Foot operated transport controller for digital audio workstations

• US 20080229914A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trevor Nathanial
• Original Assignee: Trevor Nathanial
• Inventors: Nathanial, Trevor
• Application Number:
  US11/725,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20080229914A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/644
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/348 Switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers

Abstract

A foot-operated programmable transport controller for use in conjunction with a sound and music-editing software application while connecting a musical instrument. The controller comprises a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys; each key for performing at least one function pertaining to the software application. The controller further comprises a user interface for creating, editing, storing, and retrieving different profiles; the profile being a complete set of all functions assigned to all the keys and their combinations. The user interface is provided through a host computer system.

Claims

1. A foot-operated programmable transport controller for use in digital audio workstations;

the controller for use in conjunction with a music and sound-editing software application while connecting a musical instrument, the controller comprising;

(a) a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, each key for performing at least one function pertaining to the software application; and

(b) a user interface for creating, editing, storing, and retrieving different profiles, the profile being a complete set of all functions assigned to all the keys and their combinations;

the user interface provided through a host computer system.

2. The controller of claim 1 providing a collection of different default profiles on a CD or a DVD, accessible through the host computer system.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keyboard can be configured through the user interface such that pressing any key once can produce a functional effect on the software application;

the event of pressing the key once referred as a single press.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the single press is assigned with a function pertaining to the software application through the user interface.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keyboard can be enabled through the user interface such that pressing a key twice in succession can produce a functional effect on the software application;

the event of pressing a key twice in succession referred as a double press.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the double press is assigned with a function pertaining to the software application through the user interface.

7. The controller of claim 5 providing a means for adjusting the time sensitivity of the double press through the user interface.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys comprises a function key, which when activated through the user interface, can be used in combination with any other key so as to produce a functional effect on the software application;

the event of pressing a function key in combination with anyone of the rest of the keys referred as function press.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the function-press comprises pressing of the function key followed by the pressing of anyone of the plurality of keys.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the function-press can be assigned with a function pertaining to the software application through the user interface.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein when the function key is activated, all the keys except the function key respond to three key-press events, viz., single press, double press, and function press, each event can be assigned with a function pertaining to the software application;

the single press, double press, and function press events defined by the pressing of the key once, pressing of the key twice in succession, and pressing of the function key followed by the pressing of anyone of the other keys respectively.

12. The controller of claim 11, wherein when the function key is active, it can only be used in combination with another key for producing the functional effect.

13. The controller of claim 8, wherein the function key operates as any other key when inactive.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein when the function key is inactive, all the keys respond to two key-press events, viz., single press and double press, each event can be assigned with a function pertaining to the software application;

the single and double press events defined by the pressing of the key once and the pressing of the key twice in succession respectively.

15. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keys are ergonomically designed to be pressed by the foot of a user.

16. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keyboard comprises eight keys.

17. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keyboard resembles a stepped structure, the keys are disposed on the keyboard such that half of them are disposed on the upper step and the rest are disposed on the lower step.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the keys on each step are spaced apart.

19. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is connected to the computer system through a wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

20. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is battery operated.

21. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keyboard further comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), a wireless USB adapter that can be plugged into a USB port on the computer system.

22. The controller of claim 21, wherein the PCB comprises a processor, a non-volatile memory, and a programmable firmware memory.

23. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keyboard further comprises an automatic low-power standby mode, a low-battery Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicator, a low wireless signal strength LED indicator, and an activity LED monitor that activates when any key is pressed.

24. The controller of claim 1, wherein the keyboard holds one profile at a time.

25. The controller of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a main utility window comprising plurality of key cap links, each key cap link representing a key on the keyboard and displaying function/functions assigned to the same.

26. The controller of claim 25, wherein each key cap link guides a user to its corresponding key function/definition editor window when clicked thereon, the key function/definition editor window allows the user to make changes to the current configuration of that key cap link thus affecting the corresponding key functions automatically;

the main utility window providing a means for saving the changes thus made.

27. The controller of claim 26, wherein each key function/definition editor window comprises a means for assigning the keys or a combination of keys of a conventional computer keyboard for each of its functions for operating the software application alternatively.

28. The controller of claim 25, wherein the main utility window further comprises a means for retrieving and loading previously saved profiles from the host computer system.

29. The controller of claim 25, wherein the main utility window further comprising a means for displaying path of the current profile.