“The notables within this group include two patents relating to the iTunes Store’s advance purchasing system, another for a cooling apparatus used in the Mac Pro and another for an iPod armband,” Purcher reports. “Yet beyond those are the more important patents that relate to Apple’s iPad Dock design and a vital Multi-Touch patent that could assist Apple in future legal battles.”
Purcher reports, “Apple has been granted a crucial Multi-Touch patent relating to Master and Slave controllers used primarily in Apple’s iOS based devices… The importance of this multi-touch patent is that it could relate to other devices beyond those which Apple sells. Apple could therefore be thinking of licensing their technology to other kinds of OEMs. Apple’s patent states that ‘the computer system could also be a public computer system such as an information kiosk, automated teller machine (ATM), point of sale machine (POS), industrial machine, gaming machine, arcade machine, vending machine, airline e-ticket terminal, restaurant reservation terminal, customer service station, library terminal, learning device, etc.’ Technically speaking, Apple’s patent covers a computer system having two or more controllers operating in a Master/Slave configuration.”
Full article, including Apple patent application illustrations, here.
[Attribution: TUAW. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Arline M.” for the heads up.]
Put that in your pipe, Eric T. Mole, and smoke it!!!
Hear That Monkey Boy, “This Ain’t the Eighties”
I don’t know what the hell all that means.
I guess it’s good.
Defend those patents!
There’s only one Multi Touch and it’s Apple’s.
All other touch devices are inferior and bogus – not as sensitive, accurate nowhere as encompassing and not even close…
They never will be either because – There’s only one Multi Touch and it’s Apple’s.
It’s getting very interesting.
Does this cover The Big Ass Table from Microsoft?
Apple needs two things for effective legal action against its pilfering rivals:
1. Money
2. Iron-clad patents
Hammer, meet stake.
“…two or more controllers operating in a Master/Slave configuration.”
(I just wanted to read that again)
@ ChrissyOne:
Hmmm…
Peace.
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Olmecmystic
@ C1
You deserve a spanking for that comment.
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@ CitizenX No, most likely. The BAT uses cameras to detect where your input is, not the screen. This is the tech behind the Kinnect and large touchscreens.
If Apple licenses this tech out to OEM’s that don’t directly compete with Apple products I am sure the apps will have to be written on a Mac. More penetration in the developer market. If they do keep it you will see Apple expand rapidly in new markets. Good use for the old HP offices.
iPod armband LOL…
But I don’t see Apple going after companies that don’t compete with Apple. I have not heard about it before anyway. Patents like these are good when you are going to defend your company.