Pointright: a system to redirect mouse and keyboard control among multiple machines
First Claim
1. In an enclosure characterized as an interactive workspace for one or more users, said interactive workspace having a plurality of display means, a plurality of independent machines, wherein each of said independent machines is operatively coupled to one or more input devices, and a local area network connecting said independent machines and said display means, an input redirection method comprising:
- tracking dynamic states of said display means, said independent machines, and logical relationship of said display means and said independent machines;
initiating one of said independent machines as a sender;
determining another one of said independent machines to be a receiver based on a topology map of said interactive workspace and said dynamic states;
redirecting local input events from one or more local input devices driven by said sender to one of said display means characterized as a target display means driven by said receiver, said local input events containing an absolute position or relative motion of a pointer/cursor driven by said sender;
receiving, at said receiver, remote input events containing said absolute position or said relative motion of said pointer/cursor driven by said sender; and
displaying said absolute position or said relative motion of said pointer/cursor driven by said sender on said target display means driven by said receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a software system, PointRight, that allows for smooth and effortless control of pointing and input devices among multiple displays. With PointRight, a single free-floating mouse and keyboard can be used to control multiple screens. When the cursor reaches the edge of a screen it seamlessly moves to the adjacent screen and keyboard control is simultaneously redirected to the appropriate machine. Laptops may also redirect their keyboard and pointing device, and multiple pointers are supported simultaneously. The system automatically reconfigures itself as displays go on, go off, or change the machine they display.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. In an enclosure characterized as an interactive workspace for one or more users, said interactive workspace having a plurality of display means, a plurality of independent machines, wherein each of said independent machines is operatively coupled to one or more input devices, and a local area network connecting said independent machines and said display means, an input redirection method comprising:
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tracking dynamic states of said display means, said independent machines, and logical relationship of said display means and said independent machines;
initiating one of said independent machines as a sender;
determining another one of said independent machines to be a receiver based on a topology map of said interactive workspace and said dynamic states;
redirecting local input events from one or more local input devices driven by said sender to one of said display means characterized as a target display means driven by said receiver, said local input events containing an absolute position or relative motion of a pointer/cursor driven by said sender;
receiving, at said receiver, remote input events containing said absolute position or said relative motion of said pointer/cursor driven by said sender; and
displaying said absolute position or said relative motion of said pointer/cursor driven by said sender on said target display means driven by said receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program enabling a pointer/cursor to seamlessly travel between adjacent screens driven by independent machines in a local area network in an enclosure characterized as an interactive workspace for one or more users, said interactive workspace having a flexible topology map specifying said independent machines, said screens, and valid pointer transitions,
said computer program tracking dynamic states of said independent machines, said screens, and said valid pointer transitions, and said computer program enabling said one or more users to control said independent machines in said interactive workspace via said pointer/cursor.
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15. An input redirection system comprising:
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an enclosure characterized as an interactive workspace for one or more users;
a plurality of display means;
a plurality of independent machines, wherein each of said independent machines is operatively coupled to one or more input devices and to one of said display means; and
a local area network connecting said independent machines and said display means;
wherein the improvement comprises;
a computer-readable medium storing a computer program enabling a pointer/cursor to seamlessly travel between adjacent display means driven by said independent machines in said interactive workspace, said interactive workspace having a flexible topology map specifying said independent machines, said display means, and valid pointer transitions, said computer program tracking dynamic states of said independent machines, said screens, and said valid pointer transitions, and said computer program enabling said one or more users controlling said independent machines in said interactive workspace via said pointer/cursor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification