Patents
Abigail Sarah Brody
I shipped amazing products, including digital lifestyle platforms and ecosystems, mobile devices, search, social media, eCommerce, fintech, and both professional and productivity applications, enjoyed by millions of people. Here is a sampling of ideas that were transformed into patents.
For fun, take a look at this New York Times article about Steve Jobs and Apple’s patents.
Patents
Innovation for Apple
At Apple I had the opportunity to help create new ideas and experiences. A great many have been awarded with a patent. Below is a sampling of a few patents that bear my name.
Patents Sampling
About
The first invention ultimately lead to Apple’s dark mode look & feel that helps people to view content, such as images or movies better in dark environments.
Other inventions listed below also contributed to Apple Photos, Apple Health, Apple iPhone, iPod, iTunes and so forth
Abstract: To allow users to compensate for different and dynamically changing lighting conditions, the present invention introduces a graphical user interface shading system. The graphical user interface shading system provides a very simple intuitive interface to the user. In one embodiment, the user is presented with an adjustable user interface widget such as a slider that allows the user to select any shading setting along a shading continuum. The graphical user interface shading system reacts to the users control by adjusting a number of different graphical user interface elements in response to the new shading setting. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface shading system adjusts singled colored areas with a linear interpolation, text with a font color selection, icons with an icon bitmap selection, textured areas with a texture blend, and decals with a decal blend.
Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing digital images is provided. A digital image may be viewed using a digital image system that employs a virtual loupe. A virtual loupe comprises a lens region and a target region. The lens region and the target region may each be a bounded area displayed on a display. A user may position the target region over a digital image displayed on the display to cause a depiction of visual information associated with the target region to be displayed in the lens region. The user can configure the virtual loupe to display visual information in the lens region at different levels of magnification. The lens may automatically move and change in orientation with respect to the target region as the target region moves on the display to ensure that the display of the lens region on the display is always unobscured.
Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing digital images is provided. A collection of digital images may be managed using a digital image system that displays images using groups, stacks, and versions. A group is a set of unordered digital images that may be visually represented, in a first state, using a representative image, and in a second state, by each digital image in the group. Stacks are similar to groups, except that each digital image in a stack has a rank, and each digital image in the stack is depicted in order of its rank. Versions are similar to groups, except that one or more images in the group are derived from another image in the group.
Abstract A method and apparatus for viewing one or more images using a floating controller is provided. A collection of digital images may be managed using a digital image system that displays images using a floating controller. While a pointer is over the floating controller, the floating controller is continuously displayed, but when the pointer is moved off the floating controller, a period of time during which no user input of any type is tracked. If, while the pointer is off the toolbar, an idle period exceeds a predetermined threshold duration, then the floating controller is hidden. A set of images of a bounded sequence of images may be displayed on the floating controller. A visual indication that indicates whether a particular image in the set of images is either the first or last image in the bounded sequence may be displayed on each image of the set of images.
Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a lifestyle companion system are provided. The lifestyle companion system can provide a platform to conduct a user interview. Based on the user interview responses, the system can suggest activities, references, and/or plug-in modules. During performance of activities, the system can provide audio and/or visual cues related to the activities and collect data indicative of the user's performance. Based on the collected data, the system can dynamically adapt the user's goals and/or activities the user is performing or will perform. In some embodiments of the present invention, the lifestyle companion system of the present invention can be applied to fitness, nutrition, and/or medical modules. The system also can be used to facilitate synchronous group activities.
Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a lifestyle companion system are provided. The lifestyle companion system can provide a platform to conduct a user interview. Based on the user interview responses, the system can suggest activities, references, and/or plug-in modules. During performance of activities, the system can provide audio and/or visual cues related to the activities and collect data indicative of the user's performance. Based on the collected data, the system can dynamically adapt the user's goals and/or activities the user is performing or will perform. In some embodiments of the present invention, the lifestyle companion system of the present invention can be applied to fitness, nutrition, and/or medical modules. The system also can be used to facilitate synchronous group activities.
Abstract Methods and systems for providing a lifestyle companion system are provided. The lifestyle companion system can provide a platform to conduct a user interview. Based on the user interview responses, the system can suggest activities, references, and/or plug-in modules. During performance of activities, the system can provide audio and/or visual cues related to the activities and collect data indicative of the user's performance. Based on the collected data, the system can dynamically adapt the user's goals and/or activities the user is performing or will perform. In some embodiments of the present invention, the lifestyle companion system of the present invention can be applied to fitness, nutrition, and/or medical modules. The system also can be used to facilitate synchronous group activities.
Abstract The present invention can include electronic devices having variable input/output interfaces that can allow a user to interact with the devices with greater efficiency and in a more ergonomic manner. An electronic device of the present invention can display icons associated with user-programmable parameters of a media file. By interacting with the icons, a user can change the user-programmable parameters during playback of the media file. Changes to the user-programmable parameters can affect playback of the remainder of the media file. An electronic device of the present invention also can automatically re-orient images shown on a display and re-configure user input components based on the orientation of the electronic device.
Abstract The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for administering a rewards program. The system includes a computer system in communication with a network. The computer system includes a creation module that creates a reward account upon issuing a credit card from a credit card issuer, a reward adjusting module that adjusts the reward account when the credit card is used in a transaction, and a reward module that grants at least one reward transaction for the credit card issuer. The method includes creating a reward account upon issuing a credit card from a credit card issuer, adjusting the reward account when the credit card is used in at least one transaction, and coordinating at least one rewards transaction for the credit card issuer.