USB web launcher using keyboard scancodes

• US 7,865,640 B1
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward D. Lewis
• Original Assignee: Buztronics
• Inventors: Schmitt, Edward, Lewis, Edward D., Webber, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai; Henry W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bartels; Christopher A
• Application Number:
  US11/968,646
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 710/67
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes

Abstract

A USB web launcher for launching a browser on a host computer and directing the browser to a website specified by the web launcher. The USB web launcher comprises a housing, and a controller within the housing which is configured to operate as a USB HID keyboard device. The controller has a URL stored therein in the form of a keyboard scancode string and is programmed to send the keyboard scancode string to the host computer in response to actuation of a switch on the housing. The web launcher includes USB connector means for coupling the controller to a USB port of the host computer, and, in response to the transmitted URL, the host computer launches the browser and accesses the corresponding website. One embodiment of the invention is a USB web launcher having first and second USB connector parts and a lanyard mode of operation in which the controller within the web launcher is programmed to recognize when the first and second USB connector parts are interconnected and to energize an LED in response.

Claims

1. A universal serial bus (USB) web launcher for launching a browser on a host computer and directing the browser to a website specified by the web launcher, comprising:

a housing;

a controller within said housing having a uniform resource locator (URL) stored therein;

an internal battery in said housing;

USB connector means for coupling said controller to a USB port of the host computer, said USB connector means including a first USB connector and a cable, said cable interconnecting said first USB connector and said controller;

a second USB connector complementary to said first USB connector, and independently connected to said internal battery;

a light-emitting diode (LED); and

a manual switch mounted on said housing and electrically connected to an input of said controller;

said web launcher being configured to electrically connect said internal battery to said controller when said first and second USB connectors are connected to each other, and to otherwise disconnect said internal battery from said controller;

said controller being configured to send the stored URL to the host computer in response to actuation of said manual switch, whereby the host computer launches the browser and accesses the corresponding website,

wherein said controller is programmed to detect when said complementary first and second USB connectors are connected to each other and to energize said LED in response.

2. The USB web launcher of claim 1, wherein said controller has a URL stored therein in the form of a keyboard scancode string and is programmed to send the scancode string to the host computer in response to actuation of said manual switch.

3. The USB web launcher of claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to operate as a USB human interface device (HID) class device.

4. The USB web launcher of claim 3, wherein said controller has a plurality of distinct URLs stored therein, each in the form of a keyboard scancode string.

5. The USB web launcher of claim 4, wherein said switch is a multi-function switch having first and second switch functions respectively associated with first and second ones of said URLs.

6. The USB web launcher of claim 5, wherein said housing has a generally circular base and a generally circular dome portion mounted on said base.

7. The USB web launcher of claim 1, wherein said internal battery is a non-rechargeable battery electrically connected to said second USB connector, and electrically connected to said controller only through the interconnection of said first and second USB connectors.

8. The USB web launcher of claim 1, wherein, when said first and second USB connectors are connected to each other, said internal battery is connected to said controller through said first and second USB connectors and said cable.

9. A universal serial bus (USB) web launcher for launching a browser on a host computer and directing the browser to a website specified by the web launcher, comprising:

a housing;

a controller within said housing having a uniform resource locator (URL) stored therein;

an internal battery in said housing;

USB connector means for coupling said controller to a USB port of the host computer, said USB connector means including a first USB connector and a cable, said cable interconnecting said first USB connector and said controller;

a second USB connector complementary to said first USB connector, and independently connected to said internal battery;

a light-emitting diode (LED); and

a manual switch mounted on said housing and electrically connected to an input of said controller;

said web launcher being configured to supply power from the internal battery to the LED when the first and second USB connectors are connected to each other, and to otherwise electrically disconnect the internal battery from the LED;

said controller being configured to send the stored URL to the host computer in response to actuation of said manual switch, whereby the host computer launches the browser and accesses the corresponding website.

10. The USB web launcher of claim 9, wherein said controller has a URL stored therein in the form of a keyboard scancode string and is programmed to send the scancode string to the host computer in response to actuation of said manual switch.

11. The USB web launcher of claim 10, wherein said controller is configured to operate as a USB human interface device (HID) class device.

12. The USB web launcher of claim 11, wherein said controller has a plurality of distinct URLs stored therein, each in the form of a keyboard scancode string.

13. The USB web launcher of claim 12, wherein said switch is a multi-function switch having first and second switch functions respectively associated with first and second ones of said URLs.

14. The USB web launcher of claim 13, wherein said housing has a generally circular base and a generally circular dome portion mounted on said base.