Apparatus method and system for improved feedback of pointing device event processing

• US 20050093817A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pagan, William Gabriel
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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

Events generated by a user of a pointing device are received into an event buffer and eventually removed from the event buffer by a receiving process such as an interface driver associated with an operating system. Information regarding the pointing device events residing within the event buffer is collected and used by a feedback module to improve the computing experience. Feedback regarding the collected information may include visual feedback, audible feedback, tactile feedback, or the like. The present invention improves user interaction with a computing system by providing additional information regarding the status of pointing device events and processes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing improved interaction to a user of a pointing device, the apparatus comprising:

a pointing device interface module configured to interface with a pointing device;

an event buffer configured to receive pointing device events generated by a user; and

a feedback module configured to provide feedback to the user regarding buffered pointing device events.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback module is further configured to provide feedback to the user regarding pointing device events passed to a receiving process.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the receiving process is an application process.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the receiving process is an operating system process.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises audible feedback.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises visual feedback.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises tactile feedback.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises a visual indicator selected from the group consisting of a screen flash, an indicator light, an icon, a status bar, a dialog, and a modified cursor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pointing device is selected from the group consisting of a mouse, a pen, a digitizing tablet, a trackball, a touch pad, a touch screen, a pointing stick, a data glove, and a gesture recognizer.

10. A method for providing improved interaction to a user of a pointing device, the method comprising:

receiving pointing device events initiated by a user into a buffer;

directing pointing device events from the buffer to a receiving process; and

providing feedback regarding buffered pointing device events to the user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing feedback regarding pointing device events directed to the receiving process.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving process is an application process.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving process is an operating system process.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising inventorying the pointing device events.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein providing feedback comprises communicating a buffered event quantity.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein providing feedback comprises communicating a buffered event type.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein providing feedback comprises providing audible feedback.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein providing feedback comprises providing visual feedback.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein providing feedback comprises providing tactile feedback.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein providing feedback comprises displaying a visual indicator selected from the group consisting of a screen flash, an indicator light, an icon, a status bar, a dialog, and a modified cursor.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein providing feedback comprises providing tactile feedback selected from the group consisting of force, pressure, vibration, surface actuation, and motion.

22. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving pointing device events comprises interfacing to a pointing device selected from the group consisting of a mouse, a pen, a digitizing tablet, a trackball, a touch pad, a touch screen, a pointing stick, a data glove, and a gesture recognizer.

23. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing feedback options to a user selected from the group consisting of screen flash options, indicator light options, cursor color options, cursor shape options, audible sound options, status display options, icon options, vibration options, and motion options.

24. An apparatus for providing improved interaction to a user of a pointing device, the apparatus comprising:

means for buffering pointing device events initiated by a user;

means for directing buffered pointing device events to a receiving process; and

means for providing feedback regarding buffered pointing device events to the user.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the pointing device is selected from the group consisting of a mouse, a pen, a digitizing tablet, a trackball, a touch pad, a touch screen, a pointing stick, a data glove, and a gesture recognizer.

25. A system for providing interaction to a user of a pointing device, the system comprising:

a pointing device;

a CPU configured to execute at least one process;

a monitor configured to display interface elements corresponding to at least one process;

an event buffer configured to receive pointing device events generated by a user; and

a feedback module, configured to provide feedback to the user regarding buffered pointing device events.

27. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code for providing improved interaction to a user of a pointing device, the program code configured to conduct a method comprising:

receiving pointing device events initiated by a user into a buffer;

directing pointing device events from the buffer to at least one process; and

providing feedback regarding buffered pointing device events to the user.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises providing feedback regarding pointing device events directed to the receiving process.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises inventorying the pointing device events.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises providing feedback options to a user selected from the group consisting of screen flash options, indicator light options, cursor color options, cursor shape options, audible sound options, status display options, icon options, vibration options, and motion options.