He's put his hands on a patent filing, recently assigned to Apple, that describes in detail a graphical user interface "for navigating three-dimensional virtual spaces and manipulating three-dimensional objects in the virtual spaces using simple finger gestures."

The descriptions of how this might work jibe with rumors that the tablet interacts with the user in a new and unusual way. Other rumors have described the tablet as utilizing 3D graphics.

The patent is available here. It was filed by three French citizens, Fabrice Robinet, Thomas Goossens and Alexandre Moha, at least two of which now work at Apple.

According to the Patent Office, Apple obtained the rights to the patent in September 2008