updated 10:00 am EST, Tue November 6, 2007
Apple video, cable patents
The US Patent and Trademark Office today published two patents granted to Apple, Using order value for processing a video picture and Connector interface system facilitating communication between a media player and accessories. The former relates to video compression, and specifically describes an encoder with variable-accuracy inter-picture timing. An encoder would normally determine the time difference between two different video images and record this, but under a preferred scheme, only a "nearby" image would be captured, possibly using arithmetic or variable-length coding. Alternately, the time difference could be encoded with a power of two to reduce bitrate.
Apple's second patent relates to familiar iPod/iPhone connector interface, mainly using the USB cables which connect to speakers, stereos, and computers; also included is the interface used for player docks. Mentioned as a part of this is a central protocol, with various "lingoes" devoted to accessories such as remotes, displays, RF transmitters and extended interfaces.