Here’s a set of patents that Apple has filed for that may give us some insight into what they are planning for their upcoming tablet and future iPhones.

Intelligent power monitoring

“An electronic device operative to monitor and control processes and operations based on the power cost of those processes and operations are provided.” and “the electronic device can perform a process or provide power to a networked device, or alternatively delay or cancel a process to ensure that the power cost of the device remains within preset boundaries (e.g., the power cost of the device or of a home network of devices does not exceed a maximum cap)”.

Intel also debuted a very Apple like dashboard at CES which they are dubbing their Home Energy Management Dashboard.

While power management in the home is important, I can see this tablet branching off into controlling entertainment centers and possibly streaming content unto the device. Plus why would you want it stuck to the wall instead of having a portable unit. I also envision Apple may decide moving this platform to the iPhone adding similar functionality to the recent DirectTV ads where they show a way to control a DVR via a cellphone.

Which brings us to Apple’s next patent, Auto station tuning. “Media players can be configured to allow a user to browse content stored on the device. Typically, users browse and discover content using a media player by navigating through metadata or other information about the content, such as the filename, title, album information, or the like. Thus, user may focus on the metadata to procure the content in which user may be interest. Problems may arise when users attempt to navigate and procure content with media players that do not include a user interface capable of displaying the metadata to the user. Additionally, users engaged in various activities, such as driving or doing chores, may prefer not to focus significant attention to the media player to browse content.”

So their solution is a “media player may analyze broadcasts and other content streams to determine currently playing and forthcoming content. The media player may switch from one source of content to another to find content that matches user preferences or criteria. The media player may generate playlists based on the matching content, and switch between sources of the matching content automatically.”

So now here’s a portable device to allow monitoring of TV/radio broadcasts that tries to create a playlist based on user preferences.

Now unto the last patent, Adding a contact to a home screen. Which according to Apple, “an icon can be created for a contact (e.g., an individual(s) or an entity) and presented on a user interface of a mobile device, such as a “home screen.” The icon can be used to retrieve and display contact information. The icon can also be used to invoke one or more applications that are personalized to the contact.”

So they will be adding the ability to essentially create an icon to act as a shortcut to your iPhone/iPod

Touch apps and contacts, but then there is this interesting tidbit “In some implementations, this content can be received when the mobile device is within the proximity of a particular location associated with the contact. An input to create an icon associated with the contact can be received.” and “The content associated with the contact can be removed from the mobile device when the mobile device is not within the proximity of a particular location associated with the contact.” Can anyone picture the next keynote speaker just loving the words “push content”? Now combine this ability with the previous patents and I can easily envision a situation where I bought a movie using iTunes and through Apple TV or MobileMe getting an icon on my tablet notifying me that my new movie is now available and being able to stream it.

Interesting possibilities.

Apple, Apple TV, CES, iphone, ipod, iTunes, Patent, Tablet