Type of Article: MacNews Web Site

Apple has been granted a patent (number 20100211886) by the US Patent & Trademark Office for management of user interface elements in a display environment.

A widget manager facilitates management of widgets in a dashboard layer. Management functions can include enablement, preview, importation, exportation, organization, installation, deletion, acquisition, etc. The inventors are Scott Forstall, Imran A. Chaudhri, John O. Louch and Eric Steven Peyton.

Several other Apple patents have also appeared. Here’s a summary of each.

An Apple patent (20100211910) for sticky functionality has appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. And it shows that Apple still has plans for the mouse in upcoming Macs.

Future iPhones and iPods may be able to receive “pushed” info to you based on what location you’re at. Unfortunately, the pushed info could include ads.

An Apple patent (number 20100207782) for a system and method for situational location relevant invocable speed reference has appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. It involves a system for pushing situational location dependent content to data processing system devices traveling to locations for, or in directions of, that place which delivery content is designated as deliverable.

Upcoming iPhones and iPads could recognize individual users and adjust accordingly, per a new patent (number 20100207721) for systems and methods for identifying unauthorized users of an electronic device at the US Patent & Trademark Office.