Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/13/apple_virtual_clickwheel_patent/
Claims that Apple is preparing an iPod-branded video player were strengthened late last week when it emerged the company has filed a patent application for exactly the kind of virtual clickwheel technology the new device has been said to sport.
The concept is embedded in US patent number 20060026535, originally filed with the US Patent Office on 18 January 2005 but updated on 2 February this year. The application details a "mode-based graphical user interfaces for touch sensitive input devices", which generates and operates virtual GUI control elements depending on where the user touches the screen.
Drawings accompanying the application show not only a virtual clickwheel, but a device not unlike the tablet computer Apple patented in Europe (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/13/apple_tablet_mac/) in August 2004. It was described as a "handheld computer" looking not unlike an iBook screen minus the keyboard. The virtual control patent application shows such a machine running a range of apps, among them iTunes, iPhoto and a word processor, each with virtual controllers representing physical equivalents, including a keyboard and clickwheel.
Virtual keyboards and nothing new, and Palm has had virtual character entry systems for some time. What's central to Apple claims is novel is the way the host system can create and remove a wide range of virtual controllers according to what the user is doing at any given time. The patent application also taps into an earlier application filed by the company for a gesture recognition system for touch-sensitive devices.
The system has clear applications beyond iPods and tablet Macs - we'd like to suggest a basic control box to allow anyone owning an Airport Express-connected hi-fi to select what songs their music-hosting computer is pumping out across the WLAN. Or as a remote viewer for network hosted media content. ®
US tech industry backs Buffalo in Wi-Fi patent spat (30 October 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/30/wlan_patent/
Apple invents novel back-to-front iPod control (11 May 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/05/11/apple_ipod_control_patent/
Synaptics gets touchy-feely with smart phone concept (21 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/21/synaptics_touts_onyx_concept_phone/
Apple posts full-length movie on iTunes (15 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/15/apple_itunes_full-length_movie/
Next-gen video iPod spotted on web (6 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/06/apple_video_ipod_images/
MS, Intel gear up to unveil ultra-mobile tablet PC (27 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/27/ms_intel_apple_ultra-mobile_pc/
Koreans prep cylindrical media-playing HDD case (24 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/24/dvico_tvix_m5000_media_player/
Apple to unveil 'fun products' next week (22 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/22/apple_product_launch/
Apple after handwriting recognition coder for Mac OS X (17 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/17/apple_handwriting_recog_osx/
Apple pushes MacBook Pro ship dates back to March (15 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/15/apple_macbook_pro_ship_dates/
Apple drops Intel Mac Mini's built-in iPod dock (14 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/14/apple_drops_mac_mini_ipod_dock/
Creative restokes MP3 player patent threat (9 December 2005)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2005/12/09/creative_patent_threat/
Apple's lockdown patent lacks method and apparatus (11 November 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/11/bogus_apple_patent/
Creative Technology beats Apple on MP3 patent (30 August 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/30/apple_creativepatent/
Microsoft, Apple 'spar over iPod patent' (10 August 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/10/microsoft_apple_patent/
Apple faces patent lawsuits over its iPod (10 March 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/10/apple_ipod_patent_lawsuits/
Apple faces iPod, iTunes patent violation claims (7 March 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/07/apple_itunes_patents/
Apple iPod team seeks Wi-Fi engineer (25 August 2004)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/25/apple_ipod_wifi/
Euro filing reveals Apple 'handheld computer' (13 August 2004)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/13/apple_tablet_mac/