Patents Assigned to Apple, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10199074
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for selecting frames for decode and display during different playback modes of a media player. Prediction dependencies may be estimated among frames from a sample table of a media item identifying dependency state among frames in the media item. Based on a playback rate of a media player, a collection of frames may be identified from the media item that have presentation times within a display refresh time of the player. A frame may be selected for decode and display during the display refresh time based on the estimated prediction dependencies. The selected frame may be decoded for display during the player display refresh time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jerome Decoodt, John Samuel Bushell
  • Patent number: 10200843
    Abstract: In the subject system for Bluetooth audio role-based scheduling, an electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone), may receive streaming audio over a cellular connection, e.g. LTE, and may stream the audio to a head unit of a vehicle, e.g. via Bluetooth. The electronic device may also concurrently communicate with other electronic devices via, e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or BTLE. The electronic device may determine the Bluetooth/communication capabilities of the HU device, such as buffer size, and the electronic device may proactively configure Bluetooth settings/parameters for communicating with the HU device based on the capabilities of the HU device. The electronic device may also adaptively modify scheduling for communications with other electronic devices based on the determined capabilities of the HU device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Chen, Siegfried Lehmann, Hsin-Yao Chen, Wen Zhao
  • Patent number: 10200183
    Abstract: Devices and systems useful in concurrently receiving and transmitting Wi-Fi signals and Bluetooth signals in the same frequency band are provided. By way of example, an electronic device includes a transceiver configured to transmit data and to receive data over channels of a first wireless network and a second wireless network concurrently. The transceiver includes a plurality of filters configured to allow the transceiver to transmit the data and to receive the data in the same frequency band by reducing interference between signals of the first wireless network and the second wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yuo Liu, Peter M. Agboh, Mohit Narang, Indranil S. Sen, Nicholas M. McDonnell, Chia Yiaw Chong
  • Patent number: 10201049
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to control circuitry for light-emitting diodes. The control circuitry includes a two-dimensional light-emitting diode (LED) array. The control circuitry may include a single LED array operable by a common driver or multiple LED arrays each operable by a dedicated LED matrix driver. Each matrix driver may receive a synchronization signal from a common controller and may include a programmable phase lock loop (PLL) to synchronize each matrix driver to the synchronization signal. The LED array may include multiple strings of LEDs mounted in series along the string. Each LED in each string may include a bypass switch operable to modify the current through that LED by pulse-width modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yanhui Xie, Asif Hussain, Jingdong Chen, Manisha P. Pandya
  • Patent number: 10200957
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for estimating baseband power consumption and using the baseband power consumption estimation to select baseband operation features. According to some embodiments, one or more baseband power consumption modifiers occurring during an estimation window may be identified. Baseband power consumption of the wireless device during the estimation window may be estimated based on the identified baseband power consumption modifiers occurring during the estimation window. Baseband data throughput of the wireless device during the estimation window may also be estimated. One or more baseband operation characteristics may be selected based at least in part on the estimated baseband power consumption during the estimation window, possibly in conjunction with the estimated baseband data throughput during the estimation window, current wireless medium conditions, and/or other considerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sunny Arora, Rati Agrawal, Sami M. Almalfouh, Xiantao Sun, Johnson O. Sebeni, Wael S. Barakat, Navid Damji, Srinivas Pasupuleti, Raghuveer Mallikarjunan
  • Publication number: 20190034188
    Abstract: A companion device can obtain a new version of a software program (e.g., in portions) from a server at the request of an accessory device, and provide the new version of the software to the accessory device. The software update of the accessory device can be initiated at the companion device. The companion device can communicate with the accessory device before and after the update to determine whether the update was successful. A notification about the update can then be provided to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Pollack, Eric S. Brown, Gregory B. Novick, Paul W. Chinn, David C. Donley, Tyler D. Hawkins, Julien A. Poumailloux
