Apparatus and process for a computer input device
First Claim
1. A computer input device comprising:
- a computer mouse operatively connected to a user'"'"'s computer system wherein at least one actuation of at least one control switch of the computer input device will result in a display of at least one of either a vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL address on the user'"'"'s computer system,wherein the computer mouse has a promotional housing in a physical shape selected by a the vendor to promote at least one of either a product or a service offered by the vendorwherein the physical shape generally suggests the product or the service offered by the vendor,wherein the at least one of either the vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL displayed by the user'"'"'s computer system matches an Internet web page, domain name, or URL address preprogrammed and stored within the computer input device, andwherein the computer input device contains all necessary software drivers and computer software to allow the computer input device to operate as a plug-and-play computer input device when communicatively connected with a computer system without the need to separately install specific configuration software onto the user'"'"'s computer system prior to operatively connecting the computer input device to the user'"'"'s computer system.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer input device is described as being in the general form of a computer mouse with standard computer mouse functions in addition to having the capability of allowing the user of the computer input device to access a vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL address by actuating a switch on the computer mouse. The a vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL address may be preprogrammed into a computer ship in the computer mouse. In other embodiments of the computer input device, the form and shape of the computer input device relate in some way the vendor'"'"'s products of services. The Internet web page, domain name, or URL address may be controlled and maintained by the vendor or by an intermediate advertising service such that different information about the vendor'"'"'s products or services may be provide to the user of the computer input device.
22 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A computer input device comprising:
-
a computer mouse operatively connected to a user'"'"'s computer system wherein at least one actuation of at least one control switch of the computer input device will result in a display of at least one of either a vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL address on the user'"'"'s computer system, wherein the computer mouse has a promotional housing in a physical shape selected by a the vendor to promote at least one of either a product or a service offered by the vendor wherein the physical shape generally suggests the product or the service offered by the vendor, wherein the at least one of either the vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL displayed by the user'"'"'s computer system matches an Internet web page, domain name, or URL address preprogrammed and stored within the computer input device, and wherein the computer input device contains all necessary software drivers and computer software to allow the computer input device to operate as a plug-and-play computer input device when communicatively connected with a computer system without the need to separately install specific configuration software onto the user'"'"'s computer system prior to operatively connecting the computer input device to the user'"'"'s computer system.
-
- 2. A computer input device comprising a computer mouse having a promotional housing in a physical shape selected by a vendor to promote at least one of either a product or a service offered by the vendor wherein the physical shape generally suggests at least one of either the product or the service offered by the vendor, and at least one actuatable button capable of initiating signals for communication to a computer system, wherein the at least one actuatable button is capable of initiating communication of at least one signal to the computer system that instructs the computer system to log onto a at least one of either the vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL address, and wherein the computer input device contains all necessary software drivers and computer software to allow the computer input device to operate as a plug-and-play computer input device when communicatively connected with a computer system without the need to separately install specific configuration software onto the user'"'"'s computer system prior to operatively connecting the computer input device to the user'"'"'s computer system.
-
12. A process of providing a computer input device that allows access to a unique Internet web page, domain name, or URL address comprising the steps of:
-
manufacturing a computer mouse such that at least one actuation of at least one control switch of the computer mouse will result in a computer system'"'"'s display of at least one of either a vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL address that displays at least one of either advertising information, marketing information, or general information about a product or a service offered by the vendor; manufacturing the computer mouse to be in a physical shape that promotes, one of either directly or indirectly, the product or the service offered by the vendor, wherein the physical shape generally suggests the product or the service offered by the vendor; wherein the computer input device contains all necessary software drivers and computer software to allow the computer input device to operate as a plug-and-play computer input device when communicatively connected with a computer system without the need to separately install specific configuration software onto the user'"'"'s computer system prior to operatively connecting the computer input device to the user'"'"'s computer system; and distributing the computer mouse to at least one of either a customer of the vendor or a potential customer of the vendor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A computer input device comprising:
-
a computer mouse having a promotional housing in a physical shape selected by a vendor to promote at least one of either a product or a service offered by the vendor wherein the physical shape generally suggests the product or the service; means for allowing a user of the computer mouse to access a specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address by operating a single actuatable switch on the computer mouse, and wherein the computer input device contains all necessary software drivers and computer software to allow the computer input device to operate as a plug-and-play computer input device when communicatively connected with a computer system without the need to separately install specific configuration software onto the user'"'"'s computer system prior to operatively connecting the computer input device to the user'"'"'s computer system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification