Patents Assigned to Apple
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Publication number: 20110317340Abstract: Forming a 3D topology by forming a monolayer of nano-particles on a stainless steel surface, masking the stainless steel surface forming at least one unmasked regions, the unmasked region having an average density of nano-particles less than a critical average density, and introducing a plurality of exogenous atoms into the stainless steel surface only in the unmasked regions, the exogenous atoms causing the associated metal lattice to expand and harden and have an increase corrosion resistance, thereby selectively forming a 3D topology on the stainless steel surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki
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Publication number: 20110317872Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are disclosed for reducing the impact of lighting conditions and biometric distortions, while providing a low-computation solution for reasonably effective (low threshold) face recognition. In one aspect, the methods include processing a captured image of a face of a user seeking to access a resource by conforming a subset of the captured face image to a reference model. The reference model corresponds to a high information portion of human faces. The methods further include comparing the processed captured image to at least one target profile corresponding to a user associated with the resource, and selectively recognizing the user seeking access to the resource based on a result of said comparing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Robert Mikio Free
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Publication number: 20110317991Abstract: A method performed by an electronic camera in flash mode is as follows. A scene ambient lighting indication is obtained. An integration time interval and a flash pulse-on time interval for taking a picture is then set. The set integration time interval is shorter when the indication is bright than when the indication is dark; and the set flash pulse-on time interval is longer when the indication is bright than when the indication is dark. An image is captured using the set integration time interval and the set flash pulse-on time interval in accordance with an electronic rolling shutter (ERS). Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: Richard Tsai
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Publication number: 20110320806Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for obfuscating data via a modulus operation. A client device receives input data, stores an operation value, performs a modulus obfuscation on the operation value, performs a modulus operation on the operation value and the input data, performs a modulus transformation on the operation value and the input data to obtain client output data, and checks if the client output data matches corresponding server output data. A corresponding server device receives input data, performs a modulus transformation on the input data to obtain a result, performs a plain operation on the result and an operation value to obtain server output data, and checks if the server output data matches corresponding client output data from the client device. The client and/or server can optionally authenticate the client input data and the server input data if the server output data matches the client output data.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mathieu Ciet, Augustin J. Farrugia, Nicholas T. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20110320856Abstract: A method to read selectively system information messages in a mobile wireless communication device. The mobile wireless device receives a first transmission of a multiple segment message through a radio frequency receiver. The mobile wireless device detects decoding errors in at least one of the received segments of the first transmission. In response to detecting decoding errors, the mobile wireless device selectively receives a first subset of segments in a second transmission of the multiple segment message. The mobile wireless device powers down at least a portion of the radio frequency receiver during receive time intervals for a second subset of segments in the second transmission. The first subset of segments in the second transmission corresponds to segments in the first transmission received with decoding errors. The second subset of segments in the second transmission corresponds to segments in the first transmission received without decoding errors.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Giri Prassad DEIVASIGAMANI, Venkatasubramanian RAMASAMY, Sharad GARG, Srinivasan VASUDEVAN
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Publication number: 20110320655Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide compatibility among incompatible accessories and portable media players. One example provides an adapter having a connector receptacle to mate with an accessory's connector insert and a connector insert to mate with a portable media player's connector receptacle. Another example provides an adapter having a direct connection between pins on the connector insert and pins on the connector receptacle that are used for compatible signals. Another example provides an adapter including a DC-to-DC converter that receives a first power supply from an accessory and provides a second power supply to a portable media player. Another translates signals using different signaling technologies. Authentication and identification circuitry may also be included. Other examples may employ wireless technologies instead of either or both the connector insert and connector receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jesse Dorogusker, Emily C. Schubert, Donald Ginsburg, Gregory T. Lydon, Lawrence G. Bolton
