Configuring an adaptive input device with selected graphical images

• US 8,321,810 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Heintze, R. Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdul-Ali, Omar
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANK, ANDREW L
• Application Number:
  US12/433,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 715/769, 715/799, 715/810, 715/826, 715/835, 715/838, 715/840, 715846-847, 715/866, 715/745, 345/172, 345/174, 345/170
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/02 Graphics controller able to handle multiple formats, e.g. input or output formats
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092

Abstract

One exemplary system for configuring an adaptive input device includes a display and an adaptive input device having a plurality of depressible buttons. The system also includes a computing device operatively coupled to the display and the adaptive input device. The computing device includes a menu module to display a plurality of graphical images on the display, each graphical image associated with a computing function. The computing device also includes a detection module to detect a selected graphical image, from the plurality of graphical images, for display on a depressible button of the adaptive input device. The computing device also includes a presentation module to visually present the selected graphical image on the depressible button.

Claims

1. A system for configuring an adaptive input device, the system comprising:

a computing device operatively coupled to the adaptive input device and a display device separate from the adaptive input device, the adaptive input device including a plurality of depressible buttons, each button having a depressible key face configured to receive an image dynamically generated within the adaptive input device and to display that image to a user of the adaptive input device, the computing device including;

a menu module configured to display a plurality of graphical images on the display device, each graphical image associated with a computing function;

a detection module configured to detect which of the plurality of graphical images displayed is selected by the user for display on a depressible button of the adaptive input device; and

a presentation module configured to visually present the selected graphical image on the depressible button by causing that image to be generated within the adaptive input device and projected onto the depressible key face of that button, and to visually present a dragging of the selected graphical image across the display device, off of the display device, onto the adaptive input device, and across the adaptive input device to the depressible button of the adaptive input device.

2. The system of claim 1, where the dragging includes dragging the selected graphical image across the display device to a virtual button of a virtual adaptive input device displayed on the display device, the virtual button corresponding to the depressible button of the adaptive input device.

3. The system of claim 1, where the dragging includes the selected graphical image dynamically covering and uncovering other graphical images on other depressible buttons of the adaptive input device as the selected graphical image drags across the other depressible buttons.

4. The system of claim 1, where the computing device further includes a function module for executing a computing function in response to mechanical actuation of the depressible button displaying the selected graphical image, the computing function being associated with the selected graphical image.

5. The system of claim 1, where the plurality of depressible buttons includes a first depressible button and a second depressible button, and where, in a reconfiguration mode, the detection module is configured to detect which graphical image is displayed on the first depressible button, and the presentation module is configured to visually present that image on the second depressible button.

6. The system of claim 1, where the adaptive input device further includes a touch region, and where the detection module is configured to detect a second selected graphical image from the plurality of graphical images for display on the touch region, and the presentation module is configured to visually present the second selected graphical image on the touch region.

7. The system of claim 1, where the detection module detects the selected graphical image responsive to a cursor click command being executed while a cursor is located within a target hit region of the selected graphical image, and where the presentation module moves the selected graphical image with the cursor as the cursor drags across the display device and the adaptive input device.

8. The system of claim 1, where the detection module detects the selected graphical image responsive to a touch tap command being directed at a target hit region of the selected graphical image, and where the presentation module moves the selected graphical image with a touch gesture as the touch gesture drags across the display device and the adaptive input device.

9. A method for configuring an adaptive input device operatively coupled to a computing device, the method comprising:

causing a plurality of graphical images to be displayed on a display separate from the adaptive input device, each graphical image associated with a computing function;

detecting which of the plurality of graphical images displayed is selected by a user of the adaptive input device for display on a depressible button of the adaptive input device, the adaptive input device including a plurality of depressible buttons, each button having a depressible key face configured to receive an image dynamically generated within the adaptive input device and to display that image to a user of the adaptive input device;

visually presenting a dragging of the selected graphical image where the dragging includes the selected graphical image dynamically covering and uncovering other graphical images on other depressible buttons of the adaptive input device as the selected graphical image drags across the other depressible buttons; and

causing the selected graphical image to be presented on the depressible button by causing that image to be generated within the adaptive input device and projected onto the depressible key face of that button.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

visually presenting a dragging of the selected graphical image across the display, off of the display, onto the adaptive input device, and across the adaptive input device to the depressible button; and

releasing the dragging of the selected graphical image at the depressible button to display the selected graphical image on the depressible button.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

executing a computing function responsive to actuation of the depressible button displaying the selected graphical image, the computing function being associated with the selected graphical image.

12. The method of claim 9, where the adaptive input device includes a first depressible button and a second depressible button, and where, in a reconfiguration mode, detecting which image is selected includes detecting the image displayed on the first depressible button, and where causing the selected image to be presented includes causing the image from the first depressible button to be presented on the second depressible button.

13. The method of claim 9, where the adaptive input device further includes a touch region, where detecting includes detecting user input of a second selected graphical image from the plurality of graphical images for display on the touch region and where the second selected graphical image is presented at the touch region.

14. The method of claim 9, where detecting user input includes detecting the selected graphical image responsive to a cursor click command being executed while a cursor is located within a target hit region of the selected graphical image.

15. The method of claim 9, where detecting user input includes detecting the selected graphical image responsive to a touch tap command within a target hit region of the selected graphical image.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

visually presenting dragging the selected graphical image across the display to a virtual button of a virtual adaptive input device displayed on the display, the virtual button corresponding to the depressible button of the adaptive input device;

releasing the dragging of the selected graphical image at the virtual button to display the selected graphical image on the virtual button.

17. A method for configuring an adaptive input device coupled to a computing device, the method comprising:

causing a graphical menu to be displayed on a display separate from the adaptive input device, the menu including a plurality of graphical images, each graphical image associated with a computing function;

detecting, at the computing device, which of the plurality of graphical images displayed is selected by a user of the adaptive input device for display on a depressible button of the adaptive input device;

visually presenting a dragging of the selected graphical image across the display, off of the display, onto the adaptive input device, and across the adaptive input device to a depressible button of the adaptive input device, the dragging including dynamically covering and uncovering graphical images on the display and on the adaptive input device;

releasing the dragging of the selected graphical image at the depressible button of the adaptive input device;

causing the selected graphical image to be presented on the depressible button by causing that image to be generated within the adaptive input device and projected onto a depressible key face of that button; and

executing the computing function associated with the selected graphical image responsive to actuation of the depressible button.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting a second graphical image selected by the user, and causing the second graphical image to be visually presented on a touch region of the adaptive input device.