Patents by Inventor Paul J. Wehrenberg

Paul J. Wehrenberg has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8031569
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide various techniques for playing data from an optical media drive. The optical media drive may detect certain media access information for use in accessing optical media. This media access information is stored in a memory that is configured to retain the media access information after the optical media drive is deactivated. The optical media drive reads the data from an optical media and this data is transferred to a buffer until, with reference to some threshold parameter, the optical media drive is deactivated. The optical media drive may be reactivated in reference to another threshold parameter and the media access information is thereafter retrieved from the memory. The optical media drive may then read from the optical media using the provided media access information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
  • Publication number: 20110227736
    Abstract: A theft prevention system for protecting portable electronic devices is disclosed. An acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of a portable electronic device, and a controller analyzes this acceleration to determine whether a theft condition is present. If so, an alarm can be initiated. The theft prevention system can include a filter for attenuating irrelevant acceleration frequencies and isolating those representative of theft, and comparison hardware/software for determining whether the detected acceleration matches a known acceleration profile characteristic of theft. Various parameters of the theft prevention system can also be set by a user through mechanisms such as a graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
  • Patent number: 7986233
    Abstract: A theft prevention system for protecting portable electronic devices is disclosed. An acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of a portable electronic device, and a controller analyzes this acceleration to determine whether a theft condition is present. If so, an alarm can be initiated. The theft prevention system can include a filter for attenuating irrelevant acceleration frequencies and isolating those representative of theft, and comparison hardware/software for determining whether the detected acceleration matches a known acceleration profile characteristic of theft. Various parameters of the theft prevention system can also be set by a user through mechanisms such as a graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
  • Publication number: 20100188331
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, a movement of a portable device is detected using an accelerometer attached to the portable device. An orientation of the portable device after the movement is determined based on movement data provided by the accelerometer. It is determined whether the portable device is held by a user after the movement based on the movement data provided by the accelerometer. Locations of the hands of the user for holding the portable device are determined based on the orientation of the portable device. At least one interface that is not within the predicted locations of the hands of the user is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul J. Wehrenberg, Aaron Leiba, Richard C. Williams, David R. Falkenburg, Louis G. Gerbarg, Ray L. Chang
  • Publication number: 20100191356
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, it is determined whether a portable device is moving using an accelerometer. It is determined a moving pattern of the portable device based on movement data provided by the accelerometer. A media content is selected based on the moving pattern of the portable device. The selected media content is played via the portable device. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul J. Wehrenberg, Aaron Leiba, Richard C. Williams, David R. Falkenburg, Louis G. Gerbarg, Ray L. Chang
  • Publication number: 20100097318
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, an accelerometer attached to a portable device detects a movement of the portable device. In response, a machine executable code is executed within the portable device to perform one or more predetermined user configurable operations. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Paul J. Wehrenberg, Aaron Leiba, Richard C. Williams, David R. Falkenburg, Louis G. Gerbarg, Ray L. Chang
  • Publication number: 20100091452
    Abstract: Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include connector structures. The portable computer may have a case. A portion of the connector structure may be formed by the case of the portable computer. The portable computer may have a circuit board with grounding spring-loaded pins which electrically ground the circuit board to the case of the portable computer. The portable computer may have an optical disk drive that is form fitted to mount to the portable computer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: John Raff, Stewart Shannon Fields, Ron Hopkinson, Bartley K. Andre, Chris Ligtenberg, Mi Zhou, Paul J. Wehrenberg, Brett W. Degner, John Brock, Michelle Rae Goldberg
  • Patent number: 7688306
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, an accelerometer attached to a portable device detects a movement of the portable device. In response, a machine executable code is executed within the portable device to perform one or more predetermined user configurable operations. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Wehrenberg, Aaron Leiba, Richard C. Williams, David R. Falkenburg, Louis G. Gerbarg, Ray L. Chang
  • Publication number: 20090279393
