US Patent Application Review Series

Apple

1st Week of May 2010 Issue

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Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 1

A few words from the editor

A few words from the editor

If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
- Issac Newton

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Structure of this review IPC Catchword Index is an alphabetical sorted list of

catchwords of the IPC appeared in the review.
The Table of Contents is created based on
alphabetical order of IPC. The patent applications
are also sorted by alphabetical order of IPC. A brief How to use this review?
description of each IPC is shown. We find that the IPC
description could help ‘deciphering’ the abstract of an For creativity stimulation purpose:
patent application. If a patent application belongs to • quickly flip the pages and write down the page
multiple IPC, the patent application will only be shown number of the diagrams that interests you for
under the section of first IPC. later review.
For each patent application, the following information
will be shown: • look up the IPC Catchword Index and go to the
IPC that you are interested
1. App. No. – patent application no. – it is unique
to each patent application. For business intelligent purpose:
2. Assignee – this is owner of the patent • quickly flip the pages and identify the IPC that
application. If there is no assignee being could “ring a bell”
specified, either the inventor of the patent
application own the patent application or the • study all patent applications belong to the
owner of the patent application did not record identified IPC.
such information when the patent application
was filed. For engineering design purpose:

3. Title – this is the title of the patent application. • quickly flip the pages and identify the diagrams
that may be similar to your work.
4. Abstract – this is the abstract of the patent
application. There are rules on how an abstract • click on the patent application link and visit the
should be drafted. Most patent attorneys like to US server for more detailed information of the
have the abstract based on the first claim of the patent application.
patent application.
• read the description of IPC carefully.
5. Pri. Date – priority date – it is the date
of filing of the first application of the patent • if you are interested in IPC, compare the patent
application (a patent application could have applications belong to it.
multiple application dates because of divisional
patents as well as overseas patent applications). Copyright
It is considered to be the effective date of filing
for the examination of novelty and inventive Patent applications are free of copyrights unless the
step or non-obviousness for the subsequent inventor specifically stated so in the patent application.
application claiming the priority of the first However, this review is protected by copyright law due
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Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 2

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A few words from the editor
Table of Contents
A61 -
A61B 05/0402 - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F21 - Functional features or details of lighting
devices or systems thereof 4 simultaneous co-operation with two or
F21V 21/00 - Supporting, suspending,
or attaching arrangements for lighting
devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
G06 - Electric digital data processing
G06F 01/16 - Constructional details or
arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G06F 03/048 - Interaction techniques
for graphical user interfaces, e.g.
interaction with windows, icons or menus
G06F 07/04 - Identity comparison, i.e. for like
or unlike values . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G06F 07/552 - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G06F 12/08 - in hierarchically structured
memory systems, e.g. virtual memory
systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data
processing equipment or methods,
specially adapted for specific functions .
Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications
G06F 17/17 - Function evaluation by
approximation methods, e.g. inter- or
extrapolation, smoothing, least mean
square method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
G06F 21/00 - Security arrangements for
protecting computers or computer
systems against unauthorised activity .
G06K 09/00 - Methods or arrangements for
8
reading or recognising printed or written
characters or for recognising patterns,
e.g. fingerprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
G06T 11/20 - Drawing from basic elements,
e.g. line, circle, chart . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2
H01 - Electrically-conductive connections 10
3 H01R 04/26 - Connections in which at
least one of the connecting parts has
4 projections which bite into or engage
4 the other connecting part in order to
improve the contact . . . . . . . . . . . 10
H01R 25/00 - Coupling parts adapted for
more identical counterparts, e.g. for
distributing energy to two or more circuits 11
H01R 43/16 - for manufacturing contact
members, e.g. by punching and by
5 bending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5 H04 - Transmission of digital information, e.g.
telegraphic communication 11
H04L 09/28 - using particular encryption
5 algorithm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
H04L 09/32 - including means for verifying
6 the identity or authority of a user of the
7 system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
H04N 05/14 - Picture signal circuitry for video
frequency region . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
7
Patent Index 14
8 IPC Catchword Index 15
3
F21V 21/00

