Russell McMahon <PICLIST@mitvma.mit.edu> wrote:

> the patent talks about launching an application with different sub
> attributes depending on how long the button click is held. This is
> not the same as presenting a menu. It may be that Micro$oft'$
> patent is essentially novel within a very limited range of
> functionality. If so, they deserve protection

    Exactly the point I was about to make.

    The software-patent debates -- and the numerous examples of "bad"
    software patents -- notwithstanding, the specific claims in this
    particular patent seem valid to me.  Using button-click timing to
    select between launching an application with no document selected
    or with the last-accessed document active (for instance) is, as
    far as I'm aware, innovative.

    -Andy

=== Andrew Warren -- aiw@cypress.com
=== Principal Design Engineer
=== Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
===
=== Opinions expressed above do not
=== necessarily represent those of
=== Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

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