determination that the first virtual effect requires a scan of the physical environment, the computer system initiates a scan of the physical environment to detect one or more features of the physical environment and displays a user interface that indicates a progress of the scan of the physical environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Harding, James A. Queen, Joseph-Alexander P. Weil, Joanna M. Newman, Ron A. Buencamino, Richard H. Salvador, Fernando Garcia, Austin T. Tamaddon, Omid Khalili, Scott W. Wilson, Thomas H. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 11941211
    Abstract: In some examples, a touch screen can include touch electrodes that can function as drive (Tx) electrodes and sense (Rx) electrodes during a touch sensing operation of the electronic device. The drive electrodes can include +Tx electrodes and ?Tx electrodes that can receive drive signals that can have the same amplitude and frequency and opposite phases, for example. In some examples, the surface areas of the +Tx electrodes and the ?Tx electrodes can be the same and the distances of the +Tx electrodes and ?Tx electrodes from the Rx electrodes can be different. In some examples, the total charge coupled to a proximate or touching object can be zero, which can mitigate problems associated with ungrounded or poorly grounded objects in contact with the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William Matthew Pender Paul, Christoph H. Krah, Bin Huang, Stanley Bo-Ting Wang
  • Patent number: 11941785
    Abstract: An electronic device may include scaling circuitry to scale input pixel data to a greater resolution. The directional scaling circuitry may include first interpolation circuitry to receive best mode data, including one or more angles corresponding to content of the image and interpolate first pixel values at first pixel positions diagonally offset from input pixel positions of the input pixel data based on the best mode data and input pixel values corresponding to the input pixel positions. The directional scaling circuitry may also include second interpolation circuitry to receive the best mode data and the input pixel values and interpolate second pixel values at second pixel positions horizontally or vertically offset from the input pixel positions based at least in part on the best mode data and the input pixel values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jim C Chou, Yun Gong
  • Patent number: 11941237
    Abstract: A computer system receives, by a messaging application, information identifying a first shared content item as shared content. The first shared content item is of a first type. In response to receiving the information identifying the first shared content item as shared content and in accordance with a determination that a first application of the plurality of applications can open content of the first type, in accordance with a determination that providing the information identifying the first shared content item as shared content to the first application has been authorized, computer system device automatically makes the first shared content item available within the first application, and in accordance with a determination that providing information identifying the first shared content item as shared content to the first application has not been authorized, the computer system does not make the first shared content item automatically available within the first application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Weskamp, Zheng X. Hong, Marcel van Os, Corey K. Wang
  • Patent number: 11941783
    Abstract: Methods and systems include receiving, at de-ringing circuitry of a display pipeline of an electronic device, scaled image content based on image data. The de-ringing circuitry also receives a fallback scaler output. The de-ringing circuitry determines whether the image data has a change frequency greater than a threshold. In response to the change frequency being above the threshold, the de-ringing circuitry determines a weight. Based at least in part on the weight, the de-ringing circuitry blends the scaled image content and the fallback scaler output based at least in part on the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesh B. Chappalli, Vincent Z. Young
  • Patent number: 11941243
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to handwriting on touch sensitive surfaces. In some examples, text suggestions strokes entered on a touch sensitive surface are viewed and selected in response to a rotatable input mechanism. In some examples, text determined from a set of strokes on the touch sensitive surface is revised based on a subsequently entered stroke on the touch sensitive surface. In some examples, a determination is made whether to include a stroke in a set of strokes based a time between the stroke and the previous stroke. In some examples, determining text based on a set of stroke is interrupted to determined revised text based on the set of strokes and a second stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Dixon, Imran Chaudhri, Bradley W. Griffin, Tiffany S. Jon
  • Patent number: 11941341
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for providing secondary content within primary content via an adaptive inset window. Adaptations of the adaptive inset window may include specifying an activation status, size, shape, and/or location of an adaptive inset window to be presented in the primary content. The adaptation may be defined based upon a salient region identified based upon object within the primary content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam P Williams, David A Underwood, Amy W Hung
