Application programming interface that maps input device controls to software actions (divisional)
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Abstract
A system for using computer input devices with software applications is disclosed. The system includes an input device mapper API, which uses a language of semantics as an interface between input devices and software applications. The input device mapper receives information about which semantics the devices connected to the computer are able to implement, and which semantics correspond to actions that a user can request the software to perform. The input device mapper maps controls on the available devices into user-requestable software actions by matching, as closely as possible, device controls and software actions that correspond to the same semantic. The system thus makes input devices and software applications transparent to each other, and permits a software application to be designed to operate without regard to which input device is being used to control its actions.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. A method of communicating between an input device and an application in a system, comprising:
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(a) issuing, from the application, a call to enumerate a suitability of input devices installed in the system, the call including an array of actions that the application uses;
(b) in response to the application call, examining the input devices installed on the system by comparing controls on the input devices with actions used by the application;
(c) ranking the input devices based on the comparison; and
(d) providing the application with at least the highest ranked input device that most closely matches the actions of the application. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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27-29. -29. (canceled)
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30. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions to perform a method for using a computer input device with a software application, comprising:
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an application program interface, responsive to a call from an application, that returns an enumeration of input devices that substantially match the actions of the application; and
an application program interface, responsive to a call from the application, that uses one of the enumerated input devices selected by the application to build an action-to-control mapping. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification