Keyboard emulation system providing audible feedback without a built-in transducer
First Claim
1. For use with a computer system unit or computer terminal unit comprising a keyboard port and a sound transducer and utilizing a predetermined keyboard communication protocol for inputting data from a keyboard unit via the keyboard port as a sequence of keyscan codes, the protocol including provision for signifying at least one predetermined benign error condition within the keyboard unit which causes an audible error signal to be generated by said sound transducer, a keyboard emulator comprising:
- input means for converting a machine-readable symbol into a digital representation of a message comprising one or more character codes;
output means responsive to the input means for;
a) translating said character codes into keyscan codes;
b) emulating said predetermined benign error condition by including at least one special error code with said keyscan codes whenever said input means successfully translates said machine-readable symbol into a corresponding sequence of character codes, said special error code having no effect on the processing of said keyscan codes by the computer when said keyscan codes are transmitted to said keyboard port; and
c) transmitting said keyscan codes and special error code to said keyboard port in accordance with said keyboard communication protocol, whereby whenever the input means converts a machine-readable symbol and corresponding keyscan codes and special error code are transmitted to the keyboard port of the computer from the output means, the computer will produce an audible error signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The system unit of an IBM compatible personal computer generates a distinctive audible "Beep" signal from the system unit'"'"'s own sound transducer in response to the successful decode of a barcode label in a keyboard emulation data collection device such as a barcode reader. To initiate the generation of such a Beep by the system unit, the keyboard emulation system simulates a benign error condition which does not affect the operation of any application programs resident in the system unit and which does not require any modifications to the operating system or any special device drivers for its proper operation. The successful collection of encoded character data and transmission of that data to the keyboard port of a host computer by a relatively unsophisticated operator is further enhanced by built-in logic for reliably and simply deducing which keyboard communication protocol from several candidates is currently in use and for deducing the status of the computer'"'"'s Caps Lock flag by eliciting a Reset Status Indicators command from the system unit. If the Caps Lock flag is in its shifted state, all case sensitive data is automatically transposed so that it will be correctly interpreted.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. For use with a computer system unit or computer terminal unit comprising a keyboard port and a sound transducer and utilizing a predetermined keyboard communication protocol for inputting data from a keyboard unit via the keyboard port as a sequence of keyscan codes, the protocol including provision for signifying at least one predetermined benign error condition within the keyboard unit which causes an audible error signal to be generated by said sound transducer, a keyboard emulator comprising:
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input means for converting a machine-readable symbol into a digital representation of a message comprising one or more character codes; output means responsive to the input means for; a) translating said character codes into keyscan codes; b) emulating said predetermined benign error condition by including at least one special error code with said keyscan codes whenever said input means successfully translates said machine-readable symbol into a corresponding sequence of character codes, said special error code having no effect on the processing of said keyscan codes by the computer when said keyscan codes are transmitted to said keyboard port; and c) transmitting said keyscan codes and special error code to said keyboard port in accordance with said keyboard communication protocol, whereby whenever the input means converts a machine-readable symbol and corresponding keyscan codes and special error code are transmitted to the keyboard port of the computer from the output means, the computer will produce an audible error signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. For use with a computer system unit or computer terminal comprising a keyboard port and utilizing an IBM compatible Mode 2 keyboard communication protocol for inputting data from a keyboard unit via the keyboard port as a sequence of keyscan codes, a keyboard emulator comprising:
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input means for converting a machine-readable symbol into a digital representation of a message comprising one or more character codes; output means responsive to the input means for transmitting said message to said keyboard port in accordance with said keyboard communication protocol as a corresponding sequence of keyscan codes; status means for transmitting a predetermined status change keyscan code prior to each transmission of a decoded and converted message, and for deducing status of a shift state status flag from a Reset Status Indicators command transmitted to the keyboard unit in response to said predetermined status change keyscan code; and transposing means responsive to the deducing means and the input means for transposing shift states of predetermined keyboard characters prior to encoding by the output means whenever said shift state status flag is in an activated state. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification