Patently Apple

Apple Gets the Green Light for a New Graphics Processor?

 
Every once in a while I find that trying to read and decipher one of Apple's patents is painfully like being an archeologist trying to find meaning in an ancient manuscript that's written in some form of Sanskrit. I'm not even going to pretend to understand the depths of this never ending granted patent which contains in excess of 200 patent figures. All that matters is that Apple's granted patent states emphatically that the invention is about a new graphics processor and method. The graphics processor is specifically referred to as a Deferred Shading Graphics Processor or DSGP. The invention relates to computing systems, to 3D computer graphics and particularly to structure and method for a 3D graphics processor implementing differed shading and other enhanced features. The granted patent appears to be discussing a desktop/workstation graphics processor and interestingly, Apple may have acquired this patent. The lead inventor, listed as Jerome Duluk, used to work at NVIDIA.

 

Apple Wins Patents for Cover Flow, Time Machine and Magic Mouse

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 14 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group are strangely timed to the Mirror Worlds patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. Apple has won another Cover Flow patent in addition to a set of patents pertaining to Apple's Time Machine. Both of these areas of technology were challenged in the lawsuit. Apple has also won a pair of patents today that relate to both the design and technology behind their Magic Mouse.  

Apple Patent: iPhone Display May Double as an RFID Transponder

 
Patently Apple first noted Apple's NFC patent trend back in late 2009. Then the patent downpour arrived in April and May of 2010 which covered everything from embedding NFC/RFID technology into home appliances and devices right on through to the iWallet. But a European patent filing of Apple's that was published late last week provided us with a little background. It appears that Apple's work on bringing this technology to the iPhone and iPod touch actually began right after the iPhone debuted in 2007. Today's report covers this patent which discusses using a cellphone (iPhone) and Audio/Video Player (iPod touch) as both an RFID tag reader and a tag. At the heart of this patent, Apple states that "the RFID antenna could be placed in the touch sensor panel, such that the touch sensor panel could now additionally function as an RFID transponder." This is the technology that could be at the heart of Apple's future iWallet and iKey.

 

Olympic Developments Sues Apple for Selling Goods on iTunes

 
A private Delaware company by the name of Olympic Developments AG, LLC, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the California Central District Court Los Angeles Division against several major technology companies including Apple Inc., Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Inc., DirecTV, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Nintendo of America, Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment of America, LLC, Sony Electronics, Inc. and Valve Corporation. The lawsuit, in context with Apple specifically, appears to be concerning the sale of goods through Apple's iTunes and App Stores via an iPad or iPhone in a manner claimed in the patents-in-suit.  

Apple Files Four iAd Trademark Applications

 
On October 1, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark application for "iAd" under applications 85139086, 85139109, 85139119 and 85139138. Apple has filed their trademark under four distinct International Classes which covers such matters as computer software, marketing, promotional services and being able to serve and transmit audio, video, multimedia, and advertising. Apple's iAd was launched in April 2010 and reaches millions of iPhone and iPod touch users around the world.