ADAPTIX Inc., of Dallas Texas is an award-winning technology company long recognized in the industry as one of the first developers of cutting edge OFDMA-based mobile wireless systems. The company claims to have conceived, built, and patented critical equipment and network features that form the foundation of today's advanced 4G broadband wireless technology and systems. Late Friday, the company launched a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple over their new iPad with LTE and Retina Display. On a second front, Apple has been sued by NovelPoint Security over Intel based Macs allegedly using their technology to thwart viruses.
On February 21, 2011 a new MacBook Pro trademark was filed by Apple and the new oddity in their International Class 009 verbiage was that of "power converters." At the time we pointed to a new fiber optic patent that would have made sense and low and behold, Apple introduced Thunderbolt on February 24, 2011. Well, Apple has done it again. They've filed for a new MacBook Pro trademark in Hong Kong, and yes, it has a new oddity. In fact there's two listed. And this time, they're whoppers!
In this Patent Flash Report we take a quick look at what we all know as a camera with a self-timer. Primarily, a traditional self-timing camera could be used when taking photos of a group or scene, a self-portrait or close-up shots. In Apple's case, you'll first take a photo of yourself so as to alert the camera that you are the "photographer" wanting to be in a picture using the self-timing feature. The iDevice camera will then not take the target photo of a group until you're actually in the picture. Meaning, as you set the timer and then move toward the group you're to be with in the photo, an urgent phone call comes in. The camera won't take the picture, even though it's on a timer, until it has recognized and verified that you're the photographer and that you're actually n place for the photo. Now that's an interesting twist. The only thing Apple doesn't explain is, where's the iDevice tripod? I guess that's going to pop in a future patent. Time will tell.
In a Patent Flash Report that we posted last week partially titled "Will the iPhone ever be Waterproof?" – we covered Apple's system for creating a water seal involving the use of both a sealing tape such as DuPont's Kapton and a soldering paste. In today's newly published patent application, Apple reveals that they're working on waterproofing a key device component using silicone rubber as a sealant. The patent also reveals that their solutions could eventually extend on through to the iPad and even the MacBook. Apple isn't there yet, but their definitely working on ways of better protecting us against devastating water damage so that we could keep on working, surfing and enjoying our devices without unnecessary disruption.
In late February, Tim Cook told Apple shareholders during their annual meeting that Apple was working as hard as ever to deliver some incredible products that would blow their minds. That's also a quiet message that Tim Cook carefully crafted for his final keynote slide that stated "There's a lot to look forward to" in 2012. Although we know 2012 will be a huge year for Apple, yesterday's special event was really more of a defensive move. One designed to get the leap over their competitors who'll be rolling out new products throughout Q2. Yes, there were some excellent evolutionary refinements to the iPad like the insanely new Retina Display, but not quite enough to be called revolutionary. In my view, Apple's strategy was more about pounding their competitors into the ground with mind boggling software application refinements that would leave them in the dust. And in today's report, we'll show you some of the patents behind the great new software features that Apple gave life to yesterday.
Samsung is scrambling to get Microsoft to produce documents and testify in deposition in the case relating to Apple v. Samsung. Samsung believes that Microsoft is in possession of prior of a touch device that will kill Apple's case. But after reading the patent, Samsung seems to miss the boat. Microsoft's patent clams don't even mention touch technology as being a core value. Secondly, when touch is mentioned vaguely in the patent's description, it's not about Multi-Touch technology which is at the core of Apple's iOS based devices. The type of touch technology vaguely mentioned in Microsoft's patent is equaled to the kind used with a stylus. This is what Microsoft supported back in 2006 when the patent was initially filed. I don't' know: Is it me, or is Samsung just spinning their wheels in desperation here?
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of twenty-five newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today and we've already covered two of them that touched on Apple's Multi-Touch and iWallet technologies and systems. But there's one more to report on today that could be a blockbuster for Apple's legal team and have Android OEM's scrambling to get it dissected. Apple's latest patent win may hold some mind boggling smartphone and tablet basics such as a display changing from vertical to horizontal modes. The Verge's Nilay Patel has posted a fine report today titled "Slide to unlock: how Apple's patents are changing Android." One of the patents that Patel touches on is that of patent 7,469,381 which he dubs a notorious patent because of the effect it's had on Android OEM's. If that had an effect, then Apple's latest patent is bound to be a killer. Apple's patent holds a whopping 76 claims which is well over triple what the '381 patent possessed. So if the first patent challenged Android OEM's, then this one could be a mega-ton bomb in comparison.
