Apple has been granted a patent for the “Display of Electronic Books.” It involves the company’s Apple Books app/store.
About the patent
The patent relates to displaying and facilitating the manipulation of electronic text, for example, the text of an electronic book (“eBook”) being read on an electronic device. Much like an ordinary printed book, electronic books (“eBooks”) can be used to present text and pictures to readers. Instead of ink and paper.
However, an electronic book is a collection of digital data that software, known as an electronic book reader application, can interpret and present on a display.
A variety of devices run electronic book reader software such as desktop and notebook computers, eBook readers, smart phones and/or other mobile devices. One available format for eBooks is defined by the “ePub” standard, which is maintained by The International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF).
Information is usually presented to a user by accessing a library of electronic publications that includes a first publication, generating a representation of the first publication in an electronic bookshelf, determining a state for the first publication, and modifying the representation of the first publication to reflect the state of the first publication.
Apple’s patent involves:
° Presenting a recently-purchased book using a front cover view or presenting a recently-accessed book using a front cover view;
° An organization of the electronic bookshelf based on the state of the first publication relative to a state of other publications within the library, and presenting the first publication in the electronic bookshelf to reflect the organization of the electronic bookshelf;
° Showing a date of purchase, a date of release or a date of access;
° Presenting unread books in a prioritized shelf within the electronic bookshelf;
° Allowing the user to customize the order and appearance of electronic books.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “Information is presented to a user by accessing a library of electronic publications that includes a first publication, generating a representation of the first publication in an electronic bookshelf, determining a state for the first publication and modifying the representation of the first publication to reflect the state of the first publication.”
I hope you’ll help support Apple World Today by becoming a patron. Almost all our income is from Patreon support and sponsored posts. Patreon pricing ranges from $2 to $10 a month. Thanks in advance for your support.
