A number of Apple patents have been released this week. Some of them deal with further refinement of touchpads (probably most of them represent versions which won’t make the light of day). One interesting example is a scroll touchpad for an iPhone that looks a lot like a present iPod. The innovation Apple suggests appears to resemble an old rotary telephone more than anything (everything old is new again!). Also, Apple seems to have got around to putting a patent application for the iChat interface – one version they show shows a three-way text chat. Another application has a description of a local area broadcast system for the iPhone (or similar product), allowing location/person specific information/applications to be sent to anyone in range. Imagine being in an Apple store/Ikea and being able to just click off on you iPhone the products you wanted and pay by credit card and then just pick them up at the counter. Mmmmh, we’ll see.

Illuminated touchpad

The present invention pertains to improved feedback mechanisms for touch pads. One aspect relates to devices capable of illuminating the touch sensitive surface of the touch pad. Another aspect relates to methods for providing visual feedback at the touch pad.
Inventors: Ng; Stanley C.; (Los Altos, CA) ; Kerr; Duncan Robert; (San Francisco, CA)

Touch pad with symbols based on mode

A multifunctional handheld device capable of operating in different modes includes a single input arrangement that provides inputs for each mode of the multifunctional handheld device. The single input arrangement includes at least an input pad that provides signals when touched or pressed. The input pad may for example be a touch pad. The input pad is divided into one or more input areas that change in accordance with the current mode of the multifunctional handheld device. The multifunctional handheld device also includes a display device that presents graphical elements to indicate the configuration of the input areas at the input pad. Each mode of the multifunctional handheld device provides a different configuration of input areas and graphical elements associated therewith.

Inventors: McKillop; Chris; (La Honda, CA) ; Grignon; Andrew; (Campbell, CA) ; Ording; Bas; (San Francisco, CA)

Light activated hold switch

An automatic hold switch is disclosed. The automatic hold switch provides a means for automatically switching a hold feature on and off. When the hold feature is on, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are disabled or prevented from providing input signals. When the hold feature is off, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are enabled or allowed to provide input signals. Because the user no longer has to manually control the hold feature, the number of actions that need to be taken by the user is reduced. In one example, the automatic hold switch is embodied with light sensors that detect when the device is in a dark environment and when the device is in a light environment. A dark environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes not to input and therefore the hold feature is turned on. A lighted environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes to input and therefore the hold feature is turned off.
Inventors: Rothkopf; Fletcher R.; (Chicago, IL)

Media data transfer

The invention pertains to improved methods and systems that facilitate data delivery to electronic devices. One aspect of the invention pertains to data delivery to mobile devices. In one embodiment, a local server is provided at a particular location, such as at an establishment, venue, etc. The local server can operate to locally wirelessly transmit data to mobile devices within its vicinity. Typically, the mobile devices are associated with persons (users) at the particular location. The mobile devices, or their users, can control, request or influence the particular data content being delivered. The local server can also provide customized data to the mobile devices, individually or as a group. The customization can be based on location, characteristics, interests, preferences and/or requests of the users of the mobile devices.
Inventors: Ng; Stanley C.; (Los Altos, CA) ; Hodge; Andrew Bert; (Palo Alto, CA) ; Fadell; Anthony M.; (Portola Valley, CA) ; Robbin; Jeffrey L.; (Los Altos, CA) ; Borchers; Robert Edward; (Pleasanton, CA) ; Bell; Chris; (Pacifica, CA) ; Cue; Eddy; (Mountain View, CA)

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION DURING AN INSTANT MESSAGING SESSION

A method and an apparatus are provided for controlling a graphical user interface to display information related to a communication session. Information relating to data produced by a first participant to the communication session is displayed on a first display unit, wherein the information produced by the first participant is displayed at a first position on the first display unit. Data is received from a second participant to the communication session, and information relating to the data received from the second participant is displayed on the first display unit wherein the information received from the second participant is displayed at a second position on the first display unit. The first and second positions are horizontally spaced apart.
Inventors: Christie; Gregory N.; (San Jose, CA) ; Westen; Peter T.; (Menlo Park, CA) ; Lemay; Stephen O.; (San Francisco, CA) ; Alfke; Jens; (San Jose, CA)