In May of 2010 we were surprised to see Apple's first iWallet patent officially surface. In that year we witnessed a steady stream of Near Field Communication based patents that kick started the iWallet trend. Ever since that time we've archived these patents under the category of "iWallet-NFC Related." Today, Apple has been granted a major iWallet patent and it's one that has never been reported on before. Apple's patent reviews credit card transaction rules and shows us that the credit card companies will be sending statements directly to your iTunes account. The iWallet project just became a little more real today, and for many, it can't come soon enough. Who knows, perhaps one day Apple's iWallet will rule the world: the financial world that is. And all Macites said, Amen.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of twenty-five newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In our first granted patent report of the day, we cover Apple's win for a design patent relating to the MacBook Air's Solid State Drive and another foundational Multi-Touch patent that dates back prior to the iPhone's initial launch. Apple's latest multi-touch patent focuses on input discrimination. Apple has won dozens of Multi-Touch patents thus far and it's one area that Apple intends to protect. In fact Apple launched a lawsuit against Motorola back in 2010 to make that point perfectly clear. Apple's multi-touch patents have been steadily rolling out over the years. In 2011 alone, Apple hit a Multi-Touch Patent Grand Slam in April, won more in September and again in November with two high profile multi-touch patents. To kick-start 2012, Apple was granted five more Multi-touch patents in late February. Today's patent provides Apple's legal team with yet more ammunition on this front and the streams of such patents are likely to continue for many years to come.
On March 03, 2012, Apple's trademark filings for "Cards" were published in both Europe and Hong Kong China. Apple is seeking protection for the "Cards" logo in both color and black and white versions. The designs will be protected under three international Classes. The "Cards" app is available from the App Store for free if your device is running iOS 5 or higher. The Cards app is available in many languages – so check it out if you haven't already.
An innovation consulting firm based out of Chicago by the name of Gravity Tank is caught in the middle of one of Apple's patent infringement cases against Samsung. Gravity Tank is seeking a protective order requiring that Apple and Samsung confer and develop an agreed-up scope and process for Gravity Tank's Electronically Stored Information. Samsung wants documents relating to research and analysis conducted by Gravity Tank about what features consumers wanted in iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone. That flies in the face that Apple never engaged in such practices. On the flip side, Apple is seeking documents relating to Gravity's six year relationship with Samsung. Our report covers most of what is found in this court document that makes for interesting weekend reading.
In this Patent Flash we take a look at two interesting things that Apple wants to do with a future data/power connector. While Apple has pointed to shifting or adding a fiber optic based MagSafe connector to some future iDevices, others believe that Apple may simply decide to abandon their 30 pin connector altogether. Well, until either occurs, a new published patent filing shows us that Apple has a few new thoughts on the matter.
I love marketing people and sly engineers who can craft language to either smartly coin a phrase like "There's an App for That," or calling waterproofing "inhibiting moisture intrusion" so that snooping IP reporters won't make the connection. Well, I caught it and Apple's patent makes it clear that the process for making the iPod shuffle waterproof can be applied to other Apple devices.
Acoustic musical instruments, such as drums and pianos for example, are typically velocity sensitive. This means that when a user hits a piano key softly, a quiet sound is produced, and when a user hits a piano key with more force, a loud sound is produced. This velocity-sensitive property allows musicians to create more expressive sounds and music.Today many touchscreen inputs aren't velocity sensitive.Apple's invention provides an exemplarymethod that includes receiving in the processor an acceleration value outputted by the accelerometer. The method includes associating the acceleration value with a function indicated by a touched location on the touch-sensitive display, such as a piano key. The function is the output of a musical note and modifying the function includes modifying an audible volume, pitch, or attack time of the musical note. The end result is Apple's GarageBand App for iPad.
A Luxembourg company by the name of Core Wireless Licensing has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple in the Texas Eastern District Court. Their wholly-owned subsidiary in Texas known as "Core Wireless Licensing Ltd" is holding all of the pertinent documents in this case. The bewildering twist in this case is that the eight counts brought against Apple are using Nokia patents. A settlement between Nokia and Apple was announced in June 2011. The settlement somehow now drags Apple into infringing 3GPP standards.
