Reconfigurable clip-on modules for mobile computing devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10564793-B2
Application number	US-201414513051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2014
Priority date	Jan 18, 2013
Publication date	Feb 18, 2020
Grant date	Feb 18, 2020

Abstract

A set of reconfigurable clip-on modules for mobile computing devices includes two or more modules and at least one of the modules has an input button or other control and at least one of the modules can communicate with the computing device without needing to be connected to it via a wire. The input button is mapped to a user input in a program, such as a game, which is running or displayed on the computing device to which the modules are clipped. In an embodiment, user inputs via the buttons or other controls on the clip-on modules are mapped to user inputs in a game running on the device, which may be a touch-screen device, and the mapping between user inputs via the buttons and user inputs in the game may change dependent upon the game being played, user preference, or other criteria.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of providing user inputs to a target program, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of signals from two or more input/output modules removably attached around a periphery of a mobile computing device, the plurality of signals being generated by a processor of the two or more input/output modules and including a first signal being indicative of a first user input from a first user received at a first input control on a first input/output module and a second signal being indicative of a second user input from a second user received at a second input control on a second input/output module of the two or more input/output modules, the first and second user inputs being received concurrently from the first and second users at the two or more input/output modules;
determining a change in mapping configuration based on a number of possible mapping configurations, the change in mapping configuration including a change for at least one input control of the two or more input/output modules for use in the mapping of the first user input and the second user input to the target first user input and the target second user input; and
mapping the first and second user inputs to a target first user input and a target second user input in the target program.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target program is running on the mobile computing device.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting a user input signal to the target program, the user input signal corresponding to the target first user input and the target second user input.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the target program is running on a device separate from the mobile computing device.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second signals are received and the mapping is performed by the target program.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second signals are received and the mapping is performed by a service running on a remote server.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the two or more input/output modules are arranged to communicate with the mobile computing device using at least audio signals.

8. A method of providing user inputs to a target program, the method comprising:
receiving a reconfiguration signal at an input/output module attached around a periphery of a computing device, the computing device comprising at least one display screen, the reconfiguration signal specifying mappings between user inputs on the input/output module and user inputs in the target program, the module comprising a sensor arranged to trigger calibration of the module when the module is attached to the computing device; and
in response to a subsequent user input on the input/output module, mapping the user input to a user input in the target program based on the reconfiguration signal and sending a user input signal corresponding to the user input in the target program to the computing device.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the module is arranged to attach to at least one other module, the plurality of modules capable of providing input to a game console independent of the computing device.

10. A mobile computing device comprising:
one or more processors configured to:
receive a plurality of signals from two or more input/output modules removably attached around a periphery of the mobile computing device, the plurality of signals being generated by a processor of the two or more input/output modules and including a first signal being indicative of a first user input from a first user received at a first input control on a first input/output module and a second signal being indicative of a second user input from a second user received at a second input control on a second input/output module of the two or more input/output modules, the first and second user inputs being received concurrently from the first and second users at the two or more input/output modules;
determine a change in mapping configuration based on a number of possible mapping configurations, the change in mapping configuration including a change for at least one input control of the two or more input/output modules for use in the mapping of the first user input and the second user input to the target first user input and the target second user input; and
map the first and second user inputs to a target first user input and a target second user input in a target program using at least a daemon arranged to simulate touch events at the mobile computing device based on the plurality of signals.

11. The mobile computing device according to claim 10 , wherein the target program is running on the mobile computing device.

12. The mobile computing device according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to output a user input signal to the target program, the user input signal corresponding to the target first user input and the target second user input.

13. The mobile computing device according to claim 12 , wherein the target program is running on a device separate from the mobile computing device.

14. The mobile computing device according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of signals are received and the mapping is performed by the target program.

15. The mobile computing device according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of signals are received and the mapping is performed by a service running on a remote server.

16. The mobile computing device according to claim 10 , wherein the two or more input/output modules comprise a personal data store.

17. The mobile computing according to claim 10 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
send a reconfiguration signal to the two or more input/output modules removably attached around the periphery of the mobile computing device, the reconfiguration signal specifying mappings between user inputs on the two or more input/output modules and user inputs in the target program;
in response to a subsequent user input on one of the two or more input/output modules, map the subsequent user input to a subsequent target user input in the target program based on the reconfiguration signal; and
send a subsequent user input signal corresponding to the subsequent target user input in the target program to the target program.

18. The mobile computing device according to claim 10 , wherein the two or more input/output modules comprise a supercapacitor power supply.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Helmes John
• Taylor Stuart
• Hodges Stephen E
• Villar Nicolas
• Scott James W

Classifications

• A63F13/24

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• A63F13/23

  for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console · CPC title

• G06F3/0481 Primary

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title