Apple Assigned Seven Patents

Recovery from cross-temperature read failures by programming neighbor word lines
Apple, Inc., Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,928,126) developed by Shappir, Assaf, Ganey Tikva, Israel, Neerman, Moshe, Kiryat Ono, Israel, and Shapira, Ofer, Tel Aviv, Israel, for a “recovery from cross-temperature read failures by programming neighbor word lines.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A memory system includes an interface and storage circuitry. The interface is configured to communicate with memory cells that store data. The storage circuitry is configured to program a data unit to a first group of the memory cells, to read the data unit from the first group using at least a read threshold to produce a first readout, and in response to detecting that reading the data unit has failed because the read threshold has fallen outside a supported range of read thresholds, due to a temperature difference between a time of programming the first group and a time of reading the first group, to program a second group of the memory cells. The circuitry is further configured to re-read the data unit from the first group using the at least read threshold to produce a second readout, and to recover the data unit from the second readout.”

The patent application was filed on September 27, 2017 (15/716,684).

In-circuit security and controlling access to and use of sensitive data
Apple, Inc., Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,923,884) developed by Johnson, Barry W., Riemenschneider, Kristen R. O., Charlottesville, VA, Russell, David C., Virginia Beach, VA, and Tillack, Jonathan A., Charlottesville, VA, for a “in-circuit security system and methods for controlling access to and use of sensitive data.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The invention disclosed herein is an in-circuit security system for electronic devices. The in-circuit security system incorporates identity credential verification, secure data and instruction storage, and secure data transmission capabilities. It comprises a single semiconductor chip, and is secured using industry-established mechanisms for preventing information tampering or eavesdropping, such as the addition of oxygen reactive layers. This invention also incorporates means for establishing security settings, profiles, and responses for the in-circuit security system and enrolled individuals. The in-circuit security system can be used in a variety of electronic devices, including handheld computers, secure facility keys, vehicle operation/ignition systems, and digital rights management.”

The patent application was filed on May 19, 2015 (14/716,766).

Media delivery service protocol to support large numbers
of client with error failover processes
Apple, Inc., Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,917,916) developed by Su, John Y., Sunnyvale, CA, Biderman, David L., San Jose, CA, and Pantos, Roger N., Cupertino, CA, for a “media delivery service protocol to support large numbers of client with error failover processes.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A media delivery service may include a media source, a proxy cache and one or more client devices. The media source may generate coded segments from an input media stream and develop a playlist identifying network locations of the segments. The media source may broadcast the coded segments and their storage locations to a proxy cache in a broadcast channel. The proxy cache may store successfully received coded segments and develop a mapping table identifying the segments’ network locations. The client may request segments from the proxy cache based on the received playlist form the media source. If the proxy cache does not store a requested segment, it may so notify the client and the client may request the segment from the media source.”

The patent application was filed on February 28, 2014 (14/193,739).

Content protection based on combination of user PIN
and device specific identifier
Apple, Inc., Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,912,476) developed by Brouwer, Michael Lambertus Hubertus, San Jose, CA, and Adler, Mitchell David, Cupertino, CA, for a “system and method for content protection based on a combination of a user PIN and a device specific identifier.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for encryption and key management. The method includes encrypting each file on a computing device with a unique file encryption key, encrypting each unique file encryption key with a corresponding class encryption key, and encrypting each class encryption key with an additional encryption key. Further disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for encrypting a credential key chain. The method includes encrypting each credential on a computing device with a unique credential encryption key, encrypting each unique credential encryption key with a corresponding credential class encryption key, and encrypting each class encryption key with an additional encryption key. Additionally, a method of generating a cryptographic key based on a user-entered password and a device-specific identifier secret utilizing an encryption algorithm is disclosed.”

The patent application was filed on January 29, 2016 (15/010,858).

SSD, related features of portable computer
Apple, Inc., Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,904,333) developed by Knopf, Eric A., Mountain View, CA, Andre, Bartley K., Menlo Park, CA, Casebolt, Matthew P., Fremont, CA, Farahani, Houtan R., San Ramon, CA, Leggett, William F., San Francisco, CA, Reid, Gavin J., Campbell, CA, Silvanto, Mikael M., San Francisco, CA, and Yap, Derek J., San Carlos, CA, for a “SSD, (solid state drive) related features of a portable computer.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A removable assembly for quickly inserting and removing a mass storage device from a compartment situated on the case of a portable computing device is described. The removable assembly is made of a mass storage device, a bracket which serves as a carrier for the mass storage device, and a metal plate. In some embodiments, the mass storage device is a solid state drive, (SSD) card. The bracket is a single-piece plastic structure that is deflected for snap insertion into the compartment and snap removal from the compartment. The metal plate conducts heat from the solid state drive, (SSD) card to prevent the SSD from overheating.”

The patent application was filed on April 19, 2013 (13/866,922).

Network media device
Apple, Inc., Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,876,830) developed by Robbin, Jeffrey L., and Heller, David, Los Altos, CA, for a “network media device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A network media device is described that pulls multimedia data from one or more sources, (e.g., a multimedia website or a multimedia server computer) at a first time, stores it to long-term storage within the device and transmits the stored multimedia data to one or more designated multimedia playback devices at a second time.”

The patent application was filed on August 24, 2016 (15/246,011).

Stateless technique for distributing data uploads
Apple, Inc., Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,860,322) developed by Bashir, Ahmed M., Saratoga, CA, and Hong, Theodore, Sunnyvale, CA, for a “stateless technique for distributing data uploads.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The embodiments set forth a technique for providing a stateless technique for distributing uploads. According to some embodiments, a system can include various computing devices, authorization servers, and storage destinations. Within the system, an authorization server assigns weight properties to each storage destination, and generates a set of tokens for subsequent assignment to the different storage destinations in accordance with their weight properties. More specifically, the authorization server is configured to perform an initial token drafting process that involves assigning the tokens to different storage destinations. As the current health of each storage destination changes over time, the authorization server is also configured to periodically perform, (e.g., at a set interval) a supplemental token drafting process that involves updating the weight properties of each storage destination and redistributing the tokens in view of the updated weight properties.”

The patent application was filed on April 21, 2015 (14/692,661).