Human interface input acceleration system
DCFirst Claim
1. An input accelerator device for controlling a hand-held host device, the input accelerator device comprising:
- a communication channel configured to interface with the hand-held host device;
an input assembly comprising a plurality of input elements, each input element being configured to be selectively mapped to one or more functions of a software application in order to minimize actuation required of at least one input element of the hand-held host device; and
an input controller communicatively coupled to the input assembly and the communication channel, the input controller being configured to generate an input signal upon actuation of at least one of the plurality of input elements and being further configured to relay the input signal to the communication channel for transmission to the hand-held host device to control execution of the one or more functions of the software application mapped to the actuated input element.
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Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A human interface and input system is implemented on an input accelerator device to remotely operate hand-held host electronic devices such as cellular phones, PDA'"'"'s, pocket PC'"'"'s, and smart phone'"'"'s. The input accelerator device can control some or all functions of the host device to eliminate the need to directly interface with the host device. The input accelerator device may be configured to optimize a biomechanical effect of a human user'"'"'s opposing thumb and fingers by including, on one surface, one or more software configurable input elements manipulatable by the user'"'"'s thumb(s) or finger, and, on another surface, one or more software configurable selection elements manipulatable by a user'"'"'s finger(s). The input accelerator device can be a hybrid device combining a wireless headset with the device control features.
250 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An input accelerator device for controlling a hand-held host device, the input accelerator device comprising:
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a communication channel configured to interface with the hand-held host device; an input assembly comprising a plurality of input elements, each input element being configured to be selectively mapped to one or more functions of a software application in order to minimize actuation required of at least one input element of the hand-held host device; and an input controller communicatively coupled to the input assembly and the communication channel, the input controller being configured to generate an input signal upon actuation of at least one of the plurality of input elements and being further configured to relay the input signal to the communication channel for transmission to the hand-held host device to control execution of the one or more functions of the software application mapped to the actuated input element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for configuring an input accelerator device, the method comprising:
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disposing on one or more surfaces an input assembly comprising a plurality of input elements configured to receive human input through manipulation of the input elements, wherein at least one of the input elements is further configured to be selectively mapped to one or more functions of a software application stored on a hand-held host device in order to minimize actuation required of at least one input element on the hand held host device; providing a communication channel configured to connect to the hand-held host device; and connecting the input assembly to the communication channel using an input controller configured to generate an input signal upon actuation of at least one of the plurality of input elements and being further configured to relay the input signal to the communication channel for transmission to the hand-held host device to control execution of the one or more functions of the software application mapped to the actuated input element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of controlling a plurality of hand-held host devices, the method comprising:
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providing an input accelerator device comprising; a communication channel configured to interface with the plurality of hand-held host devices; an input assembly comprising a plurality of input elements, each input element being configured to be selectively mapped to one or more functions of a software application in order to minimize a number of actuation required for an input element of one of the plurality of hand-held host devices; and an input controller communicatively coupled to the input assembly and the communication channel, the input controller being configured to generate an input signal upon actuation of one of the plurality of input elements and being further configured to relay the input signal to the communication channel for transmission to the hand-held host device to control execution of the one or more functions of the software application mapped to the actuated input element; actuating one of the plurality of input elements; interpreting the generated input signal based on the one or more functions mapped to the actuated input element; and executing the one or more functions mapped to the actuated element. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification