Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 7937666
    Abstract: Techniques for collecting data via a display page are disclosed. A data entry field that does not display a current value associated with the data entry field is provided in the display page. A display field configured to display at least a portion of the current value associated with the data entry field is included in the display page selectively, e.g., at a time when a display criteria is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan R. Klems, Yousuf Ajmerwala, Ronald A. La Motte, Piyush Patel
  • Patent number: 7937230
    Abstract: Digital signal visualizations may be displayed with increasing accuracy as the signal data is processed. According to one embodiment, an entire digital signal visualization is displayed as data processing begins. As the digital signal data upon which the visualization is processed, the visualization is refined with increasing accuracy. In one embodiment, a process reads portions of the digital signal data and uses the partial data set to build a visualization of the entire digital signal file. The process continues to read portions of the digital signal data, and uses the additional data to refine the visualization. This process continues until the entire digital signal file is processed and the visualization is displayed with complete accuracy, using all data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Moulios
  • Patent number: 7936348
    Abstract: A control indication assembly. A first control mounted on a surface of a computer is coupled to a first sensor, to a first sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to the first control when a user-touch occurs to the first sensor, and to a first indicator to indicate an occurrence of said user-touch. A second control mounted on a surface of a display which is coupled to the computer is coupled to a second sensor, to a second sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to said second control when said user-touch occurs to the display, and to a second indicator to indicate an occurrence of the user-touch. The first and second control are configured such that the first and second indicator are synchronized to exhibit identical behaviors when the user-touch occurs to either the first control or the second control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Gong, Brian Q. Huppi, Christoph H. Krah, Richard D. Cappels, Duncan R. Kerr, Michael Culbert
  • Patent number: 7934291
    Abstract: Various embodiments for magnetic detent assemblies provide for detent devices with improved performance and manufacturability. In one embodiment, magnetic detent assemblies provide for custom detent positions and custom force profiles by including a pair of unitary magnetic components each having a special geometry. In an embodiment, the changing area of overlap (and hence magnetic flux) between the magnetic components can give rise to the custom detent positions and custom force profiles. In a specific embodiment, the magnetic components can comprise an N-point star shaped geometry, where the number and distribution of the start wings can be varied to define customized detent positions and the contour of the star wings can be varied to create customized force profiles. In other embodiments, devices such as laptop computers and docking stations for handheld electronic devices can implement multi-position detent hinges with the magnetic detent assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: APPLE Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Prest
  • Patent number: 7934780
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for a device is disclosed. The device includes a first member and a second member. The latching mechanism comprises one or more protruding members coupled to an interior of the device. The one or more protruding members is coupled to one of the first member and the second member. The latching mechanism includes one or more latches coupled to an interior portion of the device. The one or more latches are coupled to the other of the first and second members. The one or more latches is engageably coupled to the one or more protruding members when the first and second are coupled together. The one or more latches can be released from the one or more protruding members through the use of a magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael David McBroom, Brian Thomas Sudderth, Daniel Lynn McBroom, John Ternus
  • Patent number: 7934292
    Abstract: A hinge is disclosed. The hinge can include an axle, a first member coupled to the axle, and a second member coupled to the axle and configured to rotate relative to the first member and around the axle. The hinge can further include a stop mechanism configured to stop the second member from rotating, relative to the first member, in a first direction and beyond a first range when the stop mechanism is in a first position and the second member is in the first range. The stop mechanism can be further configured to allow the second member to rotate, relative to the first member, in the first direction, beyond the first range, and into a second range when the stop mechanism is in a second position and the second member is in the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett William Degner, John Ternus, Andy Lauder
  • Patent number: 7936946
    Abstract: Techniques are described for causing digital image data to be interpreted according to a particular technique of a plurality of techniques. According to an embodiment, digital sensor data is received, and user input is received that specifies which technique of a plurality of techniques to use to generate a display that depicts an unmodified image from the sensor data, wherein each technique of the plurality of techniques generates a display from the sensor data in a different manner than each other technique of the plurality of techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhil M. Bhatt, Curtis A. Bianchi
  • Patent number: 7936873
