Apple has filed a new patent that's pretty simple but very clever. It has never been done before either. The patent suggests that it could insert doctored or pre-recorded images into FaceTime chats on crappy internet connections to keep the conversation going.

The patent, called "Video transmission using content-based frame search," suggests that video frame data could be used to help reduce the amount of data being sent between devices during video calls.

This could also be possible to track image parameters, like facial features within the video and store them in a searchable database.

If there's bandwidth issues, the devices could send the details of how the frame looks to the server, using less data than sending each frame, allowing it to search for a similar image from earlier in the conversation.

Pretty neat idea, Apple. Make it so! [Apple Insider]