Method and apparatus for translating key codes between servers over a conference networking system

• US 5,640,540 A
• Filed: 02/13/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Freer, Jay D., Fuqua, Todd W., Ansberry, Catherine Malia
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/387,506
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/600, 395/700, 395/200, 395/425, 395/161, 395/159, 395/160, 395/725, 395/650, 395/153, 395/800, 395/200.04, 395/200.2, 395/200.03, 395/200.01, 364/514 C, 364/222.81-222.82, 364/228.3-228.5, 364/231, 364/264, 364/189, 380/25, 380/23, 380/4, 379/89, 379/84, 379/100, 379/202, 379/204, 379/269, 345/119, 345/146, 345/156, 345/2, 345/168, 341/26
• US Class Current: 703/26
• 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

Abstract

A conference-enabled X application gets distributed to many different X servers, each of which may have different keyboard configurations. Each X server may have a unique range of key codes and a unique keysym to key code mapping. X protocol contains keyboard information in the form of key codes and a modifier bitmask that indicates which key code modifiers, such as the Shift key, are set along with the key code. In order for the conference-enabled X application to interpret the key codes in the protocol correctly, the X conference-enabler provides a technique to translate the key codes between the various X servers in the conference. The method it uses involves querying the keysym that a specific key code/modifier combination is interpreted as on one X server and then finding a valid key code/modifier combination on another X server that has the same keysym. This translation of key codes allows an X application to be used in a conference among X servers with different keyboards and different keysym to key code mappings.

Claims

1. In a networking system that distributes an application to a plurality of servers in a conference mode, wherein selected servers have a particular keyboard configuration, a method for translating key codes between selected of the plurality of servers having different keyboard configurations, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a specific keysym for a selected key code on a source server while said application is in said conference mode by;

requesting said specific keysym for said destination server;

requesting said destination server'"'"'s keycode corresponding to said specific keysym; and

mapping said specific keysym on said source server to a valid key code on a destination server having the same key symbol.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of mapping said specific key code further comprises the step of:

modifying said key symbol with a first modifier corresponding to said specific key code.

3. In a networking system that distributes an application to a plurality of servers in a conference mode, wherein selected servers have a particular keyboard configuration, a system for translating key codes between selected of the plurality of servers having different keyboard configurations, the system comprising:

means, coupled to said networking system, for determining a specific keysym for a selected key code on a source server by requesting said specific keysym for said destination server and requesting said destination server'"'"'s keycode corresponding to said specific keysym; and

means, coupled to said determining means, for mapping said specific keysym on said source server to a valid key code on a destination server having the same key symbol.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein said means for mapping said specific key code further comprises:

means for modifying said key symbol with a first modifier corresponding to said specific key code.

5. In a network computer program product that distributes an application to a plurality of servers in a conference mode, wherein selected servers have a particular keyboard configuration, a computer program product for translating key codes between selected of the plurality of servers having different keyboard configurations, the computer program product comprising:

computer usable code means for determining a specific keysym for a selected key code on a source server by requesting said specific keysym for said destination server and said destination server'"'"'s keycode corresponding to said specific keysym while said application is in said conference mode; and

computer usable code means for mapping said specific keysym on said source server to a valid key code on a destination server having the same key symbol.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said computer usable code means for mapping said specific key code further comprises:

computer usable code means for modifying said key symbol with a first modifier corresponding to said specific key code.

7. A method of distributing an application to a plurality of servers in a networking system comprising:

while said application is in a conference mode among a plurality of users having different keyboard configurations over said networking system, translating key codes between selected of the plurality of servers having different keyboard configurations by;

determining a specific keysym for a selected keycode on a source server by requesting said specific keysym for said destination server and requesting said destination server'"'"'s keycode corresponding to said specific keysym; and

mapping said specific keysym on said source server to a valid keycode on a destination server having the same key symbol.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said step of mapping said specific key code further comprises:

modifying said key symbol with a first modifier corresponding to said specific key code.