WO2001093007A1

WO2001093007A1 - Mouse device having internet connection function and the method of connecting with internet site using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2001093007A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000914
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eugene Baek
Original assignee: Korea Smt Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-06-02
Filing date: 2001-05-31
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Also published as: KR100340152B1; KR20010109704A; AU2001260772A1

Abstract

A mouse device including a computer mouse and a mouse pad and having the function of accessing the internet and a method of accessing the internet using the same, is disclosed. The computer mouse has a mouse means for performing a normal mouse function. An internet accessing means is used for accessing the internet. The internet accessing button is used for selecting one of the mouse means and the internet accessing means. The internet accessing means has an oscillation unit and a frequency analyzing means. A microprocessor controls the mouse means and the internet accessing means, and has a memory and a mapping means.

Description

MOUSE DEVICE HAVING INTERNET CONNECTION FUNCTION AND THE METHOD OF CONNECTING WITH INTERNET SITE USING THE SAME

Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to a mouse device (a mouse and a mouse pad), which is provided with the function of accessing internet sites by generating a frequency when the mouse is tuned with a specific logo on the mouse pad, and transmitting an internet protocol address or uniform resource locator to a computer, as well as a normal mouse function, and method of accessing the internet using the same.

Background Art

Recently, as the internet has developed and become rapidly generalized, a variety of business transactions, information provisions, advertisements and etc. are performed through various internet sites. Such internet sites are comprised of HyperText Markup Language (HTML) documents (hereinafter, "HyperText Markup Language (HTML) document" is referred to as "web page") stored in a server that is connected to the internet communication network called a web (World Wide Web). To open web pages, a modem or hub must be installed in a user personal computer (PC) and a web browser must be executed by the user PC to be connected to the internet. In order to access a specific internet site, when a user knows the address, a so- called Uniform Resource Locator (URL), of a specific internet site, the user powers on his or her computer, executes the web browser, and then inputs the URL in an address input window. On the other hand, when the user does not know the specific internet site, the user must access a plurality of search sites or portal sites, search for the address of the internet site, and then click a link menu or manually input the URL of the internet site by a keyboard. However, it is inconvenient for the user to input an URL with a keyboard to access an internet site. Especially, it is more inconvenient for the user to input the URL of the internet site or search for the URL where there is a need to rapidly access a specific internet site while doing other computer work. A web browser developed recently automatically memorizes the URLs of internet sites once accessed by the user, or employs a function menu such as a shortcut or a bookmark, thus allowing the user to directly access the internet sites in the future. However, the first access to the internet site is still performed by manually inputting the address of the internet site by the user. Further, the bookmark of the internet sites can be executed only after the user searches and selects the internet sites to be added to the user's bookmark list.

In the meantime, as advertisements through the internet have been popularized, various advertising methods are introduced to internet users. The various advertising methods include an incentive accumulation method through banner advertisements, sudden advertisements using a pop-up window, and custom-made advertisements for specific targets. However, such advertisements are disadvantageous in that they are provided only when the users access specific internet sites using their computers, and so other users who hardly use the internet or who are unskilled in use of the internet rarely see the advertisements through the internet. Thereby, offline advertisements as well as such online advertisements must be provided for the users unfamiliar with the internet.

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a mouse device having a mouse and a mouse pad, which has a function of accessing internet sites, and a method of directly accessing internet sites using the mouse and the mouse pad having a plurality of advertising logos thereon, in consideration of the fact that the number of unskilled computer users is much larger than that of skilled internet users, and that a computer mouse (referred to as "mouse") and a mouse pad are always accompanied with a computer, and so the process of accessing internet sites and increasing the effectiveness of commercial advertisements is greatly simplified by enabling internet sites connection to be performed only using a mouse.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mouse device having a function of accessing internet sites, by arranging a variety of advertising logos having a special device positioned thereunder on a mouse pad, and automatically executing a web browser on a user computer when the mouse is tuned with one of the logos on the mouse pad, thus allowing the user computer to easily access an internet site of a corresponding company, and a method of accessing the internet sites using the mouse device.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a mouse comprising a mouse means for performing a normal mouse function; an internet accessing means for accessing the internet; an internet accessing button for selecting one of the mouse means and the internet accessing means; and a microprocessor for controlling the mouse means and the internet accessing means.

