The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 13, 2008
Filed:
May. 05, 2003
Eric Gould Bear, Bellevue, WA (US);
Chad Magendanz, Issaquah, WA (US);
Aditha May Adams, Seattle, WA (US);
Carl Ledbetter, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Steve Kaneko, Medina, WA (US);
Adrian M. Chandley, Sammamish, WA (US);
Eric Gould Bear, Bellevue, WA (US);
Chad Magendanz, Issaquah, WA (US);
Aditha May Adams, Seattle, WA (US);
Carl Ledbetter, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Steve Kaneko, Medina, WA (US);
Adrian M. Chandley, Sammamish, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
Notifications to computer users are provided via indicators such as lights. The indicators are controlled according to rules, to convey computer-related state information to users in a consistent manner. Locations of visible indicators are chosen to facilitate easy viewing. The rules dictate colors and/or illumination pattern components that together provide users with important computer-related information. For example, colors are assigned to types of information, and illumination patterns generally to behavior-related information. Colors may be combined in various illumination patterns. In one implementation, many or all of the visible indicators may be grouped together on a single control panel from rapid viewing. Alternatively, the visible indicators may be grouped by function or other logical arrangement, such as on the keyboard and/or frame of a monitor. Alternative light sources that illuminate the system (e.g., the monitor bezel) to convey state information, instead of or in addition to individual indicators, are also described.