Method for providing mouse functionality using either an internal or external mouse input device

• US 5,608,895 A
• Filed: 11/30/1994
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kwanho
• Primary Examiner(s): Treat, William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/346,843
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 345/157, 345/168
• US Class Current: 703/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/105 where the programme performs an input/output emulation function
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A method for forming a keyboard with a mouse function capable of replacing the mouse function by moving a pointer on a screen to an X axis (horizontal axis) and a Y axis (vertical axis) freely, by switching an operation mode of the keyboard and using a cursor key of the keyboard instead of a mouse. This method includes the following steps: a step for detecting whether a mouse driver is enabled when an external mouse is not connected to the computer system after determining whether the external mouse is connected to the computer system if an emulation for a mouse command is finished; a step for carrying out a corresponding process to each command of a mouse, and detecting whether the mouse hot key is enabled in the above-mentioned conditions when a mouse driver is enabled; a step for forming a mouse data frame if an input operation of the cursor key is carried out in the case where the mouse hot key is enabled; a step for detecting whether the mouse is disabled in the case where a present operation mode is a stream mode after the detection is carried out whether the present operation mode is the stream mode; a step for transmitting the mouse data frame to a central processing unit (CPU) in the case where the mouse is not disabled; and a step for returning.

Claims

1. A method for providing mouse emulation in a computer system having a CPU and a mouse driver, said system capable of using an external mouse and a keyboard emulating a mouse based on inputs from keyboard keys, said keyboard having a controller, comprising the steps of:

detecting whether said external mouse is connected to said commuter system upon a command for mouse input;

detecting whether said mouse driver is enabled or disabled;

transmitting command signals to said external mouse when said external mouse is connected to the system or said mouse driver is disabled;

detecting whether said mouse driver is in an echo state echoing through the keyboard controller all data transmitted from the CPU;

detecting whether received data is a reset control command when said mouse driver is in said echo state;

performing said reset control command when said received data is said reset control command and said mouse driver is in said echo state;

echoing said received data when said mouse driver is in said echo state and said received data is not said reset control command;

transmitting an acknowledgement signal to a central processing unit (CPU) when said mouse driver is not in said echo state;

determining, by the keyboard controller, whether a control flag is set when said mouse driver is not in said echo state;

performing an operation indicated by said control flag when said control flag is set; and

performing a mouse command, emulating the functionally of said external mouse, when said mouse driver is not in said echo state and said control flag is not set.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said reset control command is a reset command.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said reset control command is a reset echo mode command.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said control flag is a resolution flag indicating a need to save a new resolution value, further comprising the steps of:

determining, by said keyboard controller, whether said resolution flag is set; and

saving said new resolution value and clearing said resolution flag when said resolution flag is set.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said control flag is a sample rate flag further comprising the steps of:

determining, by said keyboard controller, whether said sample rate flag is set, said sample rate flag indicating a need to save a new sample rate; and

saving said new sample rate and clearing said sample rate flag when said sample rate flag is set.