Apparatus and process for a computer input device

• US 20060031403A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gery G. Kotthoff, Jonathan D. Kotthoff
• Original Assignee: Gery G. Kotthoff, Jonathan D. Kotthoff
• Inventors: Kotthoff, Jonathan D., Kotthoff, Gery G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A computer input device is described as being in the general form of a computer mouse with standard computer mouse functions in addition to having the capability of allowing the user of the computer input device to access a vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL address by actuating a switch on the computer mouse. The a vendor'"'"'s Internet web page, domain name, or URL address may be preprogrammed into a computer ship in the computer mouse. In other embodiments of the computer input device, the form and shape of the computer input device relate in some way the vendor'"'"'s products of services. The Internet web page, domain name, or URL address may be controlled and maintained by the vendor or by an intermediate advertising service such that different information about the vendor'"'"'s products or services may be provide to the user of the computer input device.

Claims

1. A computer input device comprising a computer mouse wherein at least one actuation of at least one control switch of the computer input device will result in a computer system'"'"'s display of an Internet web page, domain name, or URL address.

2. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein the Internet web page, domain name, or URL displayed by the computer system matches an Internet web page, domain name, or URL address stored within the computer input device.

3. The computer input device of claim 2 wherein the Internet web page, domain name, or URL address is preprogrammed into the computer input device.

4. A computer input device comprising a computer mouse having a promotional housing and at least one actuatable button capable of initiating signals for communication to a computer system, wherein the at least one actuatable button is capable of initiating communication of at least one signal to the computer system that instructs the computer system to log onto a specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address.

5. The computer input device of claim 4 wherein the specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address is preprogrammed into a computer ship installed within the computer input device.

6. The computer input device of claim 5 wherein the specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address contains at least one of either, advertising information, marketing information, or general product or service information about the product or service offered by the vendor.

7. The computer input device of claim 6 wherein the promotional housing of the computer mouse is in a form selected by a vendor to promote at least one of either a product or a service offered by the vendor.

8. The computer input device of claim 7 wherein the at least one actuatable control button is a scroll wheel.

9. The computer input device of claim 8 wherein the scroll wheel is the at least one actuatable button capable of initiating communication of at least one signal to the computer system that instructs the computer system to log onto a specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address.

10. The computer input device of claim 9 wherein the at least one signal to the computer system that instructs the computer system to log onto a specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address is initiated when the scroll wheel is depressed for at least a preset amount of time.

11. The computer input device of claim 10 wherein the computer input device uses wireless communication methods to communicate with the computer system.

12. The computer input device of claim 10 wherein the computer input devices uses optical devices to determine the location signals communicated to the computer system to control the two-dimensional placement of a cursor on a display monitor of the computer system.

13. The computer input device of claim 10 further comprising a communication cable to communicate signals between the comport input device to the computer system.

14. The computer input device of claim 13 wherein the communication cable includes a USB connector to communicatively attach the computer input device to the computer system.

15. The computer input device of claim 14 wherein the computer chip is deposed upon an electronic mounting platform.

16. The computer input device of claim 15 wherein electronic mounting platform is attached to a base with two fasteners and the promotional housing is attached to the base with at least one fastener.

17. A process of providing a computer input device that allows access to a unique Internet web page, domain name, or URL address comprising the steps of:

manufacturing a computer mouse such that at least one actuation of at least one control switch of the computer mouse will result in a computer system'"'"'s display of an Internet web page, domain name, or URL address that displays at least one of either advertising information, marketing information, or general information about a product or service offered by a vendor; and

distributing the computer mouse to at least one of either a customer of the vendor or a potential customer of the vendor.

18. The process of claim 17 further comprising the step of storing the Internet web page, domain name, or URL address in a computer chip of the computer mouse.

19. The process of claim 18 further comprising the step of manufacturing the computer mouse to be in a promotional shape that promotes, either directly or indirectly, the product or service offered by the vendor.

20. The process of claim 19 further comprising the step of manufacturing the computer mouse to contain all necessary software drivers and programs to allow the computer mouse to operate as a plug and play computer input device when communicatively connected with a computer system.

21. The process of claim 20 further comprising the step of storing the Internet web page, domain name, or URL address of vendor wherein the vendor controls and maintains the contents of the Internet web page, domain name, or URL address.

22. The process of claim 20 wherein the Internet web page, domain name, or URL address is reserved to the vendor by an intermediate advertising service vendor that controls and maintains the unique Internet web page, domain name, and/or URL address.

23. The process of claim 22 wherein the intermediate advertising service vendor controls and programs the contents of the Internet web page, domain name, or URL address reserved to the vendor such that the Internet web page, domain name, or URL address is capable of redirecting the computer system to a different Internet web page, domain name, or URL address that provides different advertising information, marketing information, or general information about the vendor'"'"'s products or services.

24. A computer input device comprising:

a computer mouse;

means for allowing a user of the computer mouse to access a specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address by operating a single actuatable switch on the computer mouse.

25. The computer input device of claim 24 wherein the specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address is preprogrammed into the computer mouse.

26. The computer input device of claim 25 wherein the specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address is controlled by a vendor that has distributed the computer mouse to at least one of either a client of the vendor or a potential client of the vendor.

27. The computer input device of claim 26 wherein specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address is controlled by an intermediate advertising service.

28. The computer input device of claim 27 wherein the intermediate advertising service is capable of adjusting the specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address accessed by the user of the computer mouse such that the user can be redirected to another specific Internet web page, domain name, or URL address.