Notification lights, locations and rules for a computer system
First Claim
1. In a computer system, a subsystem comprising:
- a plurality of indicators that each convey information about a state of the computer system, each indicator having a first operating component and a second operating component; and
control logic that selects first data for the first operating component and second data for the second operating component when state information is to be output via a selected one of the indicators, the selected indicator controlled to output state information by applying the first and second operating components to the selected indicator based on the first and second data.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Notifications to computer users are provided via indicators such as lights. The indicators are controlled according to rules, to convey computer-related state information to users in a consistent manner. Locations of visible indicators are chosen to facilitate easy viewing. The rules dictate colors and/or illumination pattern components that together provide users with important computer-related information. For example, colors are assigned to types of information, and illumination patterns generally to behavior-related information. Colors may be combined in various illumination patterns. In one implementation, many or all of the visible indicators may be grouped together on a single control panel from rapid viewing. Alternatively, the visible indicators may be grouped by function or other logical arrangement, such as on the keyboard and/or frame of a monitor. Alternative light sources that illuminate the system (e.g., the monitor bezel) to convey state information, instead of or in addition to individual indicators, are also described.
160 Citations
76 Claims
-
1. In a computer system, a subsystem comprising:
-
a plurality of indicators that each convey information about a state of the computer system, each indicator having a first operating component and a second operating component; and
control logic that selects first data for the first operating component and second data for the second operating component when state information is to be output via a selected one of the indicators, the selected indicator controlled to output state information by applying the first and second operating components to the selected indicator based on the first and second data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. In a computer system, a method comprising:
-
receiving state data related to a current state of the computer system;
selecting an indicator from among a plurality of indicators for outputting the state data;
selecting component data for operating the selected indicator; and
outputting control data corresponding to the selected component such that the selected indicator outputs a representation corresponding to the state data. - View Dependent Claims (35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
-
-
36. The method of claim 36 further comprising selecting at least one other set of component data for operating the selected indicator.
-
70. In a computer system, a subsystem comprising:
-
means for selecting an indicator for outputting state data based on a current state of the computer system;
means for selecting component data for operating the selected indicator; and
means for controlling the selected indicator based on the component data to output a representation corresponding to the state data. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
-
-
76. In a computer system, a subsystem comprising:
-
a plurality of indicators, each indicator arranged to display state information corresponding to the state of the computer system;
receiver means for receiving first and second state data; and
control means for controlling a selected indicator to output a first color based on the first state information and a second color based on the second state information, the control means selecting an illumination pattern such that the color switches between the first and second colors to display state information corresponding to the first and second state data.
-
Specification