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide various techniques for playing data from an optical media drive. The optical media drive may detect certain media access information for use in accessing optical media. This media access information is stored in a memory that is configured to retain the media access information after the optical media drive is deactivated. The optical media drive reads the data from an optical media and this data is transferred to a buffer until, with reference to some threshold parameter, the optical media drive is deactivated. The optical media drive may be reactivated in reference to another threshold parameter and the media access information is thereafter retrieved from the memory. The optical media drive may then read from the optical media using the provided media access information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
  • Publication number: 20090224914
    Abstract: A theft prevention system for protecting portable electronic devices is disclosed. An acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of a portable electronic device, and a controller analyzes this acceleration to determine whether a theft condition is present. If so, an alarm can be initiated. The theft prevention system can include a filter for attenuating irrelevant acceleration frequencies and isolating those representative of theft, and comparison hardware/software for determining whether the detected acceleration matches a known acceleration profile characteristic of theft. Various parameters of the theft prevention system can also be set by a user through mechanisms such as a graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Paul J. WEHRENBERG
  • Patent number: 7548161
    Abstract: A theft prevention system for protecting portable electronic devices is disclosed. An acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of a portable electronic device, and a controller analyzes this acceleration to determine whether a theft condition is present. If so, an alarm can be initiated. The theft prevention system can include a filter for attenuating irrelevant acceleration frequencies and isolating those representative of theft, and comparison hardware/software for determining whether the detected acceleration matches a known acceleration profile characteristic of theft. Various parameters of the theft prevention system can also be set by a user through mechanisms such as a graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
  • Patent number: 7519180
    Abstract: Copy protection techniques that utilize a watermark and a permission key are disclosed. The copy protection techniques can provide single-copy copy protection in addition to different levels of copy protection. The permission key and the watermark can also permit the invention to yield variable levels of copy protection. In one embodiment, content including a watermark is transmitted to a recipient. The recipient is allowed to read the content but not record the content unless the recipient possesses a permission key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
  • Patent number: 7218226
    Abstract: A theft prevention system for protecting portable electronic devices is disclosed. An acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of a portable electronic device, and a controller analyzes this acceleration to determine whether a theft condition is present. If so, an alarm can be initiated. The theft prevention system can include a filter for attenuating irrelevant acceleration frequencies and isolating those representative of theft, and comparison hardware/software for determining whether the detected acceleration matches a known acceleration profile characteristic of theft. Various parameters of the theft prevention system can also be set by a user through mechanisms such as a graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
  • Publication number: 20030126445
    Abstract: Copy protection techniques that utilize a watermark and a permission key are disclosed. The copy protection techniques can provide single-copy copy protection in addition to different levels of copy protection. The permission key and the watermark can also permit the invention to yield variable levels of copy protection. In one embodiment, content including a watermark is transmitted to a recipient. The recipient is allowed to read the content but not record the content unless the recipient possesses a permission key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
  • Patent number: 6523113
    Abstract: Copy protection techniques that utilize a watermark and a permission key are disclosed. The copy protection techniques can provide single-copy copy protection in addition to different levels of copy protection. The permission key and the watermark can also permit the invention to yield variable levels of copy protection. In one embodiment, content including a watermark is transmitted to a recipient. The recipient is allowed to read the content but not record the content unless the recipient possesses a permission key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
  • Patent number: 5197049
    Abstract: A head and media for optical data storage with a media in which a partially light transmissive recording layer and a reflective layer are located on opposite faces of a transparent substrate layer. The head emits a light beam which passes through the recording layer, transits the substrate layer, reflects internally off the reflective layer, transits the substrate layer in the opposite direction, and comes to focus on the recording layer. This optical path is used for reading and writing. Two of these optical media, placed back to back, with recording layer faces outward, can be used to form a double-sided media with read and write capability from either side. In a magneto-optical system, since the recording layer is near the outer surface, both the optical and magnetic heads can be located and moved as a single unit, increasing the speed and reliability and reducing the cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg