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AppleGranted patentAI & softwareInterest 3/10

Apple patents smart filter ordering for sound engineering apps

Apple has patented a system that automatically rearranges filter options in a list based on how they divide the remaining content. The system prioritizes filters that split the list into more even halves, making it easier for users to narrow down results efficiently.

Why it mattersThis improves the user experience in complex software by helping users find specific items faster without manually sorting through many options.

In the filing’s own words

A system reorders filters in a set of the filters that may be used to update a list of content. In response to receiving user input selecting a particular filter, the system may filter and/or reorder the content in the list of content and reorder the remaining un-selected filters. Filters that would result in a more even split of the content may be ranked higher than filters that would result in a less even split of that content. A filter that would result in selection of half of the content would be ranked higher than another filter that would result in selection of one-fourth or three-fourth of the content. The system may rank filters based on a user's historical usage. The system may apply a variety of factors to select an order for the filters by, for example, using a weighted average of scores that correspond respectively to the factors.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more hardware processors, cause the one or more hardware processors to perform operations comprising: displaying a list comprising a first set of results; concurrently with displaying the list comprising the first set of results, displaying a first set of filters in a first order, wherein the first set of filters comprises a first filter, a second filter, and a third filter; responsive to receiving user input associated with selection of selecting the first filter from the first set of filters: updating the list based on the selection of the first filter to generate an updated list comprising a second set of results; displaying the updated list corresponding to the first filter; and determining, based on the selection of the first filter, a second order of a second set of filters that comprise the second filter and the third filter, wherein determining the second order for the second set of filters comprises: determining that selection of the third filter splits the second set of results in the updated list, corresponding to the first filter, more evenly than selection of the second filter; wherein the second filter, that was ordered prior to the third filter in the first order for the first set of filters, is ordered subsequent to the third filter in the second order for the second set of filters based at least in part on determining that selection of the third filter would split the second set of results in the updated list, corresponding to the first filter, more evenly than selection of the second filter; and concurrently with displaying the updated list, displaying the second set of filters in the second order.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
User interfaces for sound engineering application on touch device
Patent number
US12737417B2
Application number
18314774
Filed
May 9, 2023
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
19

Classified under

G06F 16/635 Physics & computingG06F 16/64 Physics & computing

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.