05/15/2008, 11:25am, EDT
Thursday, May 15th
Apple files patent for custom iPhone merchant apps
The iPhone and iPod touch may eventually have custom applications tailored to merchants they visit, a published Apple patent filing hints. As detailed by AppleInsider, the proposed concept calls for a local wired or wireless network at a business, with one or more routers such as an AirPort Extreme. Somewhere on site would be a central server, offering custom information and applications for Apple "media devices" that enter wireless range. "For example, assuming the establishment is a restaurant, local server may provide a menu to media device," the filing reads.
Such a menu could let users not only place an order, but have their eating preferences saved, so that the server or device eliminates items from a menu which conflict with medical issues or personal tastes. "Reward" meals could even be assigned to customers, based on factors like eating habits or recorded exercise or health levels.
Possibilities for other businesses include broadcasting the likes of ads, event calendars and product information, or music, in a manner similar to that begun with Starbucks. At movies and concerts however people could additionally buy tickets and soundtracks, or even receive material such as directors' commentaries or foreign-language translations.
At larger businesses such as zoos or theme parks, people could download maps, or locate missing children as long as they have their own media devices. Similar services could be offered at transporation hubs such as train stations, with the addition of items like city information. At a grocery store, a device could store flyers, shopping lists, recipes or recommended foods.
The patent application was originally submitted in November of 2006, as is credited to Apple worker Michael Rosenblatt.
Filed under: iPod, iPhone, Apple
Other story tags: iPod touch, patents
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Patent?
It seems that any Safari web bookmark would accomplish the same thing with a standard local URL address. Whatever 'web kit' is inside the iPhone could accomplish this easily. With the SDK out, why would Apple 'patent' such a application?
Well
It is probably more important to patent or copyright the server end of things. Sort of like push email for server apps. I don't see alot of utility in this beyond the initial cool factor. I think I rather give my kids a 5-cent map of the zoo rather than a $400 iPhone and I'd rather talk for 45 seconds with a server rather than just have them drop off food (I live in Oregon and I like talking to gas attendants), but maybe that's just me.
Microsoft Big A** Table
This is better than the Big A** Table that Microsoft has come up with. A business could purchase a wireless router and application server and get pretty much the same thing Microsoft is selling for $10,000 (or more) with their Surface product. OK, maybe this is not quite as cool looking as a Big A** Table, but functionally it should be able to do the same stuff. Kudos to Apple for getting on this patent app before Microsoft realized this idea.
apple stores-
Aren't they already using this tech at the Apple stores? To make reservations for the Genius bar? or is it just a url and web app?
Easy but cool.
Yes, this could be as simple as a default home page. Your local server's DNS would point that standardized home page to its local server, or any server of it's choice for that matter. Then when you get on that network, it redirects as necessary.
Kind of like when you go to a hotel and try to get online it automatically redirects you to another page to agree to terms of service before you can browse. This could work in a similar fashion.