Apple Patent Applications: Multi-Touch Scroll Wheel, Sharing Digital Media During iPhone Calls

[MacRumors]

A number of patent applications from Apple were released by the United States Patent and Trademark Office this morning, and two of them have received a fair bit of attention, having been first brought to light in a pair of reports (#1, #2) from AppleInsider.

The first application, entitled "Multi-dimensional scroll wheel", was filed in September 2008. It describes a scroll wheel, such as that used in the iPod classic and iPod nano, that is capable of sensing user input in multiple ways, as well as sensing multiple simultaneous inputs, essentially bringing multi-touch capabilities to the iconic iPod scroll wheel.

To improve the effectiveness of a touch-based scroll wheel, the present disclosure provides multi-touch scroll wheel circuitry capable of sensing input in multiple ways. For example, scroll wheel circuitry can sense a moving object, such as a finger, as it is moved not only in a rotational manner but also in a linear manner across the center of the scroll wheel. The scroll wheel circuitry can also sense more than one object at a time, such as multi-finger touch or motion. In this manner, the scroll wheel circuitry can enable a device to recognize a wider range of input. To be clear, a wheel can be circular, but can also have any shape that enables a closed loop type input.

The patent application also cites potential implementations of a multi-touch click wheel as part of a notebook computer, a peripheral input device similar to a mouse, or a wireless input device capable of communicating either directly with a media player or with a media player docking station.

The second application, entitled "Methods and systems for mixing media with communications", was filed in November 2007 and describes methods for sharing digital media files such as music, videos, and images as part of an audio, video, or data communications connection without terminating the original connection.

The present invention permits a user to initiate a communications operation with a recipient, or to receive a communications operation initiated by another individual, and to transmit a selected media item over the same communication path used for the communications operation without terminating the communications operation. This combined transmission can occur regardless of the type of media selected by the user to be added to the communications operation.

Notably, while Apple's drawings accompanying the patent application point to implementations related to the iPhone, Apple also makes numerous references to the sharing of media while users are engaged in video conferences, something not possible in the current models of the iPhone. The addition of video calling, which would require a front-facing camera, to the iPhone has been a popular target of speculation, with rumors appearing as recently as this week pointing to the possibility of its appearance in an upcoming iPhone hardware update.

Article Link: Apple Patent Applications: Multi-Touch Scroll Wheel, Sharing Digital Media During iPhone Calls

[Small White Car]

Love the media sharing idea.

Eventually phone calls, IMs, and e-mails are going to blend into a single kind of thing.

[Virtualball]

A mention of video conferences? Well, that means that it may happen sometime haha

[Roessnakhan]

The last picture reminds me of the Pre UI. Looking forward to the hopeful implementation of these features in the future.

[nickslivestri]

See this would justify the camera being on the iPods!

[Rojo]

A front-facing camera is pretty much an inevitability at some point. The question is when. I'd love it for the iPhone being announced next week, but something makes me think it won't be ready until version 4 or 5.

[funnyent]

that media sharing looks awesome! and talk of video chatting! Fingers crossed WWDC 09 FTW

[fobfob]

Those pictures look fake.

[Small White Car]

Originally Posted by fobfob

Those pictures look fake.

No, the United States Patent and Trademark Office didn't just make up some drawings for fun. Good god.

[mdriftmeyer]

These are very important Patents for Apple moving forward.

Bravo folks!

[mdriftmeyer]

Originally Posted by Small White Car

No, the United States Patent and Trademark Office didn't just make up some drawings for fun. Good god.

Correct. Besides, they wouldn't be so clean and polished if they did.

[Peace]

This implies Bonjour and iChat for Windows because I don't see video conferences being strictly for the iPhone. Apple knows people would love to have an iChat from their PC to someone on their iPhone.

A welcome addition!!

[jegra]

Originally Posted by fobfob

Those pictures look fake.

Why do you say that? They are real patent filings. Often patent attorneys use illustrations with the artistic prowess of a five-year-old so as not to disclose too much about forthcoming product releases...

[crees!]

Originally Posted by Peace

This implies Bonjour and iChat for Windows because I don't see video conferences being strictly for the iPhone. Apple knows people would love to have an iChat from their PC to someone on their iPhone.

A welcome addition!!

Point well made something to be on the look out for.

[HiRez]

Ohhhhh yes yes YES! Finally Teh MacBook Wheel! Seriously...aren't we beyond the wheel?

EDIT: Oops, it's a MacBook Wheel, not a Mac Wheel...

[The General]

This is kind of like iChat Theatre.

Originally Posted by Peace

This implies Bonjour and iChat for Windows because I don't see video conferences being strictly for the iPhone. Apple knows people would love to have an iChat from their PC to someone on their iPhone.

A welcome addition!!

There already is Bonjour for Windows, but I don't think it means iChat for Windows. AIM already supports video chat, I imagine they'd just use that to video chat with iPhone, just like they do with Mac users.

[mikeinternet]

So very cool.

((Hey I'm working on a new song I'm working on let me play it for you. Or hey get a load of what I saw last night, here's the video.))

Yes please. Let's make that happen.

[joeshell383]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

The patent application also cites potential implementations of a multi-touch click wheel as part of a notebook computer

This is not new news. Apple announced this months ago.

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Originally Posted by Peace

This implies Bonjour and iChat for Windows because I don't see video conferences being strictly for the iPhone. Apple knows people would love to have an iChat from their PC to someone on their iPhone.

A welcome addition!!

Don they already have bonjour for Windows?

[Porco]

"Multi-dimensional scroll wheel" ? Wasn't that something to do with the ending of Indiana Jones IV?

[blakecr]

Originally Posted by Small White Car

Love the media sharing idea.

Eventually phone calls, IMs, and e-mails are going to blend into a single kind of thing.

Hmmm maybe not quit as catchy as phone calls, IMs and e-mails...

[Peace]

Originally Posted by TuffLuffJimmy

Don they already have bonjour for Windows?

I guess I should have been more specific.

Bonjour for Windows has been around for a long time. What I meant is this. Sorry this is the way I think :

Visualize..

I'm sitting in my office at my workstation and I'm running Windows 7..

My kids out by the pool want to communicate with me because they want lunch or something.

They open the iChat app on their iPhone that is connected to the local network WiFi.

My iChat window on my Windows computer rings and I answer it because it's my kids.

We then have an iChat. Me using iChat on Windows 7 and the kids on their iPhone.

This is a useful function of "local area networking" using Bonjour.

[Eurisko69]

So, they turned the circle into a "round" touchpad that has already been around for years?

Our USPO is sad.

[Clayne]

I never even thought of having a multi-touch scroll wheel on non-touch ipods. That's pretty cool.

[twoodcc]

not sure how well the media sharing would work, but seems cool. i think the next iphone will have a front facing camera though