An Apple Inc. (AAPL) Patent Worth Keeping An Eye On

When it comes to applying for and being awarded patents, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is definitely one of the kings of the tech space. While some of Cupertino’s patents are brought to life, others sit dormant with hopes of being implemented by the company as some point in the near future.

This time around, we are going to take a look at one of the most recently awarded Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) patents: Portable multifunction device, method, and graphical user interface for interacting with user input elements in displayed content

As you begin to review this patent, some of it may sound familiar. It covers some of the technology that has turned the Apple iPhone into what you see today. And as you know, any patents related to the iPhone are extremely valuable to Cupertino.

For a better idea of what this patent covers, let’s take a look at the abstract:

“In one aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method in a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display includes: displaying content on the touch screen display, wherein the content includes a plurality of user input elements; detecting a contact by a finger with the touch screen display; choosing a user input element in the plurality of user input elements based on proximity of the user input element to the contact; displaying information associated with the chosen user input element over the displayed content; detecting a break in the contact by the finger with the touch screen display; and receiving input for the chosen user input element.”

If you are having a difficult time understanding what this Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is all about, Patently Apple has broken it down into simpler terms:

“Apple’s granted patent generally covers the iPhone’s advanced multitouch user interface that allows users to use input elements such as radio buttons, text input fields, check boxes, pull down lists, form fields and so much more through touch and specific gestures.”

As you can see, this patent is all about the smartphone’s multitouch user interface, which has gone a long way in making it one of the most popular devices of all time.

It is amazing to look at some of these Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) patents and realize that they have gone a long way in shaping the iPhone, as well as many other devices offered by Apple.

More on the finer details of the patent:

The patent was initially filed for on December 19, 2007. The inventors are listed as: Francisco Ryan Tolmasky, Marcel Van Os, Richard Williamson, Patricia J. Coleman, Stephen O. Lemay, Chris Blumenberg, and Corbin Robert Dunn.