The internet accessing means includes an oscillation unit for oscillating at different frequencies according to a variation of a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit, and frequency analyzing means for counting the oscillation frequencies from the oscillation unit, and the microprocessor includes a memory for storing an IP address of a specific internet site assigned to a specific oscillation frequency, and mapping means for searching the memory for the IP address assigned to the counted oscillation frequency from the frequency analyzing means and mapping the searched IP address to a unique code.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mouse pad used with the mouse constructed above, comprising an internal layer having a plurality of metal conductors formed therein and used for forming a resonance circuit together with an oscillating unit for oscillating at different frequencies; and a surface layer with specific internet site logos printed thereon at positions above where the metal conductors are formed. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of accessing the internet using a mouse and a mouse pad having the above constructions, comprising the steps of a) operating an internet accessing button to perform an internet accessing function by the mouse, moving the mouse on the mouse pad, and generating a resonance frequency if the mouse is tuned with a specific logo representing a specific internet site on the mouse pad; b) oscillating at different frequencies by an oscillating unit of the mouse according to a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit, and outputting an oscillation frequency; c) counting the output frequency from the oscillation unit by a frequency analyzing unit of the mouse; d) mapping the counted frequency to a unique code by a microprocessor; e) converting the unique code into an IP address if the internet accessing button is selected, while returning to step a) if the internet accessing function is not selected by operating the internet accessing button; f) executing a web browser installed in the PC; and g) transmitting the IP address to the PC, and inputting the IP address in an address input window of the web browser.

Preferably, in the above process, the user may access the internet first when the user selects an internet accessing button and an oscillation frequency is generated. Alternatively, the user accesses the internet by operating a button of a mouse while performing a normal mouse function, using a specific program.

Brief Description of Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a mouse device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the mouse of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an internet accessing unit of this invention; Fig. 4 is a view showing the relation between the mouse and the mouse pad;

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a process of accessing internet sites using the mouse device according to a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 6 is an example view showing the relation between an oscillation frequency, a unique code, an IP address and a URL of this invention; and Fig. 7 is a flowchart of another process of accessing the internet sites using the mouse device according to another preferred embodiment of this invention.

Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention

(1) Outline Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a mouse device having a function of accessing internet sites according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, the mouse device comprises a mouse 10 and a mouse pad 20. The mouse 10 has an internet accessing button 12 for selecting one of a normal mouse function and an internet accessing function, and an internet access indicating lamp 35 as well as conventional buttons (left and right buttons, or a middle button for some cases). Further, the mouse pad 20 has a plurality of advertising logos 21a, 21b and 21c representing specific internet sites, which are printed on the surface of the pad 20.

While the user does not operate the internet accessing button 12, the mouse 10 just performs a normal mouse function on the mouse pad 20. On the other hand, when the user operates the internet accessing button 12 of the mouse 10, and moves the mouse 10 on the pad 20, and then the mouse 10 is tuned with one of the advertising logos 21a, 21b and 21c on the pad 20, the mouse 10 analyzes an address code of the internet site corresponding to the tuned logo, and transmits the address code to the user computer, thus allowing the user computer to automatically access the internet site of the logo.

As described above, because a plurality of advertising logos are printed on the mouse pad 20, a plurality of internet site managers can manufacture mouse pads in cooperation with one another, and utilize the mouse pads for promotion and advertisement of their internet sites. Further, the user may access the internet sites easily through only a simple operation such as one click of the button 12, which enables the user to navigate the internet more conveniently and quickly.

The mouse 10 has an oscillation circuit, and the mouse pad 20 has a metal conductor to resonate with the oscillation circuit. The logos 21a, 21b and 21c are set to be resonated at different frequencies, such that the internet site addresses of the logos 21a, 21b and 21c resonated with the oscillation circuit of the mouse 10 are stored in the form of resonance frequencies corresponding to the resonated internet site addresses, and then the internet site addresses of the logos are one to one mapped to the stored frequencies for accessing the internet sites.

