Input device with forward/backward control

• US 20060038786A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Plank, Robert Scott, Kaneko, Steven T., Adan, Manolito E., Holmdahl, Todd E., Lipscomb, Terry M., Hooning, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US11/257,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20060038786A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• 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

Abstract

A mouse and a mouse driver are provided that are synchronized to each other through a process that includes the mouse driver receiving a mouse identifier from the mouse. Based on the mouse identifier, the driver determines if the mouse has a fourth button, a fifth button or a wheel that are not active. If so, the driver sends a command to activate the inactive button or wheel.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system having a mouse and a mouse driver, the method comprising steps of:

the mouse driver receiving a mouse identification from the mouse;

the mouse driver determining if the mouse has at least four buttons based on the mouse identification;

the mouse driver passing at least one command to the mouse to activate a fourth button of the four buttons; and

the mouse activating the fourth button based on the at least one command.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one command comprises a plurality of functional commands, each functional command when sent alone having a function separate from activating the fourth button.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising steps of:

the mouse driver determining if the mouse has a wheel based on the mouse identification;

the mouse driver passing at least one command to the mouse to activate the wheel; and

the mouse activating the wheel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mouse has at least five buttons and wherein based on the at least one command the mouse activates at least a fourth button and a fifth button.

5. A mouse having three active buttons and at least a fourth button that is not currently active, the mouse being capable of performing steps comprising:

providing an identifier that identifies the mouse;

receiving an instruction to activate the fourth button; and

activating the fourth button based on the instruction.

6. The mouse of claim 5 capable of performing further steps comprising receiving an instruction to activate a fifth button and activating the fifth button based on the instruction.

7. The mouse of claim 6 wherein receiving an instruction to activate the fourth button comprises receiving multiple instructions to perform a different function and interpreting the multiple instructions as an instruction to activate the fourth button.

8. The mouse of claim 7 wherein interpreting the multiple instructions as an instruction to activate the fourth button further comprises interpreting the multiple instructions as an instruction to activate the fifth button.

9. The mouse of claim 5 capable of performing further steps of receiving an instruction to activate a wheel and activating the wheel based on the instruction.

10. The mouse of claim 9 wherein receiving an instruction to activate the wheel comprises receiving multiple instructions to perform a different function and interpreting the multiple instructions as an instruction to activate the wheel.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving an identifier from a mouse that identifies the mouse;

determining that the mouse has a button that is not currently active based on the identifier; and

sending instructions to the mouse to activate the button that is not currently active by sending a set of instructions to perform a different function.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein determining that the mouse has a button that is not currently active comprises determining that the mouse has a fourth button that is not currently active.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein determining that the mouse has a button that is not currently active comprises determining that the mouse has a fifth button that is not currently active.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein determining that the mouse has a button that is not currently active comprises determining that the mouse has a fourth button and a fifth button that are not currently active.