(US 8,386,677) Communicating Location Information between a Portable Device and an Accessory and other Patents Granted to Apple
- Staff
- February 26, 2013
Patents granted to Apple by the USPTO on February 26, include – Communicating location information between a portable device and an accessory and and Communication between an accessory and a media player with multiple protocol versions and extended interface lingo
US 8,386,677- Communicating Location Information between a Portable Device and an Accessory and other Patents Granted to Apple
The list of patents granted to Apple by the USPTO on February 26, include – Communicating location information between a portable device and an accessory, Computer interface having a virtual single-layer mode for viewing overlapping objects, User interface gestures and Communication between an accessory and a media player with multiple protocol versions and extended interface lingo
Communicating location information between a portable device and an accessory
[quote] Location data is exchanged between a portable media device and an accessory. If the portable media player is equipped with location determining capability, the portable media device can communicate its location data to the accessory, and the accessory can use this location data to perform various tasks. If the accessory is equipped with location assistance capability, the accessory can communicate location data to the portable media device, and the portable media device can use this location data to perform various tasks.[/quote]
According to Apple’s patent, a device equippped with Global Positioning System (GPS) and cellular phone tower triangulation capabilities can share its data with an accessory device without such capabilities.The accessory device can use this location data to perform various tasks, e.g., displaying the location on a map for a user. It’s not hard to envision that this functionality will be great for Apple’s iWatch.
Apple pointed this out in the patent summary:
[quote] Embodiments of the present invention relate to exchanging location data between a portable media device and an accessory. In one embodiment, the portable media player is equipped with location determining capability. The portable media device can communicate its location data to the accessory. The accessory can use this location data to perform various tasks, e.g., displaying the location on a map for a user. In another embodiment, the accessory is equipped with location assistance capability and can communicate location data to the portable media device. The portable media device can use this location data to perform various tasks, e.g., locating points of interest nearby to the current location.[/quote]
A handheld computing device is disclosed. The handheld computing device includes a seamless housing 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 housing, and a support structure for supporting the operational assembly during use.
Computer interface having a virtual single-layer mode for viewing overlapping objects
A computer-human interface provides a mechanism to manage the available space of a computer display in a manner that facilitates navigation among multiple windows that are overlaid upon one another. The interface includes a user-selectable mode in which the windows are rearranged, and resized if necessary, so that all open windows can be simultaneously viewed within the area of the display, thereby enabling any one of the windows to be easily selected for access. In effect, the presentation of the windows is “flattened” so that all windows appear at the same virtual depth, rather than overlapping one another. With this approach, there is no need to minimize windows in order to access one that is overlaid by another, thereby enabling the user to keep the content of all windows visible and accessible. Subsets of windows can be repositioned in the same manner, or all windows can be removed from the display area for access to desktop objects.
Electronic device with automatic mode switching
An electronic device for predicting or anticipating a user’s operational desires. The electronic device is ready to perform the anticipated function without input from the user by using sensors to sense environmental attributes. The sensors can include an ambient light sensor, a force sensor, a temperature sensor, an ambient noise sensor, and a motion sensor. The electronic device also includes a control mechanism for switching between modes for the device.
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.
An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo.
Mobile computing device with adaptive response based on accessory firmware
Techniques for predicting accessory behavior and techniques for responding based on the predicted behavior are provided. A mobile computing device (MCD) determines firmware being used by an accessory. Based on the determination, the MCD can predict a command most likely to be received next from the accessory. After the MCD determines the command most likely to be received next from the accessory, the MCD can retrieve the information to be sent in response to the command and/or initiate an operation to be performed in response to the command prior to actually receiving the command from the accessory.
Ad hoc networking based on content and location
Methods, program products, and systems for ad hoc networking based on content and location are described. A user of a mobile device can identify another user using another mobile device who is close by, if both users have requested to participate in networking. Common interests and experiences of two or more users located close to each other can be identified from content, including automatically created usage data of the mobile devices. Usage data of a mobile device can be created based on activities performed on the mobile device (e.g., songs downloaded), a trajectory of the mobile device (e.g., places traveled), or other public data available from the mobile device (e.g., pictures shared). Each of the users can be notified that another user having the common interests and experiences is close by. A means of initiating communication can be provided to the users to facilitate communication between the users.
Auto messaging to currently connected caller
A messaging application and a telephony application can be activated on a mobile device for sending messages to a connected party while a telephone connection is established between the mobile device and the connected party. A user can compose a message or send a file from the mobile device to the connected party based on the caller details associated with the connected party.
