New Apple patent filing hinting at iWatch and wearable features

The USPTO has just published a trio of patent applications filed by Apple detailing smart, adaptive, and sensor-based features. All three were dated December 14, 2012 and can almost fit any type of smart device, even an iPhone itself, they do make more sense when put inside the framework of a wearable apparatus. iWatch,upcoming wearable from Apple is in trial production, and is expected to launch this coming October.

The first patent is titled “Method and Apparatus For Personal Characterization Data Collection Using Sensors“, it is basically a scorecard keeping system using data gathered from sensors. Here, a hub, mentioned to be a device, can obtain data from sensors which may be worn by a user, in short, a wearable device. Such raw data can then be used to generate a scorecard that is then sent to some remote server. This system can be used for monitoring a person’s lifestyle and activities as well as making suggestions and reminders when required.

The second and third patent definitely have wearable devices in mind. “Method and Apparatus for Automatically Setting Alarms and Notifications”  patent talks about how a device can change its own settings depending on data coming from sensors, worn by the user. One example that was given is turning some alarms on or off if the data from the sensors show that the user is sleeping. Practically a Do Not Disturb feature that can be automatically disabled or enabled depending on the wearable device’s sensors. One interesting feature mention in this patent is how two wearable devices, or devices with sensors, can communicate  with their own users’ state and adjust accordingly. This, for example, can be used to automatically put User A’s phone in silent or vibrate mode if the wearable determines that User B, who is in the close proximity, is sleeping.

Finally, the third patent “Method and Apparatus for Automatically Repeating Alarms and Notifications in Response to Device Motion” deals with missed notifications. Again, the use case of a Do Not Disturb mode and sleep are used as examples. If a user has the “Do Not Disturb” setting on, takes a nap, and misses some notifications, the system can conclude when the user is awake. Once he is up from his nap, the system will replay notifications and disable the “Do Not Disturb” setting. If the user makes a little movement, like checking his iPhone for the time, the system will assume that the person is still sleeping, and all of the original settings will stand.

Will these patent applications end up being applied in the Apple iWatch? The date of filing of patent is concluding that Apple has already been working on wearable device designs and features.

New Apple patent filing hinting at iWatch and wearable features