A61B 05/0402:
App. No. 20100113950 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Seamlessly embedded heart rate monitor
Abstract This is directed to an electronic device having an integrated sensor for detecting a user’s cardiac
activity and cardiac electrical signals. The electronic device can include a heart sensor having
several leads for detecting a user’s cardiac signals. The leads can be coupled to interior
surfaces of the electronic device housing to hide the sensor from view, such that electrical signals
generated by the user can be transmitted from the user’s skin through the electronic device
housing to the leads. In some embodiments, the leads can be coupled to pads placed on the
exterior of the housing. The pads and housing can be finished to ensure that the pads are not
visibly or haptically distinguishable on the device, thus improving the aesthetic qualities of the
device. Using the detected signals, the electronic device can identify or authenticate the user
and perform an operation based on the identity of the user. In some embodiments, the electronic
device can determine the user’s mood from the cardiac signals and provide data related to the
user’s mood.
Pri. Date 20070315 App. Date 20090123 Pub. Date 20100506

F21V 21/00: Functional features or details of lighting devices or systems

thereof Ü Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting
devices
App. No. 20100114346 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Handheld computing device
Abstract A handheld computing device and handheld music player are disclosed. The handheld computing
device includes a seamless enclosure formed from an extruded tube. The extruded tube includes
open ends and internal rails which serve as a guide for slidably assembling an operational
assembly through the open ends of the extruded tube, a reference surface for positioning the
operational assembly relative to an access opening in the seamless enclosure, and a support
structure for supporting the operational assembly during use. The handheld music player includes
an elongated extruded tube extending along a longitudinal axis. The elongated extruded tube has
a first open end and a second open end opposite the first open end, and defines an internal lumen
which is sized and dimensioned for slidable receipt of operational components of the handheld
music player. The lumen includes rails for guiding the operational components to their desired
position within the lumen.
Pri. Date 20081030 App. Date 20100111 Pub. Date 20100506

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 4

G06F 03/048

G06F 01/16: Electric digital data processing Ü Details not covered by

groups and Ü Constructional details or arrangements
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100114346 page 4

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 5

G06F 07/552

G06F 03/048: Electric digital data processing Ü Input arrangements for

transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled
by the computer Ü Input arrangements or combined input and output
arrangements for interaction between user and computer Ü Interaction
techniques for graphical user interfaces, e.g. interaction with windows,
icons or menus
App. No. 20100115471 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Multidimensional widgets
Abstract Systems, methods, computer-readable mediums, user interfaces and other implementations are
disclosed for implementing multidimensional widgets. A multidimensional widget is a three-
dimensional object with application surfaces, and each application surface is associated with a
widget function. Multidimensional widgets can be modified by adding functions or grouping with
other widgets.
Pri. Date 20081104 App. Date 20091104 Pub. Date 20100506

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 6

G06F 12/08

G06F 07/04: Electric digital data processing Ü Methods or arrangements

for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data
handled Ü Comparing digital values Ü Identity comparison, i.e. for like
or unlike values
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100113950 page 4

G06F 07/552:
App. No. 20100111415 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Computations of power functions using polynomial approximations
Abstract A power function is approximated over an applicable data interval with polynomials determined by
means of a Chebyshev minimax approximation technique. In some cases, multiple polynomials
may be used to approximate the function over respective ranges of the desirable interval, in a
piecewise manner. The appropriate polynomial that approximates the power function over the
range of interest is derived and stored. When the power function is to be applied to a particular
data value, the data value is first evaluated to determine where it lies within the applicable interval.
The constants for the polynomial associated with that range of the interval are then retrieved and
used to calculate the power of that data value.
Pri. Date 20070625 App. Date 20100107 Pub. Date 20100506

G06F 12/08: Electric digital data processing Ü Accessing, addressing

or allocating within memory systems or architectures Ü Addressing or
allocation Ü in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual
memory systems
App. No. 20100115230 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Hash functions using recurrency and arithmetic
Abstract Aspects relate to systems and methods for implementing a hash function using a stochastic and
recurrent process, and performing arithmetic operations during the recurrence on portions of
a message being hashed. In an example method, the stochastic process is a Galton-Watson
process, the message is decomposed into blocks, and the method involves looping for a number
of blocks in the message. In each loop, a current hash value is determined based on arithmetic
performed on a previous hash value and some aspect of a current block. The arithmetic performed
can involve modular arithmetic, such as modular addition and exponentiation. The algorithm can
be adjusted to achieve qualities including a variable length output, or to perform fewer or more
computations for a given hash. Also, randomizing elements can be introduced into the arithmetic,
avoiding a modular reduction until final hash output production.
Pri. Date 20090227 App. Date 20081031 Pub. Date 20100506

