Automatically updating user programmable input sensors to perform user specified functions

• US 7,281,214 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/654,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20040242269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 715/827, 715/864, 715744-748, 715/778, 715/865, 345/172
• US Class Current: 715/745
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

In a portable multimedia device, a method, apparatus, and system for automatically updating programmable buttons on a remote client device using a set of user preferences is described. A remote client device is coupled (either wired or wirelessly) to the host computer and the preference file is passed to the remote client device which uses the preference file to automatically update any programmable buttons included therein to execute the desired suite of functions. In some cases, a combination of buttons can be used to perform a particular function whereas in other cases, a single button can be associated with a particular function.

Claims

1. A method of automatically updating a number of user programmable input sensors in a client device, comprising:

generating a host preference file at a host computer, wherein the host preference file includes information relating to the functionality of the user programmable input sensors;

passing the host preference file from the host computer to the client device when the host computer is coupled to the client device; and

automatically updating only those user programmable input sensors in the client device that are different than the host preference file, wherein the user programmable input sensors remain updated whether or not the client device and host computer are coupled with each other.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the programmable input sensors are each a user programmable button wherein each of the programmable buttons are suitable for receiving a user supplied input event.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating comprises:

providing a preference file that includes,

a set of desired functionalities, and

a button map that maps each of the functionalities to at least one of the programmable buttons.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the updating comprises:

mapping the functionalities to the at least one of the programmable buttons or a combination of programmable buttons.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the host computer and the client device are wirelessly coupled and wherein the passing is a wireless transmission.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the host computer and the client device are coupled by way of a connector cable.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the preference file is stored in a computer readable medium and wherein the preference file is passed from the host computer to the client device by way of the computer readable medium.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client device is a thin client device that includes a small display screen.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the client device is a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or paging device or a MP3 player.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a combination of more than one of the updated programmable input sensors can be used simultaneously to perform a single function such that a total number of functions executed by the programmable input sensors is greater than the number of user programmable input sensors.

11. A thin client device arranged to be coupled to a host computer suitably configured for storing any of a number of appropriately formatted data files, comprising:

a display unit for displaying selected graphical data;

a processor coupled to the display unit for executing selected instructions;

a user interface coupled to the processor having a number of programmable input sensors arranged to receive user supplied input events;

a user interface programming unit coupled to the user interface arranged to selectively program selected ones of the programmable input sensors;

a host interface for receiving a host preference file from the host computer, wherein the host preference file is used to automatically update only those user programmable input sensors in the client device that are different than the host preference file when the host computer is coupled to the client device, wherein the programmable input sensors remains programmed whether or not the thin client device and the host computer are coupled with each other.

12. A thin client as recited in claim 11 wherein the preference file includes a set of desired functionalities, and a button map that maps each of the functionalities to at least one of the programmable input sensors.

13. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein a combination of more than one of the updated programmable input sensors can be used simultaneously to perform a single function such that a total number of functions executed by the programmable input sensors is greater than the number of user programmable input sensors.

14. A system arranged to automatically update a number of user programmable input sensors in a client device when the client device is coupled to a host computer, comprising:

a host preference file generator coupled to the host computer arranged to provide a host preference file that includes information relating to the functionality of the user programmable input sensors; and

a programmable input sensor programming unit configured to automatically update only those user programmable input sensors in the client device that are different than the host preference file when the host computer is coupled to the client device, wherein the user programmable input sensors remain updated whether or not the client device and host computer are coupled with each other.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein each of the programmable buttons are suitable for receiving a user supplied input event.

16. A system as recited in claim 14 further comprising:

a preference file that includes,

a set of desired functionalities, and

a button map that maps each of the functionalities to at least one of the programmable buttons.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

wherein the functionalities are mapped to the at least one of the programmable buttons or a combination of programmable buttons.

18. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the host computer and the client device are wirelessly coupled and wherein the passing is a wireless transmission.

19. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the host computer and the client device are coupled by way of a connector cable.

20. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the preference file is stored in a computer readable medium and wherein the preference file is passed from the host computer to the client device by way of the computer readable medium.

21. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the client device is a thin client device that includes a small display screen.

22. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the client device is a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or paging device or a MP3 player.

23. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein a combination of more than one of the updated programmable input sensors can be used simultaneously to perform a single function such that a total number of functions executed by the programmable input sensors is greater than the number of user programmable input sensors.

24. Computer program product for automatically updating a number of user programmable input sensors in a client device when the client device is coupled to a host computer, comprising:

computer code for generating a host preference file at the host computer;

computer code for automatically passing the host preference file from the host computer to the client device when the client device is coupled to the host computer;

computer code for automatically updating only those user programmable input sensors in the client device that are different than the passed host preference file, thereby updating the programmable input sensors, wherein the programmable input sensors remain updated whether or not the client device and host computer are coupled with each other; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

25. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the programmable input sensors are each a user programmable button wherein each of the programmable buttons are suitable for receiving a user supplied input event.

26. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the computer code for generating further comprises:

computer code for providing a set of desired functionalities; and

computer code for providing a button map that maps each of the functionalities to at least one of the programmable buttons.

27. Computer program product as recited in claim 26, wherein the computer code for updating further comprises:

computer code for mapping the functionalities to the at least one of the programmable buttons or a combination of programmable buttons.

28. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the host computer and the client device are wirelessly coupled and wherein the passing is a wireless transmission.

29. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the host computer and the client device are coupled by way of a connector cable.

30. Computer program product as recited in claim 29, wherein the connector cable is a FireWire cable or a USB cable.

31. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the preference file is stored in a computer readable medium.

32. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

computer code for passing the preference file from the host computer to the client device by way of the computer readable medium.

33. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the client device is a thin client device that includes a small display screen.

34. Computer program product as recited in claim 33, wherein the client device is a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or paging device or a MP3 player.

35. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein a combination of more than one of the updated programmable input sensors can be used simultaneously to perform a single function such that a total number of functions executed by the programmable input sensors is greater than the number of user programmable input sensors.