Enhanced Mobile Multi-Tasking Patent Application Surfaces
Apple has filed a patent application for techniques for providing input to interactive and multitasking applications, especially in regards to gaming.
The application appears specifically applicable to portable devices, where screen real estate is a premium. From the application:
In general, Apple focuses on being able to control background applications via the same input surface without having to navigate away from the foreground application. For the iPhone/iPod touch, the patent is similar to the home button double-click functionality, but the touch screen would be utilized.
The application was originally filed in September 2006 and was published today.
Raw Data: Patent Application #20070279394
The application appears specifically applicable to portable devices, where screen real estate is a premium. From the application:
A location on the input area can be designated, for example, for a gaming application if input is received in a particular manner different than that designated for the non-gaming application (e.g., tapping or touching the region would send input to a gaming application, but pressing would result in a media player function)
In general, Apple focuses on being able to control background applications via the same input surface without having to navigate away from the foreground application. For the iPhone/iPod touch, the patent is similar to the home button double-click functionality, but the touch screen would be utilized.
The application was originally filed in September 2006 and was published today.
Raw Data: Patent Application #20070279394
Top Rated Comments
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55 months ago
I hope there will be a lot more games for the iPhone in the future … and by "games" I'm talking 3D as well + hopefully iPhone2 will compare to something like the PSP or Nintendo DS when it comes to gaming! :)
… a partnership with Nintendo would be great! :)
… a partnership with Nintendo would be great! :)
55 months ago
Boy, Apple is going to be TOUCHING us a lot in the future it seems.
Good.
Good.
55 months ago
and this is on the front page why? It tells us about a patent that was filed well over a year ago. Let me know when games come to the iphone/touch, thats front page worthy, otherwise dont waste my time
55 months ago
I hope there will be a lot more games for the iPhone in the future … and by "games" I'm talking 3D as well + hopefully iPhone2 will compare to something like the PSP or Nintendo DS when it comes to gaming! :)
… a partnership with Nintendo would be great! :)
55 months ago
Not gonna happen. It's highly unlikely ... of course it would be cool though.
hahaha! :D Agreed! :p
55 months ago
It just means you can skip a track while trying to rotate a tetris block. Or wow!! Playing bubble bobble!!
Or watching battlestar galactica.... or playing bubble bobble!!
Or watching battlestar galactica.... or playing bubble bobble!!
55 months ago
Umm I'm 90% certain this overlaps with existing patents. I don't know where I saw it, think Engadget, but I KNOW I've seen patents for multifunction on a screen depending on the action.
All these patents are typical Apple overreaction after getting their butts handed to them a few times by Creative.....and several other companies...the names escape me.
My money is on Jobs throwing a temper tantrum (To be fair I doubt he threw any chairs though like monkey boy.) and decreeing that Apple patent everything under the sun.
All these patents are typical Apple overreaction after getting their butts handed to them a few times by Creative.....and several other companies...the names escape me.
My money is on Jobs throwing a temper tantrum (To be fair I doubt he threw any chairs though like monkey boy.) and decreeing that Apple patent everything under the sun.
55 months ago
It's all about the claims, not the rest of it.
Boy, if all the applications i prosecuted were as well written as that one I'd be making a lot more money. Gotta love Apple's patent lawyers.
Boy, if all the applications i prosecuted were as well written as that one I'd be making a lot more money. Gotta love Apple's patent lawyers.
55 months ago
This would be awesome. I can't wait to have some games that are at least equal to the current iPod games available. I can only imagine the gaming possibilities with the touch screen. Right now, the online games formatted for the iPhone are weak, and the only decent native games I have on my iphone are iblackjack and labrynth (which really isn't a game---it's just cool to use the accelerometer)
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