Apple awarded patent to filter text messages

Apple awarded patent to filter text messages
Filed in 2008 and granted by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office this week, Apple has been awarded a patent for filtering text message content.

The patent is titled "Text-based communication control for personal communication device."



It is unclear whether the patent will ever find its way into an iOS product but it seems Apple's intention is to cut down on "offensive" texts sent from consumers using Apple devices.

Reads the patent: "One problem with text-based communications is that there is no way to monitor and control text communications to make them user appropriate. For example, users such as children may send or receive messages (intentionally or not) with parentally objectionable language."

Additionally, the patent proposes a way to encourage better grammar in texts. The filtering system can not really work without proper grammar, as many phone users write in shorthand or use words that may not necessarily be in a dictionary, like "LOL."

Apple's patent would disallow the use of non-dictionary words.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Oct 2010 14:51
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  • 16 comments
  • Joshewah

    The leader is good, the leader is great, we surrender our will as of this date!

    X360 - iXtreme1.4 ||| Xbox - EvoX Dash ||| PS2 - CC 2.0 PRO SLE ||| Dreamcast ...lol ||| NDS - Acekard 2/M3 Simply/EZ Flash 3-1 ||| Rooted HTC Hero with Ic3rom

    14.10.2010 15:07 #1

  • flyingpen

    Heil, mein Führer. Sieg Heil, All hail Steve Jobs!!!

    Carpe Noctem

    14.10.2010 15:29 #2

  • aldan

    doesnt bother me.its not likely i will ever own an apple product.not dissing them,just not interested.

    14.10.2010 16:14 #3

  • dEwMe

    Oh I'm all for dissing them...Fanboys unite! LOL

    Is it just me or does this place seem to be a fount of neverending Apple reports? I mean does anybody really care that much about what every twist and turn Apple takes? Seriously?

    Just my $0.02,

    dEwMe

    14.10.2010 16:21 #4

  • gldoorii

    This is pretty cool. Clearly it's something that we'll be able to disable or enable much like every other parental control in settings.

    14.10.2010 16:24 #5

  • ps3lvanub

    If 'pretty good' is Swahili for 'pretty shit' then yeah, I guess you're right. Who the hell are the to tell an iPhone user (assuming that this has made it into iOS, which it will) what they can and cannot text even if you can turn it off? It's bang out of order. Next they will be patenting software which bleeps out swears on the telephone, the t-*BLEEP*s.

    14.10.2010 17:47 #6

  • Mysttic

    Quote:Next they will be patenting software which bleeps out swears on the telephone, the t-*BLEEP*s. That could be entertaining under the right drug.

    14.10.2010 18:45 #7

  • bam431

    edited by ddp off apple.

    14.10.2010 20:39 #8

  • baxter00

    Originally posted by aldan: doesnt bother me.its not likely i will ever own an apple product.not dissing them,just not interested.
    Heard that!

    14.10.2010 20:59 #9

  • Alexei Stushnoff (unverified)

    Jue fracking didiots if you block em ppl will make up new words.

    HAIL APPLE, HAIL APPLE

    Heil, mein Führer. Sieg Heil, All hail Steve Jobs!!!

    14.10.2010 21:00 #10

  • greenacre

    Im from the Philippines where English is a second language. When sending text messages, many use non-dictionary words such as l8r which means later, so that they can fit their message into a 160 character text message. Although this saves money for the consumer, it has actually created a problem since some kids learn these misspelled words and has integrated them into their school assignments. Its called text speak. Whats irritating is that some people use this language in forums. They are actually using these abreviations when using a laptop keyboard.

    Telcos will love this since text messages will be longer and will result in sending 2 texts instead of just 1. More cash.

    14.10.2010 22:10 #11

  • adre02

    Nice! Give teeny boppers another reason to keep their eyes off of the road for longer periods of time...let's see how accidents go up trying to text "laugh out loud" vs lol.

    This is superman

    16.10.2010 18:00 #12

  • xnonsuchx

    Originally posted by adre02: Nice! Give teeny boppers another reason to keep their eyes off of the road for longer periods of time...let's see how accidents go up trying to text "laugh out loud" vs lol. The world needs fewer idiots anyway. We need more Darwin Award contestants. ;-)

    17.10.2010 18:49 #13

  • adre02

    What about the person in the other car? Could be you getting hit.

    This is superman

    17.10.2010 21:02 #14

  • exoticdi

    I've never heard anything so ridiculously authoritarian in my life. I'm fully expecting an App to force me to clean my teeth and put my seatbelt on in the near future...

    Want to be a free person? Sorry, we've got no app for that. F**k you, apple.

    12.11.2010 06:31 #15

  • xboxdvl2

    i just noticed a problem
    Quote:Apple's patent would disallow the use of non-dictionary words. which dictionary are they gonna use???

    it should be up to us to decide what we want to text/write not them anyway.

    PS2 with 12 games.
    pc-windows 7,intel core quad Q8400,4 Gb ddr2,WD 500 GB hdd,ATI Radeon HD 4550 graphics,AOC 22inch LCD moniter.

    13.11.2010 02:40 #16

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