Apple has been granted eight patents by the US Patent & Trademark Office. Following is a summary of each.
Patent number 7,788,656 is for a system for reducing the number of programs necessary to render an image. Disclosed is a system for reducing memory and computational requirements of graphics operations. The system provides techniques for combining otherwise individual operations to apply filters to images. The combined filter emerging from the combination spares the processor time and the creation of an entire intermediary image. The system further provides for application of these techniques in many contexts including where the operations are fragment programs in for a programmable GPU. John Harper is the inventor.
Patent number 7,788,582 involves techniques and graphical user interfaces for improved media item searching. Improved techniques and graphical user interfaces that assist users in searching through a group of media items are disclosed. According to one aspect, a search assistant (e.g., search bar) can be graphically presented to a user to assist the user in selecting search criteria. In one embodiment, the search assistant can be automatically presented when a search process is being considered by a user. In another embodiment, the search assistant can be context sensitive so as to adapt to different types of media items. The inventors are Jeffrey L. Robbin, Mike Wiese, Patrice Gautier, Robert Kondrk, Timothy Benjamin Martin, Alexandrea Anderson, Charles Clinton Lloyd and David Lawrence Neumann.
Patent number 7,786,975 involves morphing between two views of data. A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium are provided that in various embodiments relate to manipulating data. In an embodiment, the data may be manipulated with respect to viewing the data. Austin W. Shoemaker is the inventor.
Patent number 7,788,605 is for a continuous scrolling list with acceleration. Movement of a point of contact by a user of a touch-sensitive display is determined. In response to the movement, a list of items on the touch-sensitive display is scrolled through. The scroll through is accelerated in response to an accelerated movement of the point of contact. The scroll through and acceleration of the scroll through may be in accordance with a simulation of a physical device having friction. The inventors are Bas Ording, Scott Forstall, Greg Christie, Stephen O. Lemay and Imran Chaudhri.
Patent number 7,788,248 involves immediate search feedback. Search input is received within a search field of a web browser application. Based on characteristics of the search input, a determination is made whether to automatically submit a query to a search engine. In one aspect, the query is automatically submitted to the search engine. The query is based on the received first search input. Results are displayed within the web browser application, the results web page returned from the query submitted to the search engine. The inventors are Scott James Forstall, Donald D. Melton, John William Sullivan and Darin Benjamin Adler.
Patent number 7,788,585 is for split edits. A method and apparatus is described that is related to split editing. An indicia of a first time based stream of information is displayed at a source media. An indicia of a second time based stream of information is displayed at the source media. This is followed by an editing of the first time based stream of information and the second time based stream of information together in an operation that uses no more than six edit points between the source media and a destination media combined. The editing is performed such that the selected amount of time of the first time based stream of information differs from the selected amount of time of the second time based stream of information, and the destination media includes a third time based stream of information. The inventor is Randy Ubillos.
Patent number 7,788,594 involves methods and apparatuses for inputting information. In one exemplary embodiment of a method described herein, a text input field is displayed and, through a first input to the text input field itself, a selection between at least a first operation and a second operation can be made. A first input is received to determine a selected operation which is one of the first operation or the second operation, and a text input is received and the selected operation is performed. Other methods are described, and apparatuses are also described. Avadis Tevanian Jr. is the inventor.
Patent number 7,788,599 is for user interface elements for a hierarchical selection of items. Per the patent, an user interface element for selecting items from a hierarchy of items can present a cell for each level in the hierarchy of items. Each cell can be associated with a level in the hierarchy and is operable to receive user input. In response to receiving user input directed to a cell, a collection of items can be presented where each presented item is from the level in the hierarchy associated with the cell. Each presented item can also be a child of a selected item in a cell associated with a higher level in the hierarchy. The inventors are Jeffrey H. Michaud, Michael Paul Thole, Mark Joseph Williams and Jason Allen Townsend.
Patent number 7,788,604 involves a three state icon for operations. The icon prevents inadvertent starting of an operation on a computer. The icon has a first state which conceals a second state. Upon selection of the first state with a computer pointing device (i.e., mouse), the icon will change to the second state. Upon selecting the icon in the second state, the operation on the computer will start. Accordingly, only upon selecting the icon in the first state and then the second state, the operation will commence on the computer thereby preventing accidental startup of the operation. Once the second state has been selected, the icon will change to a third state which indicates that the operation is proceeding on the computer. The inventors are Timothy Wasko and Steve Jobs.