Systems and methods for interfacing with computer devices

• US 20040179042A1
• Filed: 01/26/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Fogarty, Michael David, Bear, Eric Justin Gould, Greene, Richard, Vong, William Hong, Richardson, Adam John, Teasley, Barbee Eve
• Application Number:
  US10/765,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20040179042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/840
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

The present invention provides a systems, methods, and products for enhanced user navigation to compliment (but not necessarily replace) a computer keyboard and mouse by providing a robust navigation interface. The present invention may comprise: a minimally necessary group of commands; combining the functionality a set of at least two command calls into a single logical button; for a single button, prioritizing a set of command calls from first to last and then calling each until one is accepted; logically remapping commands to buttons for a navigational device coupled to a physically rotate-able display device; and mapping a substitute command to a logical button for when the button is engaged in a predetermined manner other than the primary manner in which the logical button is engaged (e.g., double-clicking, flicking, press-and-hold, etc.) so that a substitute command can in fact be issued, among others.

Claims

1. A user interface system, said system comprising a plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, wherein said physical equivalents are arranged symmetrically, and wherein said physical equivalents map to a corresponding plurality of logical buttons that are asymmetrical.

2. The user interface system of claim 1 wherein a subset of the logical buttons and their physical equivalents are arranged on a horizontal axis (horizontally) and a subset of the logical buttons and their physical equivalents are arranged on a vertical axis (vertically).

3. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein:

said physical equivalents arranged horizontally correspond to logical buttons for horizontal movement; and

wherein said physical equivalents arranged vertically do not correspond to logical buttons for vertical movement.

4. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein:

said physical equivalents arranged vertically correspond to logical buttons for vertical movement; and

said physical equivalents arranged horizontally do not correspond to logical buttons for horizontal movement.

5. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a four-button diamond arrangement.

6. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise an eight-button compass arrangement.

7. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a D-Pad.

8. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise at least two pairs of physical buttons.

9. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise two buttons and a wheel.

10. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a rocking wheel.

11. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a super wheel.

12. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise two buttons and a dogbone.

13. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a rocking dogbone.

14. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a super dogbone.

15. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a plurality of discrete button pairs.

16. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a joystick.

17. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a touchpad.

18. The user interface system of claim 2 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a D-Pad.

19. A method for navigating an object comprising the utilization of a user interface system, said system comprising a plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, wherein said physical equivalents are arranged symmetrically, and wherein said physical equivalents map to a corresponding plurality of logical buttons that are asymmetrical.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein a subset of the logical buttons and their physical equivalents are arranged on a horizontal axis (horizontally) and a subset of the logical buttons and their physical equivalents are arranged on a vertical axis (vertically).

21. The method of claim 20 wherein:

said physical equivalents arranged horizontally correspond to logical buttons for horizontal movement; and

wherein said physical equivalents arranged vertically do not correspond to logical buttons for vertical movement.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein:

said physical equivalents arranged vertically correspond to logical buttons for vertical movement; and

said physical equivalents arranged horizontally do not correspond to logical buttons for horizontal movement.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a four-button diamond arrangement.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise an eight-button compass arrangement.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a D-Pad.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise at least two pairs of physical buttons.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise two buttons and a wheel.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a rocking wheel.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a super wheel.

30. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise two buttons and a dogbone.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a rocking dogbone.

32. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a super dogbone.

33. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a plurality of discrete button pairs.

34. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a joystick.

35. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a touchpad.

36. The method of claim 20 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a D-Pad.

37. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions for navigating an object comprising the utilization of a user interface system, said system comprising a plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, wherein said physical equivalents are arranged symmetrically, and wherein said physical equivalents map to a corresponding plurality of logical buttons that are asymmetrical.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein a subset of the logical buttons and their physical equivalents are arranged on a horizontal axis (horizontally) and a subset of the logical buttons and their physical equivalents are arranged on a vertical axis (vertically).

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein:

said physical equivalents arranged horizontally correspond to logical buttons for horizontal movement; and

wherein said physical equivalents arranged vertically do not correspond to logical buttons for vertical movement.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein:

said physical equivalents arranged vertically correspond to logical buttons for vertical movement; and

said physical equivalents arranged horizontally do not correspond to logical buttons for horizontal movement.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a four-button diamond arrangement.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise an eight-button compass arrangement.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a D-Pad.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise at least two pairs of physical buttons.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise two buttons and a wheel.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a rocking wheel.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a super wheel.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise two buttons and a dogbone.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a rocking dogbone.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a super dogbone.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a plurality of discrete button pairs.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a joystick.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a touchpad.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a D-Pad.

55. A hardware control device for navigating an object comprising the utilization of a user interface system, said system comprising a plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, wherein said physical equivalents are arranged symmetrically, and wherein said physical equivalents map to a corresponding plurality of logical buttons that are asymmetrical.

56. The hardware control device of claim 55 wherein a subset of the logical buttons and their physical equivalents are arranged on a horizontal axis (horizontally) and a subset of the logical buttons and their physical equivalents are arranged on a vertical axis (vertically).

57. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein:

said physical equivalents arranged horizontally correspond to logical buttons for horizontal movement; and

wherein said physical equivalents arranged vertically do not correspond to logical buttons for vertical movement.

58. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein:

said physical equivalents arranged vertically correspond to logical buttons for vertical movement; and

said physical equivalents arranged horizontally do not correspond to logical buttons for horizontal movement.

59. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a four-button diamond arrangement.

60. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise an eight-button compass arrangement.

61. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a D-Pad.

62. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise at least two pairs of physical buttons.

63. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise two buttons and a wheel.

64. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a rocking wheel.

65. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a super wheel.

66. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise two buttons and a dogbone.

67. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a rocking dogbone.

68. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a super dogbone.

69. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a plurality of discrete button pairs.

70. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a joystick.

71. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a touchpad.

72. The hardware control device of claim 56 wherein, in regard to the plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, the physical equivalents comprise a D-Pad.

73. A hardware control device, said device comprising a plurality of logical buttons and their physical equivalents, said device comprising a means by which a plurality of symmetrical physical equivalents are mapped to a corresponding plurality of asymmetrical logical buttons.