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New Apple patent filing involves using iPhone, Apple Watch for Apple Pay transactions, unlocking your car

These graphics show an iPhone being used for “mobile key” transactions.

Apple has filed for a patent (number 20220135001) for “mobile key user interfaces.” It involves enhanced capabilities for using your iPhone and/or Apple Watch as a “mobile key” for Apple Pay transactions, as well as unlocking your car.

About the patent filing

The patent filing relates generally to computer user interfaces, and more specifically to techniques for managing and using a mobile key (e.g., a form of secure credential). However, Apple says that some techniques for managing and using a mobile key using electronic devices are “generally cumbersome and inefficient.”

For example, some existing techniques use a complex and time-consuming user interface, which may include multiple key presses or keystrokes. Some existing techniques don’t provide users with options for restricting use of a mobile key. Existing techniques require more time than necessary, wasting user time and device energy. 

Apple was to provide a technique that provides electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for managing and using a mobile key. 

Summary of the patent filing

Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “The present disclosure generally relates to user interfaces for managing and using a mobile key. In some embodiments, while displaying a representation of a mobile car key on a multifunction device, the device receives a request to restrict use of the mobile car key for a predetermined time period, and in response, restricts at least one function of the mobile car key for the time period.”

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.