Item selection signal input apparatus that reduces the processing load of a host computer
First Claim
1. An item selection input apparatus enabling an operator to communicate with an external data processing device, comprising:
- variable format display means having a display screen for displaying a selected one of a plurality of screen formats;
a transparent keyboard panel overlayed on said display screen and divided into a matrix of manually selectable zone panels, wherein each screen format is configured to identify plural item keys, each item key corresponding to one or more zone panels, and wherein when an operator selects a particular item key, a corresponding one of said zone panels provides a zone panel selection signal;
data storage means for storing screen format data representing said plurality of screen formats and an item input data table, indicative of a plurality of input data groups associated with a plurality of item keys, including for each input item data group a page number assigned to the group with one or more screens associated with each page number, and for each item key included in the input data group;
item key positioning data and item key size data to be associated with at least one zone panel,display text data for defining the symbols to be displayed corresponding to each item key, andcoded digital data to be output in response to manual operation of each item key;
display control means responsive to said zone panel selection signal for controlling said variable format display means to select the next screen format out of said plurality of screen formats to display said selected next screen format on said display screen;
output means responsive to the operation of an item key of for accessing that portion of said item input data table corresponding to the page number associated with the selected item key and for providing coded digital data to said external data processing device;
said data storage means further including;
screen format identification signal means for storing and providing a screen format identification signal to identify said selected screen format; and
next-screen-table storage means for storing a next screen table including screen format selection information including a page number for specifying the screen format to be displayed next depending upon the combination of said zone panel selection signal and said screen format;
retrieving means responsive to said screen format identification signal and said zone panel selection signal for searching said next screen table storage means to obtain a page number for identifying the screen format to be displayed next; and
means for deriving screen format data provided by said retrieval means from said data storage means and providing the same to said variable format display means.
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Abstract
An item selection signal input apparatus enabling an operator to communicate with a data processor is disclosed. This apparatus includes a variable format display panel, a transparent keyboard panel provided on a display screen, a memory for storing data representing a plurality of screen formats to be displayed, a display controller for selecting the screen format to be displayed next from the displayed screen and the panel selected by the operator and providing the same to the variable format display, an output device for providing to the data processor a message defined according to the entry from the keyboard and the displayed screen format, a driver for driving IC cards having back-up power, and a transfer device for distributing and transferring the contents stored in the IC card to the data memory, the display controller, and the output device. Data required for operation is stored in the IC card in advance. It is not necessary to receive data required for operation from the data processor.
40 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An item selection input apparatus enabling an operator to communicate with an external data processing device, comprising:
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variable format display means having a display screen for displaying a selected one of a plurality of screen formats; a transparent keyboard panel overlayed on said display screen and divided into a matrix of manually selectable zone panels, wherein each screen format is configured to identify plural item keys, each item key corresponding to one or more zone panels, and wherein when an operator selects a particular item key, a corresponding one of said zone panels provides a zone panel selection signal; data storage means for storing screen format data representing said plurality of screen formats and an item input data table, indicative of a plurality of input data groups associated with a plurality of item keys, including for each input item data group a page number assigned to the group with one or more screens associated with each page number, and for each item key included in the input data group; item key positioning data and item key size data to be associated with at least one zone panel, display text data for defining the symbols to be displayed corresponding to each item key, and coded digital data to be output in response to manual operation of each item key; display control means responsive to said zone panel selection signal for controlling said variable format display means to select the next screen format out of said plurality of screen formats to display said selected next screen format on said display screen; output means responsive to the operation of an item key of for accessing that portion of said item input data table corresponding to the page number associated with the selected item key and for providing coded digital data to said external data processing device; said data storage means further including; screen format identification signal means for storing and providing a screen format identification signal to identify said selected screen format; and next-screen-table storage means for storing a next screen table including screen format selection information including a page number for specifying the screen format to be displayed next depending upon the combination of said zone panel selection signal and said screen format; retrieving means responsive to said screen format identification signal and said zone panel selection signal for searching said next screen table storage means to obtain a page number for identifying the screen format to be displayed next; and means for deriving screen format data provided by said retrieval means from said data storage means and providing the same to said variable format display means.
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2. An item selection signal input apparatus enabling an operator to communicate with an external data processing device, comprising:
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variable format display means having a display screen for displaying a selected one of a plurality of screen formats; a transparent keyboard panel overlayed on said display screen and divided into a matrix of manually selectable zone panels, and wherein each screen format is configured to identify plural item keys, each item key corresponding to one or more zone panels, and wherein when an operator selects a particular item key, a corresponding one of said zone panels provides a zone panel selection signal; data storage means for storing screen format data representing said plurality of screen formats and an item input data table, indicative of a plurality of input data groups associated with a plurality of item keys, including for each input data group, a page number assigned to the group with one or more screens associated with each page number, and for each item key included in an input data group; item key positioning data and item key size data to be associated with at least one zone panel, display text data for defining the symbols to be displayed corresponding to each item key, coded digital data to be output in response to manual operation of each item key, and output flag data for determining whether or not the coded digital data should be transmitted to said external data processing device; display control means responsive to said zone panel selection signal for controlling said variable format display means to select the next screen format out of said plurality of screen formats and to display said selected next screen format on said display screen; output means responsive to the operation of an item key of for accessing that portion of said item input data table corresponding to the page number associated with the selected item key and for providing to said external data processing device coded digital data in accordance with the output flag data corresponding to the selected item key. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An item selection signal input apparatus enabling an operator to communicate with an external data processing device, comprising:
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variable format display means having a display screen for displaying a selected one of a plurality of screen formats; a transparent keyboard panel overlayed on said display screen and divided into a matrix of manually selectable zone panels, wherein each screen format is configured to identify plural item keys, each item key corresponding to one or more zone panels, and wherein when an operator selects a particular item key, a corresponding one of said zone panels provides a zone panel selection signal; data storage means for storing screen format data representing said plurality of screen formats and an item input data table, indicative of a plurality of input data groups associated with a plurality of item keys, including for each data group; a data group identifier, item key positioning data and item key size data to be associated with at least one zone panel, display text data for defining the symbols to be displayed on each item key, coded digital data to be output in response to manual operation of the item key, and next screen selection information; display control means responsive to said zone panel selection signal and next screen selection information stored in said item input data table for controlling said variable format display means to select the next screen format out of said plurality of screen formats and to display said selected next screen format on said display screen; and output means responsive to the selection of an item key of said variable format display means for accessing that portion of the item input data table corresponding to the group identifier associated with the selected item key and for providing corresponding coded digital data to said data processing device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification