Computer system with remote key press events directed to a first application program and local key press events directed to a second application program

• US 6,976,216 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Streamzap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamzap, Inc.
• Inventors: Peskin, Jonah, Richmond, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Detwiler, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/716,052
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 345/716, 345/727, 345/168, 345/169, 345/172, 715/716, 715/727, 719/318, 719/330, 710/67
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

Computer software allowing enhanced control of the playout of audio/video works on a computer system. In various embodiments, the software allows key events from dedicated audio/video keys, whether part of a full sized keyboard or on a hand held remote, to control the actions of an audio/video playout program without requiring the user to direct the key event focus of the operating system to the audio/video playout program. Also, the invention distinguishes between key presses from a local, full sized keyboard and key presses from a remote keyboard so that the audio/video playout program can enlarge its screen display when a key event is received from the remote keyboard. In one embodiment, the invention constantly instructs the operating system to move the focus to the audio/video playout program. In another embodiment, if the focus is received by any of various windows in a display, software associated with the window forwards to the audio/video playout program any key events received from audio/video keys. In a third embodiment, audio/video key event data is routed to the audio/video playout program by a method that does not use the key event features of the operating system, such as by using a key board wedge server program to serve key events to audio/video client programs. In a fourth embodiment, the operating system is modified so that it has two separate focuses, one for a text keyboard and a second focus for audio/video keys.

Claims

1. A computing device with a local keypad and a remote key pad where an action of the device is determined in part by whether a key is pressed on the local key pad or the remote key pad, comprising:

(a) keys on a local key pad;

(b) keys on a remote key pad; and

a processor with a control program which, upon receiving from a user a selection from among a plurality of concurrently installed audio/video control application programs of one installed audio/video control application program to receive key event data from the remote key pad, provides key event data from the local key pad to a second application program and concurrently provides key event data from the remote key pad directly and only to the selected audio/video control application program.

2. The device of claim 1 where said audio/video application program and said second application program are clients of a key event data server program which receives key event data from said remote key pad and said local key pad and forwards said key event data.

3. The device of claim 1 where the control program is an operating system program.

4. The device of claim 1 where said second application program allows for text input.

5. A method in a computing device with a local keypad and a remote key pad where an action of the device is determined in part by whether a key is pressed on the local key pad or the remote key pad, comprising:

(a) receiving from a user a selection from among a plurality of concurrently installed audio/video control application programs one installed audio/video control application program to receive key event data from the remote key pad;

(b) having a second application program that receives key event data from the local key pad;

(c) concurrently receiving key event data from a press of a key on the remote key pad and from a press of a key on the local key pad; and

(d) concurrently providing directly and only to said selected audio/video control application program said key event data from said remote keypad; and

providing to said second application program said key event data from said local key pad.

6. The method of claim 5 where said audio/video control application program and said second application program are each a client of a key event data server program which receives key event data from said local key pad and said remote keypad and forwards the key event data.

7. The method of claim 5 where an operating system program performs the method.

8. The method of claim 5 where said second program allows for text input.

9. A computer readable medium containing a computer program which, when run on a computing device, causes the computing device to perform the method of:

(a) receiving from a user a selection from among a plurality of concurrently installed audio/video control application programs one installed audio/video control application program to receive key event data from the remote key pad;

(b) having a second application program that receives key event data from the local key pad;

(c) concurrently receiving key event data from a press of a key on the remote key pad and from a press of a key on the local key pad; and

(d) concurrently providing directly and only to said selected audio/video control program said key event data from said remote keypad; and

providing to said second application program said key event data from said local key pad.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 where said audio/video control application program and said second application program are each a client of a key event data server program which receives key event data from said remote key pad and said local key pad.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 where an operating system program performs the method.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9 where said second application program allows text input.