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G06F 21/00

G06F 17/00: Electric digital data processing Ü Digital computing or

data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific
functions
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100114346 page 4

G06F 17/17: Electric digital data processing Ü Digital computing or

data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific
functions Ü Complex mathematical operations Ü Function evaluation
by approximation methods, e.g. inter- or extrapolation, smoothing, least
mean square method
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100111415 page 7

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 8

G06T 11/20

G06F 21/00: Electric digital data processing Ü Security arrangements

for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorised
activity
App. No. 20100115287 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title System and method for obfuscating constants in a computer program
Abstract Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable
media for obfuscating constants in a binary. The method includes generating a table of constants,
allocating an array in source code, compiling the source code to a binary, transforming the table
of constants to match Pcode entries in an indirection table so that each constant in the table of
constants can be fetched by an entry in the indirection table. A Pcode is a data representation
of a set of instructions populating the indirection table with offsets toward the table of constants
storing the indirection table in the allocated array in the compiled binary. The method further
includes populating the indirection table with offsets equivalent to the table of constants, and
storing the indirection table in the allocated array in the compiled binary. Constants can be of
any data type. Constants can be one byte each or more than one byte each. In one aspect,
the method further includes splitting constants into two or more segments, treating each segment
as a separate constant when transforming the table of constants, and generating a function to
retrieve and reconstruct the split constants.
Pri. Date 20040122 App. Date 20081031 Pub. Date 20100506

G06K 09/00: Recognition of data Ü Methods or arrangements for reading

or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns,
e.g. fingerprints
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100111415 page 7

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H01R 04/26

G06T 11/20: Image data processing or generation, in general Ü Two

dimensional (2D) image generation, e.g. from a description to a bit-
mapped image Ü Drawing from basic elements, e.g. line, circle, chart
App. No. 20100115276 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title System and method for derivating deterministic binary values
Abstract Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media
for deriving a deterministic binary value. The method consists of generating a graph from multiple
inputs, formalizing the graph, calculating paths between starting and ending nodes in the graph
using a shortest path algorithm and performing a digest operation based on the derived paths
to generate a deterministic binary value. In another aspect of this disclosure, authentication is
performed utilizing deterministic binary values and a graph-merging function. This method allows
for diversity in complexity, thus maintaining security on different computer platforms.
Pri. Date 20081103 App. Date 20081031 Pub. Date 20100506

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 10

H04L 09/28

H01R 04/26: Electrically-conductive connections Ü Electrically-conductive

connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact,
i.e. touching one another Ü Connections in which at least one of the
connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other
connecting part in order to improve the contact
App. No. 20100112848 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Cold headed electric plug arm
Abstract This is directed to a power adapter plug arm manufactured from a single piece of material. The
plug arm can include a plug operative to extend into a wall socket, an elongated plate coupled
to an end of the plug such that the plug extends from a first surface of one end of the plate, and
a pin coupled to the opposite end of the plate and extending from the opposite surface of the
plate. The pin can be operative to engage a circuit board of the power adapter to provide power
received from the wall socket to an electronic device coupled to the power adapter. To enhance
the strength of the plug arm, the plate can be manufactured by creating a co-axial plug and a stem
from a single piece of material, bending the stem, and cold heading the bent portion of the stem
to form a plate. Because the cold heading process involves cold working the material, the arm
and in particular the bridge member at the interface between the plate and the stem can become
stronger as a result of the manufacturing process.
Pri. Date 20081031 App. Date 20090130 Pub. Date 20100506

H01R 25/00: Electrically-conductive connections Ü Coupling parts adapted

for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts,
e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100112848 page 11