  • Patent number: 11941401
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor circuit that includes a return address stack circuit, a return prediction circuit, and a fetch control circuit. The return prediction circuit is configured to store, for previously accessed return addresses, fetch parameters for next fetch addresses. The fetch control circuit is configured to in response to a fetch of a call instruction, push a return address onto the return address stack circuit. In response to a fetch of a return instruction that corresponds to the call instruction, the fetch control circuit is further configured to retrieve the return address from the return address stack circuit, and to create, using the return address and fetch parameters retrieved from the return prediction circuit, a next fetch request to retrieve instructions subsequent to the return instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Pruthivi Vuyyuru, Ian D. Kountanis
  • Patent number: 11943024
    Abstract: The present application relates to devices and components including apparatus, systems, and methods to provide beamforming scheme selection and signaling in wireless communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yushu Zhang, Dawei Zhang, Haitong Sun, Rohit U. Nabar, Wei Zeng, Weidong Yang, Yakun Sun
  • Patent number: 11941907
    Abstract: An acoustic imaging system includes multiple transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of substrate. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Giovanni Gozzini, Brian Michael King, Marcus Yip, Marduke Yousefpor, Ehsan Khajeh, Aaron Tucker, Henry H. Yang
  • Patent number: 11941742
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to processor communications fabrics. In some embodiments, a processor includes multiple client circuitry and fabric circuitry that includes at least first and second instances of a tile. The tile may include: client inputs configured to interface with client circuits, tile inputs configured to interface with one or more other tile instances, and communication resources assignable to the client inputs and tile inputs. The communications resources may include: multiple internal links, client outputs configured to interface with client circuits, and tile outputs configured to interface with one or more other tile instances. Control circuitry may, in a given cycle, assign communication resources of a given tile instance to at least a portion of the client inputs and tile inputs for a next cycle, based on priority information. The control circuitry may update priority information based on assignment results over multiple cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Smith, Sergio V. Tota, Christopher G. Martin, Yoong Chert Foo, Terence M. Potter, Max J. Batley
  • Patent number: 11941688
    Abstract: A computing device provides methods and workflow for setting up a shared family account on a content storage system, including the creation of accounts for child family members. A computing device supports the creation of a family account using an account on the content storage system associated with an adult family member acting as a family organizer. The family organizer can designate a specific account as a purchase account for allowing other family member to purchase content from content servers associated with the content storage system. The family organizer can invite other adult family members to join the shared family account. The family organizer can create new accounts on the content storage system for child family members, and can designate access and purchase restrictions for such child family members. Family members have access to shared storage content, as well as services such as family calendar, group messaging, and device location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Megan M. Frost, Patrick L Coffman, Maria D Ioveva
  • Patent number: 11941968
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a processor, and a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to learn a sound emitted by a legacy device and to issue an output when the electronic device subsequently hears the sound. For example, the electronic device can receive a training input and extract a compact representation of a sound in the training input, which the device stores. The device can receive an audio signal corresponding to an observed acoustic scene and extract a representation of the observed acoustic scene from the audio signal. The electronic device can determine whether the sound is present in the observed acoustic scene at least in part from a comparison of the representation of the observed acoustic scene with the representation of the sound. The electronic device emits a selected output responsive to determining that the sound is present in the acoustic scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hyung-Suk Kim, Daniel C. Klingler, Miquel Espi Marques, Carlos M. Avendano
  • Patent number: D1019121
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Markus Diebel, M. Evans Hankey, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Joe Sung-Ho Tan, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang
  • Patent number: D1019218
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Gady, Gabriel J. Lamb, Seung Chae Kang, Angela M. Estepa, Jake A. Nelson, Adrian E. Magrina
  • Patent number: D1019449
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Marc A. Newson, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer