Continuous automatic key control
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsDaniel L. Odell, Joshua E Baber, Nathan C Sherman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Architecture for enabling continuous operation of a control command issued by a control input (e.g., a control key on a computer keyboard or game controller). For example, for a user of a software application (e.g., a gaming application), an activation modifier is used for enabling continuous operation of the control command. The activation modifier can be a lock key or other type of input used in combination with the control key. During continuous operation of the control command, one or more alternate control inputs (e.g., from alternate control keys) are enabled to concurrently issue alternate control commands to the software application.
Claims19
A control operation system of a user input device, comprising:
- a control input comprising a control key for issuing a control command to a software application;
- and
- an activation modifier for enabling continuous operation of the control command, and enabling an alternate control input to concurrently issue an alternate control command to the software application, the activation modifier being configured to employ a predetermined pattern of control key presses varying in duration or dwell to enable continuous operation.
A control operation system, comprising:
- a keyboard that includes control keys for issuing control commands to a gaming software application;
- and
- a lock key configured to be used in combination with the control keys for enabling continuous operation of at least one of the control commands, or enabling alternate control keys to concurrently issue alternate control commands to the gaming software application;
- wherein at least one control key is configured to enable continuous operation of an associated control command through a user interaction only with said at least one control key, such user interaction comprising a predetermined pattern of variable rates of press and release periods of an associated control key.
A method of dynamic control, comprising:
- issuing a control command to a software application from a user input device;
- and
- selectively enabling continuous operation of the control command from the input device via an input pattern comprising multiple presses of an associated control key while enabling concurrent issuance of an alternate control command to the software application;
- enabling other continuous operations of other control commands from the input device to be performed via individual input patterns comprising at least variable pressure-detection of the control key or predetermined sequences of key presses varying in duration or dwell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.