Apple Inc. (AAPL) Granted Patent for Virtual Tools. What?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has to get excited every time it is granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. While every patent is a good thing for the company, some go one step further (this one may be scaring the competition).

Earlier today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent for Virtual Drafting Tools that was recently granted to Cupertino.

This is one of those exciting patents that one could see Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) implementing into its devices in the near future. Here is the abstract:

“Techniques for using virtual tools are disclosed. In one aspect, a user interface is presented. A first touch input including touch inputs at two or more locations is received, and a virtual tool corresponding to the relative positions of the two or more locations is identified. A second touch input interacting with the virtual tool is received, and a graphical object corresponding to the identified virtual tool and the second touch input is presented. In another aspect, an input activating a drafting mode of a device is received, and a drafting user interface is presented. A second touch input including touch inputs at two or more locations is received, and a third touch input is received. A graphical object corresponding to the third touch input and a virtual drafting tool corresponding to the second touch input is generated and presented.”

It would make the most sense for this type of technology to be used on the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad. That being said, it is easy to see that it could also be implemented on other devices, including the iPhone.

While this may be a tool that could come in handy for the everyday person, it goes without saying that there are professionals in particular industries, such as architecture and construction, that could really put this to good use.

The summary of the patent puts things in simpler terms:

“Techniques and systems supporting the use of virtual tools in a drafting application are disclosed. These techniques can be used to match user input defining a tool to a virtual tool, and process user input using the tool.”

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is well known for applying for a large number of patents, month in and month out. This is simply one of the most recent.

The patent was originally filed for on January 15, 2010. Nicholas V. King is listed as the inventor.

What do you think about this patent? Share your thoughts below. Also, you may want to check out another recent patent application by Apple (it may surprise you).