Patents Assigned to Apple
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Publication number: 20120050307Abstract: A method for controlling characteristics of an electronic device based on ambient light levels is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving light at an ambient light sensor of a device and measuring components, such as color components, of the visible light. The component levels may be weighted differently by factors that vary based on the intensity of the light received by the ambient light sensor. Also, the brightness level of a light source in the device or color output of the device may be controlled based on the weighted component levels. Additional methods, systems, and devices relating to control of an electronic device based on sensed ambient light are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Peter H. Mahowald, Ulrich T. Barnhoefer
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Publication number: 20120050788Abstract: Among other things, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for manipulating media. In one aspect, a first set of media item images is displayed in a first region of a display screen. The media item images are moved about a predetermined path within the first region in response to a received input. A second set of media item images is displayed in a second region of the display screen where the second set of media item images are associated with an indicated media item image displayed in the first region. At least one of the media item images in the second set of media item images displayed in the second region is different from the indicated media item image.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: William Martin Bachman, Timothy B. Martin, Rachel Patricia Max, Brian Frick, Michael Neuman
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Publication number: 20120054541Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for handling errors during device bootup from a non-volatile memory (“NVM”). A NVM interface of an electronic device can be configured to detect errors and maintain an error log in volatile memory while the device is being booted up. Once device bootup has completed, a NVM driver of the electronic device can be configured to correct the detected errors using the error log. For example, the electronic device can move data to more reliable blocks and/or retire blocks that are close to failure, thereby improving overall device reliability.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Matthew Byom, Kenneth Herman, Nir J. Wakrat, Daniel J. Post
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Publication number: 20120054611Abstract: Among other things, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for presenting a user interface for manipulation of audio waveforms associated with video content. In one aspect, a method can be performed by one or more processes executing on a computer system. Images representing video frames in a first region of a user interface can be displayed. An audio waveform representing audio associated with at least a portion of a video frame can be displayed. At least three audio waveform portions including (i) a first portion of the audio waveform that exceeds a first predetermined threshold, (ii) a second portion of the audio waveform below the first predetermined threshold and above a second predetermined threshold, and (iii) a third portion of the audio waveform below the second predetermined threshold can be graphically distinguished.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Laurent Perrodin, Randy Ubillos, Richard Townhill, Judson Coplan, Mike Mitchell, Jer Granucci, Keith Salvucci
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Publication number: 20120050293Abstract: This is directed to dynamically adjusting the display of a curve provided on a display while the curve is being drawn. In particular, this is directed to identifying segments between sampled points of a line, and applying a transform to the segments to smooth the line between the sampled points. As additional points are identified, previously drawn segments can be transformed, displayed, and stored in cache. In some embodiments, the electronic device can monitor angles along the path to determine whether a user provided an instruction to draw a line having an intentionally sharp angle. In such cases, the electronic device can adjust the smoothing transform to maintain the sharp angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple, Inc.Inventors: Alexandre Carlhian, Guillaume Borios, Laurent Baumann
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Publication number: 20120054004Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for booking and managing electronic campaigns. In particular, electronic campaigns are booked by obtaining a correlation between campaign input parameters for the campaign, campaign output characteristics for the campaign, and network output characteristics of network elements affected or impacted by the campaign. The correlation can then be used to identify sets of values for the input parameters that result in the various output characteristics meeting some criteria and one of the sets can thereafter be used to book an electronic campaign. At a later time, if the actual values for the various output parameters fail to meet corresponding criteria, the correlation can be updated to identify and select a new set of campaign input parameter values for the electronic campaign.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eswar Priyadarshan, Kenley Sun, Dan Marius Grigorovici, Ravikiran Chittari, Jayasurya Vadrevu, Jeffery M. Banister
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Publication number: 20120054493Abstract: A secure wireless communication link (pairing) between two devices can be established using cleartext wireless transmissions between devices not joined to a network (“probes”). One device can broadcast a first probe indicating that it is seeking to establish a pairing. The other device can respond with a second probe, and the two devices can establish a shared secret, e.g., by exchanging further information using additional probes. Thereafter, either device can send a message to the other by encrypting the message using a cryptographic key derived from the shared secret; encrypted messages can also be sent within probes. The receiving device can extract an encrypted message from a probe and decrypt it using the cryptographic key. The encrypted message can include credentials usable by the receiving device to join a wireless network.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: Bob Bradley