  • Publication number: 20190037549
    Abstract: Communicating wireless devices collaborate and utilize waveforms to enable secure channel estimation. To protect against a repetitive replay attack, some embodiments include Single Carrier Physical Layer (SC-PHY) waveforms and/or interpolated OFDM waveforms that do not include a repeatable or predictable structure. The waveforms are transmitted in ranging packet structures that are compatible with legacy 802.11 technologies that do not utilize secure channel estimation. The ranging packets are received in combination with the information previously exchanged to enable the receiving wireless system to securely determine a channel estimate (e.g., determine a channel estimate without an interloper transmission that is not an authentic first arrival path in a multi-path channel between the wireless systems). Thus, one or both of the wireless systems can estimate the distance between them (or range). Devices utilizing legacy 802.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mingguang Xu, Su Khiong Yong, Mithat C. Dogan, Rohit U. Nabar, Qi Wang, Kyle C. Brogle, Andrew J. Ringer
  • Publication number: 20190037342
    Abstract: Location-based ticket books are described. A mobile device can present a virtual ticket to a service provider based on a location of the mobile device. The mobile device can receive a virtual ticket for accessing a service from a service provider. The virtual ticket can be associated with a signal source. The signal source can be pre-programmed to broadcast a beacon signal that includes an identifier identifying the signal source. The signal source can be placed at a venue where the service is available. The mobile device, upon arriving at the venue, can detect the beacon signal from the signal source. In response, the mobile device can activate a ticket manager. The ticket manager can automatically select, from a ticket book, the virtual ticket associated with the signal source. The mobile device can present content of the selected virtual ticket at the venue where the service is available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eliza Block, George R. Dicker, Glen W. Steele
  • Publication number: 20190033934
    Abstract: An electronic device is configured to detect the presence or absence of a case that is positioned over at least one surface of the electronic device. When a case is present, the electronic device is configured to determine one or more characteristics of the case and adjust one or more operations of the electronic device based on at least one characteristic of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Benjamin J. Pope, Matthew D. Hill, Dhaval N. Shah, Martin J. Auclair
  • Publication number: 20190037353
    Abstract: A system and method of locating “friends” having mobile devices connected to a network and associated with a user account is disclosed. The method includes sending a request to a mobile device, the mobile device determining its present geographic location and responding to the requestor with this information. This information may be in the form of a coordinate location such as a GPS location or it may be in the form of a name that the mobile device owner assigned to a particular area (e.g., “home”). Having this location information, a user is able to view the location of the friend that is associated with the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Raghu Pai, Timothy S. Hurley, Patrice Olivier Gautier, Karthik Narayanan, Murthy Parthasarathi, Maxime Veron
  • Publication number: 20190037162
    Abstract: Recommending and activating scenes in a multimedia system are provided. The techniques of the present disclosure can allow the states of the components in the multimedia system to be captured in a scene. Once the scene has been saved, the scene can be activated at a later time. A controller device for recommending scenes by comparing the current state with states of components in saved scenes is also provided. The controller device can also determine if media is playing in a current scene, and activate a selected scene without playing the media content. Once the selected scene is activated, the media playing in the current scene can be switched, and the media playing in the selected scene can be played.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Cannistraro
  • Publication number: 20190036271
    Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Mark Edward Doutt, Bartley K. Andre, Kanye Lim, John C. DiFonzo, Jean-Marc Gery
  • Patent number: 10194403
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for correcting quantization errors in signal reception based on estimated network loading including solutions for preserving cellular network performance in low noise, high interference environments. In one embodiment, a data channel is amplified with respect to other signals based on network load during periods of relatively low network utilization. Dynamic modification of the data channel's power level is configured to overcome quantization errors, rather than the true noise floor (which is insignificant in low noise environments). Such solutions provide both the fidelity necessary to enable high degrees of unwanted signaling rejection, while still preserving data channel quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Johnson Sebeni, Yu-Lin Wang, Jianxiong Shi
