Apple is seeking patents around its two of its recent designs -- the first concerning the nascent mobile transaction space, while the second involves the always-controversial Digital Rights Management (DRM) arena.

The company earlier this year filed for a patent on technology first announced in September, in connection with the launch of its iPod Touch and a partnership with coffee chain colossus Starbucks.

The technology enables users to purchase music they hear playing in a Starbucks outlet, using their iPod Touch's Wi-Fi connection.

Separately, Apple filed an unrelated patent application covering digital rights management technology. The feature bears a striking resemblance to Microsoft's much-maligned Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program, which in essence checks that an application is running on an authorized platform.

The first -- and likely less controversial -- patent borrows on technology behind the paid downloading of songs. When a user enters a properly outfitted Starbucks, their Touch tells them what song is currently playing. If the iPod owner likes the song, they could then press a button to make a purchase.

Apple's patent application refers to this technology simply as "Wireless communications system". The company filed for the patent in July, well before the release of the Touch, but updated the proposed patent last week.

The filing suggests Apple is looking to expand the use of the technology beyond simply buying a song at Starbucks. The revised filing describes a system for placing orders electronically, via a wireless device, and then picking up the ordered product in-store.

The customer would receive a confirmation that the order had been received on their device, as well as a notification when they could pick up their merchandise, according to the patent filing. The notification could be displayed as text or an image or be an audio message, such as a voice message, that plays on speakers or earphones.

Apple is closed for the holidays and spokespeople were unavailable for comment by press time.

However its system is rolled out, it will take time -- judging from the protracted deployment of Apple's work with Starbucks. That deal, although limited simply to MP3s, is not expected to be fully available nationwide until late next year.

Of course, it's also not clear whether Apple will ultimately take advantage of the patent in any form, at all.

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