Apple Trying To Patent Surface Touch Cover Like Keyboard Accessory For iPad

Recently, we reported that Microsoft has patented the idea of gesture initiated keyboard accessory which is already on sale in the name of Touch Cover 2.

Gesture-initiated keyboard operations are described. In one or more implementations, one or more touch inputs that involve interaction with a key of a keyboard are identified. Touch inputs can be identified using touchscreen functionality of a display device or using one or more pressure-sensitive touch sensors. Based on this touch input(s), a gesture is recognized. The gesture is configured to initiate an operation that corresponds to at least one key that is not included in the keys of the keyboard. In one or more implementations, the operation is a shift, caps lock, backspace, enter, tab, or control operation.

Patently Apple today reported about a new Apple patent which described exactly the same idea. See the images below.

Patently Apple claims that Apple’s keyboard design differs from Surface Touch Cover with a wrong assumption because Surface Touch Cover can also act as Touchpad. Only difference is that, there is not separate touchpad in Apple’s design.

One of the aspects of this design which differentiates itself from Microsoft’s Surface tablet cover is that Apple’s keyboard has been uniquely designed to double as a multi-touch gesture keyboard eliminating the need for a touchpad.

Along with this gesture initiated keyboard, Apple is also trying to patent wireless keyboard accessory that can also act as a cover for the device and can be attached to it. It exactly describes the Surface Touch Cover/Type Cover concept. I’m not sure whether Apple will be awarded with this patent. What do you think?

via: Patently Apple