Computer system having a controller which emulates a peripheral device during initialization

• US 5,946,469 A
• Filed: 11/15/1995
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Chidester, Philip Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/559,753
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/900, 395/200.09, 395/893, 395/800, 395/750, 395/750.06, 395/653, 395/892, 364/234, 364/234.2, 364/273.1, 364/280, 364/280.2, 364/DIG. 1, 345/157, 345/163
• US Class Current: 703/24
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/455 Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines

Abstract

A computer having a peripheral device emulator capable of emulating peripheral devices, thereby allowing a mouse to be physically connected to the computer system and function normally despite not being initialized at the time of system startup or reset. The peripheral device emulator, implemented in the computer system'"'"'s keyboard controller, operates in conjunction with a password lock mode and also operates at the time of system startup or reset. The peripheral device emulator accepts commands, status requests, and other control signals directed from the CPU and responds appropriately. Initialization commands sent from the CPU are stored for transfer to the emulated peripheral device when the device is physically connected to the computer system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer system of the type having a CPU, system memory associated with said CPU, a keyboard, a keyboard controller connected to said keyboard and to said CPU, and local keyboard controller memory associated with said keyboard controller, said method comprising the steps:

switching said CPU into a password lock mode in which unsolicited data or requests from peripheral devices other than said keyboard are not accepted by said CPU until a predetermined sequence is entered on said keyboard;

switching said keyboard controller between a normal operating mode and a peripheral-emulation mode, wherein said keyboard controller emulates a connection between the computer system and at least one peripheral device not connected to the computer system, by storing and responding to initialization data and commands sent by the CPU to initialize said peripheral device, in place of said peripheral device;

receiving initialization data and commands, by said keyboard controller, addressed from the CPU to said at least one peripheral device;

transmitting a response to said initialization data and commands, from said keyboard controller to the CPU;

storing said initialization data and commands in memory;

connecting said at least one peripheral device to said computer system; and

transmitting said stored initialization data and commands to said at least one peripheral device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard controller transmits said stored data and commands to said peripheral device when said keyboard controller switches out of said peripheral-emulation mode.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard controller transmits said stored data and commands to said peripheral device when said peripheral device is connected to said computer system.