Control method and system for objects on a computer

• US 5,943,042 A
• Filed: 10/05/1995
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Siio, Itiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US08/539,391
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/146, 345/157, 345/163, 345/169, 345/172, 341/21-23
• US Class Current: 345/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386

Abstract

To virtually connect an object stored on a computer with real work as if they were physically connected and to make easy the operation of a computer. In one embodiment, visitors to a museum which incorporates a computer system according to the present invention are given a wireless mouse in which an ID is stored corresponding to an object stored in the computer. The visitor simply operates the mouse near a terminal computer provided in each exhibition booth of the museum to display a file corresponding to the ID the monitor of the terminal. The displayed file is under the exclusive control of the visitor to and may include an edit function. In an edit booth, the visitor may finally edit the information recorded in each exhibition booth, print it out, return the wireless mouse, and exit the museum.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a display device, a memory storing an object including associated data, and a physical pointing device wherein an identifier is stored corresponding with said object, a method for controlling said object in said computer system, comprising the steps of:

displaying an image corresponding to said object onto said display device;

communicating said identifier corresponding with said object to said computer system, responsive to user input to said physical pointing device wherein said identifier is stored;

directly associating said physical pointing device with said object as a function of said identifier;

displaying said associated data, responsive to user input to said physical pointing device and said step of directly associating; and

executing a command instruction with respect to said associated data.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of positioning the image as a function of a position of said physical pointing device, responsive to said step of associating.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said physical pointing device is one of a plurality of physical pointing devices and said object is one of a plurality of objects having associated data stored in memory, each one of said plurality of physical pointing devices including a unique identifier (ID) which corresponds to one of said plurality of identifiers.

4. The control system for an object stored on a computer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said network system is installed in a museum having a plurality of booths and said physical pointing device is given to visitors entering said museum.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of directly associating comprises the step of identifying and comparing a physical planar position of said physical pointing device with a predetermined displayed position of said image.

6. A control system for objects stored on a computer, comprising:

a physical pointing device having an input and an output, said physical pointing device having a unique identification (ID) coded therein which said physical pointing device outputs responsive to said input;

a network system including;

a host computer coupled by a network line to a plurality of terminal computers each of which has a display device; and

storage means for storing an object corresponding to said ID, said object including at least readable information;

detecting means, associated with at least one of said plurality of terminal computers, for calling said object into a called state onto said at least one of said terminal computers when said physical pointing device outputs said ID; and

access means for opening said object in said called state, responsive to said input;

wherein said physical pointing device includes a pointing function that can instruct a command execution of said object, responsive to said access means.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein said object in said called state has been related to said physical pointing device, and an image corresponding to said object is displayed on said display device, said image having an image position which is a function of a position of said physical pointing device.

8. The control system of claim 6, wherein said access means comprises an edit function for editing said readable information.