In other words, different resonance frequencies are stored to correspond to the addresses of the internet sites, such that whenever a resonance between the mouse 10 and the mouse pad 20 is generated, a corresponding internet site address is automatically transmitted to the user PC, thus enabling the user PC to easily access a corresponding internet site.

(2) Construction of mouse

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the mouse 10 of this invention. Referring to Fig. 2, the mouse 10 includes a mouse unit 60 for performing a normal mouse function, an internet accessing unit 30 for accessing the internet, and a microprocessor 50 for controlling the mouse unit 60 and the internet accessing unit 30.

Both the mouse unit 60 and the internet accessing unit 30 are selected and operated by the internet accessing button 12. The mouse unit 60 is embodied in the same manner as the conventional mouse. In detail, the mouse unit 60 includes an x-axis sensor 61, a y-axis sensor 62 and a selection button 63. The operation of the mouse unit 60 is well known in the field and further explanation is thus not deemed necessary. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the internet accessing unit 30 of this invention.

Referring to Fig. 3, the internet accessing unit 30 includes an oscillation unit 31, a waveform shaping unit 32 and a frequency analyzing unit 33. The oscillation unit 31 oscillates at a plurality of resonance frequencies according to a variation of the resonance frequency of a resonance circuit. The waveform shaping unit 32 uniformly shapes the waveform of the oscillation frequency from the oscillation unit 31. The frequency analyzing unit 33 counts the frequency of the shaped signal from the waveform shaping unit 32.

The oscillation unit 31 may be an LC oscillator. In this case, it is well known that the resonance frequency fo of the LC oscillator is determined by the following Equation (1) where L is an inductance and C is a capacitance.

^f0 = -7 T W

In the above Equation (1), if the inductance L or the capacitance C is varied, the resonance frequency fo is varied. The inductance L of the oscillation unit 31 can be varied. Accordingly, when the inductance L is varied, the oscillation frequency for the oscillation unit 31 is varied in accordance with the above Equation (1).

In the present invention, the inductance L of the oscillation unit 31 is varied according to the metal conductors 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d to be brought near the coil of the oscillation unit 31 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The inductance L of the coil is varied according to the characteristics of a coil winding and the kind of the dielectric material forming a bobbin. Hence, the coil inductance L of the oscillation unit 31 is varied, as the size of the metal conductor brought near the coil of the oscillation unit 31 is different, thus enabling the oscillation frequency of the oscillation unit 31 to vary as in Equation (1). So, if the oscillation unit 31 is designed to oscillate at various frequencies and resonate with a preset frequency by varying the inductance L as the metal conductor approaches the coil inductance L, the oscillation unit 31 may output different oscillation frequencies.

The metal conductors 22a to 22d approaching the coil of the oscillation unit 31 are embedded in an internal layer of the mouse pad 20, as will be described later.

Further, referring to Fig. 3, a detection unit 34 is inserted to an output terminal of the oscillation unit 31, and an LED 35 is connected to an output terminal of the detection unit 34. The detection unit 34 is arranged to convert an output signal from the oscillation unit 31 into a direct current(DC) signal and turn on the LED 35. The LED 35 as an internet accessing operation indicating lamp is used for indicating an oscillation state of the oscillation unit 31.

The frequency analyzing unit 33 as a frequency counter counts the frequency of the output signal from the oscillation unit 31. The oscillation unit 31 of this invention employs an RF band for minimizing the inductance L and the capacitance C if possible and reducing the size of the metal conductors 22a to 22d. For example, the oscillation unit 31 can be designed to oscillate in a frequency band ranging from 46 to 49.5MHz.

Although not shown in drawings, the microprocessor 50 has a mapping means for mapping the frequency counted by the frequency analyzing unit 33 into a unique code, and a memory for storing an IP address of a specific internet site assigned to the unique code according to specific oscillation frequency.

