Input device with forward/backward control

Abstract

A mouse and a mouse driver are provided that are synchronized to each other through a process that includes the mouse driver receiving a mouse identifier from the mouse. Based on the mouse identifier, the driver determines if the mouse has a fourth button, a fifth button or a wheel that are not active. If so, the driver sends a command to activate the inactive button or wheel.

1 . A method in a computer system having a mouse and a mouse driver, the method comprising steps of: 
 the mouse driver receiving a mouse identification from the mouse;    the mouse driver determining if the mouse has at least four buttons based on the mouse identification;    the mouse driver passing at least one command to the mouse to activate a fourth button of the four buttons; and    the mouse activating the fourth button based on the at least one command.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one command comprises a plurality of functional commands, each functional command when sent alone having a function separate from activating the fourth button.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising steps of: 
 the mouse driver determining if the mouse has a wheel based on the mouse identification;    the mouse driver passing at least one command to the mouse to activate the wheel; and    the mouse activating the wheel.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mouse has at least five buttons and wherein based on the at least one command the mouse activates at least a fourth button and a fifth button.  
   
   
       5 . A mouse having three active buttons and at least a fourth button that is not currently active, the mouse being capable of performing steps comprising: 
 providing an identifier that identifies the mouse;    receiving an instruction to activate the fourth button; and    activating the fourth button based on the instruction.    
   
   
       6 . The mouse of  claim 5  capable of performing further steps comprising receiving an instruction to activate a fifth button and activating the fifth button based on the instruction.  
   
   
       7 . The mouse of  claim 6  wherein receiving an instruction to activate the fourth button comprises receiving multiple instructions to perform a different function and interpreting the multiple instructions as an instruction to activate the fourth button.  
   
   
       8 . The mouse of  claim 7  wherein interpreting the multiple instructions as an instruction to activate the fourth button further comprises interpreting the multiple instructions as an instruction to activate the fifth button.  
   
   
       9 . The mouse of  claim 5  capable of performing further steps of receiving an instruction to activate a wheel and activating the wheel based on the instruction.  
   
   
       10 . The mouse of  claim 9  wherein receiving an instruction to activate the wheel comprises receiving multiple instructions to perform a different function and interpreting the multiple instructions as an instruction to activate the wheel.  
   
   
       11 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: 
 receiving an identifier from a mouse that identifies the mouse;    determining that the mouse has a button that is not currently active based on the identifier; and    sending instructions to the mouse to activate the button that is not currently active by sending a set of instructions to perform a different function.    
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein determining that the mouse has a button that is not currently active comprises determining that the mouse has a fourth button that is not currently active.  
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein determining that the mouse has a button that is not currently active comprises determining that the mouse has a fifth button that is not currently active.  
   
   
       14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein determining that the mouse has a button that is not currently active comprises determining that the mouse has a fourth button and a fifth button that are not currently active.