Some of the biggest tells and the sources for some of the fastest growing rumors in Apple’s universe are their patent filings. Well this week a patent has surfaced that is turning some heads. Ever wanted someone’s phone to be off, dimmer, or quieter in a movie theater? Well what if your iPhone knew that you were in a theater and did it for you.
Now it sounds a little bit like big brother, but imagine the potential. Apple has filed a patent for “apparatus and methods for enforcement of policies upon a wireless device.” Again, it sounds like this would be out of your control, but it would likely be a feature that you can turn on and off. This patent, which was awarded today, tells us of a world with an iPhone that thinks for itself.
“For example to disable noise and/or light emanating from wireless devices (such as at a movie theater)”
“For preventing wireless devices from communicating with other wireless devices (such as in academic settings), and for forcing certain electronic devices to enter “sleep mode” when entering a sensitive area.”
“Maybe one day instead of signs that say, “Shut off your mobile phones while inside the theater,” they may say “mobile phones will be shut down in this theater.” This is because the system would likely work based of receiving certain location sensitive policies from certain access points. If you don’t like it, reject it, but most likely when walking into a library after forgetting to put your phone on silent, you wouldn’t mind if it did it for you.
See the full patent here.