Several Apple patents have appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. Here’s a summary of each.
Apple patent 7,760,767 is for wide area peer-to-peer synching in a decentralized environment. A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing data between devices and more particularly for synchronizing data between a plurality of peer-to-peer devices in a decentralized environment where no one device stores the most “recent” or “true” version of the data. Embodiments of the invention relate concepts of discovering synchronizing peers, communication between peers using special techniques, and using a way station concept as an aid for both discovery and synchronization between peers that are not simultaneously available. The inventors are Bruce Nilo, Gordie Freedman and Toby Paterson.
Patent number 7,761,798 is for a system and method for controlling the screen appearance for a data processing system. In one embodiment, a data value, typically stored in a non-volatile memory, is retrieved; this data value represents an appearance of an enclosure of a digital processing system. An appearance of a display of this digital processing system is then set based upon the appearance of the enclosure. In one example, the appearance is the color of the enclosure which determines various colors and backgrounds of objects in a graphical user interface of the digital processing system. Other methods, apparatuses and computer readable media for causing methods to be performed are also described. The inventors are Nick King, David Wong, Peter Alexander, Cameron J. Esfahani and Debbie McDaniel.
Apple patent 7,761,800 is for an unified interest layer for a user interface — in other words, the Dashboard feature in Mac OS X. The inventors are Imran A. Chaudhri, John Louch and Andrew M. Grigon.
Apple patent D620,004 is for the design of the iPhone 3G.
Apple patent 7,761,811 involves a user interface for assisting in the installation of an asset. Some embodiments of the invention provide a method that assists in the installation of an asset in a graphical user interface for a computer system. The method receives a selection of the asset that has not yet been installed on the computer system. It then responds to the selection of the asset by displaying a preview of the asset without installing the asset on the computer system. In some embodiments, the method receives a modification of an attribute of the asset. It then responds to the modification of the attribute of the asset by displaying a preview of the modification of the attribute of the asset without installing the asset on the computer system. In some embodiments, the preview of the asset is used to assist in the determination of whether to install the asset. The inventor is Imran Chaudhri.
Apple patent 7,761,798 is for a system and method for controlling the screen display for a data processing system. In one embodiment, a data value, typically stored in a non-volatile memory, is retrieved; this data value represents an appearance of an enclosure of a digital processing system. An appearance of a display of this digital processing system is then set based upon the appearance of the enclosure. In one example, the appearance is the color of the enclosure which determines various colors and backgrounds of objects in a graphical user interface of the digital processing system. Other methods, apparatuses and computer readable media for causing methods to be performed are also described. The inventors are Nick King, David Wong, Peter Alexander, Cameron Esfahani and Debbie McDaniel.
Apple patent 7,761,488 involves a system and method for controlling the screen display appearance for a data processing system. In one embodiment, a data value, typically stored in a non-volatile memory, is retrieved; this data value represents an appearance of an enclosure of a digital processing system. An appearance of a display of this digital processing system is then set based upon the appearance of the enclosure. In one example, the appearance is the color of the enclosure which determines various colors and backgrounds of objects in a graphical user interface of the digital processing system. Other methods, apparatuses and computer readable media for causing methods to be performed are also described. The inventors are Nick King, David Wong, Peter Alexander, Cameron Esfahani and Debbie McDaniel.
Apple patent 7,761,414 is for asynchronous data synchronization among devices. In one embodiment, a method includes executing at least one user-level non-synchronization processing thread and executing at least one synchronization processing thread concurrently with the executing of the at least one user-level non-synchronization processing thread. The at least one user-level non-synchronization processing thread may include operations to access a first database which is synchronized by the at least one synchronization processing thread during a synchronization operation between the first database on a first processing system and a second database on a second data processing system. The inventor is Gordon J. Freedman.
Apple patent 7,761,118 involves database programs for handheld devices. Techniques for providing access to databases from handheld devices are disclosed. Techniques can be used to implement a database system. The database system provides a graphical user interface which can be displayed on handheld devices. This allows users of handheld devices to conveniently by interacting with the graphical user interface. As will be appreciated, the user can access the database to perform a variety of operations. Moreover, the user can perform these operations without having to write programs and virtually in real time. Thus, the user can conveniently access the database and be provided with up-to-date information. In addition, the user can be provided with hyperlinks which allow the user to conveniently perform various tasks without having to switch between different operation modes. The inventors are Dirk Kessler and Lee McIntyre.
Apple patent 7,761,183 is for methods and systems for producing numerical congtrol program files for controlling machine tools. A manual computer numerical control (CNC) programming method and system (which may be embodied in whole or part in an article of manufacture or apparatus) in which coordinates may be manually entered into a text editor into a file format known as the coordinate work sheet (CWS) including verification, modification and conversion of the CWS to G-Code, the coordinate work sheet format being a comma delimited ASCII text file, and further including cutter on/off commands and using computer aided design (CAD) data to generate the coordinate work sheet (CWS). The inventor is Douglas G. Sullivan.
Apple patent 7,760,559 is for an integrated circuit with separate supply voltage for memory that is different from logic circuit supply voltage. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises at least one logic circuit supplied by a first supply voltage and at least one memory circuit coupled to the logic circuit and supplied by a second supply voltage. The memory circuit is configured to be read and written responsive to the logic circuit even if the first supply voltage is less than the second supply voltage during use. In another embodiment, a method comprises a logic circuit reading a memory cell, the logic circuit supplied by a first supply voltage; and the memory cell responding to the read using signals that are referenced to the first supply voltage, wherein the memory cell is supplied with a second supply voltage that is greater than the first supply voltage during use. The inventors are Brian J. Campbell, Vincent R. Von Kaenel, Daniel C. Murray, Gregory S. Scott and Sribalan Santhanam.
Apple patent 7,760,528 involves a method and apparatus for providing high speed, low EMI switching circuits. Methods and apparatus are provided for generating low EMI display driver power supply. The methods and apparatus include switching circuits that utilize two groups of parallel circuit traces, each of which is coupled to one end of a switching device. The two groups of traces are configured to be interleaved with each other such that no two traces from either group are next to any other traces from the same group. When the switching device is activated, current flows through the circuit and charges an energy storage element. When the switching device is deactivated, the energy storage element discharges a portion of its energy to a second energy storage element and to the driver circuits. In another embodiment, an additional circuit trace is provided which is only connected on one end and is free floating on the other end to capture the majority of EMI remaining that was generated by the switching circuit. The inventor is Yongman Lee.