Web configurable human input devices

• US 8,650,345 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ranta, Craig, Panay, Panos
• Primary Examiner(s): SNYDER, STEVEN G
• Application Number:
  US11/589,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,661 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/73
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A web configurable human input device is provided. The device includes at least one mechanical control element having a dynamically alterable appearance. In some embodiments, the appearance of the at least one mechanical control element is dynamically altered in response to the execution of an input device web script. An example of such a web configurable human input device is an active keyboard in which the at least one mechanical control element having a dynamically alterable appearance is one of an array of keys of the active keyboard. When the active keyboard is connected to a web-enabled device, at least one key of the array of keys is configured to alter its appearance in response to the execution of the input device web script.

Claims

1. A web configurable human input device comprising:

a plurality of user input elements;

a plurality of dynamically alterable displays that are associated with the user input elements;

a micro controller that receives images, a script, and a user profile from a web server, wherein the user profile includes custom key assignments for both local applications and web-based applications, the micro controller assigning the images to the displays based at least in part on the user profile and the script, and the micro controller utilizing the script to execute a specified action in response to an actuation of one of the user input elements; and

a web browser extension that is received by the human input device through a web page, the web browser extension being configured to determine a status of the human input device and to report the status to the web page, wherein the status of the human input device includes an indication of whether or not a time has expired.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the dynamically alterable displays is a component of a scroll wheel.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the micro controller utilizes the script to continuously poll the user input elements to detect the actuation of the one of the user input elements, wherein the user profile is stored remotely and is configured to be accessed by multiple computing devices, and wherein the specified action includes displaying an animation.

4. The device of claim 1, and further comprising:

a timing generator that alters the displays based on an expiration of a time;

wherein the script includes custom HTML code extensions; and

wherein the specified action includes illuminating an active control.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamically alterable displays are components of a game controller, wherein the script illuminates a portion of the dynamically alterable displays based on which ones of the plurality of user input elements are active within a video game, and wherein the script is implemented utilizing an adaptive hardware component object model.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein the component of the scroll wheel is configured to illuminate the scroll wheel.

6. A method comprising:

receiving at a web-enabled client device a web script and a user profile from a web server, wherein the user profile is specific to a user of a user input device and includes information indicative of key assignments on the user input device for customizing the user input device for the user'"'"'s context;

receiving from the web server a query requesting information pertaining to presence of the user input device and a type of the user input device;

receiving at the web-enabled client device an input from the user input device;

utilizing the web-enabled client device to generate an image request based at least in part on the web script, the user profile, and the input;

transmitting the image request from the web-enabled client device to the web server;

receiving images at the web-enabled client device from the web server;

utilizing the user profile and a controller of the web-enabled client device to determine key assignments on the user input device for the images; and

transmitting the images from the web-enabled client device to the user input device based at least in part on the determined key assignments.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving the input from the user input device comprises polling the user input device to detect the input, wherein the web server is associated with a mapping site, and wherein the key assignments include associating keys with a zoom in function, a zoom out function, a printing function, and an email function.

8. The method of claim 6, and further comprising:

querying the user input device to determine its type;

reporting the user input device type to the web server;

wherein the web server is associated with an online auction site; and

wherein the key assignments include associating keys with an auction, a status of a bid, and a bidding function.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the web server is associated with an online game, wherein the key assignments include highlighting active keys, and wherein the input from the user input device is associated with changing a weapon within the online game.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the user input device is customized for the user'"'"'s context independent of the client device and of a location of the user.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the web script received at the web-enabled client device is based at least in part on a response to the query.