For example, as shown in following Fig. 6, in the case where the oscillation frequency from the oscillation unit 31 is set in a frequency band of 46 to 49.5 MHz, a unique Binary-Coded Decimal (BCD) code is assigned to each oscillation frequency, and an IP address or a URL is assigned to each BCD code, prior to being stored in the memory. Referring to a first line in Fig. 6, when the oscillation unit 31 oscillates with a frequency of 46MHz, the frequency analyzing unit 33 counts the oscillation frequency from the oscillation unit 31. And, the microprocessor 50 controls the oscillation frequency of 46MHz to be mapped into a unique BCD code "000", and transmits an IP address "211.00.175.25" or URL "www.abc.com" corresponding to the unique code "000" to the web browser of the user PC, thus allowing the user PC to access a corresponding web site.

(3) Construction of mouse pad

Fig. 4 is a view showing the relation between the mouse 10 and the mouse pad 20 for the internet accessing operation of this invention. Further, the construction and the operation of the mouse pad 20 are shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the logos 21 of various internet site management companies are printed or attached as labels on the surface layer of the mouse pad 20.

Further, the metal conductors 22a to 22d are embedded in the internal layer of the mouse pad 20. The conductors 22a to 22d are arranged to be close to each other, however, they must be spaced sufficiently apart from each other as not to affect a resonance circuit. The size of each metal conductor is designed such that the conductor is resonated at the resonance frequency of the oscillation unit 31. For the metal conductor, a thin metal film or a coil wound in the form of a loop antenna can be employed.

Referring to Fig. 4, the oscillation coil L of the internet accessing unit 30 in the mouse 10 is positioned on the bottom surface of the mouse 10, and so the mouse 10 is moved on the mouse pad 20 in which the conductors 22a to 22d are embedded. At this time, if the mouse 10 is tuned with the logo position of the conductor on the mouse pad 20 such that the coil L of the mouse 10 is resonated with the metal conductor, the oscillation unit 31 of the mouse 10 operates and then the corresponding IP address or the URL is transmitted to the user PC through the frequency analyzing unit 33 and the microprocessor 50. (4) Process of accessing internet sites

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of the process of accessing the internet using the mouse device according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. The accessing of the internet using the mouse device is processed as follows. First, the mouse 10 is switched from the normal mouse function to the internet accessing function by operating the internet accessing button 12 at step 100. At this time, the mouse 10 is moved on the mouse pad 20 by the user's hand, and a resonance frequency is generated when the mouse 10 is tuned with a position of a specific logo at step 103.

Then, the oscillation unit 31 oscillates according to the resonance frequency determined by the metal conductors 22a to 22d embedded in the mouse pad 20, and outputs the oscillated frequency at step 105.

The frequency analyzing unit 33 counts the frequency from the oscillation unit 31 and outputs the counted frequency at step 107, and the counted frequency is mapped to a unique code by the microprocessor 50 at step 109. If the internet accessing function is not selected by operating the internet accessing button 12, the next process is returned to the initial process; while if the internet accessing function is selected at step 111, the microprocessor 50 converts the unique code into the IP address (or URL) at step 113.

After the step 113, the web browser installed in the user PC is executed at step 115, the IP address is transmitted to the user PC at step 119, and then the IP address is inputted on an address input window of the web browser at step 121. Consequently, the corresponding internet site is opened according to the IP address at step 123.

In such a case, the function of executing the web browser with the user PC by running an appropriate program in the microprocessor 50 of the mouse 10, and the technology of inputting an IP address or URL in the address input window of the web browser are well known to the persons skilled in the software field.

Further, the method may comprise the step 106 of turning on the LED 35 when the oscillation unit 31 oscillates, so as to indicate the oscillation state. Such an indication is performed by detecting the oscillation frequency from the oscillation unit 31, converting it into a DC signal, and then turning on the LED.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart of the process of accessing the internet using the mouse device 10 according to another preferred embodiment of this invention. Referring to Fig. 7, first the user moves the mouse 10 at step 301, and the mouse 10 is moved on the mouse pad 20 by the user's hand. Then, the oscillation unit 31 oscillates at step 305 when the mouse 10 is tuned with a position of the specific logo at step 303. In this case, when the oscillation unit 31 oscillates, the LED 35 is turned on, and so indicates the oscillation state at step 307.

