Computer entry system for predetermined text data sequences

• US 4,763,252 A
• Filed: 03/21/1985
• Issued: 08/09/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David K. Rose
• Original Assignee: David K. Rose
• Inventors: Rose, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harkcom, Gary V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARK, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/714,443
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/709, 340/365 VL, 340/365 R
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating entry of pre-defined sequences of data characters into a computer or computer-controlled system, and preferably connected between the computer and its keyboard. Each data sequence is identified by a multi-character alphanumeric code name assigned by the user. The apparatus accepts and stores the code names and corresponding data sequences in a self-contained memory, and subsequently accepts a code name from the computer'"'"'s keyboard, retrieves the corresponding data sequence, and transmits the data sequence to the computer system as if the data sequence had been manually entered in full using the computer system'"'"'s keyboard. The apparatus can be set to match the characteristics of the transmission link between the computer and its keyboard, and the rate at which each data sequence is transmitted can be adjusted to automatically accommodate the ability of the computer system and its programs to accept and process data.

Claims

1. A computer entry system for entering text data into a computer system from a terminal device, said terminal device including keyboard input means having a plurality of keyboard keys, said entry system being serially interconnected between said terminal device and said computer system, comprising:

means for bi-directionally receiving and transmitting serial data from and to (1) said computer system and, (2) said terminal device,

random access read/write memory means for storing predetermined sequences of said text data and corresponding code names received from said computer system, each of said predetermined sequences of text data having a corresponding single- or multi-character alphanumeric code name associated therewith for retrieving said predetermined sequences of text data from said read/write memory means for transmission to said computer system responsive to receipt of a first control code and said code name from said keyboard input means,

microprocessor means for controlling said means for bi-directionally receiving and transmitting said serial data, and said random access read/write memory means, said microprocessor means being coupled to (1) said means for bi-directionally receiving and transmitting said serial data, and (2) to said random access read/write memory means, and,

read-only memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing a program to control the operation of said microprocessor means;

said operation of said microprocessor means (1) receives data from said keyboard input means and re-transmits said data to said computer system without modifying said data, said data comprising characters represented by any of said plurality of keyboard keys, (2) receives and subsequently stores said predetermined sequences of text data and said corresponding code names from said computer system, and (3) in response to said first control code receives said code names from said keyboard input means and retrieves said corresponding predetermined text data sequences from said read/write memory means and transmits said predetermined text data sequences in response to a second control code to said computer system, upon which said operation of said microprocessor means returns to said receiving and said re-transmitting without modifying data.

2. The computer entry system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said predetermined sequences of text data may be (1) any desired combination of characters, and (2) any number of characters, whose combined total of characters does not exceed a storage capacity of said random access read/write memory means.

3. The computer entry system as recited in claim 1 where said computer entry system will store any number of said predetermined sequences of text data and said corresponding code names whose combined total of characters does not exceed said storage capacity of said random access read/write memory means.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for bi-directionally receiving and transmitting serial data includes means for controlling the speed at which said serial data is transmitted and received for maintaining compatibility with the speed of data signal reception and transmission by said computer system and said terminal device.

5. The computer entry system as recited in claim 4 where said means for bi-directionally receiving and transmitting serial data further includes means for controlling the time interval between transmission of characters comprising each of said predetermined sequences of text, said time interval being responsive to the rate of data acceptance by said computer system.

6. A computer entry system serially interconnected between a computer system and an associated terminal device for text data entry subsequent to reception and storage of predetermined sequences of text data and corresponding single- or multi-character alphanumeric code names from said computer system;

said terminal device including a keyboard having a plurality of keyboard keys;

said computer entry system retrieving each such stored text data sequence upon receiving each such corresponding code name from said terminal device, and transmitting each such corresponding predetermined text data sequences to said computer system, comprising;

microprocessor means for controlling the operation of said computer entry system,

random access read/write memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing said predetermined sequences of text data and said corresponding code names,

read-only memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing a microprocessor control program;

a pair of receiver/transmitter devices coupled to said microprocessor means for interconnecting said microprocessor means with a serial data stream,

power supply means for powering said microprocessor means, said memory means, and said receiver/transmitter devices and being coupled thereto; and

,

means for controlling said microprocessor means;

said means for controlling stored in said read-only memory means for (1) receiving serial data from and transmitting serial data, comprising characters represented by any of said plurality of keyboard keys, to said computer system and said terminal device without modification thereof;

(2) storing said predetermined text data sequences and said corresponding code names transmitted by said computer system in said read/write memory means, and;

(3) retrieving said predetermined text data sequences from said read/write memory means in response to receipt of a first control code followed by, first said code names and then a second control code from said terminal device for transmission of said predetermined text data sequences to said computer system, upon which said operation of microprocessor means returns to said receiving serial data and said transmitting serial data without modification thereof.