Human interface input acceleration system

• US 8,144,122 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aplix IP Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zeemote Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Elaine, Podoloff, Rob, Wheeler, Lorraine, Marcus, Beth
• Primary Examiner(s): OSORIO, RICARDO
• Application Number:
  US13/092,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20110199295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting data to and from a hand-held host device are disclosed. An accessory device for interfacing with a host device includes a communication channel designed to establish a bidirectional data link between the accessory device and the host device. The accessory device also includes a storage unit communicatively coupled to the communication channel. The storage unit is designed to store various data. In addition, at least a first data is selectively transmitted from the stored data of the accessory device to the host device through the established bidirectional data link.

Claims

1. An accessory device for interacting with a hand-held host device, the accessory device comprising:

an input assembly including a plurality of input elements, the input assembly being operable to generate input signals corresponding to user input captured at one or more of the plurality of input elements, the plurality of input elements including an input element disposed on a first surface of the accessory device and an input element disposed on a second surface of the accessory device;

a display operable to display output data to a user; and

a communications channel operable to transmit to the host device data corresponding to the input signals and to receive from the host device data corresponding to the output data;

wherein the hand-held host device is operable to execute a plurality of software applications and an input element of the input assembly is operable to be mapped to control one or more functions of at least one of the plurality of software applications.

2. The accessory device of claim 1 wherein the display is disposed on a third surface of the accessory device.

3. The accessory device of claim 1 wherein a first input element is operable to control a mapping application to change a mapping of a second input element from a first to a second function of a host application.

4. The accessory device of claim 1 wherein the accessory device comprises a form factor adapted to be coupled to a wrist band.

5. The accessory device of claim 4 wherein the form factor is a digital watch form factor.

6. The accessory device of claim 1 wherein the communication channel is adapted to transmit and receive graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) data to and from the hand-held host device.

7. The accessory device of claim 6 wherein the GUI data corresponds to an Internet browsing application.

8. A method for interacting with a hand-held host device using an accessory device, the method comprising:

generating input signals corresponding to user input captured at one or more of a plurality of input elements of an input assembly, the plurality of input elements including an input element disposed on a first surface of the accessory device and an input element disposed on a second surface of the accessory device;

displaying output data to a user; and

transmitting from the accessory device to the host device data corresponding to the input signals and receiving from the host device data corresponding to the output data;

wherein the hand-held host device is operable to execute a plurality of software applications and an input element of the input assembly is operable to be mapped to control one or more functions of at least one of the plurality of software applications.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the display is disposed on a third surface of the accessory device.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising enabling a first input element to control a mapping application to change a mapping of a second input element from a first to a second function of a host application.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the accessory device comprises a form factor adapted to be coupled to a wrist band.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the form factor is a digital watch form factor.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) data is transmitted between the accessory device and the hand-held host device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the GUI data corresponds to an Internet browsing application.

15. An accessory device for interacting with a hand-held host device, the accessory device comprising:

input means for generating input signals, the input means being disposed on first and second surfaces of the accessory device;

display means for displaying output data to a user; and

communication means for transmitting data corresponding to the input signals to the host device and for receiving data corresponding to the output data from the host device;

wherein the hand-held host device is operable to execute a plurality of software applications and the input means includes means operable to be mapped for controlling one or more functions of at least one of the plurality of software applications.

16. The accessory device of claim 15 wherein the display means is disposed on a third surface of the accessory device.

17. The accessory device of claim 15 wherein a first input means is for controlling a mapping application to change a mapping of a second input means from a first to a second function of a host application.

18. The accessory device of claim 15 wherein the accessory device comprises form factor means.

19. The accessory device of claim 18 wherein the form factor means includes means for disposing the accessory device on a wristband.