Patently Apple

Apple Envisions Face & Presence Detection Security for iOS Devices

On December 29, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for device security. In 2009, Apple's presence detection patent first came to light in relation to future MacBooks. Then in November of this year, Apple revealed a heavy duty 3D face and object recognition system that could be used for home and enterprise security applications. In today's revelations, Apple introduces us to a more down to earth and practical security system for our portable devices. For simple home or personal use, the system could be setup to recognize your presence and face to quickly turn on your device. This would bypass the need for entering a password or even having to touch the home button to get to your homepage. For use at work, the facial recognition system could be set to higher levels of security. All in all it sounds like a very promising security system is in our future.  

Apple Wins Patents for Push Notifications, Magnometer & More

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of nineteen newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The most interesting one within this group was by far the one relating to 3D Object Recognition Technology that we posted earlier this morning. Yet there were a number of other practical patents published today that were worth noting. The first one pertains to Apple's push notification system. The second patent relates to the magnometer found in some iOS devices that works tightly in conjunction with their "Maps and Compass" app. A third patent relating to iOS touches on "text input using speech data and non-speech data." And finally, a forth patent relates to the timer mechanism in iOS devices designed to automatically shut down the display when not in use so as to conserve energy. All in all Apple Legal gained an important basket of granted patents today.    

Apple Reveals their In-Store Security Systems for Devices & More

 
If you know Steve Jobs then you know that he tries to patent everything under the sun including everything related to their own Apple Stores. Whether it's their Classic Glass Apple Store architecture in New York or the average in-mall Apple Store design layout or even the iPad stands that sit on the tables at every Apple Store, they have it covered. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that Apple has once again applied for a patent to cover their unique in-store security systems for devices that includes very sophisticated cabling and alarms. The security system designs also extend to Apple Kiosks in stores like Best Buy and Future Shop. Apple also states that their security systems could extend to oddities like transportation vehicle instruments and televisions. The former speculatively sounds like a potential new accessory in the making that would be welcomed. Some of the security designs appearing in the application seem to be new and the fact that Apple only filed for a patent this past Christmas tells us that we may see some of these new designs coming to an Apple Store in the not- too-distant future.  

 

Apple Reveals New Security Features for "Find My iPhone" Part 2

 
A new patent application from Apple this morning reveals that they began working on new security features for "Find My iPhone" shortly after the first iteration was revealed back in 2009. The next generation security features are noted as being proactive in nature. The user will be able to preselect certain files to be protected in the event their device is lost or stolen and introduces ways of securely scrambling information instead of wiping it out to make retrieval easier. Other interesting features are also being considered and are covered in today's report.  

Apple Wins Corrupted File System & New Security Feature Patents

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 14 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. Two of these patents cover design wins relating to their fifth generation iPod nano and their third generation iPod shuffle. Beyond their design wins, the notables within this group cover a wide range of technology including a system for replacing corrupted media files on portable devices, methods of controlling LED backlighting, Apple's iTunes Party Shuffle and a security system for portables that may go beyond Apple's current "Find my iPhone" application.