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Publication number: 20120054302Abstract: The selection of invitational content to deliver to a user can be influenced by the user's current location. Periodically, the content delivery system prioritizes the invitational content that is eligible for delivery to the user based on information about the user and the user's interactions with items of invitational content. Upon resolving a location associated with the user's device, the content delivery system re-prioritizes the invitational content. The re-prioritization can be based on the user's assignment to spatial-temporal segments or the user's proximity to predefined landmarks. An item is then selected from the re-prioritized invitational content and delivered to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eswar Priyadarshan, Irfan Mohammed, Dan Marius Grigorovici, Omar Abdala
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Publication number: 20120053946Abstract: In response to a word of a text sequence, a first part-of-speech (POS) tag is generated using a statistical part-of-speech (POS) tagger based on a corpus of trained text sequences, each representing a likely POS of a word for a given text sequence. A second POS tag is generated using a rule-based POS tagger based on a set of one or more rules associated with a type of an application associated with the text sequence. A final POS tag is assigned to the word of the text sequence for TTS synthesis based on the first POS tag and the second POS tag.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Jerome R. Bellegarda
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Publication number: 20120050153Abstract: An intelligent pairing between a first device and a target second device is described. The intelligent pairing can use information provided by a plurality of second devices responding to a connection request by the first device where only one of the plurality of responding second devices is the target second device. The information can include a motion signature, a first device identifier, and a second device identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Eugene Dvortsov, Benjamin A. Rottler, Michael I. Ingrassia, JR.
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Publication number: 20120054209Abstract: The present technology is directed to improving the conversion rate of invitational content that is provided to the user of an interactive, content-receiving-and-displaying device. The content of a large number of primary-content sources is analyzed and keyword and/or other context-providing information is extracted from the primary-content sources. The keyword and/or other context-providing information is used to index the primary-content sources into an index according to a hierarchical taxonomy; the hierarchical taxonometric index is used to identify primary-content sources with which a given item of invitational content correlates; and the given item of invitational content is delivered to a user in response to the user accessing a primary-content source with which the given item of invitational content correlates.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eswar Priyadarshan, Kenley Sun, Dan Marius Grigorovici, Jayasurya Vadrevu
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Publication number: 20120052850Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are described for selecting an image of a caller associated with an incoming call. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a caller associated with an incoming call from an originating telecommunications device. The method also includes locating plurality images of the identified caller, and randomly displaying on the mobile telecommunications device's display screen one or more images from among the located plurality images of the identified caller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Timothy B. Martin, Gregory Charles Lindley
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Publication number: 20120054509Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and circuits for managing power among portable computing devices and one or more accessories. One example provides commands to improve power management between a portable computing device and one or more accessories. Other examples provide commands that may allow a portable computing device to charge at a maximum available current level while providing an accessory with sufficient current for its proper operation. Another may help prevent a portable computing device from drawing a high level of current that could be detrimental to an accessory, while others provide commands that may allow a battery pack to instruct a portable computing device to not charge its internal battery. Another example may allow a portable computing device to determine which power supply among multiple power supplies should be used to power an accessory, while others may allow an accessory to retrieve charging current parameters from a portable computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Shailesh Rathi, Lawrence G. Bolton, John Ananny, Scott Krueger
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Publication number: 20120054582Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for detecting corrupted data for a system having non-volatile memory, such as NAND Flash memory. In some embodiments, a non-volatile memory (“NVM”) package is provided, which can include a NVM controller and one or more NVM dies. Each NVM die can include one or more blocks, where each block can further include an array of memory cells. One or more of these memory cells can be configured as “multi-level cells” (“MLCs”). In some embodiments, in order to avoid transmitting data obtained from an improperly programmed page of a MLC, a NVM controller can be configured to detect if data obtained from the page is in fact data stored in a different page.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Matthew Byom, Daniel J. Post, Vadim Khmelnitsky, Nir J. Wakrat
