The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 55 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover Apple's panning 3D Maps technology along with five design patents covering the various Apple products such as the MacBook, the iPad Pro keyboard and more. We wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

Granted Patent: Panning for 3D Maps

Apple's newly granted patent covers their invention relating to Apple Maps. This particular invention provides a novel method for performing pan operations on a three-dimensional (3D) map. In some embodiments, the method (1) receives input through a 3D perspective view of the 3D map to perform a panning operation to the 3D map. To perform the panning operation to the 3D map, the method of some embodiments (1) determines a panning movement in a two-dimensional (2D) orthographic view of the 3D map that corresponds to the 3D perspective view of the 3D map based on the input and (2) pans the 3D map according to the panning movement.

In some embodiments, the mapping application provides an inertia effect for panning operations. When a user provides a particular type of input (e.g., input that terminates at a velocity greater than a threshold velocity) to pan the 3D map, the mapping application generates an inertia effect that causes the 3D map to continue panning and decelerate to a stop. The inertia effect in some embodiments provides the user with a more realistic interaction with the 3D map that mimics behaviors in the real world.

Apple's patent FIG. 5 noted above conceptually illustrates an example of determining a panning movement based on a user's input to pan a 3D map.

Apple's granted patent 9,541,417 was originally filed in Q3 2012 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. To review Apple's mapping patent in more detail click here.

Apple Granted 7 Design Patents Today

Apple was granted 7 design patents today. The main designs cover Apple's MacBook, two for the iPad Pro keyboard and two for different iPad covers as presented below.

The Remaining Patents granted to Apple Today

Note: In order to see a clearer image of the list above, simply click on the image above to enlarge it. Some browsers may require that you click on the image and then a second click on the image to enlarge it fully.

Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.