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Applications published on July 19, 2007.

20070169115 Portable media player as a low power remote control and method thereof (17 pages)
Using an iPod as a remote control for a media server, the media server wirelessly streaming the selecting item to a stereo, for example.

20070169087 Remote content updates for portable media devices (19 pages)
Wireless iPod synchronization.

20070166687 Graphical user interface with improved media presentation (22 pages)
Displaying remotely stored media content that is related to currently displayed local media content. This is the iTunes Store recommendations feature.

20070166683 Dynamic lyrics display for portable media devices (21 pages)

20070165373 Computer component protection (21 pages)
Shock mount assembly in a laptop to provide impact absorption. Designed to protect the optical drive and the screen of the laptop.

20070165105 Multimedia conference recording and manipulation interface (12 pages)
Recording an iChat session.

20070165035 Deferred shading graphics pipeline processor having advanced features (415 pages)

20070112743 Methods and systems for managing data (81 pages)
This is the sixth Spotlight-related application published on May 17, 2007. The claims of this application are directed to searching metadata based on a user’s search query, determining the user’s permissions to be able to view certain search results, and displaying the search results based on the user’s permissions.

20070110074 System and method for synchronizing media presentation at multiple recipients (29 pages)
Using iTunes (or similar software) to wirelessly play a media file to multiple locations from a central host. For example, you could play a song in multiple locations around your house, all controlled by software on your computer which is located elsewhere in the house. Each client device has a network interface through which it communicates with the host (just like regular networking). The host uses a reference clock to sync with local clocks in each of the client devices, so that playback is synchronized among all the clients.

20070109737 Computer enclosure (25 pages)
A laptop having a singular composite structure. This application describes how the case is assembled. The assembly includes structurally bonding (with adhesive) the parts together and electrically sealing the interface between the parts to provide electrical shielding.

20070109326 Intelligent scrolling (23 pages)
This is a latest in a long chain of continuation applications, with priority all the way back to December 28, 1990. This application relates to clicking and dragging an object in a GUI window, permitting scrolling within the window based on the dragging. Remember that this application dates back to 1990, so you need to consider the state of the art at that time when reading this patent.

20070074118  Graphical user interface and methods of use thereof in a multimedia player    (16 pages)
Relates to the iPod user interface.

20070072443  Magnetic connector for electronic device    (21 pages)
Relates to the MagSafe power connector.

20070072442  Electromagnetic connector for electronic device    (19 pages)
Relates to the MagSafe power connector.

20070070272  Cosmetically uniform reflective border area in a transflective display    (9 pages)
Relates to the iPod display screen and how the border area of the display is the same color as the active area of the display when the display is turned off.

20070052691  Movable touch pad with added functionality  (23 pages)

20070053268  Techniques and graphical user interfaces for categorical shuffle  (18 pages)

20070053523  Lanyard for handheld electronic device  (18 pages)

Title:  Techniques and graphical user interfaces for improved media item searching

Patent application publication number:  20070055654

Publication date:  March 8, 2007

Filing date:  September 6, 2005 (related to three other applications; earliest priority date is April 26, 2004)

Link to PDF:    (21 pages)

AIPW Summary:  This application is related to the searching features of iTunes, and provides an improvement over earlier search functions in that it can search multiple media types (e.g., music, videos, podcasts, etc.). Improved ways of searching for media items include a search assistant (which is provided when a search box has text typed in it to initiate a search) and context sensitive searching.

Title:  Parental control graphical user interface

Patent application publication number:  20070055754

Publication date:  March 8, 2007

Filing date:  September 6, 2005

Link to PDF:    (10 pages)

AIPW Summary:  This invention provides parental controls for media distribution software (e.g., iTunes). From a list of item types, a user can restrict access based on the item type (e.g., podcasts, music store, music sharing). Basically, this application covers the “Parental Controls” tab of iTunes (although Figures 3A and 3B show a slightly older version).

Title:  Management of files in a personal communication device

Patent application publication number:  20070038941

Publication date:  February 15, 2007

Filing date:  December 5, 2005 (priority to July 30, 2002)

Link to PDF:    (89 pages)

AIPW Summary:  This application relates to the iPod’s user interface, the multiple screens involved, and navigating through those screens. Claim 1 recites a multi-level UI, each level including a list that is related to a list on another level. Also of note is that dependent claim 2, independent claim 3, and Figure 6 all describe the UI in connection with a cell phone. However, the phone-based interface shown in Figure 6 utilizes keys, and is nothing like the iPhone interface.

Title:  Host configured for interoperation with coupled portable media player device

Patent application publication number:  20070033295

Publication date:  February 8, 2007

Filing date:  September 27, 2006 (priority to October 25, 2004)

Link to PDF:    (26 pages)

AIPW Summary:  This application relates to transferring images between devices (generally a host device and a portable device), including modifying the image format so that it can be displayed properly on the receiving device. The image is modified at the host device before transfer to the portable device, so that the computing load is carried by the host device and saves battery power at the portable device (paragraphs 0039-0040). This process can be accelerated by storing an image profile on the portable device, and then only downloading images that fit the profile from the host device.

Related cases:

• 20060100978     (21 pages)
• 20060168351    (25 pages)
• 20030079038    (25 pages)
• 20030167318    (15 pages)

Title:  Hot unpluggable media storage device

Patent application publication number:  20070028009

Publication date:  February 1, 2007

Filing date:  October 4, 2006 (priority to July 23, 2002)

Link to PDF: 

AIPW Summary:  An existing problem with removable media storage devices is that the device could be unplugged from the host computer while a data transfer is occurring, leading to data loss and/or data corruption on the storage device. According to this invention, the storage device is “prepared” to be removable at any time, without the possibility of data loss or corruption. The device is mounted to the host computer during a synchronization process and is unmounted once synchronization is complete (paragraph 0032). A media database in both the host computer and the storage device is used to perform the synchronization.

Title:  Configuration of a computing device in a secure manner

Patent application publication number:  20070028109

Publication date:  February 1, 2007

Filing date:  July 26, 2005 (priority to November 12, 2004)

Link to PDF: 

AIPW Summary:  A computing device (including a media player or a mobile telephone) can be configured by providing configuration data to the device, instead of providing an updated executable program to the device. The configuration data is digitally signed to verify its authenticity. One example given is purchasing songs through the iTunes store.