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[oddtimeflux]

I'm struggling with defining "input", to avoid "software" objections.
Basically, I want to have a term for every information formed or received in a device by user interactions (e.g. physical manipulations).

What would you suggest?

[JimIvey]

Well, perhaps as a matter of style, I never use "input" as a noun, only as an adjective.  As a software engineer, my mind hints a little speedbump whenever someone uses "input" as a noun as my mind tries to do a quick translation as to what the term might mean in its context.  I try to avoid such mental speedbumps in my applications.

Having said that, I wouldn't recommend avoiding computers just to pass Section 101.  If your invention should cover computers, make it so.  You just need to do it in a way that comports with Section 101.

Regards.

[khazzah]

I'm struggling with defining "input", to avoid "software" objections.

I'm not sure what you're saying. Your concern is that if you use the word "input" in the claims, you'll get a 101 rejection based on "software per se"?

Basically, I want to have a term for every information formed or received in a device by user interactions (e.g. physical manipulations).

You want a single term that covers "every information" ? If so, why?

And if not, ie, if different terms okay, then why not just describe the type of input, a la,

receiving a speed indication/input/signal;
receiving a cost value;
receiving a packet type;

[oddtimeflux]

Thank you.

To make it as simple as possible - I need to describe the information formed by a user operating a device (e.g. information generated in a computer by a user pressing on a keyboard key). This information influences later processes and I need to refer to it.

[khazzah]

Thank you.

To make it as simple as possible - I need to describe the information formed by a user operating a device (e.g. information generated in a computer by a user pressing on a keyboard key). This information influences later processes and I need to refer to it.

Then, as I said in my earlier reply, I suggest giving the data a name that reflects its function. Speed data, account type data, etc.

[JimIvey]

I usually recite something like "receiving a user-generated signal specifying" whatever -- a speed, a message to be delivered to a recipient, an amount of butter, ... whatever.

I usually also include a block diagram of basic computer architecture and describe user input devices as generating signals in response to physical manipulation by a human user through conventional user-interface techniques.

Regards.