Automatically configuring computer devices wherein customization parameters of the computer devices are adjusted based on detected removable key-pad input devices

• US 8,090,885 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Callaghan, David, Robbins, Daryn E., MacDonald, Sandra E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US12/013,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 710 8- 10, 710/62, 710/63, 710/67, 710/72, 710/260, 710/261, 710/65, 341/33, 345/168, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 704/3, 704/8, 704/2
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

Localization and/or customization of computing devices are accomplished automatically through an add-on input device. Operating system or a separate application in the computing device is arranged to communicate with or recognize the input device such as a keypad and configure parameter of the computing device such as language, user interface arrangement, communication setup, and the like accordingly without user interaction.

Claims

1. A method to be executed at least in part in a computing device having a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored within, for customizing computing device functionality based on a connected input device, the method comprising:

in the computing device, detecting the connected input device;

customizing the computing device automatically, upon detecting a plurality of connected input devices, at least two of the input devices being keyboards, the customizing of the computing device comprising determining customization parameters based on the connected input devices, one customization parameter specifying a first user interface language for a first keyboard of the at least two input devices, a second customization parameter specifying a second user interface language for a second keyboard of the at least two input device, the first user interface language being different from the second user interface language, the first keyboard customized for the first user interface language and the second keyboard customized for the second user interface language being both connected to the computing device, the first user interface language including the capability of supporting a customization for a Braille mapping of a first user input to the first keyboard, a customization for a Mandarin dialect and a customization for an assignment of one or more statistical analysis functions to one more keys of the first keyboard, the second user interface language including the capability of supporting a customization for a Braille mapping of a second user input to the second keyboard, a customization for a Mandarin dialect and a customization for an assignment of one or more statistical analysis functions to one more keys of the second keyboard, a third customization parameter specifying a communication customization, the communication customization providing a communication capability for the computing device over a service provider network, and a fourth customization parameter specifying a currency;

automatically customizing a configuration of the computing device functionality based on the determined customization parameters, the computing device being customized for the user interface language, the communication capability and the currency automatically upon the detection of the connected input device;

providing the computing device functionality based on the custom configuration; and

automatically adjusting one or more of the customization parameters of the computing device based on location information, one of the customization parameters being adjusted by the location information being the user interface language.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device functionality includes at least one from a set of:

date and time format, assignment of special functions to select keys, implementation of communication parameters, and accommodation of disability assistance features.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input devices include at least one of:

a keypad, an enhanced keypad with touch-sensitive pad, and an enhanced keypad with a wheel-mouse.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the computing device to an end user with a default configuration; and

customizing a current configuration anytime a new input device is connected to the computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the computing device with the default configuration includes a default input device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the connected input devices includes determining an identity of the connected input devices by one of active communication and passive communication with the connected input devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the active communication includes at least one from a set of:

short range wireless communication, wired communication, optical communication, and communication with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag on a connected keyboard.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the passive communication includes at least one from a set of:

scanning a symbol on a connected input device, keying on the connected input device, one or more index pins on the connected input device, and a key stroke combination from the connected input device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a connected input device includes determining an identity of one from a set of:

a skin, a cover, a cover plate, a slip-on cover, a clip-on cover, a template, and an indexing template attached to a default input device integrated to the computing device through passive communication.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the customization parameters are retrieved from one of:

a storage within the computing device, a server connected to the computing device through a network, and a connected input device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device includes one of:

a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld computer, a smart phone, a smart auto console, and a digital recording device with a removable keypad.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the computing device including a plurality of communication customizations, one of the communication customizations being associated with the connected input device, the communication capability associated with the connected input device being activated upon the computing device detecting the connected input device.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically adjusting one or more of the customization parameters of the computing device based on global positioning information, one of the customization parameters being adjusted by the global positioning information being the user interface language.

12. A mobile computing device with a removable keypad and a default configuration, comprising:

a memory;

a data store;

a processor coupled to the memory and the data store, wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions for;

detecting an identity of a newly connected removable keypad, the removable keypad including keying or index pins which transmit the identity of the keyboard to the processor;

automatically retrieving customization parameters based on the detected identity, one of the retrieved customization parameters specifying a user interface language, one of the retrieved customization parameters specifying a currency and another of the other retrieved customization parameters specifying a communication customization, the customization parameter specifying the user interface language including the capability of supporting a customization for a Braille mapping of a user input to the removable keypad, a customization for a Mandarin dialect and a customization for an assignment of one or more statistical analysis functions to one more keys of the removable keypad, the communication customization providing a communication capability for the mobile computing device over a service provider network;

automatically customizing the configuration of the computing device based on the retrieved customization parameters;

providing computing device functionality based on the custom configuration;

repeating the customization anytime one of;

a new removable keypad and new removable keypad accessory is detected; and

automatically adjusting two or more of the customization parameters of the computing device based on location information, one of the customization parameters being adjusted by the location information being the user interface language and another of the customization parameters being adjusted by the location information being the currency.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the configuration is customized by one of:

an operating system of the computing device and an application controlled by the operating system of the computing device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the remaining customization parameters are linked with the user interface language.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile computing device is capable of communication through a plurality of communication modes, and wherein the customization of the configuration includes activation of at least one of the plurality of communication modes.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the customization of the configuration further includes one of activation and deactivation of a plurality of mobile computing device functionalities.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile computing device is capable of utilizing a plurality of custom configurations based on the detected identity.

18. A key-based input device for connection to a computing device, comprising:

a memory;

a keyboard module having keys for textual input; and

a connection module for providing the textual input to the computing device;

wherein the connection module is configured to provide an identity of the key-based input device to the computing device such that the computing device is able to;

detect the identity of the key-based input device, the identity of the key-based input device being detected via keying or index pins on the key-based input device;

automatically determine customization parameters based on the detected identity, one of the customization parameters specifying a user interface language another customization parameter specifying a communication customization, the communication customization providing a communication capability for the computing device over a service provider network, and another customization parameter specifying a currency, the customization parameter specifying the user interface language including the capability of supporting a customization for a Braille mapping of a user input to the key-based input device, a customization for a Mandarin dialect and a customization for an assignment of one or more statistical analysis functions to one more keys of the key-based input device;

automatically customize a configuration of the computing device based on the determined customization parameters, the computing device being customized for the user interface language, the communication capability and the currency automatically upon the detection of the identity of the key-based input device;

provide the computing device functionality based on the custom configuration

a communication module capable of providing the key-based input device identity to the computing device through at least one from a set of;

short range wireless communication, wired communication, optical communication, and communication with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag on the connected keyboard; and

automatically adjust two or more of the customization parameters of the computing device based on location information, one of the customization parameters being adjusted by the location information being the user interface language and another of the customization parameters being adjusted by the location information being the currency; and

the key-based input device includes a removable key description accessory that includes one from a set of;

a skin, a cover, a cover plate, a slip-on cover, a clip-on cover, a template, and an indexing template, the removable key description accessory being capable of providing the key-based input device identity to the computing device through passive communication.