Apple Inc.

Amir Mahmood Mikhak

Gloria Lin

Michael Nathaniel Rosenblatt

Taido Lantz Nakajima

Sean Anthony Mayo

Anthony Michael Fadell

Andrew Bart Hodge

Policarpo Bonilla Wood

Alan Cannistraro

Shawn A Ellis

Jeffery Theodore Lee

Andrew Bert Hodge

Jeffrey Theodore Lee

Alan Christopher Cannistraro

Michael Rosenblatt

Andrew Hodge

Policarpo Wood

Systems and methods of placeshifting media playback between two or more devices are provided. For example, a method for placeshifting media may include downloading onto a first device an index of files accessed or modified on a second device via a data storage server, at least one of the files being a media file played on the second device. The first device may display a user selectable list of the files on the first device before issuing a request for the media file to the data storage server. The data storage server may send the media file to the first device from the data storage server, and the first device may play back the media file where the second device left off.

System and method for placeshifting media playback

Various techniques are provided for carrying out peer-to-peer financial transactions using one or more electronic devices. In one embodiment, a request for payment is transmitted from a first device to a second device using a near field communication (NFC) interface. In response to the request, the second device may transmit payment information to the first device. The first device may select a crediting account and, using a suitable communication protocol, may communicate the received payment information and selected crediting account to one or more external financial servers configured to process and determine whether the payment may be authorized. If the payment is authorized, a payment may be credited to the selected crediting account. In a further embodiment, a device may include a camera configured to obtain an image of a payment instrument. The device may further include an application to extract payment information from the acquired image.

Peer-to-peer financial transaction devices and methods

Group peer-to-peer financial transactions

A method and system is disclosed for allowing the sharing of one or more system resources between multiple devices. In one embodiment, a requesting device transmits a resource access request to a target device using a near-field communication (NFC) protocol. The target device responds by using the NFC connection to return a listing of resources available for sharing to the requesting device. The requesting device may select one or more of the available resources and establish an appropriate connection to access the selected resource or resources. In one embodiment, the requesting device may lack external network connectivity capabilities while the target device includes wi-fi connectivity as a shared resource. Accordingly, the requesting device may access external network of the target device via the target as a conduit.

Peer-to-peer host station

Various techniques are provided for the gifting between multiple electronic devices of media content provided by an online digital media provider. An offer and acceptance of a selected gift file is accomplished between a gifter device and a receiving giftee device using a near-field communication (NFC) connection. If a connection to the online provider is available, the gifter device may transmit a gift request by which the gifter's account is charged for the gift file. Thereafter, a gift file created using DRM keys associated with the giftee's account may be downloaded to the giftee device. If a network connection is unavailable, the giftee device may transfer a locked gift file and a corresponding gift license to the giftee device using a peer-to-peer connection. The giftee device may authenticate the license and unlock the gift file once a connection to the online provider is available.

Media gifting devices and methods

Systems, methods, and devices for conducting sales transactions are provided. Embodiments include handheld, portable, electronic, point of purchase devices configured to acquire identification information from articles to be purchased, to determine a purchase price, and to acquire payment information for the purchase price. The point of purchase devices may include one or more input devices such as a near field communication device, a camera, a scanner, and a biometric sensor for acquiring the identification information and/or the payment information. In some embodiments, the near field communication device may be detachable from the point of purchase device. The point of purchase devices also may contain communication interfaces, such as a near field communication interface, a local area network interface, a short message service interface, and a personal area network interface, for transmitting the information to an external server.

Portable point of purchase user interfaces

Systems and methods of performing a simplified data transfer are provided. For example, a method of simplified data transfer may involve downloading an index of files accessed or modified on a home computer onto a handheld device from an online data storage server, displaying on the handheld device a user selectable list of files based on the index of files, issuing a request for a file selected by a user from the list of files from the handheld device to the data storage server, and receiving the file selected by the user onto the handheld device from the data storage server.

System and method for simplified data transfer

Systems and methods of placeshifting media playback between two or more devices are provided. For example, a method for placeshifting media may include sending a first message from a media-receiving electronic device to a media-playing electronic device playing a media file and receiving a response identifying the media file and a point at which the media file was being played when the first message was received. The media-receiving electronic device may play a copy of the media file at the point where the media-playing electronic device left off.

Systems and methods for providing shopping-related information to a consumer are provided. Embodiments of the system allow a consumer to create an electronic shopping list by scanning products. In some embodiments, shopping-related information may be obtained for items in the shopping list, such as pricing information, product quality, consumer ratings, and other information that may help a consumer to make an informed purchasing decision. Other embodiments allow a consumer to obtain and compare retail prices offered by several retailers for products in the shopping list. Still other embodiments provide a store-wide network that allows a shopper to scan items in the store, add the scanned items to a shopping list, and then check-out electronically.

On-the-go shopping list

There is provided a method and system for transportation check-in (e.g., ticketing and identification) via near field communication (NFC) using a handheld electronic device, such as a cellular phone or a personal media player. The handheld device may store and transmit travel reservations and traveler identifications using a travel management application. Various methods may be employed to acquire the reservation and identification information on the handheld device. For example, travel reservations may be made via the management application or may be retrieved from an email, a website, another NFC-enabled device, or a carrier-provided confirmation number. User identification may be acquired by scanning a radio frequency identification tag embedded in a government-issued I.D. In another embodiment, an I.D. number may be entered via the travel management application, and the user's identification information may be downloaded from the issuing authority.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Amir Mahmood Mikhak