United States Patent and Trademark office finally awarded Apple with design patents related to iPhone 4 and iPod touch 2007 model. Included in the batch are iOS Maps and Compass app design patents, a patent for the iPhone 4’s stainless steel band and another one for reducing wait times in call centers. However, the most interesting patent from the group appears to allow a touch display to act as a space-saving RFID tag reader.
PatentlyApple reports:
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 18 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today.
… Design wins for Apple’s 2007 iPod touch and iPhone 4 in addition to covering Apple TV and a key RFID patent. The RFID patent covers technology that will be built right into future iOS devices that will enable such things as wireless transfers of data from an iPhone to a desktop with just a simple shaking motion or even allow a user to open up a keyless hotel or car door with a simple swipe. It will also likely play a role in Apple’s forthcoming iWallet feature set.
Apple also got the design patent for the first generation iPod touch and once again, Steve Jobs has been credited as one of the designers for it. USPTO also granted other patents related to the Apple TV and iTunes. However, one of the important patent was awarded for the touch display that doubles as RFID tag reader.
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