Abstract:
A preferred embodiment of a method of this invention includes the steps of: connecting the portable input device to a computer; changing a configuration pointer of the computer from pointing to computer configuration data of the computer to pointing to a selected computer configuration data of the portable input device, and, simultaneously, changing a disk pointer of the computer from pointing to a main data storage of the computer to pointing to a data storage of the portable input device; obtaining the selected computer configuration data and at least one predetermined folder; changing the configuration data pointer of the computer from pointing to the computer configuration data of the portable input device to pointing to the preferred computer configuration data of the computer, and simultaneously, resetting the disk pointer of the computer when the connection between the computer and the portable input device is disabled.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a portable input device with a function of displaying a personal favorite computer environment for user. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Computers have become necessary tools in people&#39;s daily lives, and have become the preferred choice to when it comes to storing information. Storing information in a computer allows the information to be more easily shared and distributed. 
         [0003]    Users operate computers in different places such as at home or at work. Users may also choose to use shared computers not belonging to them when their own computers are not accessible. Using the shared computer would mean accessing the system thereof, thus jeopardizing the security of the data stored within. Additionally, when using the shared computer, the computer environment set up may not be that of the user&#39;s favorite computer environment. 
         [0004]    By using an external hard disk, a user may use a hard disk tray to couple the external hard disk into another computer&#39;s hard disk bay. The system configuration stored in the external hard drive would allow using the resources of the other computer&#39;s without accessing the data stored within. However, one shortcoming of the removable external hard disk is that it is too expensive and too heavy resulting in inconvenience when carrying it. Another shortcoming of the external hard drive is that the computer that uses it must have a hard disk bay itself, and this is not common. 
         [0005]    A notebook could also solve the above problem but it is even more expensive and heavier. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a portable input device which has less weight and less cost, allowing a user to use a shared computer&#39;s resources without accessing the data, and setting up a preferred computer environment accustomed to the user. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    A portable input device with a function of displaying a personal favorite computer environment for user is provided. A preferred embodiment of the portable input device includes a transmitting interface, a microcontroller unit, and a data storage. The transmitting interface is for performing a data communication between a computer and the portable input device. The data storage is for storing a preferred computer configuration data, “my folders”, and an application program. The microcontroller unit being connected to the transmitting interface and the data storage is for controlling the data communication between the portable input device and the computer. The application program includes an operation module and a pointer reset module. The operation module is for changing a configuration pointer of the computer from pointing to a computer configuration data of the computer to pointing to the preferred computer configuration data of the portable input device, simultaneously changing a disk pointer of the computer from pointing to a main data storage of the computer to pointing to the data storage of the portable input device respectively, and accessing the data storage of the portable input device to obtain the preferred computer configuration data and “my folders” according to the configuration pointer of the computer. The pointer reset module is for changing the configuration data pointer from pointing to the preferred computer configuration data of the portable input device to pointing to the computer configuration data of the computer, simultaneously, resetting the disk pointer from the data storage of the portable input device to the main data storage of the computer, when the connection between the computer and the portable input device is disabled. 
         [0008]    A method for implementing a portable input device with a function of displaying a personal favorite computer environment for user is provided. A preferred embodiment of the method includes: connecting the portable input device to a computer; changing a configuration pointer of the computer from pointing to computer configuration data of the computer to pointing to a selected computer configuration data of the portable input device, and, simultaneously, changing a disk pointer of the computer from pointing to a main data storage of the computer to pointing to a data storage of the portable input device; accessing the data storage to obtain the selected computer configuration data and at least one predetermined folder according to a path pointed by the configuration pointer of the computer; operating general operation of the computer by receiving operation instructions and cursor position recognition instructions input by the portable device; changing the configuration data pointer of the computer from pointing to the computer configuration data of the portable input device to pointing to the preferred computer configuration data of the computer, and simultaneously, resetting the disk pointer of the computer from the data storage of the portable input device to the main data storage of the computer, when the connection between the computer and the portable input device is disabled. 
         [0009]    Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment linking a portable input device and a computer in accordance of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of main function modules of the application program of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a preferred method for implementing data communication between the portable input device and the computer of  FIG. 1 , utilizing the application program. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment linking a portable input device and a computer in accordance of the present invention. The portable input device  3  connects to the computer  1  and configures a preferred computer environment for operating the portable input device  3 . The computer  1  includes a main data storage  11  and a digital interface  12 . The main data storage  11  has a driver therein for driving the portable input device  3 . The digital interface  12  provides an interface for connecting the portable input device  3  thereto. Additionally, the portable input device  3  provides a connecting element  2  to connect with computer  1 . The connecting element  2  is also of a digital interface. The connecting element  2  could be separated from or incorporated within the portable input device  3 . For simplicity, in such case, the former (such as that shown in  FIG. 1 ) is adopted. 
         [0014]    The portable input device  3  (e.g., mouse) includes a transmitting interface  31 , a microcontroller unit  32 , a power management unit  33 , a data storage  34 , and an input unit  35 . 
         [0015]    crocontroller unit  32  is for receiving operation instructions and cursor position recognition instruction inputs by the input unit  35 , and for controlling data communication between the main data storage  11  of the computer  1  and the data storage  34  of the portable input device  3 . 
         [0016]    Under the control of the microcontroller unit  32 , the transmitting interface  31  either receives data from the main data storage  11  or outputs data from the data storage  34  through the digital interface  12  and the connecting element  2 , thereby performing data communication. 
         [0017]    The power management unit  33  supplies power to the transmitting interface  31 , the microcontroller unit  32 , the data storage  34 , and the input unit  35 . 
