Granted Patent: OS X Expose Feature

Apple has been granted a patent for the OS X feature Expose. Technically, Apple's invention is generally directed to operating systems for computers, and more particularly to a computer-human interface that manages the manner in which multiple overlapping objects are presented to a user.

In practical terms, Apple describes it this way: "Instantly view all open windows in stunning style with a single keystroke. Expose unshuffles overlapping windows on your desktop into an organized thumbnail view, so you can quickly locate and switch to any window or get to any file on the desktop." For details on Expose, see Apple's Website.

Apple credits Bas Ording and John Louch as the inventors of Granted Patent 7,739,617, originally filed in Q4 2003.

Industrial Design Win Patent # 1: MacBook

Apple credits Jody Akana, Bartley Andre, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard Howarth, Jonathan Ive, Duncan Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Christopher Stringer, Eugene Whang and Rico Zorkendorfer as the inventors of Granted Patent D617,789, originally filed in Q4 2009. See Apple's real MacBook design detaiing.  

Industrial Design Win Patent # 2: iPod Touch

Apple credits Bartley Andre, Daniel Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard Howarth, Jonathan Ive, Duncan Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Douglas Satzger, Christopher Stringer, Eugene Whang and Rico Zorkendorfer as the inventors of Granted Patent D617,792, originally filed in Q3 2009.

Industrial Design Win Patent # 3: The iPhone's Note App UI

Apple credits Greg Christie, Elizabeth Caroline Furches and Bas Ording as the inventors of Granted Patents D617, 806 and 807, originally filed in Q2 2008. The emphasis appears to be on the language (Japanese, I believe). Apple says to forget pen and paper. Use Notes on iPod touch to write yourself a quick note and keep important information on hand. A built-in email function lets you send notes to yourself and others.  See more features.

Granted Patent: Improved Magsafe Connector

The official title of this patent is "Connector assembly with improved solder tails." Technically, Apple's invention generally relates to a connector assembly, and more particularly to a connector assembly used for power transmission. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly with improved solder tails for achieving more reliable connection between contacts and a printed circuit board.

Apple credits David Ko as the sole inventor of Granted Patent 7,736,156, originally filed in Q2 2007.

Other Granted Patents (GP) Published Today

GP 7,739,363 – Configurable offline data store

A method and apparatus for a configurable offline data store are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request for a first set of one or more records from a client application, wherein the first set is remotely stored. The method further includes determining a second set of one or more records that is associated with the first set, wherein the second set is remotely stored. The method further includes fetching over a network the first set and the second set from a server data store unit; storing the first set and the second set in a client data store unit and providing access to the first set and the second set when the network is not operational.

GP 7,739,151 – Reservation of digital media items

Techniques for interacting with an online media store using a first device to identify a digital media item of interest to a user of the first device, using the first device to store an interest indicator for the digital media item of interest at the online media store, and subsequently interacting with the online media store using a second device to purchase or preview the digital media item of interest as identified by the interest indicator. Additionally, ring tones and graphics associated with the digital media item of interest can also be purchased.

GP 7,739,410 – Synchronization methods and systems

Bookmark synchronization methods, systems and computer readable media are described. One exemplary method includes storing a mapping relationship between a first topology for bookmarks of a first web browser on a host and at least one of an intermediate topology and a device topology for bookmarks of a second web browser on a device and storing a mapping relationship between the device topology and at least one of the intermediate topology and the first topology, and synchronizing bookmarks on the device with bookmarks on the host. Systems, computer readable media and other methods are also described.

GP 7,739,442 – Macroscalar processor architecture

Apple's invention relates generally to a processor. More particularly, this invention relates to macroscalar processor architecture. Also see our November 2009 patent report that points to two additional patents on this subject.

GP 7,739,298 – Using a calculation expression to define and control access rights for records in a database

Apple's invention relates to databases and, more particularly, to controlling access to data stored in records of a database.

GP 7,739,476 – R and C bit update handling

Apple's invention relates to the field of processors and, more particularly, to reference and change bit updates to page table entries in processors.

GP 7,739,604 – Method and apparatus for managing windows

Apple's invention relates to graphical user interfaces, and more particularly to window management during a drag operation.

Notice: Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application and/or Issued Patent should be read in its entirety for further details. For additional information on any granted patent noted above that is not directly linked, simply feed the individual patent number(s) provided, minus the "GP" suffix (if present) into this search engine. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.

Special Note: Patently Apple has added the D8 interview video with EBay's CEO John Donahoe to our Transaction - eWallet patent report. You'll hear Mr. Donahoe early on pointing to the iPhone being our eWallet within the next 2-3 years. You learned of the details of this coming revolution - first on Patently Apple.