In 2015 Patently Apple posted a patent application report titled "Apple introduces us to the Apple Ring in all its Glory." Apple was granted that patent last year in a report titled "Apple has won its First Smart Ring Patent with Biometrics, Touch Pad & Siri to Control devices including a TV." Today Apple was granted their second patent for this invention.

So, what's changed from the first granted patent? Apple legal decided to add new patent claims to strengthen their invention. In this granted patent, Apple legal is emphasizing the rings ability to be used in conjunction with various pointing gestures as a means of providing a new input method to control a second device like Apple TV. The first five patent claims are presented below:

A method for controlling an external electronic device, comprising: at a wireless ring device disposed on one or more fingers of a hand of a user: detecting an input via the wireless ring device; and in response to detecting the input: in accordance with a determination that a predefined hand gesture directed toward a first external electronic device was performed, using the ring device, prior to detecting the input, transmitting instructions to change an output of the first external electronic device based on the input; and in accordance with a determination that the predefined hand gesture directed toward a second external electronic device was performed, using the ring device , prior to detecting the input, transmitting instructions to change an output of the second external electronic device based on the input.

The method of claim 1, including, prior to detecting the input: detecting the predefined hand gesture performed using the ring device; in accordance with a determination that the predefined hand gesture is directed toward the first external electronic device, establishing a wireless connection with the first external electronic device; and in accordance with a determination that the predefined hand gesture is directed toward the second external electronic device, establishing a wireless connection with the second external electronic device.

The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined hand gesture includes a pointing gesture.

The method of claim 1, wherein the ring device includes a touch-sensitive surface, and the input includes a touch gesture on the touch-sensitive surface.

The method of claim 1, wherein the input includes movement of the ring device.

Apple's patent FIG. 9 below illustrates a ring computing device communicating with an external electronic device

Apple's second granted patent for an Apple Ring was filed in Q3 2019 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. To review all of the new patent claims that were granted click here. To compare the latest patent claims with the original claims, or to view the original series of patent figures, click here.