Patent

Apple’s Bluetooth hotspot patent points to iWatch

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 7, 2013

The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) on Thursday published an interesting Apple patent that has iWatch written all over it. The filing titled 'Network access using short-range connectability' describes a low-power wireless hotspot functionality via Bluetooth 4.0 that basically provides network connectivity akin to the iOS Wi-Fi hotspot feature, but without draining the battery as much.

By relying on the Bluetooth 4.0 low-energy protocol, also known as Bluetooth LE or Bluetooth Smart, such a wireless hotspot is a fit for a device like the rumored Apple smartwatch, which must be super power-efficient. Another benefit of using the Bluetooth LE-enabled hotspot is that your iPhone can instantly wake up the host device...

Apple patents built-in solar charging solution for Macs and iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2013

Apple has filed for a few patents in the past related to solar charging for mobile devices and has recently been discovered to be seeking experts in this field. The latest patent filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) indicates Apple may be on the verge of commercializing this technology on a mass scale.

The invention titled 'Power management systems for accepting adapter and solar power in electronic devices' outlines a solar power solution that could be easily integrated into MacBooks, iPhones and iPads without the need for unwieldy external converters...

Canadian patent troll loses infringement lawsuit against Apple

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 24, 2013

Canadian-based patent troll Wi-LAN lost its bid to force Apple to license patents covering several major wireless technologies. A jury found Apple did not infringe on two Wi-LAN patents dealing with CDMA, HSPA (3G), Wi-Fi and LTE. The patent company wanted Apple to pay $248 million.

In a statement, Wi-LAN said it was disappointed with the court's decision, but feels the Marshall, Texas federal ruling will not hurt previous licensing deals now in place.

Samsung, HTC and BlackBerry are among the companies which have settled lawsuits...

Apple patents new iBooks gifting choice

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 24, 2013

Unlike other media Apple sells, such as music and video, you've not been able to gift e-books - until now (perhaps). As we head into the holiday season, the iPhone maker has filed for a patent on sending to friends the e-books you've already purchased through the iBookstore. The patent filing would enable you to select a passage in an e-book that reminds you of someone, then gift the book, complete with a personalize message...

Apple seeks Samsung penalty for leaking secret Nokia patent terms

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 18, 2013

A court earlier this week denied motions by Samsung to delay a probe into whether it improperly disclosed a confidential 2011 licensing agreement between Apple and Nokia.

Although Samsung lawyers argued the original judge made mistakes in ruling the South Korean firm committed a breach of privacy, Judge Lucy Koh found the decision "eminently reasonable".

Earlier this month, Apple filed a legal motion claiming Samsung illegally disclosed details of the patent licensing agreement in order to improve negotiations. The iPhone maker alleges the information revealed was part of documents turned over as part of the Apple v. Samsung case...

Massive setback for Android: Apple’s ‘Steve Jobs patent’ reconfirmed for original iPhone

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 18, 2013

In a case of good timing, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has reconfirmed a multitouch patent credited to Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs and the original iPhone design.

On the sixth anniversary of the iconic smartphone, the U.S. government reaffirmed the massive patent that was called into question in 2012.

Jobs was among the more than two-dozen people named in the massive 364-page patent filed in 2006.

The USPTO had issed a preliminary invalidation of the patent package, but now believes all 20 patents are valid...

Obama refuses to veto Samsung import ban, deciding effects would be limited

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 8, 2013

U.S. President Barack Obama is opting to let stand a ban on Samsung product imports. The South Korean firm had requested the American president overturn an earlier decision by the US International Trade Commission. The failure to veto the import on Samsung products follows a last-minute veto of an import ban on Apple's iPhone 4S in August...

Steve Jobs had hand in newly-patented glass entryway for Shanghai store

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated December 6, 2013

Typically, Apple patents technology sold within its retail locations. However, today the company received a patent for the design and construction of the glass cylindrical entrance to its Apple Store in Shanghai. Unlike most entrances, the one in Shanghai shapes huge slabs of glass, connected by a complex arrangement of fittings to form a building unto itself. To top it all off, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is among the patent inventors...

Apple loses fight to stop patent troll Lodsys

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

The beat goes on for primo patent troll Lodsys. Apple's attempt to intervene in a concerted clipping of iOS developers failed after a patent-owner friendly judge dismissed the tech giant's legal motion. U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap in East Texas ruled Apple's motion "is far outside the scope" of his courtroom.

The decision effectively opens the door to Lodsys settling all cases with defendants, thereby ending a 2011 effort by Apple to shield hundreds of thousands of individual iOS developers from being sued for patent-infringement by Lodsys...

Apple working on multitouch gestures for iOS keyboard, patent hints

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Although Apple's iOS is known for its gesture-based interface, the iPhone maker is notoriously hesitant about enhancing the virtual keyboard feature. A patent granted Tuesday reveals the company has been considering adopting multitouch keyboard from the moment the iPhone appeared. The patent filing entitled 'Swipe gestures for touch screen keyboards' outlines gestures to handle common keyboard tasks, such as deletion, punctuation and more...

Apple and fellow tech titans expand fight against patent trolls to EU

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 27, 2013

Apple and more than a dozen other titans of technology have written to European Union officials, expressing concern that a unified patent court system could encourage patent trolls to expand their lawsuits overseas.

New rules now being developed could create "significant opportunities for abuse" allowing patent owners to "extract substantial royalties," according to the letter obtained by the New York Times.

Starting in 2015 trolls could take infringement cases to non-member countries or nations without much experience, creating a European version of the Eastern District of Texas. Courts in that U.S. district are notorious for rulings favorable to companies suing tech firms, according to the letter...

Japan court rules Apple’s click wheel infringes patent

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple must pay a Japanese inventor Y300 million (about $3 million USD) for patent infringement involving the iPod's Click Wheel, a court ordered Thursday. The inventor had asked for Y10 billion, but received far less from the court. The provisional ruling, based on sales dating back to 2004, ends a legal dispute which began in 2007...