Hand held computers with alpha keystroke
First Claim
1. A manual keyboard actuated multi-function alphanumeric computer system having a computer operating system responsive to a wide system range of hundreds of data and function entries from the keyboard housed in a housing and comprising in combination,said alphanumeric computer system having both a keyboard and visible display screen housed in the computer housing,means storing a set of subroutines in said computer operating system for selection to operate the computer as constituents of data processing programs for processing said data and function entriescomputer data processing means responsive to computer instruction commands and said stored subroutines in said data processing programs for processing alphanumeric data and for organizing and displaying alphanumeric characters upon said display screen for the functions provided by said computer systemsaid keyboard having a set of manually operable keys in said keyboard operatively coupled to process alphanumeric data in said computer including a decimal entry subset of ten keys operable to enter numerical digits into said computer,means for providing the keyboard with a subset of data entry keys in said set of keys, including said decimal entry subset,means for entering both a set of alphabetic characters from a predetermined alphabet set and a plurality of computer instruction commands one by one into the computer data processing means in response to selected keystrokes of keys in said subset of data entry keys in a two-stroke per entry code,computer mode changing means for changing computer operating modes in response to selected keys in said subset of data entry keys to establish different modes wherein selected ones of the keyboard keys have different roles for entering in one mode said alphabetic characters and in another mode computer instruction commands into said computer,computer activated means for processing in response to said stored subroutines alpha characters and decimal digits for entry from respective said subsets of decimal entry and data entry keys in a data character entry mode established by said computer mode changing means, andvisual data entry instruction means operated automatically by said stored subroutines in said computer for setting aside temporarily on a predetermined instruction region of the display screen separated from a data display region different sets of keyboard operating instructions specifying the operating function of a plurality of individual said data entry keys in said subset of data entry keys in a plurality of currently selected ones of said operation modes for making a designated set of said computer entries responsive to keystrokes of particular keys in said set of keys and for retaining a separate data region of the display screen operating automatically from said stored subroutines in said computer for currently displaying alpha data characters as they are entered from said data entry keys for processing in the computer,whereby selected alpha data characters may be entered one by one into the computer as identified by the display of said keyboard operating instructions for entering the selected characters upon the display screen in response to two keystrokes per alpha character of keyboard keys in said data entry subset of keys.
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Abstract
Particularly in hand held alphameric keyboard actuated computers, available room dictates a need to limit the number of keys without sacrificing computer performance. Further, for portable computers reference to an instruction manual is not feasible. Thus usefulness critically depends upon integrated operating instructions. Formerly there is neither room or facilities for instructions, nor room on the keyboard for enough keys. Herein, a computer keyboard of a few keys controlled by a computer multi-mode processing system to have a plurality of roles permits a very large number of computer functions to be entered and controlled. Further in combination with these roles, a computer organized temporary display panel displays keystroke selection indicia for the different keyboard operating roles. This expands instructional notation otherwise possible on the keys and adjacent keyboard locations. Thus, an entire set of alphabetic characters may be entered and processed in the computer by means of as few as six keys in an alpha mode operating the keys in a two stroke per character entry mode. Accordingly, the display panel is programmed by the computer to show with instructional indicia, typically a multiple-choice menu, the role for at least a subcombination of the keys in the current operating role of the keys in effect at the time. This permits detailed keystroke instructions to be available for performing hundreds of operations for which modern computers are capable.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A manual keyboard actuated multi-function alphanumeric computer system having a computer operating system responsive to a wide system range of hundreds of data and function entries from the keyboard housed in a housing and comprising in combination,
said alphanumeric computer system having both a keyboard and visible display screen housed in the computer housing, means storing a set of subroutines in said computer operating system for selection to operate the computer as constituents of data processing programs for processing said data and function entries computer data processing means responsive to computer instruction commands and said stored subroutines in said data processing programs for processing alphanumeric data and for organizing and displaying alphanumeric characters upon said display screen for the functions provided by said computer system said keyboard having a set of manually operable keys in said keyboard operatively coupled to process alphanumeric data in said computer including a decimal entry subset of ten keys operable to enter numerical digits into said computer, means for providing the keyboard with a subset of data entry keys in said set of keys, including said decimal entry subset, means for entering both a set of alphabetic characters from a predetermined alphabet set and a plurality of computer instruction commands one by one into the computer data processing means in response to selected keystrokes of keys in said subset of data entry keys in a two-stroke per entry code, computer mode changing means for changing computer operating modes in response to selected keys in said subset of data entry keys to establish different modes wherein selected ones of the keyboard keys have different roles for entering in one mode said alphabetic characters and in another mode computer instruction commands into said computer, computer activated means for processing in response to said stored subroutines alpha characters and decimal digits for entry from respective said subsets of decimal entry and data entry keys in a data character entry mode established by said computer mode changing means, and visual data entry instruction means operated automatically by said stored subroutines in said computer for setting aside temporarily on a predetermined instruction region of the display screen separated from a data display region different sets of keyboard operating instructions specifying the operating function of a plurality of individual said data entry keys in said subset of data entry keys in a plurality of currently selected ones of said operation modes for making a designated set of said computer entries responsive to keystrokes of particular keys in said set of keys and for retaining a separate data region of the display screen operating automatically from said stored subroutines in said computer for currently displaying alpha data characters as they are entered from said data entry keys for processing in the computer, whereby selected alpha data characters may be entered one by one into the computer as identified by the display of said keyboard operating instructions for entering the selected characters upon the display screen in response to two keystrokes per alpha character of keyboard keys in said data entry subset of keys.
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16. In a hand held multi-function alphanumeric computer with the capability of processing hundreds of data characters and alphanumeric command functions mounted in a housing having a common panel with a manual entry keyboard and a temporary display panel for displaying computer processed data indicia, the improvement comprising, means operable with said display panel to display alphanumeric data thereon in a plurality of lines of alpha characters, a limited number of keyboard keys divided into two mutually exclusive subsets of keys for entry respectively of decimal digits and alphabet characters, computer control means operable by the keyboard keys for selecting and automatically entering when selected a variety of computer input instructions and data input characters including a set of alphabetic characters in a two stroke per entry mode from said alphabet character subset of keys, computer operating means for controlling the keyboard and computer system means responding to keyboard keystroke entries to respond simultaneously to two keyboard input modes of operation, namely single stroke per entry for ten decimal digits from said subset of keys for decimal digits, and two stroke per entry for a set of alphabetic characters from said subset of keys for alphabet characters and computer data organization means for organizing and displaying on said temporary display panel in two mutually exclusive regions of the panel respectively (1) keystroke selection instructions in the multiple stroke per entry mode in the form of a multiple-choice chart identifying the functional response of individual keys in said alphabet character subset of keys on the keyboard to enter alphabetic characters in said set and (2) multiple line alphanumeric data messages processed by the computer in response to actuation of the keyboard keys.
- 17. In a hand held alphanumeric computer having a computer operated temporary display panel operable from a manually operated keyboard having a set of at least sixteen keys divided into two mutually exclusive subsets of six alphabet input keys and ten decimal input keys, the improved combination comprising, computer means for presenting a multiple line alphanumeric display screen on said panel divided into two mutually exclusive regions for display respectively of instructions and computer processed messages, computer means operating the computer in two entry modes respectively requiring a single stroke per entry from said decimal input keys for entry of decimal digits and two successive strokes per entry for entry of alphabetic characters from said six alphabet input keys, and means for operation of a further subset of keys on the keyboard for entry of computer instructions in the one-stroke-per-entry mode.
Specification