JP2000194479A - Input device for operating internet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it easy to operate a Web browser program without any extra hardware by providing dedicated buttons for 'back-to-previous-page', 'forward-to-next-pagel', and 'stop reading page' operations of the Web browser program for the Internet. SOLUTION: The device is equipped with the dedicated buttons for the 'back- to-previous-page', 'forward-to-next-page', and 'stop-reading page', operations fo the Internet Web browser program. For example, a mouse input device is provided with a 'back' button 4, 'stop' button 5, a 'forward' button 6, a 'URLI' button 7, and a 'URL2' button 8 in addition to an ordinary left-click button 3 and a right-click button 3. When one of the 'back' button 4, 'stop' button 5, and 'forward' button 6 is pressed, a mouse controller sends data to a computer after conversion into a combination of key codes of a keyboard actualizing the function of the pressed button.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Web for browsing a Web site by accessing the Internet.
b. Adds special buttons to existing input devices such as a computer mouse and keyboard to perform "return to previous page", "next page", and "stop reading page" operations that are frequently used in browser programs. This is a technology that makes operation easier. A button for simplifying the operation is added to the existing input device, so a dedicated device for simplifying the operation of the Internet and an I / O connector and a circuit for connecting the device to the computer are added to the computer. Without the above, the operation of the Web browser program can be simplified. In addition, an Internet address (UR) set in advance is input to these input devices.
L-Uniform Resource Locato
By providing a button having a function of displaying the page of r), the operation can be further simplified. The present invention can be applied not only to input devices for computers but also to remote control devices and input devices such as television equipment having a function of accessing the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a user operates a Web browser program to return to the previous page, advance to the next page,
"Stop page loading" has been realized by selecting the corresponding function from the menu of the program with the mouse or by pressing multiple keys on the keyboard at the same time. Although these operations occur frequently, it is very inconvenient to use the mouse to move to the menu and then press the left click button or operate multiple keys at the same time with the keyboard. Was. Further, the operation of displaying a page of a specific Web site by specifying an Internet address is more complicated. In the related art, there is an input device such as a mouse having general-purpose buttons to which a user can assign functions. Since there is usually only one general-purpose button on these input devices, even if the key is assigned, only one of “Return to the previous page”, “Proceed to the next page”, and “Stop reading the page” Cannot be assigned. For this reason, it was not practical to operate the Web browser program only with this input device. Even if there is an input device having a plurality of general-purpose buttons, it is very difficult for a novice user to assign a Web browser program operation to each general-purpose button. There is no other input device provided with a button for accessing the Internet by simply pressing a button and displaying a page of a Web site.

[0003]

In the future, computers will spread to ordinary households and access to the Internet will increase. Web site browsing can be considered the primary purpose of accessing the Internet. However, as described in the section of the related art, the operability of the Web browser program is very poor. The present invention provides an existing input device with We
An object of the present invention is to provide a dedicated button for operating the b browser program, thereby simplifying the operation of the web browser program without requiring additional hardware for a dedicated input device or a main body.

[0004]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows an outline view when the present invention is applied to a mouse input device. Left-click button 2 that is normally provided
In addition to the right-click button 3, there are provided a “back” button 4, a “stop” button 5, a “forward” button 6, a “URL1” button 7, and a “URL2” button 8. The user
The access destination addresses of the Internet when the "URL1" button 7 and the "URL2" button 8 are pressed are set in advance by a computer. FIG. 2 shows an example of the internal configuration of the mouse input device. When the ball 9 rotates by the movement of the mouse, the ball 9 is transmitted to the roller X10 and is converted into an electric signal by the rotary encoder X11. This electric signal notifies the mouse controller 16 of the amount of movement in the X direction through the logic circuit 12. Similarly, the Y direction is transmitted to the roller Y13 by the rotation of the ball 9, and is converted into an electric signal by the rotary encoder Y14.
This electric signal also notifies the mouse controller 16 of the movement amount in the Y direction through the logic circuit 15. On the other hand, a left click button 17, a right click button 18, a "back" button 19, a "stop" button 20, a "forward" button 21, a "U
RL1 ”button 22 and“ URL2 ”button 23
The mouse controller 16 also detects the off state. The mouse controller 16 transmits the amount of movement in the X and Y directions and information on each button to the computer in response to a command sent from the computer. In particular,
When any one of the "return" button 19, the "stop" button 20, and the "forward" button 21 is pressed, the mouse controller 16 sets a key code of a keyboard capable of realizing the function of the pressed button. After converting to a combination, send the data to the computer. The basic software of the computer that received the data (operating
System) passes the key code information to the Web browser program. The Web browser program recognizes that a key on the keyboard has been pressed, and executes an operation according to the combination of the key and the code. On the other hand, a “URL1” button 22 and a “URL2” button 23
Is pressed, the mouse controller 16 sends the information that this button has been pressed to the computer as it is. In the computer, a dedicated program for realizing the “URL1” button 22 and the “URL2” button 23 has been activated. When the dedicated program detects that the “URL1” button 22 or the “URL2” button 23 has been pressed by the data sent from the mouse 1, the access destination address set in advance by the user is transmitted to the Web browser program. hand over. The Web browser program that has received the address of the access destination displays the page of the specified address. Note that "U
If the Web browser program is not started when the "RL1" button 22 or the "URL2" button 23 is pressed, the Web browser program is automatically started from the dedicated program, and the Internet is automatically accessed to specify the specified address. Page can also be displayed.
The mechanism for realizing the present invention with a mouse has been described above. As another embodiment, FIG. 3 is an external view when the present invention is applied to the keyboard input device 24. This embodiment also has a dedicated button for operating a Web browser program. The present invention does not limit its application to only input devices such as a computer mouse, keyboard and tablet. This includes application to remote control devices such as televisions and VCRs having the function of accessing the Internet. In applying the present invention, it is within the scope of the present invention to realize only some buttons or all buttons. Furthermore, even if the input device has a general-purpose button, the default button setting is within the scope of the present invention as long as the setting is for operating a Web browser program. Also, the default button settings are
Even if the setting is not a setting for operating the program, an input which becomes a setting for simultaneously operating the Web browser program by pressing two or more general-purpose buttons by pressing a button or a key, or by designating the program. Apparatus is also within the scope of the present invention. Finally, the buttons described in the present invention mean buttons in a broad sense. Therefore,
It is not limited to push-type mechanical buttons.
Includes all mechanisms for detecting that a program operation has been selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of an outline drawing when the present invention is applied to a mouse input device.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an internal configuration when the present invention is applied to a mouse input device.

FIG. 3 is an example of an external view when the present invention is applied to a keyboard input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 is a mouse 2 is a left click button 3 is a right click button 4 is a "return" button 5 is a "stop" button 6 is a "forward" button 7 is a "URL1" button 8 is a "URL2" button 9 is a ball 10 is a roller X 11 is a rotary encoder X 12 is a logic circuit 13 is a roller Y 14 is a rotary encoder Y 15 is a logic circuit 16 is a mouse controller 17 is a left click button 18 is a right click button 19 is a "return" button 20 is a "stop" button 21 Is the "forward" button 22 is the "URL1" button 23 is the "URL2" button 24 is the keyboard input device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A web browser program on the Internet for "return to previous page", "go to next page",
An input device such as a mouse or keyboard that has a dedicated button for performing the operation of "Stop page loading." 2. An input device such as a mouse or a keyboard having a dedicated button for displaying a page of a designated Internet address.