Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-02
2001-09-25
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C348S569000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295051
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mouse devices for computers, workstations, embedded devices and the like, and particularly to a system implementing a novel mouse device for enabling a greater degree of control over several computers/devices.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Computer mouse devices employed in personal computers (PCS), workstations, and the like, are limited in the sense that they only are available for controlling events pertaining to a current display on the physical display screen of the monitor connected to the particular computer device. This creates a problem in obtaining data from different peripheral devices not connected to the computer, e.g., calculator, or other computer screens, LCD displays of palmtop computers, tapes, embedded devices etc., due to the fact that such control requires some kind of connection with the target computer: wire, LAN dial-up, IR, RF, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,296 describes a user-wearable interface device in the form of a ring, for enabling interaction with a variety of electronic apparatuses, e.g., computers, by a form of wireless transmission, however, does not enable simultaneous control of several computers/devices, nor enable any other type of interaction, such as copying and moving of data to or from the several devices.
A currently available product entitled MouseREMOTE™ by x10 (found at URL http://www.x10.com) is a wireless lmouseff device enabling user control of a PC device and other devices from anywhere in a room. However, the x10 mouse merely communicates with the devices by transmitting pre-defined calls (e.g., using IR or RF) and is incapable of receiving any information. Additionally, every device to be controlled by the x10 device has to have a receiver that is enabled for interpreting such pre-defined calls.
It would be highly desirable to provide a boundless computer mouse control system that is boundless in the sense that it is configured to activate and/or control remote devices, e.g., peripheral devices, when a computer mouse cursor reaches the outside of a screen that is controlled by the mouse.
It would be highly desirable to further provide a boundless mouse device and system implemented for reading information from the screens or memories of other peripheral embedded devices, temporarily storing the read information into a cache memory provided in the mouse device, and pasting it back to a target computer or another embedded device running another process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a single intelligent boundless computer mouse (“IBCM”) device and control system for a home or office location implemented for activating and/or controlling a plurality of devices having embedded technologies, e.g., peripheral devices, that are registered with the control system at the location.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an IBCM device and control system that provides a visual light tracing of IBCM mouse movements after a cursor on the controlling computer crosses the boundaries of an original computer screen on a computer to which the mouse is connected, the light trace and IBCM facilitating activation and/or control of all devices having embedded technologies.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the boundless mouse device and system implemented for reading information from the screens or memories of other peripheral embedded devices, temporarily storing the read information into a cache memory provided in the mouse device, and pasting it back to a target computer or another embedded device running another process. For example, selected text from one document may be stored in a memory buffer of the IBCM and then outputted to a printer.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an IBCM device and control system as in the previously described objects, that communicates with devices via a network implementing a standard communications protocol, e.g., TCP/IP protocol.
Particularly, the boundless computer mouse device of the invention is provided with circuitry enabling it to be converted to a laser, radio, or infrared remote control once it crosses the boundaries of the computer screen. That is, when the mouse cursor reaches outside of a screen (that is controlled by the mouse), a laser tracking system is activated to provide an initial light spot at the location where the mouse cursor leaves the screen. Alternately, the mouse device itself is provided with circuitry for generating infrared rays (IR) and/or laser light for activating and communicating with a selected device. A control system is additionally activated to enable laser light tracking of further mouse movements providing a visual mouse cursor indication for a user within the confines of the home or office location. Regardless of whether generated from the laser light tracking system or, the mouse device itself, when the light is pointed to some peripheral device registered with the system, that device may be activated and ready to communicate with the main computer device via direct control by the IBCM mouse.
Thus, according to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system for controlling of one or more intelligent devices located in proximity with each other at a single location, the system comprising a computer system having screen display terminal including mouse device for providing user-enabled movement of a cursor within a border of the screen display terminal; a detecting means for tracking movement of the cursor and generating a signal indicating when the cursor has reached a border of the screen display terminal; a control means responsive to the signal for tracking further user-enabled movement of the mouse device beyond the screen display border as provided by the mouse device, the control means including: i) visual indicator device for providing visual indicator of corresponding cursor movement outside the border of the screen display terminal at the location; and, ii) interactive means for enabling functional operation of an intelligent device pointed to by the visual indicator; the interactive means operating in conjunction with the mouse device for providing activation and functional operation of the other intelligent devices pointed to by the visual indicator.
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“Search and Retrieval in Large Image Archives”, by J. Turek, et al., Computer Sciene/Mathematics, RC-20214 (89423) Oct. 2, 1995, pp. 1-18.
MouseREMOTE, by x10 (found at URL http://www.x10.com).
Kanevsky Dimitri
Sabath Mariusz
Zlatsin Alexander
International Business Machines - Corporation
Morris, Esq. Daniel P.
Patel Nitin
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
Shalwala Bipin
LandOfFree
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