H01R 43/16: Electrically-conductive connections Ü Apparatus or processes

specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing
of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
Ü for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100112848 page 11

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 11

H04N 05/14

H04L 09/28: Transmission of digital information, e.g. telegraphic communication

Ü Arrangements for secret or secure communication Ü using particular
encryption algorithm
App. No. 20100111292 Assignee Apple Inc.
Title Aggregate and parallelizable hash function
Abstract A hash provides aggregation properties, and allows distributed and/or concurrent processing. In
an example, the hash operates on message M, and produces a multiplicative matrix sequence by
substituting a 2xd7;2 matrix A for binary ones and substituting a 2xd7;2 matrix B for binary zeros
in M. A and B are selected from SL
Pri. Date 20081104 App. Date 20081031 Pub. Date 20100506

H04L 09/32: Transmission of digital information, e.g. telegraphic communication

Ü Arrangements for secret or secure communication Ü including means
for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
Patent applications also belong to this classification and have been already shown:
20100115276 page 10

H04N 05/14: Pictorial communication, e.g. television Ü Details of television

systems Ü Picture signal circuitry for video frequency region
App. No. 20100110303 Assignee APPLE INC.
Title Look-ahead system and method for pan and zoom detection in video sequences
Abstract A look-ahead system and method for pan and zoom detection in video sequences is disclosed.
The system and method use motion vectors in a reference coordinate system to identify pans and
zooms in video sequences. The identification of pans and zooms enables parameter switching
for improved encoding in various video standards (e.g., H.264) and improved video retrieval of
documentary movies and other video sequences in video databases or other storage devices.
Pri. Date 20081105 App. Date 20100111 Pub. Date 20100506

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 12

H04N 05/14

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 13

Patent Index

Patent Index
Patent Application Page Patent Application Page Patent Application Page
20100110303 12 20100111292 12 20100111415 7
20100112848 11 20100113950 4 20100114346 4
20100115230 7 20100115276 10 20100115287 9
20100115471 6

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 14

IPC Catchword Index

IPC Catchword Index

Catch Word IPC Page

ACCOUNT(S) electric digital computers for accounting G06F 17/00 8
BANK(S) -accounting computers G06F 17/00 8
BRACKETS lamp BRACKETS F21V 21/00 4
CHARACTERS recognition of CHARACTERS G06K 09/00 9
COMPILING statistics G06 5
COMPUTER(S) G06 5
COMPUTER(S) multimedia applications G06F 17/00 8
CONTOURS following CONTOURS for character recognition G06K 09/00 9
DATA processing G06 5
DISTENDING parts of the body for medical purposes A61 4
ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY A61B 05/0402 4
EQUATIONS solving EQUATIONS G06 5
FUNCTIONS evaluating FUNCTIONS G06 5
GAS(ES) brackets for GAS(ES)-lamps F21V 21/00 4
HEALTH medical or surgical treatment for HEALTH A61 4
HOLDERS for lighting devices F21V 21/00 4
HYGIENE A61 4
INOCULATION A61 4
INVENTORY electric digital computers for INVENTORY G06F 17/00 8
INVOICING electric digital computers for INVOICING G06F 17/00 8
LETTER(S) identification or recognition of LETTER(S) G06K 09/00 9
OPERATION(S) appliances for performing surgical or medical A61 4
OPERATION(S)
PRINT(S) recognition of printed characters G06K 09/00 9
READING printed or written characters G06K 09/00 9
RECOGNITION of printed or written characters G06K 09/00 9
RESERVATION electric computers for RESERVATION of seats G06F 17/00 8
SEAT(S) electric digital computers for SEAT(S) reservation G06F 17/00 8
STATISTICS electric digital computers for STATISTICS G06F 17/00 8
SUPPORTS for lamps F21V 21/00 4
SUSPENDING of lamps F21V 21/00 4
SYMBOLS recognition of SYMBOLS G06K 09/00 9
TOTALISATORS for electrically computing outcome of betting G06F 17/00 8
TRAFFIC electric digital computers for TRAFFIC control G06F 17/00 8
WEAPON(S) electric digital computers for WEAPON(S) G06F 17/00 8

Apple - 1st Week of May 2010 USPTO Patent Applications 15