Computer system and method of controlling the same via a remote controller used as a mouse

• US 7,439,958 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Sung-min
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Nitin
• Application Number:
  US10/318,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345163-169, 341/176, 341/173, 341/20, 341/26, 348/734, 348/564, 348/601, 348/552
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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

Abstract

A method of controlling a computer system including a remote controller having a plurality of selection buttons and producing different remote signals according to selection of a user, and a system controller controlling the system in response to the remote signal produced by the remote controller. The method includes setting up a mouse function according to the remote signals corresponding to the selection buttons of the remote controller; receiving the remote signals from the remote controller; determining whether the mode of the remote controller is selected for a mouse mode; and changing the received remote signal into a mouse message for performing the preset mouse function and providing the mouse message to the system controller, when it is determined that the remote controller is employed in the mouse mode.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a computer system, the computer system comprising a remote controller having a plurality of selection buttons and producing different remote signals according to a selection of a user, and a system controller controlling the system in response to the remote signal produced by the remote controller, the method comprising:

setting up, by the system controller, a mouse function according to the remote signals corresponding to the selection buttons of the remote controller;

receiving, by the system controller, the remote signals from the remote controller;

determining, by the system controller, whether the mode of the remote controller is selected for a mouse mode; and

changing, by the system controller, the received remote signal into a mouse message for performing the preset mouse function and providing the mouse message to the system controller, upon determining that the remote controller is employed in the mouse mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting the remote signal to the system controller directly upon determining that the remote controller is not employed in the mouse mode.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting up includes:

setting up a mouse mode selection function for selecting the mouse mode; and

changing the mode of the remote controller into the mouse mode according to the selection of the mouse mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, changing the received remote signal is achieved by an application program based on an operating system of the computer system.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein, changing the received remote signal is achieved by an application program based on an operating system of the computer system.

6. A computer system, comprising:

a remote controller having a plurality of selection buttons and producing different remote signals according to a selection of a user, and

a system controller provided in a computer main body and controlling the system in response to the remote signal produced by the remote controller, said system controller comprising;

a mouse message storage part provided in the computer main body and storing mouse control data corresponding to the selection buttons of the remote controller;

a mouse mode selection part changing the mode of the remote controller into a mouse mode; and

a remote signal control part changing the remote signal received from the remote controller into a mouse message and providing the mouse message to the system controller when the mode of the remote controller is changed into the mouse mode through the mouse mode selection part.

7. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the remote signal control part directly transmits the remote signal received from the remote controller to the system controller when the remote controller is employed in a remote controller mode.

8. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the remote signal control part is an application program based on an operating system.

9. A method of controlling a computer system, the computer system comprising a remote controller having a plurality of selection buttons and producing different remote signals according to a selection of a user, and an operating system controlling the system in response to the remote signal produced by the remote controller, said method comprising:

setting up, by the operating system, a mouse function according to the remote signals corresponding to the selection buttons of the remote controller;

transmitting the remote signal, which is produced as the user selects the selection button to the operating system;

hooking the remote signal to the operating system; and

changing, by the operating system, the remote signal into a mouse message for the preset mouse function and providing the mouse message to the operating system when the remote controller is employed in the mouse mode.

10. A method of selectively using a wireless remote control as a wireless mouse, comprising:

receiving a first remote signal from a wireless remote control indicating a change from a remote controller mode to a mouse mode;

transmitting a first mouse message to an operating system, wherein the first mouse message indicates that the mouse mode has been selected;

receiving a second remote signal from the wireless remote control indicating a desired wireless mouse operation; and

transmitting a second mouse message to the operating system, wherein the second mouse message directs the operating system to execute the desired wireless mouse operation.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing mouse control data, wherein the mouse control data indicates a relationship between the remote signals and the function of each of a plurality of selection buttons on the wireless remote control when in mouse mode.

12. A system for selectively using a wireless remote control as a wireless mouse, comprising:

a wireless remote control to transmit remote signals, wherein use of a mouse mode selection button on the remote control causes a first remote signal to indicate a change from a remote controller mode to a mouse mode or from the mouse mode to the remote controller mode, and wherein each of a plurality of selection buttons on the remote control may be configured to transmit a second remote signal that is interpreted as indicating a desired wireless mouse operation when in the mouse mode or as indicating a desired remote control operation when in the remote controller mode;

a remote signal control program to store mouse control data that indicates a relationship between the second remote signal and the function of each of the plurality of selection buttons on the remote control when in the mouse mode;

a remote signal controller driver to convert the second remote signal, when in the mouse mode, into a mouse message based on the mouse control data; and

an operating system to execute the desired wireless mouse operation based on the mouse message or the desired remote control operation based on the second remote signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second remote signal does not change with a change in mode.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein one of the plurality of selection buttons on the remote control may be selected as the mouse mode selection button.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the mouse message is identical to a signal that would be generated by a mouse being used to execute the desired wireless mouse operation.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the change of mode is determined by the remote signal control program.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote signal control program is an application program based on the operating system.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote signal controller driver is controlled by the remote signal control program.

19. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions for selectively using a wireless remote control as a wireless mouse, which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first remote signal from a wireless remote control indicating a change from a remote controller mode to a mouse mode;

transmitting a first mouse message to an operating system, wherein the first mouse message indicates that the mouse mode has been selected;

receiving a second remote signal from the wireless remote control indicating a desired wireless mouse operation; and

transmitting a second mouse message to the operating system, wherein the second mouse message directs the operating system to execute the desired wireless mouse operation.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions cause the machine to perform operations further comprising:

storing mouse control data, wherein the mouse control data indicates a relationship between the second remote signal and the function of each of a plurality of selection buttons on the wireless remote control when in mouse mode.

21. A method, comprising:

receiving remote control signals from a remote controller;

converting the remote control signals into mouse signals when in a mouse mode; and

controlling computer operations responsive to the mouse signals.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising converting to the mouse mode responsive to a mode signal received from the remote controller.

23. A system, comprising:

a remote controller producing remote control signals; and

a computer system receiving the remote control signals from the remote controller, converting the remote control signals into mouse signals when in a mouse mode, and controlling computer operations responsive to the mouse signals.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said remote controller comprises a mode button and produces a mode signal and said computer system switches to a mouse mode responsive to the mode signal.

25. A remote controller for a computer, said remote control comprising:

remote control buttons producing remote control signals; and

a mode button producing a mode signal, wherein the computer converts the remote control signals into mouse signals responsive to the mode signal.