Method and system for permitting communication between a data processing system and input pointing devices of multiple types

• US 5,317,695 A
• Filed: 04/03/1992
• Issued: 05/31/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Celi, Joseph Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US07/862,670
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 395/275, 395/200, 364/200
• US Class Current: 710/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A method and system for permitting communication between a data processing system and input pointing devices of multiple types. During the initialization of an operating system, a particular selectable software routine is automatically selected in response to an automatic determination that a particular type of input pointing device is coupled to the data processing system. Thereafter, the particular selectable software routine which was automatically selected permits communication between the data processing system and the particular type of input pointing device which is coupled to the data processing system.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for permitting communication between said data processing and one of a plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices of multiple types, wherein said data processing system includes an operating system and a port for coupling a mouse pointer input pointing device to said data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of selectable software routines within said data processing system;

during initialization of said operating system, automatically determining if a selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices is coupled to said port of said data processing system;

thereafter, in response to a determination that a selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices is coupled to said port of said data processing system, automatically determining the type of said selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices which is coupled to said port of said data processing system; and

thereafter, automatically selecting a particular one of said plurality of selectable software routines for permitting communication between said data processing system and said type of said selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices coupled to said port of said data processing system.

2. A method in a data processing system for permitting communication between said data processing system and one of a plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices of multiple types, wherein said data processing system includes an operating system and a port for coupling a mouse pointer input pointing device to said data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

during initialization of said operating system, automatically determining if a selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices is coupled to said port of said data processing system;

thereafter, in response to a determination that a selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices is coupled to said port of said data processing system, automatically determining the type of said selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices which is coupled to said port of said data processing system; and

thereafter, automatically establishing a software routine within said data processing system for permitting communication between said data processing system and said type of said selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices coupled to said port of said data processing system.

3. A data processing system for permitting communication between said data processing system and one of a plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices of multiple types, wherein said data processing system includes an operating system and a port for coupling a mouse pointer device to said data processing system, said data processing system comprising:

means for providing a plurality of selectable software routines within said data processing system;

means for automatically determining if a selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices is coupled to said port of said data processing system during initialization of said operating system;

means for automatically determining the type of said selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices which is coupled to said port of said data processing system in response to a determination that a selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices is coupled to said port of said data processing system; and

means for automatically selecting a particular one of said plurality of selectable software routines for permitting communication between said data processing system and said type of said selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices coupled to said port of said data processing system.

4. A data processing system for permitting communication between said data processing system and one of a plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices of multiple types, wherein said data processing system includes an operating system and a port for coupling a mouse pointer input pointing device to said data processing system, comprising:

means for automatically determining if a selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices is coupled to said port of said data processing system;

means for automatically determining the type of said selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices which is coupled to said port of said data processing system in response to a determination that a selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing device is coupled to said at lease one port of said data processing system; and

means for automatically establishing a software routine within said data processing system for permitting communication between said data processing system and said type of said selected one of said plurality of mouse pointer input pointing devices coupled to said port of said data processing system.