Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 8118617
    Abstract: Jack assemblies having cylindrical contacts are provided. For example, an enclosure may provide a cavity with a longitudinal axis for receiving an electrical plug. The jack assembly may also include at least one jack contact positioned in the cavity. The jack contact may include a first end region extending about at least a portion of the axis and a contact region extending from the first end region towards the axis. The first end region may extend completely about the axis or just about a portion of the axis. The contact region may deflect and contact a first conductive region of the plug in multiple contact areas when the plug is inserted into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 8121294
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods and computer-readable media to perform data encryption and decryption using a derivation function to obtain a key per page of data in a white-box environment. The method includes sharing a master key with the sender and receiver, splitting the input data into blocks and sub-blocks, and utilizing a set of keys and a master key to derive a page key. In another aspect of this disclosure, the key validation and shuffling operations are included. This method allows for the derivation of a key instead of storing a predetermined key, thus maintaining system security in a white-box environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mathieu Ciet, Augustin J. Farrugia, Filip Toma Paun
  • Patent number: 8122378
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for image capture and manipulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Ciudad, Erika Misaki, Michael Stochosky, Mike Matas
  • Patent number: 8122380
    Abstract: In a software object display system, an adaptation layer is used to isolate the presentation layer from expectations of the structure of the software objects displayed. A small set of data can be transferred between the adaptation layer and the presentation layer in order to provide for the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Arrouye, Sean J. Findley, Keith L. Mortensen
  • Patent number: 8120591
    Abstract: The identification of low noise stimulation frequencies for detecting and localizing touch events on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a separate sense line in a touch sensor panel and can have multiple mixers, each mixer using a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency, phase and delay. With no stimulation signal applied to any drive lines in the touch sensor panel, pairs of mixers can demodulate the sum of the output of all sense channels using the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals of a particular frequency. The demodulated outputs of each mixer pair can be used to calculate the magnitude of the noise at that particular frequency, wherein the lower the magnitude, the lower the noise at that frequency. Several low noise frequencies can be selected for use in a subsequent touch sensor panel scan function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Horst Krah, Steve Porter Hotelling, Sean Erik O'Connor, Wayne Carl Westerman
  • Publication number: 20120040644
    Abstract: One or more media items can be bound to a voice call using a binding protocol. The binding protocol allows call participants to more easily transfer media items to other call participants using one or more user interfaces. A call participant can initiate a media transfer by selecting the media and a communication modality for transferring the media. The binding protocol can be active or lazy. In lazy binding, the call participant can select the desired media for transfer before the voice call is established, and subsequently mark the media for binding with the voice call. In active binding, the call participant can select and transfer the desired media item during the voice call, and the media item is automatically bound to the voice call. The media item can be transferred using a user-selected communication modality over an independent data communication channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Devang K. Naik, Kevin Tiene
  • Publication number: 20120041817
    Abstract: The present technology prioritizes or ranks segments based on the content provider's or content delivery system's goals or priorities. The content delivery system can monitor its performance in meeting any known goals, and should the content delivery system recognize that its progress towards meeting a goal is not satisfactory, the content delivery system can prioritize some segments over others to meet one or more goals. Since prioritizing a selection of segments can impact other system and content provider goals, the system can also be provided with a performance predictor that can run a series of prediction models to predict the optimum prioritization of segments to result in the best performance of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eswar Priyadarshan, Kenley Sun, Dan Marius Grigorovici, Ravikiran Chittari, Jayasurya Vadrevu, Irfan Mohammed, Omar Abdala
  • Publication number: 20120038374
    Abstract: A component carrier has formed therein a water sensor, having a first patterned conductor piece formed in a metal layer of the component carrier and a bridge being an amount of water-soluble conductive glue filling an electrically insulating gap between the patterned conductor piece and another conductor in the carrier. This forms a conductive path between the patterned conductor piece and the another conductor. A sensing circuit is coupled to detect changes in impedance of the path. In another embodiment, a discrete component has a pair of terminals with a bridge being an amount of water-soluble conductive glue filling the electrically insulating gap between the terminals to form a conductive path whose impedance changes in response to coming into contact with a sufficient amount of water. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120041969
    Abstract: The present technology derives unknown user characteristics from known user characteristics. Unknown characteristics can be inferred from products purchased by a user; by comparing two similar users and inputing characteristics known about one user to another user with unknown characteristics; by inferring characteristics using classifying algorithms to infer additional user characteristics from a collection of other known data about a user. The inferred characteristics can further be associated with a confidence score which is an indication of the likelihood that the inferred value is the correct value for a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eswar Priyadarshan, Kenley Sun, Dan Marius Grigorovici, Ravikiran Chittari, Jayasurya Vadrevu, Irfan Mohammed
  • Publication number: 20120042253
    Abstract: Segments used to select content to be targeted to a user are recursively refined based on continuously derived user characteristics. Based on information gathered from new requests for targeted content and/or user interaction with previously delivered content the user is assigned to one or additional candidate segments. The candidate segments can be used to select content to be delivered to the user based on the user's assignment to the targeted segments. Accordingly, each user is grouped into one or more targeted segments and based on the user's inclusion in those segments, requests for targeted content can be served to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eswar Priyadarshan, Kenley Sun, Dan Marius Grigorovici, Ravikiran Chittari, Jayasurya Vadrevu, Irfan Mohammed
  • Publication number: 20120042027
    Abstract: Methods for establishing a direct peer-to-peer (“P2P”) connection between two computers are disclosed. In particular, the methods are designed to work in cases where one or both of the computers are connected to a private network, such private networks being interconnected via a public network, such as the Internet. The connections between the private network and the public network are facilitated by network address translation (“NAT”).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Abuan, Joshua Graessley, Hyeonkuk Jeong, Berkat Tung
  • Publication number: 20120042028
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing To do items and/or notes and/or emails (or other electronic messages) are described. A record, such as a To do item, in a database maintained locally by the data processing system is encoded into metadata. The metadata is sent as a false email message by an email client application executing on the data processing system to a remote email message server. An email client application executing on a remote processing system accesses the email message server and receives the false email message containing the metadata. The remote client application then either converts the metadata back into a database record editable at the remote processing system or presents a non-editable view of the database record, for example as an incoming email message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE, INC.
