New iPhone patent applications: Object identification, face recognition, messaging tweaks, more
About 50 rungs further down the innovation ladder, some new Apple patent applications revealed this morning are definitely less interesting and complex than the few we covered last week. In fact, considering some of the technology has already existed for quite some time we’re not even sure why Apple is attempting to patent a few of these things. In any case however, it’s never a bad idea to stop and take a look at where the iPhone and iPhone OS may be headed in the future so let’s start at the top. The drawing above depicts an object identification interface that would allow the iPhone to recognize and deliver information about an object as a result of analyzing a photo/image or by scanning a bar code/RFID tag. Novel? Definitely not. Useful? Probably. Hit the jump for more.
This next patent application covers something Apple was very proud of as a recent addition to iPhoto ‘09 — facial recognition. The difference here is that Apple envisions using the technology for controlling access and various handset functions which, if you ask us, doesn’t sound overly appealing or useful. In fact, we’d venture to say it’s less intuitive than other currently available options… Like typing a password.
Here we have a message filtering patent application that describes various methods for controlling and filtering different text-based communications:
Control application includes an instructional tool or study aid where the administrator sets one or more modes, such as language, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation and/or other content of a text-based communication based on, for example, a user’s age or grade level. This can be especially useful, for example, such as when a child’s grades go down. A parent can then institute a condition to improve a child’s grades. For example, the control application may require a user during specified time periods to send messages in a designated foreign language, to include certain designated vocabulary words, or to use proper designated spelling, designated grammar and designated punctuation and like designated language forms based on the user’s defined skill level and/or designated language skill rating. If the text-based communication fails to include the required language or format, the control application may alert the user and/or the administrator/parent of the absence of such text.
Well isn’t Apple conscientious?
Next up are a couple of patent applications pertaining to messaging that are designed to make things a bit easier and more efficient. Above is a group messaging feature that will check the delivery status of sent messages after a predetermined time interval and alert the sender when certain recipients have not read the message. Status reports, mmm. The differentiating factor here we suppose, is the interface.
Related to the patent above, Apple also filed an application for a process that would notify users of unread messages and emails or new voicemails from a specific contact before a new message is delivered to said contact. Not a bad idea.
Last but not least — actually it probably is least — the ability to change voice output. Fair enough…
Despite the restrictions involved in playing back audio files, users of media devices may wish to change the audio output of audio files. A mother, for example, might wish to change the narrator’s voice in a pre-recorded, commercially available audiobook to her own voice, so that her child can listen to the audiobook as narrated in the mother’s voice in her absence. In another scenario, a student listening to a lecture as a podcast file might want to change the audio of certain sections of the lecture to sound like someone else’s voice, so as to emphasize important parts of the lecture.
Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth if you ask us, but perhaps there’s more of a demand for Oprah’s voice reading steamy romance novels than we were aware of.
[Via Unwired View]
Read (object identification)
Read (facial recognition)
Read (group messaging delivery status)
Read (unread message alerts)
FIRST SUCK IT!!!
*Yawn* Sorry for sleeping while reading more iGarbage.
Next, apple will patent the already old way I take a crap!! Man, this company is really disappointing me lately.
These clowns will patent anything
The fact apple is patenting any of these “features” is iTarded.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Cincinnati United States
Just like apple to patent something old & make it their own! What’s next? They are gonna try to patent WATER?
Looks like they are building a tricorder-communicator combo!
I’ll buy one!
Whats good with all of this 1984/Minority Report technology?
Like, who is telling these companies that we want these intrusive functions in our handhelds? The market is not dictating these additions.
No blutetooth keyboard functionality…but let me scan your fingerprints, face, bio stats and map yor every move. The F outta here!
I want no parts of this.
I could not agree with Jason Bourne more. I havent seen one patent about any keyboard, or anything letting me customize my phone and have quick access to settings/messaging. I hate apple for this.
Really….
Apple continues to “patent” Nokia technologies. First was the on screen button creating haptics technology copying Nokia’s Haptikos, and now they “patent” image recognition technology already used by Nokia’s Point and Find. http://www.symbian-freak.com/news/009/03/nokia_introduces_nokia_point_find_for_uk_and_us.htm
Sounds to me like Apple is joining the NWO…
Holy crap! It’s official Apple has invented RFID and barcodes!
This is getting ridiculous now. Add this to their pathetic “Hey look: Copy and Paste…ON THE IPHONE! aren’t we awesome?” commercial.
You guys are completely nuts, out of the loop, and have no freaking idea what you are talking about. Bunch of whiners. Have you even touched an iPhone or are you not old enough to go to the mall by yourselves yet? You just sound jealous, that’s all, not an actual constructive criticism or germane comment by the bashers in the thread. How about we count the patents each of you have obtained and the contributions you’ve made to technology?
@ Alex….is that the NWO with Hogan, Hall, and Nash…and sometimes Sting?
Interesting that you would like to give Nokia credit for doing nothing more than ripping off SnapTell.
You’re all a bunch of whinny bitches.
If any of the thread whinners saw what Microsoft has and had patented…
It’s nothing to do with personal intrusions..
It’s about ubber personalising functionality… device interaction… without having to push buttons… hearing what you want to experience in a device not what emperor Ballmer wants shove down your shaft!
So Frakk-Off!
Why are most BGR readers who comment are so bitchy about Apple products? I’m no Apple fanboy but this is ridiculous and stupid, just adding to the many crap comments on the Internet.
Seeing comments like these is just a damn turn off, makes it difficult to even try to correspond ffs
Hey.. sounds interesting..
but then what about other applications of Face Recognition?
I think now a days it is required…
Anayways nice post..
keep bloging..