Apple is granted a Patent for Hands-Free Services (for the Car)

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to the field of computer networking; and more specifically for supporting hands-free services for IP video calls with a hands-free unit (e.g., a headset, a car kit) over a WPAN (e.g., Bluetooth) network.

Apple's first patent claim reads as follows: "A method performed in a client computing device for providing hands-free services for Internet Protocol (IP) video calls through a hands-free device, comprising: receiving an IP video call invitation request that requests the client computing device participate in a P2P (peer-to-peer) IP video call; generating a generic incoming call object based on the IP video call invitation request in a format that is common for both incoming audio only cellular calls and IP video call invitation requests, the incoming call object including a set of parameters regarding the incoming call, wherein the set of parameters regarding the call includes a status of the call, a call participant identifier, a start time, and a call identifier; alerting the hands-free device of the incoming call based on the incoming call object; responsive to receiving an indication from the hands-free device that a user has indicated to answer the incoming call, transmitting an IP video call accept message; establishing a P2P connection for the P2P IP video call; and routing an audio portion of the P2P IP video call through the hands-free device such that the hands free device acts as an auditory relay during the P2P IP video call, while displaying a portion of the video call on the client device." Apple's patent claim #3 reads: 3. "The method of claim 1, wherein the hands-free device is a car-kit."

Apple credits Justin Santamaria, Justin Wood and Matthew Klahn as the inventors of granted patent 8,751,667 which was originally filed in Q3 2011 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple is granted a Patent for Multi-touch Shape Drawing

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating multi-touch shape drawing. The use of multi-touch gesture detection improves the user interface experience associated with generating and modifying shapes. By associating unique multi-touch gestures with the generation of corresponding shapes, the accuracy and ease of use with which shapes can be generated can be improved. By associating multi-touch gestures with the modification of shapes, the ease of use with which shapes can be modified can be improved.

In the embodiment illustrated in Apple's patent FIG. 5B, the linear contraction motion can comprise two points of contact on the touch-sensitive surface moving toward each other, resulting in the generation of a box.

Apple credits John Elias as the sole inventor of granted patent 8,749,497 which was originally filed in Q4 2008 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple is granted a Patent for Smart Automation of Robotic Surface Finishing

In March Apple filed for a patent relating to a five axis robotic arm followed by a patent application in May for a new Robotic Arm Testing System. Today, Apple has been granted their first robotic centric patent relating to "Smart Automation of Robotic Surface Finishing."

Apple's first patent claim notes that Apple's patent relates to a "method for determining a three-dimensional motion path for a finishing tool, the method comprising: creating a three-dimensional computer aided design model of an object; selecting a sequence of points and orientations on a plurality of regions of the surface of the computer aided design model; creating a three-dimensional motion path connecting the selected sequence of points and orientations; calculating a contact profile between a finishing tool and the surface of the computer aided design model along the three-dimensional motion path; and adjusting the three-dimensional motion path based on the calculated contact profile; wherein the plurality of regions include at least one flat region and at least one curved region."

Apple credits Max Maloney, Howard Bujtor and Brian Miehm as the inventors of granted patent 8,747,188 which was originally filed in Q4 2011 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple has been granted a Patent for Sporting Shoe Sensor, Again  

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to a shoe wear-out sensor, body-bar sensing system, unit-less activity assessment and associated methods. It's their third patent on this same invention.

Patently Apple covered this twice. The first time we covered this way back in 2011 showing both the shoe sensor and body-bar sensing system. The second time that we covered this was Apple's second granted patent regarding this invention back in 2013.

To review this for a third time, see Apple's granted patent. Apple acquired this patent from Curtis Vock. Apple's patent figures noted above were from their original granted patent dating back to 2011.

The minor hints of it relating to a "Watch" is found scattered throughout this patent. However, keep in mind that this was a Curtis Vock patent that Apple aquired from PhatRat. It's PhatRat who had a patent for the smart watch as noted below in their graphic which is found on their homepage. This wasn't added by Apple. Yet technically it could protect Apple should they apply this to a future sports oriented iWatch.

 Apple Granted Three Design Patents Today

Apple was granted three design patents today covering their iPhone 4S, third generation iPad Wi-Fi and combined EarPods and packaging.

Apple credits their late CEO Steve Jobs, their VP of Industrial Design Jonathan Ive and team members Jody Akana, Bartley Andre, Jeremy Batailou, Daniel Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard Howarth, Duncan Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Christopher Stringer, Eugene Wang and Rico Zorkendorfer as the designers of the iPhone 4S.

The Remaining Patents granted to Apple Today

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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. Comments are reviewed daily from 4am to 8pm MST and sporadically on the weekend.

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