Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-13
2001-03-20
Mengistu, Amare (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S156000, C345S161000, C345S163000, C345S167000, C345S180000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204837
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to multiple pointing devices for a computing device and the control of such pointing devices. The present invention also relates to the provision and control of multiple pointing devices in a mobile computing or electronic device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many types of pointing devices are known in the art and examples include a mouse, joystick, touchpad, track ball, computer tablet and touch screen, amongst others. These pointing devices typically function in conjunction with a graphical user interface (GUI) and are often associated with a particular graphics sprite or screen pointer such as an arrow, a large I, a hand, a finger, etc.
Popular GUIs include those provided in word processing applications such as MS Word and WordPerfect, those provided in spreadsheet applications such as Excel and Lotus and those provided in the Windows line of operating systems, etc. In a word processing application, for example, a pointing device is typically used to position a cursor amongst text on a screen, to activate scroll bar functions and to investigate and select from pull down or pop up menus (such as File, Edit, View, Format, etc.) and the like. To activate a scroll bar or to select a menu item, a user typically has to move the screen pointer to the scroll bar or item, depress a control button when the screen pointer is in an appropriate location and then reposition the screen pointer where desired in the text.
To eliminate the tedium and distraction of positioning and repositioning a screen pointer while scrolling through a document, one prior art device has incorporated a mechanism limited to the scrolling function within a conventional mouse. The mechanism is usually implemented as a wheel or the like and a user typically uses their thumb or finger to turn the wheel in the direction the user desires to scroll. Such a combined pointing device is intended primarily for Internet users who desire to scroll through web sites while having the main cursor available for page or hot link selections, etc. While this attempt provides some benefit, it also has disadvantageous aspects and fails to meet the needs of computing device users.
One of these disadvantageous aspects is that the additional scrolling mechanism is limited in function. There are many other graphical display scenarios and pointing device combinations that it would be desirable to achieve. These might include the ability to uniquely control two or more individual pointing devices or to configure one pointing device to be used for a plurality of functions. For example, a touchpad could be used in a first mode as a screen pointer and in a second mode as a stylus pad on which one can enter their signature on a letter or facsimile transmission.
Another disadvantageous aspect of the above described prior art pointing device is that it is only available in a desktop environment and not in a mobile computing environment. Non-desktop environments are more restrictive in what functions or components can be supported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a computing or electronic device with multiple pointing devices that can perform various functions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a computing device with multiple pointing devices in which a user may selectably control the function performed by each pointing device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide multiple pointing devices in a mobile computing device.
It is also on object of the present invention to provide the selectable control of multiple pointing devices in a mobile computing device.
These and related objects of the present invention are achieved by use of a computing apparatus having multiple pointing devices as described herein.
The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention taken together with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5404524 (1995-04-01), Celi, Jr.
patent: 5473347 (1995-12-01), Collas et al.
patent: 5479192 (1995-12-01), Carroll, Jr. et al.
patent: 5732228 (1998-03-01), Jaaskelainen, Jr.
patent: 5982358 (1999-11-01), Fleming, III
patent: 0794502A1 (1997-09-01), None
Hewlett--Packard Company
Mengistu Amare
Nguyen Jimmy H.
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