Computer mouse with data retrieval and input functonalities

• US 20050035945A1
• Filed: 08/13/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Mirante, Mark Keenan, Nathan Hucbner
• Original Assignee: Anthony Mirante, Mark Keenan, Nathan Hucbner
• Inventors: Keenan, Mark, Mirante, Anthony, Hucbner, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 6,992,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

The current invention is a desktop operated computer control mouse including a housing, electronic circuitry within the housing, a user manipulable rotatable ball, optical technology, or other means for pointing control, and a plurality of front mounted buttons that are in addition to the standard depressible buttons known in the prior art of a computer control mouse, which are exposed on the housing and are electronically connected with circuitry. At least some or all of the additional finger depressible buttons are for user selection of signals to be sent to the computer for the purpose of initiating functioning macros, inputting specified user data, or launching user pre-selected commands, and are associated with electronic switches that allow for at least three input stages; depressing and holding, pressing once, and pressing twice.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a computer mouse with a plurality of depressible buttons.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said depressible buttons are used to retrieve and input data.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which said depressible buttons are used for user selected signals.

4. A device according to claim 2 in which said depressible buttons have multiple input stages.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which said input stages are depressing and holding, pressing once and press twice.

6. A device according to claim 3 in which said user selected signals are software programs which retrieve and input data.

7. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is credit card information.

8. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is usernames and passwords.

9. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is personal information.

10. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is user defined.

11. A device according to claim 6 in which said software programs save data in a database for a plurality of users.

12. A device according to claim 6 in which said software programs save data in a database that is accessible through the use of usernames and passwords.

13. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is a first name.

14. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is a last name.

15. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is an address.

16. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is a city.

17. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is a state.

18. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is a zip code.

19. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is an email address.

20. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is a phone number.

21. A device according to claim 6 in which said data is encrypted.

22. A device according to claim 3 in which said function is the closing of a pop-up window.

23. A device according to claim 1 in which said mouse is ergonomically designed.

24. A device according to claim 1 in which said mouse is designed for left and right hand users.

25. A device according to claim 6 in which allows each button to input a plurality of sources of data by using templates loaded into a memory means.

26. A device according to claim 6 in which allows each button to input a plurality of sources of data through the changing of templates loaded into a memory means.

27. A device according to claim 6 in which allows for the switching of templates loaded in a memory means through holding down any of a plurality of buttons for a given time period.

28. A device according to claim 6 in which allows for the removal of templates loaded in a memory means through holding down any of a plurality of buttons for a given time period.

29. A device according to claim 6 in which allows for the automated removal of templates loaded in a memory means after a period of non-activity.

30. A device according to claim 11 in which allows for customization of a plurality of one-touch commands.

31. A device according to claim 6 in which allows for a one-touch insertion of signature function.

32. A device according to claim 5 in which said input stages activate the outputting of data.

33. A device according to claim 6 in which said software programs save data in a database for a plurality of users that is accessible by a plurality of users through a LAN, WAN or Internet connection.

34. A device according to claim 6 in which said software programs save data in a database that is accessible through the use of usernames and passwords.

35. A device according to claim 3 in which said user selected signals are any command, combination of commands and combination of commands and data insertion.

36. A device according to claim 6 in which allows for each button to input a plurality of sources of data by accessing a database.

37. A device according to claim 6 in which allows for each button to input a plurality of sources of data by using templates created and designed by a user.

38. A process for using a computer mouse comprising:

having a computer mouse with a plurality of depressible buttons.

39. A process according to claim 38 which includes having said depressible buttons being used to retrieve and input data.

40. A process according to claim 38 which includes having said depressible buttons being used for user selected signals.

41. A process according to claim 38 which includes having said depressible buttons being used for the purpose of activating commands through specified software programs.

42. A process according to claim 39 which includes having said depressible buttons having multiple input stages.

43. A process according to claim 42 which includes having said input stages being depressing and holding, pressing once and pressing twice.

44. A process according to claim 40 which includes having said user selected signals being software programs retrieving and inputting data.

45. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being credit card information.

46. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being usernames and passwords.

47. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being personal information.

48. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being user defined.

49. A process according to claim 44 which includes having a plurality of users save data in a database.

50. A process according to claim 44 which includes using usernames and passwords for users to access said data in said database.

51. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said software programs saving data in a database for a plurality of users.

52. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said software programs saving data in a database with or without usernames and passwords.

53. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being a first name.

54. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being a last name.

55. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being an address.

56. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being a city.

57. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being a state.

58. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being a zip code.

59. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being an email address.

60. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being a phone number.

61. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said data being encrypted.

62. A process according to claim 44 in which allows each button to input a plurality of sources of data by using templates loaded into a memory means.

63. A process according to claim 44 in which allows each button to input a plurality of sources of data through the changing of templates loaded into a memory means.

64. A process according to claim 44 in which allows for the switching of templates loaded in a memory means through holding down any of a plurality of buttons for a given time period.

65. A process according to claim 44 in which allows for the removal of templates loaded in a memory means through holding down any of a plurality of buttons for a given time period.

66. A process according to claim 44 in which allows for the automated removal of templates loaded in a memory means after a period of non-activity.

67. A process according to claim 49 in which allows for customization of a plurality of one-touch commands.

68. A process according to claim 44 in which allows for a one-touch insertion of signature function.

69. A process according to claim 43 in which said input stages activate the outputting of data.

70. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said software programs save data in a database for a plurality of users that is accessible by a plurality of users through a LAN, WAN or Internet connection.

71. A process according to claim 44 which includes having said software programs save data in a database that is accessible through the use of usernames and passwords

72. A process according to claim 40 in which includes having said user selected signals being any command, combination of commands and combination of commands and data insertion.

73. A process according to claim 44 which includes having each button input a plurality of sources of data by accessing a database.

74. A process according to claim 44 which includes having each button input a plurality of sources of data by using templates created and designed by a user.