Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 10599619
    Abstract: The described embodiments set forth techniques for managing the fragmentation of files at a computing device. Specifically, the techniques involve, for a given file, analyzing different extents of the file under a “segment window” basis to identify whether a fragmentation threshold is satisfied between the extents that correspond to the scope of the segment window. In turn, for each segment window that satisfies the threshold level of fragmentation, (1) the data for the extents is copied into an allocated area of contiguous memory, and (2) the extents are updated to reference the copied data. Additionally, the original data referred to by the extents can be freed for usage within the computing device, thereby increasing storage space. In this manner, the overall fragmentation of the file is substantially reduced under the segment window basis, thereby improving the overall performance of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Stouder-Studenmund, Pavel Sokolov
  • Patent number: 10601562
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication in wireless local area networks (WLANs). According to some embodiments, a downlink OFDMA frame may be transmitted. An uplink OFDMA frame including acknowledgements associated with the downlink OFDMA frame may be received. The uplink OFDMA frame may be processed, in some instances including determining which devices receiving the downlink OFDMA frame transmitted an acknowledgement associated with the downlink OFDMA frame in the uplink OFDMA frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joonsuk Kim, Yuchul Kim
  • Patent number: 10599427
    Abstract: A novel software updating method is provided. A target file is divided into segments, where some segments are updated by patching, while other segments are updated by archiving. The segmentation of the update allows very large files such as DYLD shared caches to be patched in-place, i.e., by using free space available within the file to perform patching rather than requiring enough free space on disk to store both the new version and the old version of the file. The segmentation of the update also allows each segment to be updated individually by the most optimal update method (copy, patch, or archive) so that the size of the update file can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Bainville, Ali Sazegari
  • Patent number: 10601552
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for efficient sparse network resource usage and connection release procedures. According to some embodiments, a wireless device may utilize techniques for efficiently releasing a radio resource control (RRC) connection, including techniques that avoid or reduce the occurrence of random access procedures when out-of-sync with the network when the RRC connection is being released. In some embodiments, a wireless device may utilize techniques for efficiently sparsely using network uplink resources, including techniques that avoid or reduce the occurrence of random access procedures to regain timing alignment to perform uplink communication when out-of-sync with the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Venkateswara Rao Manepalli, Sarma V. Vangala
  • Patent number: 10602612
    Abstract: Stacked circuit board structures are described. In an embodiment, a plurality of vertical devices serves as electrical interconnections between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. In an embodiment, a plurality of vertical interconnects or pins serve as electrical interconnections between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The vertical interconnects or pins may be arranged side-by-side with a plurality of vertical or horizontal devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lan H. Hoang, Takayoshi Katahira, Leilei Zhang, Raghunandan R. Chaware
  • Patent number: 10600379
    Abstract: The disclosure describes procedures for dynamically employing a variable refresh rate at an LCD display of a consumer electronic device, such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, or a music player device. In some configurations, the consumer electronic device can include a host system portion, having one or more processors and a display system portion, having a timing controller, a buffer circuit, a display driver, and a display panel. The display system can receive image data and image control data from a GPU of the host system, evaluate the received image control data to determine a reduced refresh rate (RRR) for employing at the display panel, and then transition to the RRR, whenever practicable, to conserve power. In some scenarios, the transition to the RRR can be a transition from a LRR of 50 hertz or above to a RRR of 40 hertz or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Prasanna Nambi, Jason N. Gomez, Fenghua Zheng, Paolo Sacchetto, Sandro H. Pintz, Taesung Kim, Christopher P. Tann, Marc Albrecht, David W. Lum
  • Patent number: 10602397
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a system having a first wireless audio output device configured to connect to a source device via a first piconet and a second wireless audio output device configured to connect to the first wireless audio output device via a second piconet. A schedule of the first piconet includes a plurality of slots associated with an audio packet, a first subset of the slots used by the source device to transmit the audio packet, the first and second wireless audio output devices tuning to the first piconet to listen for the transmissions of the audio packet, and when, after a last one of the first subset of slots, the first or second wireless audio output devices did not receive the audio packet, the first and second wireless audio output devices exchange information via the second piconet such that the both wireless audio output device receive the audio packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoli Gostev, Louay Alsakka, Axel Berny, Tad Dreier, Joachim Hammerschmidt, Lei Li, Xiaojun Chen, Vusthla Sunil Reddy, Peter M. Agboh, Mohit Narang
  • Patent number: 10601330
    Abstract: An embodiment of a system is disclosed, including an inductor, a voltage regulating circuit, a load, and a current detecting circuit. The inductor includes a first wire, a second wire, and a third wire. The third wire is between, and may be inductively coupled to, the first wire and the second wire. The voltage regulating circuit is coupled to a first end of the first wire and a first end of the second wire. The voltage regulating circuit is configured to generate a first current through the first wire and a second current through the second wire. The load is coupled to a second end of the first wire and a second end of the second wire. The current detecting circuit, coupled to ends of the third wire, is configured to generate an output signal based on a third current through the third wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Cappabianca, Joseph T. DiBene, II, Shawn Searles
  • Patent number: 10600189
    Abstract: Determining a movement of an object may include obtaining an event stream corresponding to a scene over time, wherein the event stream includes events associated with detected changes in brightness, wherein each event includes a pixel location, a timestamp, and a brightness indication; selecting a first subset of pixels from the plurality of pixels corresponding to an object for a first time period; determining a first movement of the object based on the brightness indications and timestamps for the first subset of pixels; determining that the first movement is insufficient to generate a velocity measure; selecting, based on the first movement, a second subset of pixels associated with the object for a second time period; determining an updated movement of the object based on the brightness indications and timestamps for the second subset of pixels and the first movement; and generating a velocity measure based on the updated movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Raffi A. Bedikian