    Abstract: For digital rights management (DRM) of e.g. digitally delivered music or video, a technique to make the decryption keys more secure. The technique fragments a message (song or video or other) into a number of portions, and uses a different decryption key for each portion. Each of the various keys is a function of the preceding key, in one version. In another version, each key is a function of a seed value and of the particular portion of the material with which the key is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Augustin J. Farrugia, Gianpaolo Fasoli, Jean-Francois Riendeau, Rod Schultz
  • Publication number: 20110099519
    Abstract: Methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus for causing a computer system such as a media device to perform operations may include receiving input from the user selecting a media type category, identifying media content items within the selected media category that the user has previously selected for presentation, prioritizing the identified media content items based on a predetermined set of rules, and presenting to the user a menu of at least some of the identified media content items in an order based on a result of the prioritization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ma, Elbert D. Chen, Jeffrey Robbin, Calin Pacurariu, William Martin Bachman, James A. Young
  • Publication number: 20110098156
    Abstract: This is directed to systems and methods for accessing personalized fitness services through an integrated application available to a portable electronic device. The integrated application can provide a full fitness center experience by introducing potential new customer to a fitness center and then motivating them to return to the fitness center as active members. For example, the integrated application can provide functions to introduce new customers to a fitness center, can provide functions to motivate customers to join and actively visit the fitness center, can provide in-gym motivation, and can provide post-workout motivation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Carl Ng, Michael Hailey
  • Patent number: 7934156
    Abstract: Deletion gestures for use on a portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display are disclosed. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with the portable multifunction device comprises displaying a list of items on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a first gesture on the touch-sensitive display to edit the list of items, responding to the first gesture by displaying a first icon next to each deletable item in the list, detecting a second gesture on the touch-sensitive display to select one of the deletable items, and responding to the second gesture by displaying a second icon next to the selected item. If a third gesture on the second icon is detected, the selected deletable item is deleted. If a fourth gesture on the first icon next to the selected deletable item is detected, the second icon is deleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Forstall, Greg Christie, Stephen O. Lemay, Bas Ording, Marcel Van Os
  • Patent number: 7933008
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for positioning a first device in relation to a second device. An optical signal from a first device is sent to a second device. A reflection of the optical signal from the second device is received. A position of one of the devices relative to the other device is adjusted based upon the reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel G. Marcu
  • Patent number: 7933807
    Abstract: A stored order system is used with a shopping cart application for an electronic commerce site. The items of each stored order are saved together, which is an advantage when a main item and accessories are combined in an order. Additionally, a stored order can be E-mailed to another person. The E-mail message allows the recipient to purchase the items of the stored order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Cue, Daniel Marusich, Glenn D. Epis, Judy D. Halchin
  • Patent number: 7932897
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a capacitive touch sensitive device. One aspect of the touch sensitive device described herein is a reduction in the number of sensor circuits needed for circular or linear capacitive touch sensitive devices while maintaining the same resolution and absolute position determination for a single object. A related aspect of the touch sensitive device described herein a coding pattern that allows each sensor circuit of a capacitive touch sensitive device to share multiple electrodes at specially chosen locations in a sensor array such that the ability to determine the absolute position of a single object over the array is not compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Greer Elias, Wayne Carl Westerman, James Edmund Orr, IV
  • Patent number: 7933117
    Abstract: A docking station is disclosed. The docking station has an adjustable opening that accommodates portable electronic devices with differing sizes and shapes. The opening is capable of expanding to accommodate larger devices and retracting to accommodate smaller devices while still supporting the portable electronic device in its proper position within the docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Howarth, Phillip M. Hobson, Wim Crooijmans
  • Patent number: D637076
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Patent number: D637157
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K Andre, Robert L. Coish, Brett William Degner, Ron Alan Hopkinson, Chris Ligtenberg, R. Sean Murphy, John Raff
  • Patent number: D637192
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, John M. Brock, Matthew Phillip Casebolt, Brett William Degner, Ron Alan Hopkinson, Eugene Kim, Chris Ligtenberg, John Raff, David Yeh
  • Patent number: D637193
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, John M. Brock, Matthew Phillip Casebolt, Brett William Degner, Ron Alan Hopkinson, Eugene Kim, Chris Ligtenberg, John Raff, David Yeh
  • Patent number: D637201
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy E. Wasko, Steven P. Jobs