Methods and apparatus for shifting focus between multiple devices

• US 6,842,795 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Keller, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Niketa
• Application Number:
  US10/167,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15, 710/14, 710/62, 710/72, 709/220, 345/700, 345/710, 345/737, 345856-866, 345156-184
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for shifting focus between multiple devices. In some embodiments, a method in accordance with the present invention may include determining a rule regarding when focus shifts from a first device, or an application operating on the first device, to a second device, or an application operating on the second device, and changing focus from the first device to the second device or their respective applications in accordance with the rule. The rule may be based on position or movement of a cursor on a display associated with the first device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

coupling a personal data assistant (PDA) to a computer;

prompting a user to indicate a spatial relationship between the computer and the PDA; and

providing via the computer input signals from an input device that is coupled to the computer to control a position of a first cursor on a display that is part of the PDA.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to the providing input signals from said input device to control the position of the first cursor, controlling a position of a second cursor on a display that is part of the computer in response to input signals from said input device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

after the providing the input signals from said input device to control the position of the first cursor, controlling the position of the second cursor on the display that is part of the computer in response to input signals from said input device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device is a pointing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the input device is a mouse.