Automatically updating user programmable input sensors to perform user specified functions

• US 20040242269A1
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

In a portable multimedia device, a method, apparatus, and system for automatically updating programmable buttons on a remote client device using a set of user preferences is described. A remote client device is coupled (either wired or wirelessly) to the host computer and the preference file is passed to the remote client device which uses the preference file to automatically update any programmable buttons included therein to execute the desired suite of functions. In some cases, a combination of buttons can be used to perform a particular function whereas in other cases, a single button can be associated with a particular function.

Claims

1. A method of automatically updating a number of user programmable user input sensors in a client device, comprising:

generating a preference file at a host computer;

passing the preference file from the host computer to the client computer; and

updating the programmable input sensors based upon the preference file.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the programmable input sensors are each a user programmable button wherein each of the programmable buttons are suitable for receiving a user supplied input event.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating comprises:

providing a preference file that includes,

a set of desired functionalities, and

a button map that maps each of the functionalities to at least one of the programmable buttons.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the updating comprises:

mapping the functionalities to the at least one of the programmable buttons or a combination of programmable buttons.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the host computer and the client device are wirelessly coupled and wherein the passing is a wireless transmission.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the host computer and the client device are coupled by way of a connector cable.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the connector cable is a FireWire cable or a USB cable.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the preference file is stored in a computer readable medium and wherein the preference file is passed from the host computer to the client device by way of the computer readable medium.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client device is a thin client device that includes a small display screen.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the client device is a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or paging device or a MP3 player.

11. A thin client device arranged to be coupled to a host computer suitably configured for storing any of a number of appropriately formatted data files, comprising:

a display unit for displaying selected graphical data;

a processor coupled to the display unit for executing selected instructions;

a user interface coupled to the processor arranged to receive user supplied input events;

a user interface programming unit coupled to the user interface arranged to selectively program the user interface based upon a selected number of functions to be performed by the user interface.

12. A thin client as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a storage device suitably arranged to store a preference file

13. A thin client as recited in claim 11, wherein the user interface includes a number of user input buttons each of which can be programmed according to the preference file.

14. A system arranged to automatically update a number of user programmable user interface buttons in a client device coupled to a host computer, comprising:

a preference file generator coupled to the host computer; and

a programmable buttons programming unit configured to update the programmable buttons based upon the preference file the preference file is passed from the host computer to the client computer.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein each of the programmable buttons are suitable for receiving a user supplied input event.

16. A system as recited in claim 14 further comprising:

a preference file that includes,

a set of desired functionalities, and

a button map that maps each of the functionalities to at least one of the programmable buttons.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

wherein the functionalities are mapped to the at least one of the programmable buttons or a combination of programmable buttons.

18. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the host computer and the client device are wirelessly coupled and wherein the passing is a wireless transmission.

19. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the host computer and the client device are coupled by way of a connector cable.

20. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the connector cable is a FireWire cable or a USB cable.

21. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the preference file is stored in a computer readable medium and wherein the preference file is passed from the host computer to the client device by way of the computer readable medium.

22. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the client device is a thin client device that includes a small display screen.

23. A system as recited in claim 22, wherein the client device is a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or paging device or a MP3 player.

24. Computer program product for of automatically updating a number of user programmable user input sensors in a client device, comprising:

computer code for generating a preference file at a host computer;

computer code for passing the preference file from the host computer to the client computer;

computer code for updating the programmable input sensors based upon the preference file; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

25. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the programmable input sensors are each a user programmable button wherein each of the programmable buttons are suitable for receiving a user supplied input event.

26. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the computer code for generating further comprises:

computer code for providing a set of desired functionalities; and

computer code for providing a button map that maps each of the functionalities to at least one of the programmable buttons.

27. Computer program product as recited in claim 26, wherein the computer code for updating further comprises:

computer code for mapping the functionalities to the at least one of the programmable buttons or a combination of programmable buttons.

28. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the host computer and the client device are wirelessly coupled and wherein the passing is a wireless transmission.

29. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the host computer and the client device are coupled by way of a connector cable.

30. Computer program product as recited in claim 29, wherein the connector cable is a FireWire cable or a USB cable.

31. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the preference file is stored in a computer readable medium.

32. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

computer code for passing the preference file from the host computer to the client device by way of the computer readable medium.

33. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the client device is a thin client device that includes a small display screen.

34. Computer program product as recited in claim 33, wherein the client device is a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or paging device or a MP3 player.