An Apple patent application which outlines a way to use NFC to gift media between iOS devices has been published by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The patent was filed in March this year, indicating the handset maker continues to have an interest in the technology despite the continuing lack of NFC functionality in the iPhone maker's devices.

"Various techniques are provided for the gifting between multiple electronic devices of media content provided by an online digital media provider, the Media Gifting Devices and Methods abstract explains:

An offer and acceptance of a selected gift file is accomplished between a gifter device and a receiving giftee device using a near field communication (NFC) connection.

If a connection to the online provider is available, the gifter device may transmit a gift request by which the gifter's account is charged for the gift file. Thereafter, a gift file created using DRM keys associated with the giftee's account may be downloaded to the giftee device.

If a network connection is unavailable, the giftee device may transfer a locked gift file and a corresponding gift license to the giftee device using a peer-to-peer connection. The giftee device may authenticate the license and unlock the gift file once a connection to the online provider is available.