User interface utilizing a computer pointing device with infrared bridge

Abstract

A pointing device integrates an IR transceiver into the pointing device. An infrared communication link may then be established between another device and the IR transceiver on the pointing device. The pointing device then relays communication between the host computer and the other device along its cable to the host computer. A user interface involves placing the cursor of a graphical user interface over an icon or other area of the screen. Communications initiated by the user are then sent to that area of the screen, or an action indicated by the icon is taken.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computer operable method, comprising: 
 initiating communication between an IR equipped device and a computer pointing device with an IR bridge;    determining what graphical object of a graphical user interface a cursor is positioned over; and,    processing data according to what said graphical object represents.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said graphical object comprises an icon and said processing comprises taking an action represented by said icon.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said graphical object comprises a screen area and said processing comprises transferring between said IR equipped device and said screen area.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said graphical object represents a file and said processing comprises transferring said file between said IR equipped device and a host computer.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said initiating communication does not involve a user interfacing with said computer pointing device with an IR bridge.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said initiating communication comprises a user action on said IR equipped device and not on said computer pointing device with an IR bridge.  
     
     
         7 . A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for transferring data via a computer pointing device with an integrated IR bridge, said method steps comprising: 
 initiating communication between an IR equipped device and said computer pointing device with said integrated IR bridge;    determining what graphical object of a graphical user interface a cursor is positioned over; and,    processing data sent via said integrated IR bridge according to what said graphical object represents.    
     
     
         8 . The program storage medium of  claim 7  wherein said graphical object comprises an icon and said processing comprises taking an action represented by said icon.  
     
     
         9 . The program storage medium of  claim 7  wherein said graphical object comprises a screen area and said processing comprises transferring between said IR equipped device and displaying a representation of said data in said screen area.  
     
     
         10 . The program storage medium of  claim 7  wherein said graphical object represents a file and said processing comprises transferring said file between said IR equipped device and a host computer.  
     
     
         11 . The program storage medium of  claim 7  wherein said initiating communication does not involve a user interfacing with said computer pointing device with an IR bridge.  
     
     
         12 . The program storage medium of  claim 7  wherein said initiating communication comprises a user action on said IR equipped device and not on said computer pointing device with an IR bridge.  
     
     
         13 . An user interface for transferring data between a host computer and another device via an infrared link, comprising: 
 an infrared bridge integrated into a pointing device communicating with said host computer;    a graphical user interface running on said host computer wherein said graphical user interface executes at least one function of a plurality of possible functions relating to data that is transferred via said infrared link in response to the initiation of a data transfer over said infrared link.    
     
     
         14 . The user interface of  claim 13  wherein the position of a cursor displayed on a display screen determines at least one function of said plurality of possible functions that is executed.  
     
     
         15 . The user interface of  claim 14  wherein said at least one function is to store said data in a file and said position of said cursor displayed is over an icon.  
     
     
         16 . The user interface of  claim 14  wherein said at least one function is to insert an object and said position of said cursor is over an entry box area.  
     
     
         17 . The user interface of  claim 14  wherein said at least one function is to transfer data from said host computer to said another device and said position of said cursor is over a representation of a filename.  
     
     
         18 . The user interface of  claim 14  wherein said at least one function is to transfer data to said host computer from said another device and said position of said cursor is over a representation of a filename.