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Apple Receives Patent For Accessing Sets of Apps With Different Passcodes

Posted by Unknown on from the here-comes-another-decade-in-court dept.

wabrandsma writes, quoting Apple Insider "The technology, detailed in a patent awarded to Apple on Tuesday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, deals with so-called 'access inputs' that determine what apps, device services, and functions can be accessed by a user. Apple's U.S. Patent No. 8,528,072 for a 'Method, apparatus and system for access mode control of a device,' describes a system that creates user access modes guarded by predetermined gesture inputs." Reading the patent, it appears Apple managed to patent allowing access to some programs without a passcode from the lock screen of a device while protecting others, so e.g. you can quickly swipe to make a phone call or control your music, but have to enter a code to read your email or access your word processor documents.

8 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Some day .. by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'll get a patent for posting on an Apple story.

    then y'all will be screwed!

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:Some day .. by slashmydots · · Score: 4, Funny

      Only the top left corner of each slashdot story is round though. Don't forget to specify that.

    2. Re:Some day .. by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Funny

      Only the top left corner of each slashdot story is round though. Don't forget to specify that.

      Whoa! You posted to a slashdot story! East Texas here I come!

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      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    3. Re:Some day .. by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So you don't think there is enough prior art ?

      Prior art never stopped a suit being filed by a shi^H^H^Hgood lawyer.

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      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. Re:like different users? by girlintraining · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So basically they re-invented having different accounts having access to different apps. Only its on a mobile device, and it deserves a patent?!

    Well, yeah. Maybe you haven't noticed the furious nerd rage over the past, I don't know... FIFTEEN YEARS about stupid patent law? Anyway... a patent was recently awarded because someone figured out how to use the speaker/mic combo on a mobile phone to transmit data acoustically. You know, like... through the air and stuff. For credit card transactions. You might well guess... they got a patent.

    Nevermind that this technology debuted in the 1960s, pretty much right after the second computer was built and someone got the idea that they should be able to exchange data... and look, here's this phone thingie...

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    #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
  3. P.A.T.E.N.T by RedHackTea · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Prevent Any Tangible Evidence of New Thought
    or maybe
    Penetrate Anally To Ensure No Talent

    I don't know, just spitballing here. Any takers?

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    The G
    1. Re:P.A.T.E.N.T by jeti · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Prevent Any Truly Empowering New Technologies

  4. Crappy patent overview by sootman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    1990s: "... on a computer!"

    2000s: "... on the Internet!"

    2010s: "... on a mobile device!"

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