  • Patent number: 10599243
    Abstract: A system for presenting an electronic device on a display table is disclosed. The system includes a table, a processor, an electronic device, and a cable. The table includes a display screen, and the display screen is operably connected to the processor. The electronic device is disposed on the table and includes a touch screen. The cable connects the electronic device to the processor. The touch screen of the electronic device is configured to display an image that changes in response to an input to the touch screen. The display screen of the table is configured to display an image that changes in response to the input to the touch screen of the electronic device. A change in the display screen image comprises a graphical continuation of a change in the touch screen image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alice Marlin Brugger, Tracey Adam Finger, Daniel Satoru Hamaguchi, Yang Liu, Steven Charles Michalske, Israel Pastrana Vicente
  • Patent number: 10602398
    Abstract: A method includes sampling a common signal over a plurality of iterations, concatenating the sampled iterations, summing samples of the concatenated iterations within a window of a predetermined sample width, at each of a plurality of window positions along the concatenated iterations, and estimating noise of the common signal from the summed sample values at the window positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Saunders, Alexandros Tourapis, Krasimir Kolarov
  • Patent number: 10601251
    Abstract: A system for inductive power transfer that may selectively transmit power in a plurality of modes based on characteristics of a power receiver and determine which transmitter coils to drive based on received signal strength information. The inductive power transfer transmitter may detect characteristics of the power receiver in order to control the mode of the power transfer and selectively control which transmitter coils are driven based on signal strength information received from a power receiver. The power transmitter may have slugs formed of a magnetically permeable material within common coil winding openings and the transmitter coils may consists of a plurality of parallel windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Rex Keith, Arunim Kumar, Junbo Zeng, Lewis Freeth Harpham, Paul David Marson, Sander Vocke, Ya-Ting Wang
  • Patent number: 10601264
    Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a receiver in an inductively coupled power transfer system having a transmitter and receiver. The method includes switching on a transmitter converter at a first frequency, measuring the inrush current and determining whether there is a receiver present. In another method, the inrush current is measured for a range of transmitter frequencies, and the variation in current is used to determine where there is a receiver present. In another method, the inrush current is measured when there is a change in voltage in the transmitter, and the variation in current is used to determine where there is a receiver present. In another method, the current supplied to the transmitter converter is measured over two transmitter frequencies, and the variation in current is used to determine where there is a receiver present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel James Robertson
  • Patent number: 10599192
    Abstract: This application relates to a portable electronic device including a first sensing module and a second sensing module that are both in communication with a processor. The portable electronic device can include access ports that are formed in the housing, where the first and second sensing modules are capable of receiving an external stimulus by way of the access ports. A plate is positioned in the housing between a wall of the housing and the sensing modules. The plate and the wall define non-linear flow paths between the access ports to the first and second sensing modules. The non-linear flow paths can transmit the external stimulus to cause at least one of the first or second sensing modules to provide a detection signal to the processor that causes a display unit to present a notification that corresponds to the external stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Amin M. Younes, James G. Horiuchi, Ryan C. Perkins, Brad G. Boozer, Christopher M. Werner, Maegan K. Spencer, Sherry Tang, Eugene H. Fox, Mark A. Murphy, Molly J. Anderson, Rico L. Zorkendorfer, Baris Ozgen
  • Patent number: 10601796
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for personalizing program credentials are provided. For example, a program credential (e.g., loyalty pass) associated with a program provider (e.g., an issuer) subsystem may be customized using personal data. The personal data can be collected from an electronic device before provisioning the customized program credential on the electronic device for use in a suitable transaction. However, such personal data may not be collected unless an administration entity subsystem is first able to validate the program provider subsystem. The administration entity subsystem can generate tracking data that may be used during the validation and/or provisioning in order to track when program credentials are personalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Adams, Scott D. Blakesley, Jack K. Chung, George R. Dicker, Glen W. Steele, Katherine B. Skinner, Yousuf H. Vaid
  • Patent number: 10599394
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a first video information user interface that includes descriptive information about a first video. The electronic device provides, to an audio system, sound information to provide a first sound output which corresponds to the first video. In response to receiving an input that corresponds to a request to playback the first video, data is provided to the display to replace presentation of the first video information user interface with playback of the first video. In response receiving an input that corresponds to a request to display a second video information user interface about the first video, data is provided to the display to replace the playback of the first video with the second video information user interface about the first video, and sound information is provided to the audio system to provide a second sound output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Matthew I. Brown, Avi E. Cieplinski
  • Patent number: 10602550
    Abstract: There is are provided methods and apparatus relating to layer 2 relaying and mobility using a sidelink interface, including a remote user equipment (UE) for use in a wireless communication network, the UE comprising: a device to network (D2N) entity, a device to device (D2D) entity, and control logic to: receive a service data unit derived from an IP packet direct the service data unit to the D2N entity for communication with an eNB using a Uu interface in a first mode of operation, and direct the service data unit to the D2D entity for communication with the eNB via a first relay UE using a sidelink interface in a second, relay, mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Burbidge, Sangeetha Bangolae, Youn Hyoung Heo, Kyeongin Jeong, Jaemin Han, Mo-Han Fong
  • Patent number: D879144
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Dye, Richard D. Lyons, Christopher Wilson
  • Patent number: D879197
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Russell-Clarke
  • Patent number: RE47915
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer, Hwang-Miaw Chen