Patents Assigned to Apple
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Patent number: 8032670Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a first interface circuit, a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to the first interface circuit, and a host coupled to the DMA controller. The first interface circuit is configured to communicate on an interface according to a protocol. The host comprises at least one address space mapped, at least in part, to a plurality of memory locations in a memory system of the host. The DMA controller is configured to perform DMA transfers between the first interface circuit and the address space, and the DMA controller is further configured to perform DMA transfers between a first plurality of the plurality of memory locations and a second plurality of the plurality of memory locations.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dominic Go, Mark D. Hayter, Zongjian Chen, Ruchi Wadhawan
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Patent number: 8031864Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system which supports a dual-purpose aperture for an electronic device. This system includes a first component configured to perform an acoustic function through the aperture and a second component configured to perform a non-acoustic function through the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael N. Rosenblatt, Michael M. Lee, Justin L. Gregg
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Patent number: 8032673Abstract: A PIO transaction unit includes an input buffer, a response buffer, and a control unit. The input buffer may receive and store PIO write operations sent by one or more transactons sources. Each PIO write operation may include a source identifier that identifies the transaction source. The response buffer may store response operations corresponding to respective PIO write operations that are to be transmitted to the transaction source identified by the identifier. The control unit may store a particular response operation corresponding to the given PIO write operation in the response buffer prior to the given PIO write operation being sent from the input buffer. The control unit may store the particular response operation within the response buffer if the given PIO write operation is bufferable and there is no non-bufferable PIO write operation having a same source identifier stored in the input buffer.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Sanjay Mansingh
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Patent number: 8031777Abstract: An encoder includes an encoder engine, a storage device and a controller to implement an iterative coding process. The encoder engine compresses a selected portion of a data sequence. The storage device stores the compressed portion of the data sequence after each iteration. The controller selects the portion of the data sequence to compress for each iteration. The controller gathers statistics from the compressed portion of the data sequence. The gathered statistics include statistics generated by the selected frames and statistics extrapolated from the selected frames for the non-selected frames. The controller adjusts coding parameters of the encoder engine on each iteration until the gathered statistics meet a specified performance requirement.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2006Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Barin Haskell, Adriana Dumitras, Hsi-Jung Wu, Xin Tong, Thomas Pun
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Patent number: 8031962Abstract: The disclosed implementations relate generally to improved workflows for color correcting digital images. In some implementations, a method of correcting images includes: presenting a user interface on a display device, the user interface including a display area; presenting a digital image in the display area; overlaying a correction interface on the digital image; and performing a correction operation on at least a portion of the digital image in response to a user interaction with the correction interface, where the correction operation is performed with real-time responsiveness.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel Pettigrew, Jean-Pierre Mouilleseaux, Dan Candela
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Patent number: 8032672Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing data samples utilizes a channel map populated by device descriptor, or by an application program interface. Packet processing code loops through all of the samples contained in a packet while incrementing through a channel map and steering table without having to look up a table to determine in what audio buffer the sample is to be stored or read. Additionally, the present invention utilizes a stride map, so the audio subsystem knows how many samples to skip in order to reach the next sample frame. The present invention can be used for handling received packets as well as forming packets to send over a bus.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2006Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Matthew Xavier Mora, Niel D. Warren
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Patent number: 8031174Abstract: A multi-layer cover for an electronic device having one or more of a sensor panel, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a display device can include an outer hardcoat, a structural layer, an IR transmissive ink layer, a mask layer, and a backside hardcoat. The backside hardcoat can reduce cover warpage, enable full surface lamination of the cover to the sensor panel, prevent bubbles from forming in transparent windows in the cover, enable a wider range of functional inks to be applied in various layering orders to allow certain types of light to pass through while blocking others, and hide the sensors to provide a seamless, uncluttered visual appearance.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mark Arthur Hamblin, Richard Hung Minh Dinh
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Patent number: 8031094Abstract: A controller for a touch sensor includes a transimpedance amplifier, and a feedback resistor coupled to an input of the transimpedance amplifier and to an output of the transimpedance amplifier. At least one multiplexor may be coupled to the input of the transimpedance amplifier and configured to multiplex a plurality of analog inputs to one dedicated channel. The controller may further include a bandpass filter coupled to the output of the transimpedance amplifier. The output of the bandpass filter may be input to an anti-aliasing filter, which feeds into an analog to digital converter. Alternatively, the output of the bandpass filter may be input to a sigma-delta analog to digital converter.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Christoph Horst Krah
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Patent number: 8032181Abstract: Systems and methods for activating a mobile device for use with a service provider are described. In one exemplary method, a mobile device having a currently inserted SIM card may be prepared for activation using a signing process in which an activation server generates a signed activation ticket encoded with SIM policy data that corresponds to the combination of the device and one of a number of SIM cards belonging to a set of SIM cards defined by the SIM policy data. The activation ticket is securely stored on the mobile device. In another exemplary method the mobile device may be activated in an activation process in which the device verifies an activation ticket against information specific to the device and SIM card in accordance with the SIM policy in the activation ticket, and initiates activation when the verification of the activation ticket is successful.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jerry Hauck, Jeffrey Bush, Michael Lambertus Hubertus Brouwer, Daryl Mun-Kid Low