If the user sees an indication of the LED 35 and operates the mouse function button, for example, the left or right button, the mouse 10 performs a normal mouse function at step 311. On the other hand, if the user operates the internet accessing button 12, the frequency analyzing unit 33 counts the output frequency from the oscillation unit 31 at step 315. Then, the counted frequency is mapped to a unique code by the microprocessor 50 at step 317. The mapping process is the same as that of Fig.6.

Then, the microprocessor 50 converts the unique code into the IP address at step 319, executes the web browser installed on the PC at step 321, transmits the IP address to the user PC at step 323, and inputs the IP address on the address input window at step 325, thus enabling the corresponding internet site to be opened by the IP address at step 327. The steps 319 through 327 are performed in the same manner as the corresponding steps of Fig. 5.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A computer mouse comprising: mouse means for performing a normal mouse function; internet accessing means for accessing the internet; an internet accessing button for selecting one of the mouse means and the internet accessing means; and a microprocessor for controlling the mouse means and the internet accessing means, wherein the internet accessing means includes an oscillation unit for oscillating at different frequencies according to a variation of a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit, and frequency analyzing means for counting the oscillation frequencies from the oscillation unit, and the microprocessor includes a memory for storing an IP address of a specific internet site assigned to a specific oscillation frequency, and mapping means for searching the memory for the IP address assigned to the counted oscillation frequency from the frequency analyzing means and mapping the searched IP address to a unique code.

2. The computer mouse as set forth in Claim 1, further comprising an indicating lamp turned on according to the oscillation frequencies from the oscillation unit for indicating an operation of the oscillation unit.

3. A computer mouse pad used with the computer mouse constructed as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising: an internal layer having a plurality of metal conductors formed therein and used for forming a resonance circuit together with an oscillating unit for oscillating at different frequencies; and a surface layer with specific internet site logos printed thereon at positions where the metal conductors are formed.

4. A method of accessing the internet using a computer mouse in a system including a computer mouse pad having the construction of Claim 3, and a computer mouse having the construction of Claim 1 and laid on the computer mouse pad and also connected to a personal computer (PC) in which a web browser is installed therein and is connected to the internet, comprising the steps of: a) operating an internet accessing button to perform an internet accessing function by the computer mouse, moving the computer mouse on the computer mouse pad, and generating a resonance frequency if the computer mouse is tuned with a specific logo representing a specific internet site on the computer mouse pad; b) oscillating at different frequencies by an oscillating unit of the computer mouse according to a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit, and outputting an oscillation frequency; c) counting the output frequency from the oscillation unit by a frequency analyzing unit of the computer mouse; d) mapping the counted frequency to a unique code by a microprocessor; e) converting the unique code into an IP address if the internet accessing button is selected, while returning to step a) if the internet accessing function is not selected by operating the internet accessing button; f) executing a web browser installed in the PC; and g) transmitting the IP address to the PC, and inputting the IP address in an address input window of the web browser.

5. The method as set forth in Claim 4, further comprising the step of indicating an oscillation state by turning on a Light Emitting Diode(LED) during an oscillation of the oscillation unit.

6. A method of accessing the internet using a computer mouse in a system including a computer mouse pad having the construction of Claim 3, and a computer mouse having the construction of Claim 1 and laid on the computer mouse pad and also connected to a personal computer (PC) in which a web browser is installed therein and is connected to the internet, comprising the steps of: a) moving the computer mouse on the computer mouse pad, and oscillating by an oscillation unit if the computer mouse is tuned with a position of a specific logo representing a specific internet site on the computer mouse pad; b) indicating an oscillation state during an oscillation of the oscillation unit by turning on an LED; c) performing a normal mouse function if a computer mouse function button of the computer mouse is operated, and d) if an internet accessing button is operated, counting an output frequency from the oscillation unit by a frequency analyzing unit of the computer mouse, mapping the counted frequency to a unique code by a microprocessor, converting the unique code into an IP address, executing a web browser installed in the computer, and then transmitting the IP address to the PC and inputting the IP address in an address input window.