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

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Mattox
• Inventors: Mattox, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILIPP, TIMOTHY L
• Application Number:
  US08/064,654
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 364/189, 364/168, 364/709, 341/23, 345/172
• US Class Current: 708/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A system and method for modifying or enhancing the operation of a palmtop computer which intercepts keystrokes from the keyboard, reads the keyboard characters corresponding to the keystrokes, reads display data, and based on the current state of the display, the sequence of previous keystrokes, and other variables, either delivers the current keystroke character to the application program without change, with additional or replacement characters, or dumps the current keystroke character. The system and method alters the "look-and-feel" of the computer by providing easier ways to interact by the keyboard with the built-in application programs. The system and method may monitor display data between keystrokes and determine the identity of the particular active application program based on what the display screen is displaying. Keystrokes and the display state are monitored to determine if there are additional functions to be executed for the active application program. In some instances, characters are written directly to the display to change the look of the display screen for the user to see before any keystroke is made. In some instances, the audible alert signal is monitored and audible alert signal requests are intercepted.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of creating a user configuration file including commands to activate, deactivate, or control parameters of said set of stored commands, and receiving data through the keyboard representing said user configuration file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said set of stored commands further includes instructions for performing a fast save and exit function comprising the steps of:

determining whether to quit the active application program and save any open files, based on the last determined keystroke and the previous keystroke;

returning without striking a key a keystroke character stream to the active application program indicating the quitting of the active application program if the particular keystroke sequence is found in the current keystroke and the previous keystroke;

determining if a particular line of the display information provides a particular user prompt asking the user to save changes before exiting the file

returning without striking a key a character stream to the active application program for controlling the termination of the active application program and saving said open files.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said set of stored commands further includes instructions for performing a mass exit function comprising the steps of:

determining if two keystrokes represent a particular keystroke sequence indicative of an exit of all of the opened application programs based on the last determined keystroke and the previous keystroke;

returning a character stream without striking a key on the keyboard to quit the active application program;

determining if the active application program has been quit based on the display data;

determining if there is an unsaved open file in the application program if the application program did not quit;

returning a character stream without striking a key for saving any unsaved open file; and

repeating both steps of returning and both steps of determining until all application programs are quit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said set of stored commands includes a plurality of sequences of instructions for saving any open file, and quitting each of the application programs which may run on the computer, the particular sequence of instructions for quitting the application programs being selected on the basis of the display data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

monitoring for an audible alert signal request generated by an application program.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

intercepting the audible alert signal request generated by an application program so as to prevent the request from causing an audible alert signal.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said set of stored commands further includes:

instructions defining a plurality of character categories to which a keystroke character is assigned and defining a plurality of rules assigned to categories of consecutive keystroke characters;

determining the category of each character received by a keystroke from the keyboard;

determining the rule corresponding to categories of consecutive keystroke characters;

returning without striking a key, a keystroke character or keystroke characters to said application program to modify one or more consecutive keystroke characters as specified by the corresponding rule.