Patents by Inventor APPLE INC.

APPLE INC. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130184027
    Abstract: A method of setting up a call group for participation in a group call by a number of mobile devices in a mobile telecommunications network. The mobile telecommunications network includes a serving node in communication with the mobile devices. The method includes the serving node receiving data indicative of a group identifier from a given mobile device registered with the mobile telecommunications network. The method also includes defining a group call area using the received group identifier, and the serving node discriminating one call group registered with the telecommunications network from another call group registered with the telecommunications network based upon the defined group call area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130185764
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable storage medium are described wherein, in one embodiment, identifiers, such as bookmarks, are used to allow access to files or folders in a sandboxed environment. One or more applications are restricted by an access control system, which can be, for example, a trusted software component of an operating system. In one embodiment, the bookmarks or other identifiers allow an application to have access to a file even if the file is renamed or moved by a user while the application has been terminated. In one embodiment, a resource manager, or other trusted access control system, can interact with an application to allow for the use of bookmarks in an environment in which a sandbox application controls access to the files such that each application must make a request to the sandbox application in order to obtain access to a particular file or folder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130185373
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for organizing devices in a peer-to-peer communication environment. A number of devices synchronize among themselves and select masters (or synchronization stations) to organize the devices into a hierarchy. Master devices have associated preference values reflecting their preference or suitability to be a master device, and broadcast synchronization frames to keep devices synchronized. When multiple devices in one or more hierarchies execute a common application or service, they form a private group to exchange or share data (e.g., play a game, transfer a file). All devices in the hierarchy maintain and advertise a public or default identifier of the hierarchy, and all devices in the private group maintain and advertise a private identifier specific to the group. Members of the group synchronize under a top group master (or root sync station), which synchronizes with a master that is part of the hierarchy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130185081
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable storage medium related to operating an intelligent digital assistant are disclosed. A first task is performed using a first parameter. A text string is obtained from a speech input received from a user. Based at least partially on the text string, a second task different from the first task or a second parameter different from the first parameter is identified. The first task is performed using the second parameter or the second task is performed using the first parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130185680
    Abstract: A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: APPLE INC.
  • Publication number: 20130182665
    Abstract: A method selects mobile station candidates for use with virtual multiple-input multiple-output (“V-MIMO”) in a communication system. The communication system includes at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations. At least one downlink metric is determined for a first mobile station. The at least one downlink metric is used to determine eligibility for uplink V-MIMO candidate list selection. Responsive to determining that the first mobile station is eligible for uplink V-MIMO candidate list selection, the first mobile station is paired with a second mobile station eligible for uplink V-MIMO candidate list selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130185388
    Abstract: An approach is provided for downloading data over a network that uses automatic bandwidth detection. According to the approach, a first version of data to be requested is selected from a plurality of available versions of the data. The first version may be selected based upon a default selection or based upon prior determined connection speeds. A client requests the first version of the data from a server and the client begins receiving the first version of the data. A determination of at least an approximate connection speed is made based upon at least a portion of the first version of the data received at the client. A determination is then made, based upon the determined connection speed, whether a different version of the data should be requested. If so, then the client requests a different version of the data from the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130182493
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes at least one logic circuit supplied by a first supply voltage and at least one memory circuit coupled to the logic circuit and supplied by a second supply voltage. The memory circuit is configured to be read and written responsive to the logic circuit even if the first supply voltage is less than the second supply voltage during use. In another embodiment, a method includes a logic circuit reading a memory cell, the logic circuit supplied by a first supply voltage; and the memory cell responding to the read using signals that are referenced to the first supply voltage, wherein the memory cell is supplied with a second supply voltage that is greater than the first supply voltage during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130185346
    Abstract: A user can proof (e.g., view, review) an electronic publication on a portable device. When the user finds errors in the electronic publication on the portable device, the user can edit the electronic publication on the editing device. The changes can be automatically synchronized with the portable device and displayed so that the user can review the changes and continue proofing the electronic publication on the portable device. In some implementations, an editing device can monitor files associated with an electronic publication for changes to the files and, when changes are detected, the files can be automatically synchronized to a portable device coupled to the editing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130179638
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a display pipe includes one or more translation units corresponding to images that the display pipe is reading for display. Each translation unit may be configured to prefetch translations ahead of the image data fetches, which may prevent translation misses in the display pipe (at least in most cases). The translation units may maintain translations in first-in, first-out (FIFO) fashion, and the display pipe fetch hardware may inform the translation unit when a given translation or translation is no longer needed. The translation unit may invalidate the identified translations and prefetch additional translation for virtual pages that are contiguous with the most recently prefetched virtual page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130178223
    Abstract: System and methods of cellular communications network are described herein. In one system, an antenna array is described. The antenna array has a first beamforming arrangement for producing uplink beams and a second beamforming arrangement for producing downlink beams. The first and second beamforming arrangements are different from one another. The wireless communication network communicates with a mobile station by use of the uplink and downlink beamforming arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE, INC.