    Inventors: Brendan Langoulant, Stephen Lemay, Scott Forstall, David Paul Hearst, Hernan Rodrigo Eguiluz, Gregory Christie
  • Publication number: 20120042193
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting and setting clock frequencies for an electronic device are disclosed. Specifically, clock frequencies may be adjusted to avoid interference with input electromagnetic energy, often in radio frequency bands. Clock frequencies may be chosen to minimize signal interference and improve device performance. In some embodiments, clock frequency information is stored in one or more lookup tables in device memory. In certain embodiments, a system processor can access the information stored in the lookup table and instruct system circuitry to adjust clock frequency as needed based on lookup table entries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Saurabh Gupta, Robert Curtis, Tow Wang, Anup Sharma
  • Publication number: 20120042174
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems implementing remote container techniques are disclosed. A relational database can include a container data field, which can be a data field for storing multimedia data. In one aspect, when the multimedia data are inserted into the container field, the multimedia data can be stored in one or more remote database files. The remote database files can be located separately from other data of the relational database and remotely from a client computer accessing the relational database. Corresponding data structures, or remote containers, can be configured to store metadata of the database files. References to the remote containers can be stored as values of the container data field. Using various encryption techniques, the remote database files can be given same access restrictions as access restrictions of the container data field, even when the remote database files are stored as flat files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Oleg Zaydman, Clay Maeckel, Lyndley Crumly
  • Publication number: 20120042262
    Abstract: The present technology analyzes a user's behavior to assign a user to targeted segments. The segments to which the user is assigned can be a reflection of a user's context with respect to potential targeted content. While a user can be assigned to many different segments, the user is likely to be most interested in content that she is presently interested in. Accordingly, the system can also prioritize or rank or order segments based on the user's present context. Content is then provided to the user on the basis of the segments to which the user belongs and the priority of segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eswar Priyadarshan, Kenley Sun, Dan Marius Grigorovici, Jayasurya Vadrevu, Irfan Mohammed, Omar Abdala
  • Publication number: 20120041792
    Abstract: The presently described technology provides a mechanism for allowing custom targeted segments to be defined by parties outside of a content delivery system. Segments include collections of users grouped together based on common characteristics wherein targeted content is provided to a user based on her assignment to a segment. The present technology allows a content provider, as an example, to define a custom segment, thereby creating a grouping of users suited to receive the content provider's content. In some embodiments, a user interface is provided to the content provider, which includes all available characteristics, and value ranges corresponding to the characteristics. The content provider selects from among the characteristics and values corresponding to the characteristics to create a definition of a custom segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eswar Priyadarshan, Kenley Sun, Dan Marius Grigorovici, Jayasurya Vadrevu, Irfan Mohammed
  • Patent number: 8116133
    Abstract: Systems and methods, including computer software, for reading data from a flash memory cell involve detecting voltages from a group of memory cells. The group of memory cells have associated metadata for error detection, and each memory cell stores a voltage representing a data value selected from a plurality of possible data values. Each possible data value corresponds to one range of multiple non-overlapping ranges of analog voltages. Memory cells having uncertain data values are identified based on the detected voltages. Alternative data values for the memory cells having the uncertain data values are determined. A combination of alternative data values is selected, and an error detection test is performed using the metadata associated with the memory cells and the selected combination of alternative data values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cornwell, Christopher P. Dudte
  • Patent number: 8117651
    Abstract: A method, system, and connector interface for authenticating an accessory. The method includes performing a first authentication operation on the accessory by the media player, where an authentication certificate is validated; and performing a second authentication operation on the accessory by the media player, where an authentication signature is validated. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the media player and accessory may utilize a plurality of commands in a variety of environments such as within a connector interface system environment to control access to the media player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Novotney, John B. Filson, David Tupman, Gregory T. Lydon
  • Patent number: 8113494
    Abstract: Active cushioning mechanisms that detect imminent impact and activate a damper by driving power from an onboard power supply into an electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator transforms the stored electric power into an electromechanical damping force. The actuators may be arranged about the exterior surface of the device, and may be selectively activated to provide protection at different points on the surface depending on the location of expected impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Ashwin Sunder
  • Patent number: D654072
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Steve Jobs, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Douglas B. Satzger, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer