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Computer system and method for modifying and enhancing the built-in programs of a computer

  • US 5,404,321 A
  • Filed: 05/21/1993
  • Issued: 04/04/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for modifying and enchancing functions of a computer having a ketboard, a display for displaying information in accordance with display data provided to the display, and a plurality of stored application programs built into the computer and responsive to a keystroke character stream, the method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) monitoring the display memory to determine the display data provided thereto;

    (b) determining, from the display data, the application program that is active;

    (c) waiting for a key to be pressed on the keyboard and then determining the keystroke character if a key is pressed;

    (d) examining a series of keystrokes; and

    (e) determining, from the display data and the series of keystrokes, (i) whether the last determined keystroke is to be delivered to the application program without change, (ii) whether additional or different characters are to be inserted into the character stream to be delivered to the application program, or (iii) whether the last determined keystroke is to be dumped and not delivered to the application program, said determining step comprising searching through a set of stored commands to determine if there is a stored command designated for execution in the active application program based on the last determined keystroke, previous keystroke and said display data wherein said set of stored commands includes commands for changing a character represented by a particular keystroke based on double-clicking of the corresponding key to display the shifted version of that key, comprising the steps of;

    determining the time difference between the pressing of two consecutive keystrokes;

    comparing said time difference with a predetermined threshold;

    comparing the last determined keystroke with the previous keystroke if the time difference is less than a predetermined threshold;

    determining if the previous keystroke is an unshifted character; and

    returning a keystroke character without striking a key to the application program for converting the previous keystroke to its corresponding shifted keystroke character if it is determined that the previous keystroke is an unshifted character.

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