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Publication number: 20110320749Abstract: The described embodiments comprise a processor that handles a TLB miss while executing a vector read instruction in a processor. In the described embodiments, the processor performs a lookup in a TLB for addresses in active elements in the vector read instruction. The processor then determines that a TLB miss occurred for the address from an active element other than a first active element. Upon predicting that a page table walk for the vector read instruction will result in a page fault, the processor sets a bit in a corresponding bit position in an FSR. In the described embodiments, a set bit in a bit position in FSR indicates that data in a corresponding element of the vector read instruction is invalid. The processor then immediately performs memory reads for at least one of the first active element and other active elements for which TLB misses did not occur.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Jeffry E. Gonion
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Publication number: 20110320883Abstract: A processor that is configured to perform parallel operations in a computer system where one or more memory hazards may be present is described. An instruction fetch unit within the processor is configured to fetch instructions for detecting one or more critical memory hazards between memory addresses if memory operations are performed in parallel on multiple addresses corresponding to at least a partial vector of addresses. Note that critical memory hazards include memory hazards that lead to different results when the memory addresses are processed in parallel than when the memory addresses are processed sequentially. Furthermore, an execution unit within the processor is configured to execute the instructions for detecting the one or more critical memory hazards.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Jeffry E. Gonion, Keith E. Diefendorff
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Publication number: 20110319081Abstract: A method and apparatus for fast cell selection by a mobile wireless device. The mobile wireless device detects when a first wireless cell fails a set of stored suitability criteria and searches for and locates a set of candidate wireless cells to associate with. The mobile wireless device measures at least one received signal metric for each candidate wireless cell in the set of candidate wireless cells. When a candidate cell in the set of candidate wireless cells is identically the first wireless cell, the mobile wireless device evaluates the suitability of the candidate wireless cell using the stored set of suitability criteria for the first wireless cell and the measured at least one received signal metric for the candidate wireless cell. The mobile wireless communication device associates with the candidate wireless cell when the candidate wireless cell meets the stored set of suitability criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Giri Prassad DEIVASIGAMANI, Venkatasubramanian RAMASAMY, Sharad GARG, Srinivasan VASUDEVAN
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Publication number: 20110316775Abstract: A method for changing a value displayed on a screen is provided. In response to receiving a user input indicating motion in a particular direction, changing the value independent of where the position of a cursor is on the screen. The value being changed may comprise of a series of segments, and each segment value can be changed individually. In addition, a different user input device that does not indicate motion in a particular direction may be used to change segment values and to select other segment values. Methods for automatically formatting a segmented values and calculating a base time rate based on two different frame rates are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Patrick Heynen, Marian Goldeen, Egan Schulz, Dan Fish
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Publication number: 20110320808Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for verifying a digital object obtained from a remote host. A system configured to practice the method downloads a first object from a first remote source and presents the user with a first request to allow access to the first object. Upon user approval, a multitude of characteristics associated with the object are stored to facilitate future uses of the object. When a second object is downloaded from a second remote source, the system checks the database for a stored user approval. Access to the second object is allowed if the multitude of characteristics associated with the first and second objects match. If the system does not find a match, the user is presented with a second request to allow access to the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael Alan Swingler, Thomas John O'Brien
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Publication number: 20110317153Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a focus point of a laser system is described. A reference datum surface is aligned with a laser emitter arranged to emit a laser beam. A portion of the laser beam reflects from the reference datum surface and is captured by a photon detector. Based upon the captured photons, intensity level data is generated each time the laser emitter is moved relative to the reference datum surface. A maximum intensity level is then determined in accordance with the distance moved by the laser emitter associated with the focus point of the laser system. In some cases, an interpolation is performed to provide a more accurate determination of the location of the focus point, the interpolation being in one case a second order polynomial.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Michael Bruce Holmberg
