Apple patents system that auto-offers to share content when devices are close
Apple has filed a patent for a method where a computer system detects when it is physically close to another device. If the distance meets a specific threshold, the system prompts the user to share the content currently selected on the screen, displaying a different visual representation of that content during the process.
In the filing’s own words
The present disclosure generally relates to transferring content between computer systems.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A first computer system configured to communicate with a display generation component, comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: while displaying a first representation of respective designated content that is currently designated at the first computer system, obtaining an indication that a set of content-sharing criteria is met, wherein the set of content-sharing criteria includes a set of position criteria that requires that a physical distance between the first computer system and a second computer system satisfies a distance threshold; and in response to obtaining the indication that the set of content-sharing criteria is met: providing a prompt for sharing, with the second computer system, the respective designated content that is currently designated at the first computer system; and displaying, via the display generation component, a second representation of the respective designated content that is different from the first representation of the respective designated content.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- TRANSFERRING CONTENT BETWEEN COMPUTER SYSTEMS
- Publication number
- US20260281681A1
- Application number
- 19681557
- Filed
- May 19, 2026
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 31
Classified under
H04W 4/80 Electricity & electronicsG06F 9/451 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Phones & computers
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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.