Patent number is for a proximity detector for tablets. Proximity based systems and methods that are implemented on an electronic device are disclosed. The method includes sensing an object spaced away and in close proximity to the electronic device. The method also includes performing an action in the electronic device when an object is sensed.

The invention relates generally to I/O platforms including proximity detection as a means for providing inputs. More particularly, the invention relates to improved methods and devices for operating a portable electronic device that utilizes proximity detection.

Here's Apple's summary of the invention: "The invention relates, in another embodiment, to an I/O platform. The I/O platform includes an I/O surface having one or more I/O devices selected from input device and output devices. The I/O platform also includes a proximity detection system configured to detect when a finger is in close proximity to but not contacting the I/O surface.

"The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a portable computing device. The portable computing device includes a housing. The portable computing device also includes a user interface including one or more I/O devices, each of which is positioned at a surface of the housing. The portable computing device further includes a proximity detection system configured to detect when an object is in close proximity but not touching the periphery of the portable computing device.

"The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a portable computing device. The portable computing device includes a display configured to display a graphical user interface. The portable computing device also includes an input means configured to provide inputs to the portable computing device. The portable computing device further includes a proximity detector configured to detect objects in space above the display device. The portable computing device additionally includes a processor operatively coupled to the display device, input means and the proximity detector. The processor instructs the display device to display one or more GUI elements in response to detected object, and perform actions associated with the GUI element when an input is made at the GUI element via the input means.

"The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a proximity based method implemented on an electronic device. The method includes sensing an object spaced away and in close proximity to the electronic device. The method also includes performing an action in the electronic device when an object is sensed.

"The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a method performed on a user operated electronic device having a display and a proximity detector. The method includes determining if an object is detected in space above electronic device. The method also includes monitoring and analyzing the current operating conditions when an object is detected. The method further includes activating a first GUI element for a first set of operating conditions. The method additionally includes activating a second GUI element for a second set of operating conditions."

The inventors are Steve P. Hotelling, Duncan Robert Kerr, Bas Ording, Jonathan P. Ive, Peter J. Kennedy, Anthony M. Fadell and Jeffrey L. Robbin.

Regarding iChat, patent number 7653719 involves a video conferencing system or, more specifically, automatic detection of channel bandwidth. The patent involves a step-wise approach to automatically determining the bandwidth of a communication channel includes dividing the channel's potential bandwidth into a number of ranges. An initial range is then selected and a series of data packets specific to the selected range are transmitted from a first endpoint to a second endpoint, with the second endpoint determining one or more channel metrics based on the transmitted packets (e.g., measured transmission rates).

If the metrics indicate the current range accurately reflects the channel's bandwidth, a measured transmission rate of the transmitted data packets is used as the channel's bandwidth. Otherwise, another range is selected and the process is repeated. The described approach rapidly determines channel bandwidth, even when the channel between the two endpoints is asymmetric. Techniques described herein are particularly beneficial when used in conjunction with multimedia conferencing applications. The inventors are Hyeonkuk Jeong and Ryan Salsbury.

Eleven other Apple patents have also appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. Here's a summary of each.

Patent number 7653755 involves an apparatus and method for determining communications paths, , especially for AV/C devices. The system includes gathering pertinent information about drivers in each available communication between nodes in the system and ordering the driver information in a communication path list string. The system may be employed with multiple nodes having one or more communication paths between nodes. The system may also be employed with multiple nodes where at least one of the nodes is a bridge. The inventor is Erik P. Staats.

Patent number RE41088 is for a method and apparatus for rotating the display orientation of a captured image. The apparatus of the present invention preferably comprises an image sensor, an orientation sensor, a memory and a processing unit. The image sensor is used for generating captured image data. The orientation sensor is coupled to the image sensor, and is used for generating signals relating to the position of the image sensor. The memory, has an auto-rotate unit comprising program instructions for transforming the captured image data into rotated image data in response to the orientation sensor signals.

The processing unit, executes program instructions stored in the memory, and is coupled to the image sensor, the orientation sensor and the memory. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of: generating image data representative of an object with an image sensor; identifying an orientation of the image sensor relative to the object during the generating step; and selectively transferring the image data to an image processing unit in response to the identifying step. The inventor is Eric Anderson.

Patent number 7653776 involves a method and apparatus for selectively switching IC ports to card slots through the use of three switches per switch group. The invention is for a system that selectively couples one or more IC chips to card slots. The system contains a Z-bar switch which includes: a select input; a first IC port coupled to a first IC pin; a second IC port coupled to a second IC pin; a first card slot port coupled to a first card slot pin; and a second card slot port coupled to a second card slot pin. If the select input receives a first control pattern, the Z-bar switch is configured to: couple the first IC port to the first card slot port; and to couple the second IC port to the second card slot port. If the select input receives a second control pattern, the Z-bar switch is configured to: couple the first IC port to the second card slot port; leave the second IC port floating; and to leave the first card slot port floating. The inventors are William P. Cornelius, Paul A. Baker and Joseph P. Bratt.

