Apple is widely reputed to be planning to release the iPhone 2.0 across the globe in June and, as ever, the features are being kept a secret. We delved into the patents that Apple has been filing in the last 12 months to see what clues they had left behind.

Below are the surprising results that show Apple might be planning to include GPS, games and perhaps even be looking at becoming an MVNO.

Personal Media Devices with Wireless Communication (published May 15th 2008)

This patent details how WiFi enabled devices can communicate with other local devices. One particular item of note is how the device (which could be a WiFi enabled iPod or the iPhone 2.0) can download menus in restaurants and order food using the phones interface.

“For example, if the merchant is a restaurant, the merchant may provide a menu to the personal media device and the user may place an order on his or her media device by selecting items on the menu.”

System and Method for Processing Images Using Predetermined Tone Reproduction Curves (published April 17th 2008)

The iPhone 2.0 is rumoured to have a better camera than the first iPhone. This patent details an image processing method to help with that.

“An automated RAW image processing method and system are disclosed. A RAW image and metadata related to the RAW image are obtained from a digital camera or other source. The RAW image and the related metadata are automatically processed using an Operating System service of a processing device to produce a resulting image in an absolute color space. When automatically processing, a predetermined tone reproduction curve is applied to the interpolate RAW image to produce the resulting image. The predetermined tone reproduction curve is derived from a plurality of reference images and is selected based on the metadata associated with the RAW image. The resulting image is then made available to an application program executing on the processing device through an application program interface with the Operating System service.”

Multi-Functional Handheld Device (published April 17, 2008)

Apples keeps the text of this patent vague and describes what could easily be the first iPhone. However as you can see in the image below the interface has GPS and games as icons on the screen which are the two main additions expected on the iPhone 2.0.

“Disclosed herein is a multi-functional hand-held device capable of configuring user inputs based on how the device is to be used. Preferably, the multi-functional hand-held device has at most only a few physical buttons, keys, or switches so that its display size can be substantially increased. The multi-functional hand-held device also incorporates a variety of input mechanisms, including touch sensitive screens, touch sensitive housings, display actuators, audio input, etc. The device also incorporates a user-configurable GUI for each of the multiple functions of the devices.”

Dynamic Carrier Selection (published April 10th 2008)

Apple has so far tied the iPhone to a particular carrier in each country. This patent indicates they might be looking towards becoming an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) and perhaps auctioning calls to the lowest bidder.

“A typical mobile phone or other cellular communication device is preprogrammed with a carrier or network operator that serves as the home network for the device. Normally, the device communicates over the home network when it is in an area served by the home network. When the device is outside of the home network area (or is roaming), the device typically uses a preferred roaming list to determine which network operator or carrier to use. In other words, the phone is programmed with a preferred roaming list, which is a list of identifiers for carriers that can be used, in order of preference, when the home carrier cannot be used.

In some cases, a service subscriber is served by a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). An MVNO is a mobile operator that does not own communications spectrum and typically does not possess any network infrastructure. Instead, MVNO’s contract with traditional mobile operators to buy service (e.g., usage minutes) for their own customers. An MVNO is typically tied to a specific carrier (e.g., Sprint or Verizon, which does own spectrum and has its own network infrastructure). Accordingly, primary service to an MVNO customer is provided through that specific carrier (i.e., the carrier is the “home” carrier).

SUMMARY

This invention relates generally to the dynamic updating of carrier preference data for a mobile device. For example, carrier preference data can be updated in accordance with or to reflect bids from actual carriers as to the cost of network access (i.e., usage minutes).

According to one embodiment of the invention, access to a wireless cellular communication network can be provided by storing a network address on a mobile device. The network address can identify a mobile virtual network operator server storing mobile network operator data for use by the mobile device. A request for network operator data can be sent from the mobile device to the mobile virtual network operator server, and, in response to the request, network operator data can be received. A network operator for the mobile device can be selected based on the received network operator data, and communications can be conducted using the selected network operator.

Specific implementations of the invention can include one or more of the following features. The mobile device may not be associated with a particular home network operator. Bids can be received from multiple network operators for rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained. Preferences among the network operators can be determined using the received bids, and the preferences are used to select the network operator.”

Location-based Media Presentation (published November 1st 2007)

This patent again alludes to the iPhone 2.0 having GPS as a core function. It describes how media can be displayed according to geographical location for example when you enter a museum you might like to have a guide book popup on your screen or when you visit a town a directory of bars and restaurants might open up.

“In one embodiment, Media Presentation Environment (MPE) is provided as data for a computing device that can present media (e.g., a digital media player). Media Presentation Environment (MPE) data can be effectively assigned to or defined for presentation of media at a particular physical location, region, area, space, etc. Media Presentation Environment (MPE) data can include media content data that effectively specifies, describes, identifies, includes, or references particular media content (e.g., a song, a list of songs, a directory) to be presented at a particular physical location, region, area, space, etc. Alternatively, or in addition to the media content data, the Media Presentation Environment (MPE) data can include media presentation data that effectively specifies or describes how to present content at that particular physical location, region, area, space, etc.”