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Publication number: 20110320814Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods and computer readable media for performing authentication. The proposed scheme utilizes new algorithms that introduce randomness using a physical value for authentication. An exemplary method includes sharing an initial state value S(0) with a sender and a receiver, generating a sender S(t, v) based on a parameter t and an identifier v and based at least in part on the value S(0). The method includes generating a receiver S(t, v) from S(0) based on the parameter t and the identifier v wherein the parameter t is related to a physical value in authenticating the identifier v based on a comparison of the sender S(t, v) and the receiver S(t, v). The process of generating the sender S(t, v) and the receiver S(t, v) includes a random variable generated by a process such as by a random number generator, the Brownian Motion or Wiener Process. Other embodiments do not use the physical value for authentication.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mathieu Ciet, Augustin Farrugia, Jean-Francois Riendeau, Nicholas T. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20110316769Abstract: Providing an alternative human interface for an electronic device when a current human interface is made ineffective by at least an environmental factor is described herein. By ineffective it is meant that the current human interface cannot maintain a minimum level of interactivity between a user and the electronic device in the current or anticipated environment. In addition to maintaining at least a threshold level of interactivity, the configuration of the alternative human interface can take into consideration other factors such as an expected operating state of the electronic device affected by the choice of alternative human interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Jesse Boettcher, Jeffery T. Lee, Aram Lindahl
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Publication number: 20110317840Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, method and computer readable medium for providing authentication of an entity B by an entity A. In the method, entity A selects a value p, a range [a, b] and a granularity epsilon. Entity A sends p, [a, b], and epsilon to entity B. Entity B initializes a value yB=0 and for each x in {a, a+epsilon, . . . , b?epsilon, b} and computes z=E(x)*x. The function E(x) is an encryption scheme and the multiplication is carried out mod p. Entity B updates yB=yB+z. After processing each x, entity B sends yB to entity A. Entity A performs the same calculation and generates a yA value and compares yA with yB. If yB=yA, Entity A authenticate entity B. In one aspect, a light HMAC scheme splits an input x into n blocks with key expansion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mathieu Ciet, Augustin Farrugia, Jean-Francois Riendeau, Nicholas T. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20110319076Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanded cell search and selection in a mobile wireless device. The mobile device locates cells in a first of neighbor cells and in a second list of stored cells and evaluates located cells using suitability criteria. When locating a suitable first cell that uses a first radio access technology (RAT) in the first list, the first cell is selected. When locating a second suitable cell that uses a second RAT in the first list and not locating a suitable cell that uses the first RAT in the second list, the second cell is selected. When locating a third suitable cell that uses the second RAT in the first list and locating a fourth suitable cell that uses the first RAT in the second list, the fourth cell is selected when more suitable than the third cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Venkatasubramanian Ramasamy, Giri Prassad Deivasigamani
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Publication number: 20110317917Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are disclosed relating to skin-tone filtering for reducing the impact of lighting conditions, while providing a low-computation solution for effective face detection. In one aspect, methods include sampling a digital image frame from among a series of digital image frames. The methods further include analyzing pixels within the sampled digital image frame to determine whether pixels in the sampled digital image frame have a hue, independent of lightness, that is within a range of hues corresponding to human skin tone. Further, the methods include deciding whether the sampled digital image frame includes a depiction of human skin based on a result of the analyzing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Robert Mikio Free
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Publication number: 20110320022Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: James D. Batson, Meriko L. Borogove, Gregory R. Chapman, Patrick L. Coffman, Anthony J. Guetta, Aram Lindahl, Andrew Rostaing
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Publication number: 20110320763Abstract: The described embodiments determine if two addressed memory regions overlap. First, a first address for a first memory region and a second address for a second memory region are received. Then a composite address is generated from the first and second addresses. Next, an upper subset and a lower subset of the bits in the addresses are determined. Then, using the upper and lower subsets of the addresses, a determination is made whether the addresses meet a condition from a set of conditions. If so, a determination is made whether the lower subset of the bits in the addresses meet a criteria from a set of criteria. Based on the determination whether the lower subset of the bits in the addresses meet a criteria, a determination is made whether the memory regions overlap or do not overlap.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Jeffry E. Gonion
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Patent number: 8085247Abstract: An oscillating signal of relatively precise frequency is generated by tuning an oscillator using an external stable oscillating source as a reference. Calibration logic is included to compare a signal from the local oscillator to the reference signal and vary the local signal to a desired frequency. In one embodiment, a binary search algorithm is used to tune the local oscillator. The local oscillating signal can be sent to one or more circuits including at least one sensor of a touch sensitive panel for detecting touch events.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Thomas James Wilson