macnn/electronista/ipodnn
10/12/2007, 3:40pm, EDT
Friday, October 12thfrom: www.electronista.com
MS applies for iPhone-like interface patent
Microsoft has filed a continuation application for an existing patent describing a user-interface similar to the one used by Apple's iPhone. Microsoft's application, titled "Extensible, filtered lists for mobile device user interface," aims to provide an improved user interface for mobile devices by providing access to data as well as services from multiple software applications through a group or list of items. "Each group or list can include multiple items, which can be associated with data or tasks from multiple applications," the patent filing reads. "The set of groups of items can be both customizable and extensible to allow users to locate and utilize data and tasks relevant to the particular user. The set of item groups can provide users with a filtered view of content available through the mobile device, enhancing access to subset of data and tasks available on the mobile device."
Microsoft's invention is designed to serve as a system that facilitates navigation on a mobile device, blurring the view of an item to signal the transition from a parent list to a shortcut list in response to received input. The interface is designed to manage multiple lists in this way, offering shortcuts based on user input while displaying at least a portion of the parent list in the background to provide context for the shortcut list.

Shortcuts are displayed as a vertical list or grid, and display component color codes items in the list alongside arrows to support scrolling.
"Mobile or portable devices have become increasingly popular and prevalent in today's society. Many users utilize a mobile device, such as a cell phone, as their primary means of communication and carry such devices with them constantly. Mobile devices can include multiple functions such as cellular phone service, voice over Internet protocol ('VoIP') phone service, software applications, email access, Internet capabilities, calendar functions, music players and the like," the filing states.

"Functions, features and capabilities have increased both the utility and complexity of mobile devices. It is likely that functions will continue to be added to mobile devices further increasing both usefulness and intricacy."
The patent specifically lists smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) as prime candidates for the improved menu system, and offers an example of storing frequently-accessed contacts in a list that provides access to information for those contacts while maintaining access through the contacts application itself.
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Apple owns the patent on the technology behind the external casing for the 1st Gen ZOONs_
And now Microsoft has a patent that kind of mimicks the software interface for the iPhone_
Maybe they are indeed one in the same company ?
Theories ?
This is ridiculous ... I'm all for patents on decidedly clever and innovative designs but this isn't either.
Agreed, messed up but not sure the patent necessity. I forget who said the company with the most patents wins, but how a patent office even approves/compares any of this is beyond me.
B) I REALLY don't see how MacNN (er, I mean Electonista) can say this is at all iPhone-like. But at least they got their ad revenue off me from clicking on their link.