Apple patent puts iPhone in control of your Mac - remotely...

Jonny Evans
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December 16, 2009
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Apple’s latest patent puts your iPhone in control of your Mac’s desktop - remotely.

As revealed by the eagle-eyed patent people at Patently Apple, the US Patent and Trademark Office has published a unique granted patent which involves using an iPhone to control a home computer remotely while on the road, at the office or elsewhere.

An iPhone user will theoretically be able to remotely control the movements of a cursor on a Mac to select a software application from a menu or desktop icon, launch applications, control a printer or any other peripheral. The iPhone could even have a keypad that is mapped to specific functions, while the patent continues to suggest expanded Voice Controls - speech-control your Mac remotely using an iPhone? Cool.

The patent describes the communication link-up between the devices, the manner in which control signals are sent and more. “For example, a client application can be configured to receive telephony information from a telephony server running on the controlled device.”

Keys on the virtual iPhone keyboard could be mapped to specific functions for specific applications run remotely on your Mac (so if you forget to batch convert a bunch of images before you leave the office you can set the operation up while you travel home, for example).

A further eight patents have also been published overnight, including descriptions of a patent relating to advanced sensory technology in context with portables such as Apple's iPhone and iPod touch, a one-piece iPod connector, another relating to EMI or electromagnetic interference shielding used in the iPhone and other products and lastly an industrial design win for Apple's second generation iPod nano.

More on these here.

Comments (6)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2009 - 4:29am

Seriously, pretty lame patent... Remember that patent isn't any promise of upcoming product or technology, just a way to tease your competitors.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2009 - 4:55am

They should make this a part of MobileMe - quickly turn on your iMac/Macboook's camera/mic and find out what is going on at your house.  This could probably already be done, but remember, some of us got Macs because we are not computer geeks.  Speech control for everything is a little too Star Trekie for me though.  What's wrong with pushing a button?  Does everyone around you need to know what you are doing?

the Cappy (not verified) | December 16, 2009 - 5:40am

Pushing a button works if the app has a button for the command you have in mind.

One of the potential advantages of speech control, if done properly, is that it exposes the full command-set of an application and places it within reach. Not only commands embodied in an on-screen button, but also commands buried in menus. Sure you could push a button. But it's not necessarily good design to include a button for every single command possible.

PeterZ (not verified) | December 16, 2009 - 5:25am

Uh...Jaadu? I use it every day......

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2009 - 6:07am

HippoRemote. Already exists, already works, already totally awesome. 

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | December 16, 2009 - 6:08am

The app store is full if prior work for an app that controls a computer. What is Apple professing to do differently from what's already out there? There are tons of mouse control apps and full screen sharing apps.