Method, system, signal and software for sensing remote battery life based upon cursor characteristics

• US 6,353,800 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1999
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Rector, Dusty Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/370,113
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 702/63, 702/58, 702/60, 345/856-862, 320/132, 320/134, 320/136, 713/300, 713/310, 713/320, 713/340
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health

Abstract

The present invention describes a method, signal, system, and software for use in a system including a host device and at least one battery powered cursor control device. The status of the battery in the device is estimated by evaluating the periods of inactivity in the cursor and/or the cursor control device and by evaluating the movement of the cursor and/or the cursor control device across a display to determine unusual behavior. Upon unusual behavior determination, the battery'"'"'s status is then communicated to the user via the host device. The entire method can be implemented without consuming any device battery power except the power consumed during normal device operation.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

monitoring movement of a cursor controlled by a cursor control device; and

indicating a condition effecting the operation of the cursor control device in response to the movement of the cursor meeting at least one predetermined criterion.

2. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring further comprises monitoring for periods of inactivity/activity of the cursor.

3. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined criterion to be met consists of one or more of the following:

no cursor movement for a predetermined period;

jumping cursor movement;

jittering cursor movement;

cursor movement in a straight line; and

skipping cursor movement.

4. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the cursor control device is a battery powered remote cursor control device.

5. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of indicating includes notifying a user of the condition.

6. The method, as defined in claim 5, wherein the condition is low battery power.

7. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined criterion is cursor movement associated with specific hardware resources.

8. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with said processor;

a program of instructions comprising the steps of;

monitoring movement of a cursor controlled by a cursor control device; and

indicating a condition effecting the operation of the cursor control device in response to the movement of the cursor meeting at least one predetermined criterion.

9. The system, as defined in claim 8, wherein the step of monitoring further comprises monitoring for periods of inactivity/activity of said cursor.

10. The system, as defined in claim 8, wherein said at least one predetermined criterion to be met consists of one or more of the following:

no cursor movement for a predetermined period;

jumping cursor movement;

jittering cursor movement;

cursor movement in a straight line; and

skipping cursor movement.

11. The system, as defined in claim 8, wherein said cursor control device is a battery powered remote cursor control device.

12. The system, as defined in claim 8, wherein the step of indicating includes notifying a user of said condition.

13. The system, as defined in claim 12, wherein said condition is low battery power.

14. The system, as defined in claim 8, wherein said at least one predetermined criterion is cursor movement associated with specific hardware resources.

15. A computer readable medium implementing the steps of:

monitoring movement of a cursor controlled by a cursor control device; and

indicating a condition effecting the operation of the cursor control device in response to the movement of the cursor meeting at least one predetermined criterion.

16. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 15, wherein the step of monitoring further comprises monitoring for periods of inactivity/activity of the cursor.

17. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 15, wherein the at least one predetermined criterion to be met consists of one or more of the following:

no cursor movement for a predetermined period;

jumping cursor movement;

jittering cursor movement;

cursor movement in a straight line; and

skipping cursor movement.

18. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 15, wherein the cursor control device is a battery powered remote cursor control device.

19. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 15, wherein the step of indicating includes notifying a user of the condition.

20. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 19, wherein the condition is low battery power.

21. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 15, wherein the at least one predetermined criterion is cursor movement associated with specific hardware resources.