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Patent number: 8031164Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to operate a display device of an electronic device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a user setting of a display control parameter, and altering, based on the user setting, an effect of an ambient light sensor value (ALS) on control of the display control parameter. Also, according to embodiments of the inventions, a method of operating a display of an electronic device includes receiving a change to one of a display brightness output level and an ambient light sensor output level, and altering, according to the change, a display contrast output level. In some embodiments, a method of operating a proximity sensor of an electronic device includes receiving a light sensor output, and altering, according to the output, an on/off setting of a proximity sensor. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Scott M. Herz, Roberto G. Yepez, Michael F. Culbert, Scott Forstall
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Patent number: 8032843Abstract: Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. To provide greater access and consolidation to frequently used items in the graphical user interface, a userbar is established which includes a plurality of item representations. To permit a greater number of items to reside in the userbar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the userbar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bas Ording, Steven P. Jobs, Donald J. Lindsay
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Patent number: 8032371Abstract: Techniques for determining scale factor values when encoding audio data are described. According to one technique, a particular scale factor value (SFV) is estimated using an audio quality estimator function that is non-linear. After a certain point, a decrease in noise results in a smaller increase in audio quality. According to another technique, an initial SFV is estimated for each scale factor band (SFB). When estimating the cost of transitioning from one SFB to another, only a proper subset of possible SFVs are considered. The proper subset is based, at least in part, on the initial SFV.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Frank M. Baumgarte
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Patent number: 8029166Abstract: A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light device disposed inside the housing. The light device is configured to illuminate the illuminable portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Duncan R. Kerr, Steve P. Hotelling
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Publication number: 20110237188Abstract: Mitigating interference in a mobile wireless communication device by using an estimation of the performance impact of interfering signals generated by a wireless cellular transmitter and received by a co-located Bluetooth receiver. Bluetooth frequency channels are marked suitable or unsuitable for transmission based on the performance impact estimation and the state of the wireless cellular and Bluetooth connections. The estimation accounts for properties of the wireless cellular transmitter and Bluetooth receiver as well as operational characteristics of the wireless cellular and Bluetooth connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Indranil Sen
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Publication number: 20110237246Abstract: Mitigating interference in a mobile wireless communication device by using an estimation of the performance impact of interfering signals generated by a wireless cellular transmitter and received by a co-located wireless local area network receiver. Wireless local area network frequency band usage is modified based on the performance impact estimation and the state of the wireless cellular and wireless local area network connections. The estimation accounts for properties of the wireless cellular transmitter and wireless local area network receiver as well as operational characteristics of the wireless cellular and wireless local area network connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Indranil Sen
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Publication number: 20110238886Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for handling uncorrectable errors that may occur during garbage collection of an index page or block in non-volatile memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2010Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Post, Vadim Khmelnitsky
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Publication number: 20110238699Abstract: Providing a comparison of a set of similar items includes: receiving from a first member of an online community a selection of a stored prior comparison created by another online community member of a set of similar items; providing to the first member a template for the comparison, the template being at least partially pre-populated using data from the stored prior comparison created by the other online community member; and receiving from the first member a submission of the comparison, wherein the comparison includes one or more modifications as made by the first member to the template.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Kenneth N. Chang, David A. Koski, Pedraum R. Pardehpoosh, Ralph E. Zazula
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Publication number: 20110237134Abstract: Structures, methods, and apparatus that provide connector receptacles that have a reduced tendency to scratch and otherwise mar connector inserts, have an aesthetically-pleasing appearance, and have an improved tactile response when inserts are inserted. Various examples reduce scratches and wear by utilizing domes, cylinders, balls, or other structures as finger contacts in a connector receptacle. Another example provides aesthetically-pleasing connector receptacle enclosures by forming receptacle enclosures using the same type of material, or material having the same or similar color or texture, as is used for enclosing the electronic device that includes the receptacle. Another example provides an aesthetically-pleasing receptacle enclosure by forming receptacle enclosures that are, in part or in whole, contiguous or formed with the housing. Another embodiment provides a connector receptacle having a housing where a portion of the housing has been removed to save space.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Zheng Gao, Steve McClure, Joshua Banko, Greg Springer, Min Chul Kim, Joshua Funamura
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Publication number: 20110235709Abstract: A video coding and transmission system may employ techniques for adapting buffered video to network condition changes. Video data may be coded as reference data and non-reference data. According to the embodiments, non-reference frame may be detected in buffered video while awaiting transmission to a network. When network degradation is detected, one or more of the buffered non-reference frames may be dropped when network degradation is detected. Information about the dropped frames may be passed to an encoder for updating buffer parameters for future encoding. In this manner, a video coding system may provide faster responses to changing network conditions than systems without such buffer management techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2010Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Xiaojin SHI, Xiaosong ZHOU, Joe ABUAN, Hyeonkuk JEONG, Jochen Christian SCHMIDT, Yan YANG, James Oliver NORMILE, Hsi-Jung WU
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Publication number: 20110239144Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the generation of distinctive presentations of an interface for different devices. In this manner, the interface is presented differently on different devices. In one embodiment, the interface is customized based upon a unique sequence or identifier associated with each electronic device such that the interface is distinctive on each respective device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2010Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Peter William Rapp, Matthew Ross Lehrian