Well, it seems like the latest iPod-related patents are out, which means speculation time begins. This time though, the patent wasn’t actually filed by Apple itself, but by someone who appears to want to make an iPod accessory. The patent seems to show an iPod accessory that would add video conferencing capabilities to the iPod, either wired or wirelessly. The patent also mentions using the iPod as a video server or a device that can receive Internet video streams. Of course this is just a patent, so that doesn’t guarantee that this iPod accessory could be out anytime soon (we started seeing touchscreen interface patents by Apple in early-February, yet still no touchscreen iPods or laptops), but a video conferencing iPod would be pretty cool.
[via Engadget]
Keep in mind that occasionally organizations will apply for patents with either no intention or no resources to create the acctual item... but if Apple (or any other 3rd party) were to add any of this functionality to the iPod or a peripheral, then the company that now owns this patent will have some legal grounds to collect royalties or find some other means of getting paid for their idea.