An Apple patent filing, published this week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, is related to syncing an iPhone with a vehicle. Apple iOS chief Scott Forstall is listed as one of the inventors in the patent application.
The filing, published this week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and discovered by AppleInsider, is named “Synchronizing Mobile and Vehicle Devices.” Apple first issued the application with the USPTO in May of this year.
Among the four inventors is Forstall, who serves as senior vice president of the iOS Software division at Apple. Forstall is a key member of Apple’s executive team who was described by author Adam Lashinsky earlier this year as Apple’s “CEO-in-waiting.”
The description in the filing tells about location information being transmitted between a vehicle and a mobile device, such as an iPhone. The location and sensor data between the two would then be used for features such as turn-by-turn navigation.
While the application focuses on location and positioning information being shared between the vehicle and the iPhone, other information could also be exchanged. Among the potential uses listed is the syncing of contacts between the two devices.
Included illustrations show a number of potential settings for an iPhone to synchronize with a vehicle.
Other inventors on the application are Gregory N. Christie, Robert E. Borchers, and Kevin Tiene.