Patent number 7653550 is for an interface for providing a modeless timeline based selection of an audio or video file. A timeline-based approach for selecting and manipulating audio tracks is presented. This is accomplished via a graphical user interface that provides users with a series of visual cues and enhancements when selecting a particular area of an audio track depicted within the interface. These visual cues are rendered as a display region having multiple other display areas, components or interface components that provide the user with a location for initiating actions upon the file.

User input provided to the timeline component generates a selection overlay that indicates a selected area of the audio file. The user can perform numerous actions with that audio file, such as copying and pasting. The user can do this more quickly and efficiently because the user is not required to switch tools. Everything is accomplished "modelessly." Multiple instances of the selection overlay applied, for example, across multiple audio tracks may achieve even more powerful results. The inventor is Egan Schulz.

Patent number 7652494 involves operating an integrated circuit at a minimum supply voltage. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises at least one measurement unit configured to generate an output indicative of a supply voltage at which the integrated circuit is operable for a given operating frequency and a control unit coupled to receive the output. The control unit is configured to generate a voltage control output indicative of a requested supply voltage for the integrated circuit responsive to the output. The voltage control output may be output from the integrated circuit for use by circuitry external to the integrated circuit in generating the supply voltage for the integrated circuit. The inventors are Daniel W. Dobberpuhl and Vincent R. Kaenel.

Patent number 7652504 is for a low latency, power-down safe level shifter. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a circuit supplied by a first supply voltage during use, the circuit having at least a first input signal; and a level shifter supplied by the first supply voltage during use and coupled to provide the first input signal to the circuit. The level shifter is coupled to receive a second input signal sourced from circuitry supplied by a second supply voltage during use, and is configured to generate the first input signal by level shifting the second input signal. Coupled to receive a power control signal indicating, when asserted, that the second supply voltage is to be powered down, the level shifter is configured to assert a predetermined level on the first input signal independent of the second input signal and responsive to an assertion of the power control signal. The inventors are Brian J. Campbell and Vincent R. von Kaenel.

Patent number 7652676 involves systems and methods for color managing content elements on a display device. The systems and methods for color managing content elements on a display device comprising using a set of color space characteristic values that describe a color space of the display device to create a profile having a multidimensional table encapsulating the display behavior as described by color space characteristic values for the display device. The inventor is David Hayward.

Patent number 7652678 involves partial display updates in a windowing system using a programmable graphics processing unit. Techniques to generate partial display updates in a buffered window system in which arbitrary visual effects are permitted to any one or more windows (e.g., application-specific window buffers) are described. Once a display output region is identified for updating, the buffered window system is interrogated to determine which regions within each window, if any, may effect the identified output region. Such determination considers the consequences any filters associated with a window impose on the region needed to make the output update. The inventors are Ralph Brunner and John Harper.

Patent number 7653685 involves methods and apparatuses for transferring streaming multimedia data and various types of data associated therewith in a network environment. The present invention provides several methods and apparatuses for transmitting multimedia data using streaming media protocols such as real-time transfer protocols (RTP) and real-time streaming protocols (RTSP) in a computer network environment. A request for RTP data is sent from the caching proxy server to the server. The request may be for one specific type of data or multiple unrelated types of data. The server responds to the request indicating its support for the requested data.

The caching proxy server determines whether to proceed or terminate the data transmission process based on the response provided by the server. If it is determined to proceed with the data transmission process, the caching proxy informs the server to send the requested data. The server sends the requested data in a body of a RTP packet. The RTP packet uses a RTP Meta-Info payload format, which includes a body and a field header. The field header includes fields to identify the streaming media data, and the field body includes the requested streaming media data. The inventors are Denis Serenyi and Chris LeCroy.

Patent number 7653250 is for adjusting the sample rate for encoding. Some embodiments provide a method for adjusting a video sampling rate during an video encoding operation. The method receives a metric that quantifies the usage of a computer that performs the video encoding operation. The method computes an adjustment factor based on the metric. In some embodiments the metric is a system idle time. The method defines the video sampling rate based on the adjustment factor. Some embodiments compute the adjustment factor by performing a non-linear operation based on the metric.

In some embodiments, the non-linear operation includes performing an integral operation based on the metric. In some embodiments, the non-linear operation includes performing a derivative operation based on the metric. Some embodiments perform more than one operation to compute the adjustment factor. In some embodiments, each operation is assigned a weight. The inventors are Hyeonkuk Jeong, Berkat Shing Tung and Jim Normile.

Patent number 7653719 is for the ornamental design of an electronic device. The inventors on both are Bartley K. Andre, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Steve Jobs, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Douglas B. Satzger, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang and Rico Zorkendorfer.


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