Patent · US Expired

Application programming interface that maps input device controls to software actions

US7116310B1 · kind B1 · utility

216Cited by
25References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 2001
Grant dateOct 3, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA63F2300/6045
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A system for using computer input devices with software applications is disclosed. The system includes an input device mapper API, which uses a language of semantics as an interface between input devices and software applications. The input device mapper receives information about which semantics the devices connected to the computer are able to implement, and which semantics correspond to actions that a user can request the software to perform. The input device mapper maps controls on the available devices into user-requestable software actions by matching, as closely as possible, device controls and software actions that correspond to the same semantic. The system thus makes input devices and software applications transparent to each other, and permits a software application to be designed to operate without regard to which input device is being used to control its actions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.