Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 11190715
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method is performed at a device with a processor, non-transitory memory, and an event camera including pixel sensors distributed across an area. The method includes converting an event stream from a pixel sensor over a first time period into event frames by dividing the first time period into sub-periods, and binning pixel events of the event stream, where each of the sub-periods is associated with a frame sub-period identifier. The method further includes addressing the pixel sensors by sub-dividing the area into tiles, where each of the tiles includes a grouping of the pixel sensors, and a tile address of a particular pixel sensor is a combination of a tile identifier and a position locator of the particular pixel sensor. The method further includes encoding the pixel events as a function of a tile address, a frame sub-period identifier, and a brightness indicator value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Aleksandr M. Movshovich
  • Patent number: 11191025
    Abstract: A user equipment device (UE) may implement improved communication methods which include radio resource time multiplexing, dynamic sub-frame allocation, and UE transmit duty cycle control. The UE may communicate with base stations using radio frames that include multiple sub-frames, transmit information regarding allocation of a portion of the sub-frames of a respective radio frame for each of a plurality of the radio frames, and transmit and receive data using allocated sub-frames and not using unallocated sub-frames. Additionally, the UE may operate according to a sub-frame allocation based on its current power state. The UE may transmit information to the base station and receive the sub-frame allocation based on at least the information and switch transmit duty cycles based on an occurrence of a condition at the UE. The UE may inform the network of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Li Su, Stephan V. Schell, Jianxiong Shi, Sami M. Almalfouh
  • Patent number: 11188118
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. Inactive portions of the display such as peripheral portions of the display may be masked using an opaque masking layer. An opening may be provided in the opaque masking layer to allow light to pass. For example, a logo may be viewed through an opening in the opaque masking layer and a camera may receive light through an opening in the opaque masking layer. The display may include upper and lower polarizers, a color filter layer, and a thin-film transistor layer. The opaque masking layer may be formed on the upper polarizer, may be interposed between the upper polarizer and the color filter layer, or may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer. The upper polarizer may have unpolarized windows for cameras, logos, or other internal structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Jun Qi, Victor H. Yin, Thomas Wilson, Jr., Adam T. Garelli
  • Patent number: 11188624
    Abstract: A first electronic device is configured to operate in a restricted mode of operation, which restricted mode may be terminated or continued by one or more remotely located authorization devices, according to predetermined criteria. In a restricted mode, a first set of permitted applications stored on the first electronic device are executable, and a first set of data is accessible. While operating in the restricted mode, the first device detects a termination condition of the restricted mode and transmits an indication of the termination condition to one or more authorization devices. After transmitting the request, the first electronic devices receives an indication that the restricted mode of the operation has been continued according to predetermined criteria. Responsive to receiving the indication, the first electronic device continues to operate in the restricted mode according to the predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Walter Pitschel, Maria Dimitrova Ioveva, Christopher Brian Fleizach, Elizabeth Caroline Furches Cranfill
  • Patent number: 11189072
    Abstract: The invention relates to a communication system and a method for providing a virtual meeting of a first user (U1, U2, U3, U4) and a second user (U1, U2, U3, U4), comprising a first communication device (12, 14, 16, 18, 24, 26, 28, 32, 34) with a first display device (12a, 14a, 16a, 18a, 24a, 26a, 28a, 32a) associated with the first user (U1, U2, U3, U4), and a second communication device (12, 14, 16, 18, 24, 26, 28, 32, 34) with a second display device (12a, 14a, 16a, 18a, 24a, 26a, 28a, 32a) associated with the second user (U1, U2, U3, U4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Eberhard Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20210368572
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatuses, storage media, and systems for adequate failure secondary cell group (SCG) reporting in New Radio (NR) involved networks. Various embodiments describe how to generate a sufficient SCG failure report so that a master node (MN) in the network may acknowledge the corresponding failed reference signal including its frequency and subcarrier spacing. In accordance, the MN may configure the UE and network communication effectively. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Seau S. LIM, Candy YIU, Youn HEO
  • Publication number: 20210368436
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus and method for a mobile access point (AP) station that operates in an always-on soft AP mode where a station is associated with the mobile AP station, and switch back to operate as a station in an infrastructure mode with an AP. For example, in an always-on soft AP mode, the mobile AP station may implement a target wake time (TWT) responder power save mode feature. The mobile AP station may maintain a wake window after a beacon to enable unassociated devices to associate; establish a broadcast TWT schedule for unassociated TWT-capable devices to associate; schedule TWT for associated devices; go to sleep outside of the scheduled TWT of the associated devices; and switch back to infrastructure mode to perform as a station and maintain a connection with an AP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guoqing LI, Dagbegnon H. BAHINI, Rajneesh KUMAR