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Publication number: 20120051560Abstract: Techniques for controlling the volumes of multiple audio output devices using a collective (master) volume control and an individual volume control for each audio output device. In one set of embodiments, each individual volume control can be configured to indicate the current absolute volume level of its corresponding audio output device. When the master volume control is manually adjusted, the individual volume controls can be automatically adjusted in a manner proportional to the manual adjustment of the master volume control. In addition, when an individual volume control is manually adjusted to a setting or value that exceeds the master volume control, the master volume control can be automatically adjusted to be equal to, or greater than, the manually adjusted setting for the individual volume control. In this scenario, the other individual volume controls can remain unchanged.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: Christopher Sanders
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Publication number: 20120054336Abstract: The process of constructing a successful targeted content campaign can be time consuming and error prone. By having access to performance data, adjustments can be made, such as to the tasks performed by the content delivery system, the available content, or the campaign parameters, to improve performance. As the delivery system performs its tasks, it can collect a variety of information regarding the activities within the delivery system. Based on the collected information, the delivery system can obtain performance data for the various campaigns. The delivery system can then analyze the performance data to identify any campaigns that have failed to meet the specified performance criteria. When a non-conforming campaign is detected, the delivery system can attempt to determine the cause of the non-conformance and send an alert to the appropriate entity. Additionally, in some cases, the delivery system can include in the alert suggestions for improving the campaign performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eswar Priyadarshan, Kenley Sun, Dan Marius Grigorovici, Jayasurya Vadrevu
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Publication number: 20120054383Abstract: Devices and methods for power management during media playback are provided. For example, an electronic device according to an embodiment may include storage, a decoder, an output buffer, and data processing circuitry. The storage may store compressed media data that may be decoded by the decoder. The output buffer may store the decoded media data before the decoded media data is played out. The data processing circuitry configured may measure a fullness of the output buffer and may set an operating frequency of the storage, the decoder, the output buffer, or the data processing circuitry, or a combination thereof, depending on a format of the compressed media data and the fullness of the output buffer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Aram Lindahl, Saurabh Gupta, Wang Chun Leung, Richard Michael Powell, Joseph M. Williams
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Publication number: 20120050789Abstract: Among other things, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for manipulating media. In one aspect, a representation of a bookshelf having a plurality of shelves is displayed. A collection of pre-generated digital photo collections is accessed. A plurality of digital photo collections is displayed, wherein the digital photo collections are positioned on the bookshelf, wherein the digital photo collections represent types of printed media, and wherein the displayed digital photo collections include at least one digital photo collection that was created based on user input and at least one pre-generated digital photo collection. User input indicating a selection of a pre-generated digital photo collection is received. User input indicating an image to be included in the selected pre-generated digital photo collection is received. A digital photo collection is generated based on the selected pre-generated digital photo collection that includes the user indicated image.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: William Martin Bachman, Joshua David Fagans, Eric Hanson, Mark Lee Kawano, Rachel A. Roth
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Publication number: 20120054465Abstract: Systems and methods for trimming LBAs are provided. The LBAs can be trimmed from a file and from an NVM interface that maintains a logical-to-physical translation of the file's LBAs and controls management of the file's contents stored on non-volatile memory (“NVM”). The file can be any suitable file that has any number of associated LBAs. In addition, the file can be linked to one or more data chunks stored in the NVM, each data chunk associated with LBAs in the file. When a data chunk is retrieved or read from the NVM, that chunk no longer needs to be maintained in the NVM. Accordingly, after the data chunk is retrieved from the NVM and provided to an appropriate destination, the LBAs associated with the retrieved data chunk can be trimmed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Post, Eric Tamura, Matthew Byom, Neil Crane, Kenneth Herman, Francois Barbou-des-Place
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Publication number: 20120048589Abstract: A very small form factor consumer electronic product includes at least a single piece housing having an integral front and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with a front opening where an edge of the side walls define a rear opening and at least some of the edges have flanges. The consumer electronic product also includes an user input assembly having a size and shape in accordance with the front opening and a clip assembly having a size and shape in accordance with the rear opening and having an external user actionable clip, a plurality of internal hooking features, and a plurality of internal latching features. The clip assembly is secured by engaging at least some of the hooking features and the flanges on the edges of the housing and engaging the latching features and corresponding attachment features on the internal support plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Eric S. Jol