Notification lights, locations and rules for a computer system

• US 7,372,371 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chandley, Adrian M., Ledbetter, Carl, Adams, Aditha May, Kaneko, Steve, Magendanz, Chad, Bear, Eric Gould
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/429,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20040222977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence

Abstract

Notifications to computer users are provided via indicators such as lights. The indicators are controlled according to rules, to convey computer-related state information to users in a consistent manner. Locations of visible indicators are chosen to facilitate easy viewing. The rules dictate colors and/or illumination pattern components that together provide users with important computer-related information. For example, colors are assigned to types of information, and illumination patterns generally to behavior-related information. Colors may be combined in various illumination patterns. In one implementation, many or all of the visible indicators may be grouped together on a single control panel from rapid viewing. Alternatively, the visible indicators may be grouped by function or other logical arrangement, such as on the keyboard and/or frame of a monitor. Alternative light sources that illuminate the system (e.g., the monitor bezel) to convey state information, instead of or in addition to individual indicators, are also described.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a subsystem comprising:

a plurality of different indicators that each corresponds to a different item of a computer system and that each convey different information about a state of the computer system and the corresponding computer system item, wherein each one of the plurality of different indicators is individually associated with and includes a plurality of colors; and

control logic that selects, for each of the plurality of different indicators, an appropriate one or more of the colors that are included with each indicator, as well as an illumination pattern for illuminating the appropriate one or more selected colors for each indicator and in such a way as to convey information about the state of the computer system and the corresponding item of the computer system.

2. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the indicator outputs visible information.

3. The subsystem of claim 2 wherein the first operating component comprises color, and wherein the first data comprises at least one value that is used to output a corresponding color on the indicator.

4. The subsystem of claim 3 wherein the control logic selects the color from a set containing blue, green, amber, red and white.

5. The subsystem of claim 4 wherein the control logic selects blue to output informational-related state data to the selected indicator.

6. The subsystem of claim 4 wherein the control logic selects green to output activity-related state data to the selected indicator.

7. The subsystem of claim 4 wherein the control logic selects amber to output holding-related state data to the selected indicator.

8. The subsystem of claim 4 wherein the control logic selects red to output attention-related state data to the selected indicator.

9. The subsystem of claim 4 wherein the control logic selects white to output life status-related state data to the selected indicator.

10. The subsystem of claim 3 wherein the control logic selects the color from a set containing green, amber and red.

11. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates a state of power of the computer system.

12. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates a state of security of the computer system.

13. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates a state of a media-related device of the computer system.

14. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates a state of recording information by the computer system.

15. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates a hardware problem in the computer system.

16. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates a software problem in the computer system.

17. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates that a communication is available at the computer system.

18. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates a message available at the computer system.

19. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates an incoming call to the computer system.

20. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the selected indicator indicates system status data of the computer system.

21. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the second operating component comprises an activation pattern, and wherein the second data corresponds to a selected activation pattern of a plurality of available activation patterns.

22. The subsystem of claim 21 wherein the indicator outputs visible information, and wherein the selected activation pattern corresponds to an illumination pattern.

23. The subsystem of claim 22 wherein the control logic selects the illumination pattern from a set including steady and blink.

24. The subsystem of claim 22 wherein the control logic selects the illumination pattern from a set including steady, fast blink and slow blink.

25. The subsystem of claim 22 wherein the control logic selects the illumination pattern from a set including steady and flash.

26. The subsystem of claim 22 wherein the control logic selects the illumination pattern from a set including steady and wink.

27. The subsystem of claim 22 wherein the control logic selects the illumination pattern to output persistent-related state data to the selected indicator.

28. The subsystem of claim 22 wherein the control logic selects the illumination pattern to output change-related state data to the selected indicator.

29. The subsystem of claim 22 wherein the control logic selects the illumination pattern to output invitation-related state data to the selected indicator.

30. The subsystem of claim 22 wherein the control logic selects the illumination pattern to output reminder-related state data to the selected indicator.

31. The subsystem of claim 22 wherein the indicator outputs at least one of member a set containing visual, audible, and tactile representations.

32. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises an LED.

33. The subsystem of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises a light source that generally illuminates a monitor area.

34. A subsystem as recited in claim 1, wherein the control logic distinguishes between importance of messages received at the computer system and such that the control logic selects a first color to be illuminated at a particular indicator to reflect the presence of an unread message assigned a first priority, as well as a second color to be illuminated at the particular indicator to reflect the presence of an unread message assigned a second priority.

35. A subsystem as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of different indicators are integrated into a keyboard.

36. A subsystem as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of colors is associated with a different type of state information associated with the computer system.

37. In a computer system, a method comprising:

receiving state data related to a current state of the computer system;

selecting an indicator from among a plurality of indicators for outputting the state data, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a different item of the computer system and wherein each one of the plurality of different indicators is individually associated with and includes a plurality of colors;

selecting, for each of the plurality of different indicators, an appropriate one or more of the colors that are included with each indicator, as well as an illumination pattern that is selected from a plurality of different illumination patterns for illuminating the appropriate one or more selected colors based on received state information about the computer system and the corresponding item of the computing system; and

illuminating the selected one or more appropriate colors of each indicator in the selected illumination pattern, as appropriate, in order to visually convey the state information received about the state of the computer system and the corresponding item of the computer system.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the indicator outputs at least one of member a set containing visual, audible, and tactile representations.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising selecting at least one other set of component data for operating the selected indicator.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein outputting control data comprises outputting data corresponding to visible information.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising selecting at least one other set of component data corresponding to visible information for operating the selected indicator.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the component comprises color, and wherein outputting data corresponding to visible information comprises outputting color data.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein selecting a component for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting particular color to output informational-related control data.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein selecting a component for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting particular color to output activity-related control data.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein selecting a component for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting particular color to output holding-related control data.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein selecting a component for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting particular color to output attention-related control data.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein selecting a component for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting a particular color to output life-status related control data.

48. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises power state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a power indicator.

49. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises security state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a security indicator.

50. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises media-related state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a media indicator.

51. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises transport-related state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a transport indicator.

52. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises recording-related state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a recording state indicator.

53. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises system status-related state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a system status indicator.

54. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises notification-related state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a notification indicator.

55. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises communication-related state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a communication indicator.

56. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises call-related state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a call indicator.

57. The method of claim 37 wherein the received state data comprises message-related state data, and wherein selecting an indicator comprises selecting an indicator corresponding to a message indicator.

58. The method of claim 37 wherein the indicator outputs visible information, wherein the component corresponds to an illumination pattern, and wherein outputting control data comprises outputting data corresponding to a selected illumination pattern.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising selecting at least one other set of component data corresponding to visible information for operating the selected indicator.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein at least one other set of component data comprises color data, and wherein outputting control data further comprises outputting color data.

61. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting a steady illumination pattern.

62. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting a blink illumination pattern.

63. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting a fast blink illumination pattern.

64. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting a slow blink illumination pattern.

65. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting a wink illumination pattern.

66. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting a steady illumination pattern.

67. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting a flash illumination pattern.

68. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting illumination pattern data corresponding to persistent-related state information.

69. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting illumination pattern data corresponding to change-related state information.

70. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting illumination pattern data corresponding to invitation-related state information.

71. The method of claim 58 wherein selecting component data for operating the selected indicator comprises selecting illumination pattern data corresponding to reminder-related state information.

72. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 37.