  • Publication number: 20210368435
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for requesting and providing service of a network slice deemed essential by a user equipment (UE). The UE transmits a request message to the network indicating that essential services are requested, and identifying the essential network slice. Based on the information in the request message, the serving network communicates with one or more network nodes to determine whether the requested services can be provided. This information is packaged in a response message and transmitted to the UE. If the current network is capable of servicing the requested network slice, then the UE remains with the current network. If not, then the UE initiates a search for an alternative network (PLMN or SNPN) capable of supporting the requested services. A successful search causes the UE to register with the newly-found network, whereas an unsuccessful search causes the UE to re-register with the current network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nirlesh KOSHTA, Sridhar PRAKASAM, Karthik ANANTHARAMAN, Vijay VENKATARAMAN, Krisztian KISS, Nitin KUPPELUR, Deepak DASH, Pradeep PANGI, Kavya B. RAVIKUMAR, Xiangpeng JING
  • Publication number: 20210368395
    Abstract: An approach to provide dynamic adjustment in order to meet the limitation of data rate per network slice in the uplink and downlink wireless connections in a wireless network. The approach uses a network slice quota (NSQ) management function, which keeps track of aggregated maximum bit rates (AMBR) for a slice. Upon reaching a limit, the NSQ functionality dynamically adjusts the user equipment (UE) data rates, reduces the quality of service (QoS), and/or rejects any protocol data unit (PDU) request. Several techniques are described that meet these objectives. In one technique, when the limit is reached, the session AMBR per subscription level is adjusted in proportionate ratio of the maximum bit rate per subscription level per UE. In another technique, when the limit is reached, there is a proportionate equivalent increment and decrement of session AMBR based on usage patterns of the subscription levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alosious Pradeep PRABHAKAR, Krisztian KISS, Rohit R. MATOLIA, Vijay VENKATARAMAN
  • Publication number: 20210365806
    Abstract: Systems and methods can suggest applications for use by a user of a computing device. The suggestions can be provided on a user interface for the user to select. A suggestion engine can use historical user interactions and contextual data to derive features for a machine learning mode. The machine learning model can determine which application to suggest according to the current context. Multiple models, such as a pattern model and a heuristics model, may be user to generate features for the machine learning model based in user interactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chiraag Sumanth, Gokcen Cilingir, Joao Pedro Lacerda
  • Publication number: 20210368079
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having an actuator arrangement with a low-profile actuator arrangement. For example, the camera may include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera. According to some embodiments, the VCM actuator may include one or more magnet-coil groups located beside an image sensor package of the camera. In some embodiments, a magnet-coil group may be located between the image sensor package and a side wall of the camera. Additionally, or alternatively, the magnet-coil group may at least partially extend (e.g., in a direction parallel to an optical axis defined by the lens group) past an upper surface of the image sensor and a bottom of the camera in some embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary W. Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 11184153
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are presented to generate, and verify reception of, ultra wideband (UWB) communications, e.g., to perform secure UWB ranging. Verifier and prover messages may be encoded on top of random cryptographically secure training sequence (STS) of pulses, organized in blocks such that a given block corresponds to a given message bit. In some scenarios, a first STS may be encoded using a verifier message not known to a recipient device. A second STS may be received from the recipient device, encoded with an unknown prover message. A third STS may also be received, encoded with an authentication message generated using the verifier message and the authentication message. Verification of the authentication message can therefore confirm that the recipient device received the first STS, and that the recipient device is the authentic source of the second STS. Thus, the second STS may be relied upon, e.g., for ranging calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joachim S. Hammerschmidt, Eren Sasoglu
  • Patent number: 11184144
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus that enable a wireless network system to dynamically change between full-duplex FDD operation and half-duplex FDD operation in order to take advantage of operational aspects of both modes. In one embodiment, an alternative duplex mode of operation is disclosed (semi-static half duplex FDD operation) that enables coordination between the client device (e.g., UMTS UE) and the base station in order to centralize control of radio resource control (RRC) to the base station. The disclosed methods and apparatus may also advantageously incorporate hybrid ARQ (HARQ) or comparable timing requirements into their operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hyung-Nam Choi, Maik Bienas, Martin Hans