  • Patent number: 10191641
    Abstract: A device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface: displays a geographic map in a first mode of an application, the geographic map including a plurality of landmarks, the geographic map being displayed at a first magnification level; detects a first input, the first input including a first finger contact at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a first landmark on the display; in response to detecting the first input: when the first input does not satisfy one or more predefined mode-change conditions, changes the magnification level in accordance with the first input and remains in the first mode; and when the first input satisfies the mode-change conditions, selects the first landmark and enters a second mode of the application; while in the second mode, detects a second input; and, in response to detecting the second input, displays information about the first landmark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Patrick Steven Piemonte
  • Patent number: 10192552
    Abstract: Systems and processes for detecting and/or providing a whispered speech response are provided. In one example process, speech is received from a user, and based on the speech input, determined that a whispered speech response is to be provided. Upon determining that a whispered speech response is to be provided, the whispered speech response is generated and provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tuomo J. Raitio, Melvyn J. Hunt, Hywel B. Richards, Madhusudan Chinthakunta
  • Patent number: 10194418
    Abstract: Coaching notifications can be determined based on current user fitness data and historical user fitness data. The coaching notifications may include information that encourages or otherwise coaches users towards established fitness goals. To this end, the timing for presenting along with the substance of the coaching notifications can be customized to the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Kriz Blahnik, Aaron P. Thompson, David S. Clark, Julie A. Arney, Brian R. Drell, Keith P. Avery
  • Patent number: 10192911
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a photosensitive medium and a bias electrode, which is at least partially transparent, overlying the photosensitive medium. An array of pixel circuits is formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each pixel circuit includes a pixel electrode coupled to collect the charge carriers from the photosensitive medium; a readout circuit configured to output a signal indicative of a quantity of the charge carriers collected by the pixel electrode; a skimming gate coupled between the pixel electrode and the readout circuit; and a shutter gate coupled in parallel with the skimming gate between a node in the pixel circuit and a sink site. The shutter gate and the skimming gate are opened sequentially in each of a sequence of image frames so as to apply a global shutter to the array and then to read out the collected charge carriers via the skimming gate to the readout circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Gennadiy A. Agranov, QingFei Chen, Oray O. Cellek, Xiangli Li
  • Patent number: 10192932
    Abstract: Displays including hybrid pixels including an OLED subpixel and QD-LED subpixel are described. In an embodiment, OLED and QD-LED stacks are integrated into the same pixel with multiple common layers shared by the OLED and QD-LED stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Steckel, Mathew K. Mathai, Paul S. Drzaic, Hitoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10193372
    Abstract: A receiver device in an inductive energy transfer system can include a touch sensing device. If the input surface of the touch sensing device is touched, a transmitter device can periodically stop transferring energy to allow the touch sensing device to sense touch samples while inductive energy transfer is inactive. Additionally or alternatively, a transmitter device can produce an averaged duty cycle by transferring energy to the receiver device for one or more periods at a first duty cycle step and for one or more periods at different second first duty cycle step. Additionally or alternatively, a transmitter device can reduce a current level received by a DC-to-AC converter if the current received by the DC-to-AC converter equals or exceeds a threshold. Additionally or alternatively, a transmitter device can ping a receiver device and transfer energy only after a response signal is received from the receiver device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven G. Herbst, Scott D. Morrison, Jeffrey M. Alves, Brandon R. Garbus, Jim C. Hwang, Robert S. Parnell, Terry L. Tikalsky
  • Patent number: 10194013
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a method, and a system for receiving display capabilities of a secondary vehicular display, determining metadata to display based on the display capabilities of the secondary vehicular display, formatting the displayable metadata, and transmitting the displayable metadata to the secondary vehicular display. The metadata is determined by receiving a data set from producer, comparing the data set against the display capabilities, and formatting the resultant data from the comparing as metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua C. Weinberg, Thomas R. Powell, David Rix Nelson