         [0018]    The data storage  34  is for storing a preferred computer configuration data, “my folders”, and an application program  36 . The preferred computer configuration data includes preferred computer environment configuration data and general applications configuration data. The general applications can be such as, for example, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and so on. The computer environment configuration data is for setting a preferred computer environment that a user of the portable input device is familiar. The general applications configuration data is for setting general applications according to the user&#39;s personal preference. “my folders” is for storing important or frequently used data. “my folders” can be such as, for example, my favorite folder, “my document” folder of a windows operation system, and/or some other user-defined folder. 
         [0019]    The application program  36  automatically installs into the computer  1  once the portable input device  3  is connected to the computer  1  and automatically uninstalls from the computer  1  when the connection between the computer  1  and the portable input device  3  is disabled. The application program  36  may also be downloaded from a network sever once the portable input device  3  is connected to the computer  1  and automatically uninstalls from the computer  1  when the connection between the computer  1  and the portable input device  3  is disabled. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of function modules of the application program  36 . The application program  36  includes a user identification module  361 , an operation mode module  362 , an operation module  363 , a backup module  364 , and a pointer reset module  365 . 
         [0021]    The user identification module  361  is for determining whether the user operating the portable input device  3  is an authorized user through a password authentication system. The user identification module  361  further provides a dialog box in a display device of the computer  1  for the user to input a valid user name and a valid password when the portable input device  3  is connected to the computer  1 . The user identification module  361  rejects access to the data of the portable input device  3  if the username or the password inputted is not correct, thereby enhancing the security of the data thereof. 
         [0022]    The operation mode module  362  is for determining an operation mode of the computer  1  according to the user&#39;s choice. The operation mode includes a host mode and a client mode. The host mode is provided for the user who has a password authentication and can enter the system of the computer  1 , such as the host of the computer  1 . The client mode is provided for the user who has not a password authentication and cannot enter the system of the computer  1 . The operation module  363  is for controlling the communication between the computer  1  and the portable input device  3 . For example, if the operation mode of the computer  1  is in the client mode, the computer  1  changes a configuration data pointer of the computer  1  from pointing to a computer configuration data of the computer  1  to pointing to the preferred computer configuration data of the portable input device  3 . The computer configuration data includes the computer environment configuration data and the general applications configuration data. Simultaneously, the computer  1  changes a disk pointer of the computer  1  from pointing to the main data storage  11  of the computer  1  to pointing to the data storage of the portable input device  3 , thereby shielding the main data storage  11  of the computer  1  from being accessed. 
         [0023]    Accordingly, the computer  1  directly accesses the data storage  34  to obtain the preferred computer configuration data and “my folders” according to addresses pointed by the configuration data pointer and the disk pointer of the computer  1 , thus configuring the preferred computer environment according to the preferred computer environment configuration data. Therefore, the user can operate on the computer  1  in a personal preferred computer environment. The input unit  35  receives the operation instructions and cursor position recognition instructions for general operations such as reading, writing, or modifying data on the computer  1 , if necessary. 
         [0024]    The backup module  364  is for operating the input device  3  in the host mode. The user can save documents from the computer  1  to the portable input device  3  as “my folders” and can also backup documents from the portable input device  3  to the computer  1 . 
         [0025]    The pointer reset module  365  is for resetting addresses pointed by the configuration data pointer and the disk pointer of the computer  1  when the connection between the computer  1  and the portable input device  3  is disabled. That is, the pointer reset module  365  changes the configuration data pointer of the computer  1  from pointing to the preferred computer configuration data of the portable input device  3  to pointing to the computer configuration data of the computer  1 . Simultaneously, the pointer reset module  365  changes the disk pointer of the computer  1  from the data storage  36  to the main data storage  11 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a preferred method of implementing the data communication between the computer  1  and the portable input device  3  utilizing the application program  36 . In step S 301 , the application program  36  automatically installs itself into the computer  1  once the computer  1  is connected to the portable input device  3 . 
         [0027]    In step S 302 , the user identification module  361  determines whether the user operating on the portable input device  3  is the authorized user of the portable input device  3  according to the user name and the password inputted. 
         [0028]    In step  303 , the operation mode module  362  determines whether the operation mode of the computer  1  is the client mode or the host mode according to the user&#39;s selection. 
         [0029]    In step  304 , if the operation mode of the computer  1  is the host mode, the user is allowed to save documents from the computer  1  into the portable input device  3  as “my folders” and is also allowed to backup documents from the portable input device  3  into the computer  1 . 
         [0030]    In step  305 , if the operation mode of the computer  1  is in the client mode, the computer  1  changes the configuration pointer of the computer  1  from pointing to the computer configuration data of the computer  1  to pointing to the preferred computer configuration data of the portable input device  3 , and, simultaneously, changes the disk pointer of the computer  1  from pointing to the main data storage  11  of the computer  1  to pointing to data storage  36 , thereby shielding the main data storage  11  of the computer  1  from being accessed. 
         [0031]    In step  306 , the computer  1  directly accesses the data storage  36  to obtain the preferred computer configuration data and “my folders” according to the address pointed by the configuration pointer and disk pointer of the computer  1 , and thus to display the personal preferred computer environment for the user according to the preferred computer environment configuration data. 
         [0032]    In step S 307 , the input unit  35  receives the operational instructions and cursor position recognition instructions for general operations such as reading, writing, or modifying data on the computer  1 , if necessary. 
         [0033]    In step  308 , documents generated or updated by general operations are stored to data storage  34  of the portable input device  3 . 
         [0034]    In step  309 , when the connection between the computer  1  and the portable input device  3  is disabled, the pointer reset module changes the configuration pointer and the disk pointer of the computer  1  to point to the address of the computer configuration data and the main data storage of the computer  1  respectively. 
         [0035]    Although the present invention has been specifically described on the basis of a preferred embodiment, the invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.