Patent Application
20060038780
The present invention relates generally to automatically establishing handedness settings of a mouse-like computer pointing and clicking input device.
Computer pointing and input devices such as mice, joysticks, and touch pads with left and right entry buttons typically have more than a single element that can be manipulated to send signals to a host computer. Specifically, two input buttons, usually referred to as a left button and a right button owing to their orientation on the input device, are provided that a user can click to invoke respective functions.
In typical applications, the left button can be used in drag and drop operations and can be double clicked to open files, whereas the right button usually enables opening files with a single click. Of course, the buttons can have other functions as is known in the art.
Because most computer users are right-handed, it is generally the case that more frequent functions are assigned to the button which commonly is expected to rest under the index finger of a right-handed user. But left-handed users usually rest their index fingers over the opposite button, so most operating systems allow left-handed users to access a control panel and switch button functions in software, with typically left button functions switched to the right button and vice-versa. As understood herein, requiring a user to take affirmative steps to establish the “handedness” of a pointing device is inconvenient to the user.
IBM's U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,425 discloses a system for automatically sensing handedness and establishing button functions in response that uses a light sensing scheme. The present invention recognizes that this is effective, but that other inventive ways can also advantageously be used to sense handedness and establish button functions in response by, e.g., using pre-existing devices already present in the computer for undertaking functions other than establishing handedness.
The invention may be implemented as one or more of a computer-executed method, a computer system, a computer program device, and a service. In one implementation a method includes receiving a signal from a mouse-like input device of a computer. The signal is generated only when a user makes resting tactile contact with the input device. Based on the signal, handedness settings are automatically established.
It is to be understood that while “handedness settings” refer below to the functions assigned to click elements, “handedness” or “handedness settings” more generally refer to functions that may be assigned to other types of input devices and/or to other aspects of computer systems.
A method includes receiving a signal from a mouse-like input device of a computer. The signal is generated when a user makes resting tactile contact with the input device. The method also includes, based at least in part on the signal, automatically establishing at least one handedness setting.
In non-limiting implementations the mouse-like input device includes at least two buttons, and the handedness settings are established for the buttons based on a signal that is generated when a user makes resting tactile contact with the mouse-like input device. The mouse-like input device may be a mouse or a trackball or a joystick.
As set forth further below, in some embodiments the mouse-like input device includes an input device housing and plural pressure sensors supported in the housing. The sensors generate signals when a user rests a hand on the housing. The signals are used by a processor to establish handedness settings. The processor may be in the mouse housing, in which case the processor defines button identities to a computer based on the signals from the pressure sensors. Or, the processor may be the processor of the host computer, in which case processor assigns at least one function to each button based on the signals from the pressure sensors.
In another alternate embodiment, the mouse-like input device includes a fingerprint reader for use in correlating a fingerprint image from the reader to a left finger or right finger to establish the handedness setting.
In another alternate embodiment, a cursor positioning wheel is on the housing, and signals from the cursor-positioning wheel can be used to establish the handedness setting.
In another aspect, a computer input system for inputting signals to a computer housing holding at least one processor includes a mouse-like housing and a mouse-like pointing device on the mouse-like housing. At least two click elements are on the mouse-like housing. Also, plural pressure sensors are on the mouse-like housing for generating signals when a user rests a hand on the housing, with the signals being useful for automatically establishing respective functions for the click element.
In still another aspect, a mouse-like input device includes a fingerprint reader useful for correlating a fingerprint image from the reader to a left finger or right finger to establish at least one handedness setting for the input device.
In yet another aspect, a service includes receiving a fingerprint signal generated from at least one mouse-like input device. The service also includes returning to a user computer associated with the mouse-like input device a signal representing “left” or “right” to facilitate establishing handedness settings for click elements associated with the mouse-like input device.
In another aspect, a computer program device is executable by a processor for automatically establishing at least one handedness setting for a mouse-like input device based on signals that are generated when a user makes tactile contact with the mouse-like input device.
In yet another aspect, a computer wrist rest has a wrist rest body and plural pressure sensors disposed in the body. The sensors output signals representative of a user resting a portion of the user's body on the wrist rest, with the signals being useful in determining handedness.
