Shushing the whispers that Apple had reached the end of its innovative streak, the company was granted 54 patents yesterday, June 20. These patents cover a wide range of products, both currently available and possible for the future. The applications for these patents were filed up to three years ago, with all approved and published in one day.
The “Meh” and the Masterful
While several of the patents cover improvements in current products, such as the Apple Watch and the iPad Pro, at least one points to a future device we haven’t yet seen.
Some of the patents simply cover design for displays in their stores, such as the Apple Watch table. While the specs are pretty cool—with built-in cooling, security systems, temperature sensors, and audio sensors—the tech Goliath may want to remember a fallen giant that spent its last years patenting in-store display designs. (We’re talking about Blockbuster again.)
Perhaps a more powerful patent in their portfolio will be the newly published patent for an inductive charging system. According to this patent, iPhone’s iPhone 8, which should be released in September, will offer wireless charging capabilities. This particular patent was also filed in early 2014, so Apple has had their eye on wireless charging for quite some time.
More AR Coming Our Way
Another patent granted today points to work with augmented reality. The patent covers apps for interior design and animated movie posters, which presents some incredible partnership possibilities. In fact, Apple has already planned a partnership to use the augmented reality app with Swedish furniture company IKEA.
This particular patent was acquired when Apple purchased the augmented reality company Metaio in 2015. The first—which references the virtual placement of furniture in a room—is designed to allow virtual placement of furniture in a room before having to move the furniture physically. Anyone who’s ever purchased a sofa, only to find that’s it’s too large for their living room, will flock to this particular tool.
Augmented reality will also be available to bring movie posters to life. With the use of the app, the device can be pointed at a movie poster to access a trailer for the movie. In exchange, the user’s information can be conveyed back to the marketing company.
All the Rest
The remaining patents published yesterday seem to cover improvements to current technology—except in one notable patent that may point to a digital magazine forthcoming. Best guesses say this is for a digital device we haven’t yet seen, at least not from Apple. However, if the innovation leader is indeed planning to release a digital magazine device, it would need to be bigger and better than anything we’ve already seen with the iPad and Kindle to whip consumers into a buying frenzy.
How IPVision Could Have Made Everything Easier
What’s interesting to see is the mix of patents that were developed by Apple and acquired through other companies. The sheer number of patents the company works with on a daily basis could be eased with IPVision tools.
The ability to see white space within their industry would allow Apple to develop innovations the public wants to see without mimicking current technology on the market (such as the iPad or Kindle). In the case of the acquired patents, IPVision could have provided quick and qualitative analysis on each of the patents in the portfolio of the company to be acquired. Within days—rather than months—Apple would have known which of the patents were of sound quality and which could lead to trouble.
These are products and services that we can also offer you, whether you’re dealing with 54 patents granted in one day or you have smaller requirements. Our goal is to give you an unfair advantage over your competition with information about patents that will guide you in the right direction. If that’s what you need, give us a call.