  • Patent number: 11182964
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for providing tangibility visualization of virtual objects within a computer-generated reality (CGR) environment, such as a CGR environment based on virtual reality and/or a CGR environment based on mixed reality. A visual feedback indicating tangibility is provided for a virtual object within a CGR environment that does not correspond to a real, tangible object in the real environment. A visual feedback indicating tangibility is not provided for a virtual representation of a real object within a CGR environment that corresponds to a real, tangible object in the real environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexis H. Palangie, Avi Bar-Zeev
  • Patent number: 11182044
    Abstract: A method includes displaying a spatial manipulation user interface element including a first set of spatial manipulation affordances respectively associated with a first set of spatial manipulations of a three-dimensional object. The first set of spatial manipulations is based on a first virtual camera perspective. The method includes, in response to detecting a user input changing the first virtual camera perspective to a second virtual camera perspective, changing display of the three-dimensional object from the first virtual camera perspective to the second virtual camera perspective, and displaying a second set of spatial manipulation affordances respectively associated with a second set of spatial manipulations. The second set of spatial manipulations is based on the second virtual camera perspective, and includes a spatial manipulation excluded from the first set of spatial manipulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Gerald Louis Guyomard, Etienne H. Guerard, Adam Michael O'Hern, Michelle Chua, Robin-Yann Joram Storm, Adam James Bolton, Zachary Becker, Bradley Warren Peebler
  • Patent number: 11181388
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a mapping application that provides a variety of UI elements for allowing a user to specify a location (e.g., for viewing or serving as route destinations). In some embodiments, these location-input UI elements appear in succession on a sequence of pages, according to a hierarchy that has the UI elements that require less user interaction appear on earlier pages in the sequence than the UI elements that require more user interaction. In some embodiments, the location-input UI elements that successively appear in the mapping application include (1) selectable predicted-destination notifications, (2) a list of selectable predicted destinations, (3) a selectable voice-based search affordance, and (4) a keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford A. Moore, Joshua C. Weinberg, Jorge Fino, Mark B. Larus, Sarah G. Barbour
  • Patent number: 11184696
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that enhance user comfort and improve user control of the headphones are discussed. Various sensor configurations and electronic component positions are also discussed. User convenience features that include detachable cushions and automatically detecting the donning and doffing of headphones are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tian Shi Li, Daniel R. Bloom, Jerzy S. Guterman, Jue Wang, Toni Ristoski, Jared M. Kole, Edward Siahaan, Eugene Antony Whang
  • Patent number: 11184012
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to detecting supply voltage events and performing corrective actions. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes sensor circuitry and control circuitry. In some embodiments, the sensor circuitry is configured to monitor supply voltage from a power supply and detect a load release event that includes an increase in the supply voltage that meets one or more pre-determined threshold parameters. In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to increase clock cycle time for operations performed by circuitry powered by the supply voltage during a time interval, wherein the time interval corresponds to ringing of the supply voltage that reduces the supply voltage and results from the load release event. In some embodiments, the disclosed techniques may reduce transients in supply voltage (which may avoid equipment damage and computing errors) and may allow for reduced voltage margins (which may reduce overall power consumption).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared L. Zerbe, Brian S. Leibowitz, Sanjay Pant
  • Patent number: 11184415
    Abstract: Techniques presented herein provide an improved relay user experience and improved management of scarce computing and network resources as the number of relay endpoints increases. A sourcing endpoint device may generate a media feed, such as video and/or audio feed, representing contribution from a conference participant. The sourcing endpoint device may generate a priority value for the media feed, and the priority value may be transmitted to other members of the relay along with the input feed. Priority values of the different relay participants may be used by other devices, for example, intermediate servers or receiving endpoint devices, to manage aspects of the relay. For example, a relay server may prune streams from select endpoint devices based on relative priority values received from those devices. Alternatively, receiving endpoint devices may alter presentation of received feeds based on their associated priority values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Garrido, Dazhong Zhang, Karthick Santhanam, Patrick Miauton, Xiaoxiao Zheng, Bess Chan, Peter Shiang, Sudeng Hu, Peikang Song, Xiaosong Zhou
  • Patent number: D936701
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Will Chen, Teofila Connor, Thalia Jimena Echevarria Fiol, Aurelio Guzmán, Vincenzo Vuono, Christopher I. Wilson, Eric Lance Wilson