User notification system with an illuminated computer input device

• US 8,013,840 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven, Ledbetter, Carl J., Kaneko, Steven T., McDonough, Timothy A., Fisher, Steven W., Plank, Robert Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US09/699,517
• Time in Patent Office: 3,962 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/165, 345/170, 345/172, 345/156, 345/158, 345/166, 715/701, 715/702, 382/313, 463/37
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A user notification system and a computer input device, such as a mouse. The computer input device includes an illumination member that enables a user to quickly and accurately position the input device during poor lighting conditions and determine whether the computer is ON. The input device includes a housing and an illumination device that is supported by the housing. Illumination from the illumination device is visible when the input device is placed on a supporting surface. The illumination member is also used to notify the user if one or more of various events have occurred in a computer application being run on the computer. The notification information is presented to the user by changing the state of the illumination member. An example of event for notification includes the receipt of a message in a communications program such as an e-mail message. The notification can make the illumination member blink as a function of the number of messages received. This enables information to be conveyed to the user without the need for text or audio, and without the need to view the computer monitor.

Claims

1. A computer-readable device having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred;

(b) communicating with a computer input device having an illumination member to cause the illumination member to change states in response to the determining step; and

(c) establishing a set of senders, wherein said determining step includes determining whether a sender of an incoming message is in the set, wherein said communicating step includes causing the illumination member to change intensity.

2. A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred;

(b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step; and

(c) establishing a set of senders, wherein said determining step includes determining whether a sender of an incoming message is in the set.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the computer input device is a track-mouse device.

4. A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred; and

(b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step,

wherein said determining step includes determining whether an instant message has been received and determining whether an email message has been received,

wherein said changing step includes changing the state associated with the illumination member to a first state in response to determining an instant message has been received and changing the state associated with the illumination member to a second state in response to determining an email message has been received.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first state and the second state are different states.

6. A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred; and

(b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step, wherein said determining step includes determining whether a request to respond to one of a video conference call and an audio conference call has been received.

7. A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred; and

(b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step, wherein said determining step includes determining whether a user is capable of receiving a solicitation.

8. A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred; and

(b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step, wherein said determining step includes comparing a scheduled event time relative to an actual time set in the computer.

9. A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred; and

(b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step, wherein said determining step includes determining whether a correct answer has been input.

10. A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred; and

(b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step,

wherein said determining step includes determining one of a state, a characteristic, and a condition relating to a character in a game program,

wherein said changing step includes changing the state associated with the illumination member to a first state in response to determining a change in the state of the character in the game program, changing the state associated with the illumination member to a second state in response to determining a change in the characteristic of the character in the game program, and changing the state associated with the illumination member to a third state in response to determining a change in the condition of the character in the game program.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said determining step includes determining whether the character is within a given proximity of an object.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said changing step includes causing the illumination member to change states in a manner corresponding to a number of lives remaining for the character.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said changing step includes causing the illumination member to change states in a manner corresponding to an amount of a supply for the character.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said changing step includes causing the illumination member to change states in a manner corresponding to the character entering an area in the game program.

15. A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred;

(b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step; and

(c) establishing a set of senders, wherein said determining step includes determining whether a sender of an incoming message is in the set, wherein said changing step includes causing the illumination member to change intensity.

16. A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred; and

(b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step, wherein said determining step includes determining whether a request to respond to a solicitation to join a chat room has been received.

17. A computer-readable device having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

(a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred;

(b) communicating with a computer input device having an illumination member to cause the illumination member to change to a first state in response to determining that the predetermined event corresponds to receipt of a new email message;

(c) communicating with the computer input device having the illumination member to cause the illumination member to change to a second state in response to determining that the predetermined event corresponds to receipt of a new instant message; and

(d) communicating with the computer input device having the illumination member to cause the illumination member to change to a third state in response to determining that the predetermined event corresponds to input of a correct answer.