LCD and active web icon download

• US 20020063691A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rogers, Rich, Vantrease, David
• Application Number:
  US09/727,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A method and apparatus for displaying icons on a user-configurable keyboard. Specifically, icons corresponding to software applications or uniform resource locators (URLs) are selected from a computer system monitor. The icons are transmitted to the key board and displayed in a display window, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). Each icon displayed in the LCD on the keyboard has a corresponding launch key. When a launch key is depressed, the application or URL corresponding to that launch key will be opened.

Claims

1. A user-configurable keyboard comprising:

a display configurable to display a plurality of icons; and

a plurality of keys corresponding to the plurality of icons and configurable to launch one of a software program and a Uniform Resource Loctator corresponding to a respective icon.

2. The keyboard, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.

3. The keyboard, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the keys comprise function keys.

4. The keyboard, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a single window having a plurality of icons.

5. The keyboard, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a plurality of windows, each window having at least one icon.

6. A computer system comprising:

a console comprising a central processing unit configurable to execute software routines;

a monitor electrically coupled to the console and configurable to display icons corresponding to one of a plurality of software applications and a plurality of uniform resource locators; and

a keyboard electrically coupled to at least one of the monitor and the console, the keyboard comprising;

a display configurable to display a plurality of icons; and

a plurality of keys corresponding to the plurality of icons and configurable to launch one of a software program and a Uniform Resource Loctator corresponding to a respective icon.

7. The system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the console is coupled to a network.

8. The system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the console is coupled to the Internet.

9. The system, as set forth in claim 6, comprising a mouse.

10. The system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the keyboard is electrically coupled to the console through a universal serial bus cable.

11. The system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the display of the keyboard comprises a liquid crystal display.

12. The system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the keys on the keyboard are function keys.

13. The system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the display comprises a single window having a plurality of icons.

14. The keyboard, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the display comprises a plurality of windows, each window having at least one icon.

16. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein act (a) comprises the step of selecting an icon from a website.

17. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein act (a) comprises the step of selecting an icon from an operating system window.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein act (a) comprises the step of selecting an icon using a mouse.

19. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein act (a) comprises placing the icon in a predetermined location on a system monitor.

20. The method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein act (a) comprises the step of placing the icon in a keyboard configuration window on the system monitor.

21. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein act (b) comprises the step of transmitting the icon from the monitor to a keyboard using a universal serial bus cable.

22. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein act (c) comprises the step of displaying the icon on a liquid crystal display.

24. The method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein act (a) comprises the act of selecting an icon from a web site.

25. The method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein act (a) comprises the act of selecting an icon from an operating system window.

26. The method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein act (a) comprises the act of selecting an icon using a mouse.

27. The method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein act (a) comprises the act of placing the icon in a predetermined location on a system monitor.

28. The method, as set forth in claim 27, wherein act (a) comprises the act of placing the icon in a keyboard configuration window on the system monitor.

29. The method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein act (b) comprises the act of transmitting the icon from the monitor to a keyboard using a universal serial bus cable.

30. The method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein act (c) comprises the step of displaying the icon on a liquid crystal display.

31. The method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein act (d) comprises the step of depressing a function key on the keyboard.

32. The method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein act (d) comprises launching one of a software application and a Uniform Resource Locator corresponding to the icon corresponding to the depressed key.

15. A method of configuring a keyboard comprising the acts of:

(a) selecting an icon from a system monitor, the icon corresponding to one of a software application and a uniform resource locator;

(b) transmitting the icon from the monitor to a keyboard; and

(c) displaying the icon on the keyboard.

23. A method of launching one of a software application and a uniform resource locator comprising the acts of:

(a) selecting an icon from a system monitor, the icon corresponding to one of a software application and a uniform resource locator;

(b) transmitting the icon from the monitor to a keyboard;

(c) displaying the icon on the keyboard; and

(d) depressing a key on the keyboard corresponding to the icon.