New Apple patent applications reveal ambitious AirPlay, AirPrint plans

“As Apple prepares to unleash its new AirPlay and AirPrint wireless standards this fall, details on the technology and what functionality it might gain in the future were detailed in a plethora of patent applications revealed this week,” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider. “A total of 11 patent applications this week deal with wireless and wired communication with external accessories. They describe features that will be included in Apple’s forthcoming AirPlay and AirPrint standards, including the ability of third-party accessories to receive data — such as music, album art, playlists and print jobs — wirelessly from an iOS device.”

Advertisement: The new AppleTV. The simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows on your HD TV. Just $99. Buy Now.

“The applications include references to multiple potential external accessories that could communicate with a device like an iPhone. Many of them have already been established with the forthcoming AirPlay standard, including external speaker systems, video players and other multimedia devices,” Hughes reports. “Some, however, suggest Apple’s short-range wireless capabilities could expand to new areas, including home appliances (like a refrigerator or dishwasher), exercise equipment, security systems, home or office automation, cameras, user input devices (a mouse or game controller are mentioned), measurement device, medical devices, or automobiles and automobile accessories (like a car stereo system).”

Hughes reports, “AirPlay and AirPrint will represent a major change for Apple, letting device makers into the company’s ecosystem in a way never before allowed. The move has cleared the way for accessory makers to accept wireless media and data streaming from iOS devices with functionality built into the mobile operating system itself.”

There’s much more, including Apple’s patent application illustrations, in the full article here.