Apple Preparing another Round of FaceTime Innovations
Apple Files for iPhone 4S, Siri & Assistive Touch Trademarks While Fulfilling another UI Patent

Apple Reveals Facial Recognition/Signature & Encryption Systems

1 - Apple Reveals Facial Recognition-Signature & Encryption Systems for iOS
On October 13, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two patent applications from Apple that reveal that they're working on a new facial recognition/Signature system in addition to a new encryption system for a future implementation of iOS. Apple's new iPhone 4S offers new face detection capabilities but the next step appears to go one step further with tagging the photos for applications like your address book and so forth. In the case of Apple's newly proposed encryption, it's definitely a must have feature if Apple wishes to push further into the Fortune 500 and beyond.  

 

Overview of Apple's Image Tagging System

 

Organizing images by tagging identification information of individuals into each image is useful; however, this method of managing digital images suffers from implementation drawbacks in the case of camera-enabled portable handheld communications devices such smartphones. In particular, the effort required to manually tag a large set of images may render the task impractical. Further, although software on desktop and notebook computers may be capable of providing some level of automatic tagging of digital images, these applications require images to be offloaded from the handheld device onto the desktop or notebook computer prior to being tagged. Additionally, these applications require substantial user interaction to properly tag each image.

 

An embodiment of Apple's invention is directed to an improved image tagging system that tags images in a mobile handheld communications device, based on the user's contacts list stored therein. In one embodiment, the image tagging system compares a face in a given picture (that the user has just taken using the built-in camera) to faces in the user's contacts list images. A matching contact is located in the contacts list. The picture is then tagged with information from the matching contact. In one embodiment, the picture is tagged by inserting identification information into a header of the picture.

 

In a further embodiment, the accuracy of the face identification may be enhanced when the device could also access a second database of images that have been mapped to individuals (who are likely to also appear in the user's contact list). The second database may be more complete than the contacts list data structure, in that it could have more instances of an individual's face.

 

Apple's patent FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed flowchart or algorithm for a tagging application that may have two phases of operation: an identification phase 201a and an image tagging phase 201b.

 

2 - Flowchart, facial recogninition with ID & Image tagging Phases, Apple oct 2011

Apple's patent FIG. 3 shown below is a screenshot of a camera interface window in which a user may enter a command to capture an image; FIG. 4 shows an example image in which a face has been detected and located; FIG. 5 is an example contacts list stored in a mobile device; FIG. 6 is an example verification interface for verifying a matching contact.

 

3 - Apple face detection, face signatures oct 2011

Apple's patent application 20110249144 was originally filed in Q2 2010 by inventor E-Cheng Chang. Here's a temporary link to the patent for those wishing to delve into this patent further. Temporary links are only good for about 24-48 hours.

 

Other Noteworthy Patent Applications Published Today

 

A new security oriented patent application from Apple surfaced today titled: "Systems and Method for Content Protection Based on a Combination of a user PIN and a Device Specific Identifier."

 

Apple states that as more and more individuals and enterprises rely on smartphones and other mobile devices storing confidential or sensitive information, security is an increasing concern. Because such mobile devices are used as communication centers, they frequently contain sensitive information such as contact information, call logs, emails, pictures, and so forth, of high potential value and/or sensitivity. In certain applications, protecting this information is desirable. In some applications, encryption is used to protect sensitive information. Apple's patent is about a set of improved approaches for synchronizing encrypted file systems.

 

As Apple pushes further into the Fortune 500 companies and top Medical Hospitals in the US as Tim Cook confirmed during his presentation this month, such security measures are a must for IT.

 

Extra - Apple Content Protection System patent - oct 2011

Apple's patent FIG. 2 noted above illustrates an example of asymmetric key cryptography; FIG. 3 illustrates an example of symmetric key cryptography, and FIG. 29 illustrates an exemplary device-specific based key generation method.

 

Apple's patent application 20110252243 was originally filed in Q2 2011 by inventors Michael Brouwer and Mitchell Adler. Here's temporary link #2 for those wishing to review the full patent. Note that temporary links are only good for about 24-48 hours.

 

And lastly, there was another patent of interest published today titled "Opportunistic Multi-tasking." It appears to simply cover Apple's current iOS multitasking details. However, if you're interested in checking it out in the hopes of gleaning something new, you could check out temporary link #3 that's only good for 24-48 hours.

 

Notice: Patently Apple presents a detailed summary of patent applications with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application should be read in its entirety for full and accurate details. Revelations found in patent applications shouldn't be interpreted as rumor or fast-tracked according to rumor timetables. Apple's patent applications have provided the Mac community with a clear heads-up on some of Apple's greatest product trends including the iPod, iPhone, iPad, iOS cameras, LED displays, iCloud services for iTunes and more. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.

 

 

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