AUDIO AND VIDEO CONTROLS ON A POINTING DEVICE FOR A COMPUTER

• US 20010043191A1
• Filed: 07/31/1997
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: LINDSEY, TODD D.
• Application Number:
  US08/904,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043191A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A pointing device having computer multimedia (audio and video) controls is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a computerized system comprises a computer, a multimedia device and a pointing device. The pointing device has at least one control to control the multimedia device, such as the volume of the device. Actuation of a control causes the computer to change a functionality of the multimedia device associated with the control.

Claims

1. A computerized system comprising:

a computer having at least a processor and a memory;

a multimedia device operatively coupled to the computer; and

,

a pointing device operatively coupled to the computer and having at least one control to control the multimedia device.

2. The computerized system of

claim 1

, wherein actuation of a control causes the computer to change a functionality of the multimedia device associated with the control.

3. The computerized system of

claim 1

, wherein at least one of the at least one control comprises a control selected from the group of controls consisting of a button, a slider, and a wheel.

4. The computerized system of

claim 1

, wherein the pointing device is selected from the group of pointing devices comprising a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, and a joystick.

5. The computerized system of

claim 1

, wherein the multimedia device comprises an optical disc player capable of playing audio compact discs.

6. The computerized system of

claim 1

, wherein the multimedia device comprises a tuner.

7. The computerized system of

claim 1

, wherein the multimedia device comprises an amplifier operatively coupled to at least one speaker.

8. A computerized system comprising:

a computer having at least a processor and a memory;

a multimedia device operatively coupled to the computer;

a pointing device having at least one control to control the multimedia device such that actuation of a control causes the computer to change a functionality associated with the control,

wherein the pointing device is operatively coupled to a corresponding port of the computer through which all communication between the pointing device and the computer occurs.

9. The computerized system of

claim 8

, wherein the multimedia device is selected from the group of multimedia devices comprising an amplifier operatively coupled to at least one speaker, a radio tuner, a television tuner, and an optical disc player capable of playing audio compact discs.

10. The computerized system of

claim 8

, wherein the pointing device is selected from the group of pointing devices comprising a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, and a joystick.

11. The computerized system of

claim 8

, wherein at least one of the at least one control comprises a control selected from the group of controls consisting of a button, a slider, and a wheel.

12. A pointing device for a computer operatively coupled to a multimedia device, comprising:

a housing;

at least one mouse button disposed within the housing;

a component disposed within the housing to signal directional movement to the computer; and

,

at least one control disposed within the housing to control the multimedia device.

13. The pointing device of

claim 12

, wherein actuation of a control causes the computer to change a functionality of the multimedia device associated with the multimedia control.

14. The pointing device of

claim 12

, wherein the pointing device is selected from the group of pointing devices comprising a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, and a joystick.

15. The pointing device of

claim 12

, wherein at least one of the at least one control comprises a control selected from the group of controls consisting of a button, a slider, and a wheel.

16. A pointing device for a computer operatively coupled to a multimedia device comprising at least one control to control the multimedia device.

17. The pointing device of

claim 16

, wherein the pointing device is selected from the group of pointing devices comprising a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, and a joystick.

18. The pointing device of

claim 16

, wherein actuation of a control causes the computer to change a functionality of the multimedia device associated with the control.