In another aspect, a computer input system for inputting signals to a computer housing holding at least one processor includes a mouse-like housing and at least two click elements on the mouse-like housing. A cursor positioning element such as a wheel rotatably mounted on the mouse-like housing generates signals that are used by a processor for automatically establishing respective functions for the click element.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Referring initially to
In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the computer 12 receives signals wirelessly or through an electric cord 20 from a mouse-like input device 18. By “mouse-like input device” is meant a computer mouse, a computer trackball, and other input devices having at least two click elements such as buttons and a rolling-type element for establishing a desired cursor position on the display 16. Also, joysticks are included in “mouse-like input device”.
As shown in cross-reference to
In the embodiment shown in
If desired, a fingerprint reader 32 can be included on the mouse-like device housing 22 for purposes to be shortly disclosed. The reader 32 sends signals to the processor 31 of the mouse-like input device 18 and/or to the processor 14 of the computer 12. Alternatively or in addition, the mouse-like device 22 can include a cursor positioning element such as a rotatable cursor wheel 33 that can be rotated by a user to move a cursor on a screen in accordance with principles known in the art, and that can also be used as set forth further below to establish handedness.
As also shown in
As recognized herein, the functions undertaken by the click elements 26, 28 are not hard-wired into the elements, but rather are associated with the elements in software by the operating system of the computer 12. Accordingly, to change the functions of the click elements, i.e., to establish the “handedness settings” of the elements, software can be accessed to assign a first function or set of functions to the left click element 26 and to assign a second function or set of functions to the right click element 28, and to swap the first and second function or functions as desired by the user. It is the purpose of the present invention to automatically establish the handedness settings without requiring the user to access the operating system and manually change functions between buttons.
In the preferred embodiment, this is established by sensing “resting tactile contact” of the user's fingers against the mouse-like a pointing device of the computer, or against the wrist rest. By “resting tactile contact” is meant the tactile contact that occurs when a user naturally rests a finger or fingers on a pointing device without meaning to input information (such as cursor moves) to the processor 14. As understood herein, a left-handed user typically will rest fingers on pointing devices differently than a right-handed user owing to the body's natural conformation and the at-rest orientation differences between left and right extremities.
Now referring to
The handedness settings of the click elements 26, 28 are then established at block 44. In non-limiting illustrative implementations, this can be accomplished by automatically associating, in operating system software, more common click element functions to the right click element 28 when right handedness is determined and to the left click element 26 when left handedness is determined, or vice-versa if desired.
The finger print database that is accessed at block 42 may be contained in the computer 12 or in the mouse-like device housing 22. Or, it may be accessible over the Internet. In the latter case, a service can be provided wherein a user computer sends a fingerprint read signal to a Web server, which accesses the database to correlate the signal to left- or right-handedness and then return a message to the operating system of the computer 12, indicating left- or right-handedness. The message can be used by the operating system of the computer 12 to establish the handedness settings of the click elements 22, 24.
It is to be understood that when the handedness determination is undertaken by the processor 14 of the computer 12, the click element settings of the elements 26, 28 are dynamically established in the operating system of the computer 12. In contrast, when the processor 31 of the mouse-like device 18 undertakes the handedness determination, the processor 31 may simply define button identities to the computer processor 14 as appropriate so that operating system settings do not change, but the button identity associated with each setting is established by the processor 31 of the mouse-like device 18.
If the test at decision diamond 54 indicates a resting touch, the logic proceeds to block 56 to correlate the signal to left or right handedness. The correlation can be in accordance with empirically determined rules. By way of non-limiting example, a light touch that pushes the wheel 33 in the clockwise direction can be correlated to left-handedness, while one that pushes the wheel 33 in the counterclockwise direction can be correlated to right-handedness. At block 58, the handedness settings of the click elements 26, 28 are established in accordance with principles set forth above.
If desired, the above-described automatic establishment of click element functions (i.e., of handedness) can be selectively enabled by the user. If desired, the determinations regarding handedness set forth above can be made, but the handedness settings changed from default values or current values only upon prompting the user that a change is about to occur and receiving a confirmation signal from the user to change the settings. If further desired, the handedness settings may be automatically changed only upon user logon or elapse of a predetermined time period, e.g., only if pressure signals from the above-described sensors indicate that the user has rested his or her hand on the surface associated with the sensors (e.g., on the housing 22) longer than a threshold period.
While the particular SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ESTABLISHING HANDEDNESS SETTINGS OF MOUSE-LIKE INPUT DEVICE as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more”. It is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited as a “step” instead of an “act”. Absent express definitions herein, claim terms are to be given all ordinary and accustomed meanings that are not irreconcilable with the present specification and file history.
