Arsenal chased Manchester City all the way to the finishing line but for the second straight season had to make do with the runners-up spot
US Patent 7,479,949 is awarded to "(Steve) Jobs et al" for a method of "detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display" to command computing devices.
A multi-page patent available online at the US Patent and Trade Office on Monday details iPhone or iPod Touch commands such as finger or thumb swiping, twisting, or spreading to flip pages, rotate views, or enlarge images.
The patent was issued last week, a day before Apple on January 21 announced record-high quarterly profits.
Word of the patent provides ominous context for a warning made by Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook during a conference call that followed release the California firm's earnings report.
Cook said he believes iPhones are "years ahead of the competition" and that they are vigilantly watching to make certain rivals don't usurp Apple's intellectual property.
"We think competition is good," Cook said. "We are ready to suit up and go against anyone. However, we will not stand for having our IP ripped off and will use whatever weapons at our disposal."
While not mentioning a specific competitor, Cook made his comment in reply to a question related to a new Palm Pre touch-screen mobile telephone unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show this month to stellar reviews.
Arsenal chased Manchester City all the way to the finishing line but for the second straight season had to make do with the runners-up spot
'Nole (Djokovic) is going to be at his best. You'll see. It's just the way it is,' warned Zverev of Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion
Pogacar took his fourth stage victory to go around 6min 41sec clear with six stages remaining
The ruler will undergo a treatment plan consisting of antibiotics
The Ministry affirmed its stance and solidarity with Iranian people during this critical time
His final match as manager ended in a 2-0 win at home to Wolves
The Abu Dhabi-owned City won an unprecedented fourth straight English top flight title with a 3-1 win over West Ham United
Iranian rescue teams are scouring a fog-shrouded mountainside after an accident happened to the helicopter transporting Iranian president