An Apple patent (number 20100174599) for a system and method for providing content associated with a product or service has appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. The disclosure relates generally to benefits associated with products or services and, more particularly, to obtaining, storing, and accessing benefits associated with such products or services using an electronic device.
Systems, methods, and devices for providing and managing benefits associated with a product or service are provided. For example, a device for managing benefits associated with a product or service may include a processor configured to run a product benefit management application, a memory device operably coupled to the processor, an electronic display operably coupled to the processor, and an input interface. The input interface may be a near field communication interface configured to receive data associated with at least one benefit associated with the product or service from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the product or service. The electronic product benefit management application may be configured to enable a user of the electronic device to use the at least one benefit. The inventors are Michael Rosenblatt and Gloria Lin.
Here’s Apple’s summary of the invention: “Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the disclosed embodiments are set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms the invention might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of aspects that may be set forth below.
“By way of example, a device for managing benefits associated with a product or service may include a processor configured to run a product benefit management application, a memory device operably coupled to the processor, an electronic display operably coupled to the processor, and a near field communication input/output interface. The near field communication input/output interface may be configured to receive data associated with at least one benefit associated with the product or service from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the product or service. The electronic product benefit management application may be configured to enable a user of the electronic device to use the at least one benefit.”
Also, an Apple patent (number 20100173673) for cross-transport authentication has popped up. An authentication controller coupled to a first communication port of a portable media device is allowed to provide authentication on behalf of an accessory device coupled to a second communication port of the portable media device. In one embodiment, a cross transport connector includes a connector configured to couple with an accessory and a connector configured to couple with a portable media device such that the accessory can be coupled to the second communication port of the portable media device. The cross-transport connector also includes an authentication controller. The authentication controller may request authentication from the media device over the first communication port of the portable media device. The request may also include an identifier of the second port, to which authenticated permissions obtained via the first port may be transferred. The inventor is Gregory T. Lydon.