    Inventor: Apple, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130178246
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of using a speaker phone mode of a portable voice communications device having a built-in camera are described herein. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated if it is determined that an image captured by tire device is black or nearly black, which indicates that the device is placed flat or nearly flat against surface. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated based on the results of comparing the captured image to a plurality of previously stored captured images wherein the previously stored captured images include images captured by the device in situations where it would be desirable for the speaker phone mode to be activated. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated based on a comparison of a captured image and previously stored captured images and their respective speaker phone mode statuses. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130176798
    Abstract: A mechanism for managing peak power in a memory storage array that includes sub-array blocks may reduce the peak currents associated with read and write operations by staggering the wordline signal activation to each of the sub-array blocks. In particular, the wordline units within each sub-array block may generate the wordline signals to each sub-array block such that a read wordline signal of one sub-array block does not transition from one logic level to another logic level at the same time as the write wordline of another sub-array block. Further, the wordline units may generate the wordline signals to each sub-array block such that a read wordline of a given sub-array block does not transition from one logic level to another logic level at the same time as a read wordline signal of another sub-array block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130176242
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking coarse and fine motions associated with an electronic input device is disclosed. The electronic input device can have both an inertial sensor and a touch sensor. The method includes receiving inputs from an inertial sensor and a touch sensor, and dynamically adjusting a velocity estimate of the electronic input device based on weighting or predetermined thresholds of the inputs to maximize a tracking range of the input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130176091
    Abstract: A method for plating magnets with metal is disclosed. In one embodiment, the metal is aluminum and the aluminum plating provides a number of aesthetic and structural advantages, over brittle magnetic materials, which are only plated with a thin, anti-corrosive metallic layer. More specifically, methods for creating multi-pole bar magnets and structural elements primarily with aluminum coated magnetic material are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc
  • Publication number: 20130178230
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems of location estimation using a probability density function are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a server can estimate an effective altitude of a wireless access gateway using harvested data. The server can harvest location data from multiple mobile devices. The harvested data can include a location of each mobile device and an identifier of a wireless access gateway that is located within a communication range of the mobile device. The server can calculate an effective altitude of the wireless access gateway using a probability density function of the harvested data. The probability density function can be a sufficient statistic of the received set of location coordinates for calculating an effective altitude of the wireless access gateway. The server can send the effective altitude of the wireless access gateway to other mobile devices for estimating altitudes of the other mobile devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: APPLE INC.
  • Publication number: 20130176281
    Abstract: Displays with integrated touch sensing circuitry are provided. An integrated touch screen can include multi-function circuit elements that form part of the display circuitry of the display system that generates an image on the display, and also form part of the touch sensing circuitry of a touch sensing system that senses one or more touches on or near the display. The multi-function circuit elements can be, for example, capacitors in display pixels of an LCD that are configured to operate as display circuitry in the display system, and that may also be configured to operate as touch circuitry of the touch sensing system. For example, one or more circuit elements of the display pixel stackup can form a conductive portion of the touch sensing system, such as a charge collector, which can be operated with switches and conductive lines to sense touch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130176486
    Abstract: A display control device used to govern non-content regions in a display space, and selectively determine data for display in the non-content regions is described. The display control device can identify the non-content regions, and determine types of data that can be filled in the non-content regions. Once determined, the fill data can be presented in the non-content regions concurrently with an image frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130179459
    Abstract: Playlists having media items from more than one source are described. Media items in a first library are mapped to media items from an online media item store. Media items within the playlist that can be found in the first library will be played from the first library, while media items not within the first library will be played from the online media store. By identifying media items present in both libraries and playing them only from the first library, the described method can reduce the royalties needing to be paid by the online media store. Further methods are disclosed for setting limits on the number of media items that can be shared by a second library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130179989
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g., a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The resource library can be used by authorized end user software programs. A “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library can allow a resource library to be licensed only for use with particular software programs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.