Adapter and method for emulating the operation of a peripheral device of a computer
First Claim
1. An adapter for use with a computer having a keyboard port, for enabling the computer to receive keyboard data other than through a keyboard, the adapter comprising:
- a controller that is not part of a keyboard;
a data link that is not part of a keyboard; and
an interface operative to receive the keyboard data from an external device and to provide the controller with access to the keyboard data;
the controller being operative to receive the keyboard data and to cause transmission of the keyboard data to the data link;
the data link being operative to receive the keyboard data from the controller and to provide the keyboard data to the keyboard port at substantially all times that the computer is operative; and
the data link having a functional connection to the keyboard port, and the data link being further operative to cause the computer to enable the keyboard port,whereby the keyboard data is received by the controller, and transmitted to and through the data link to the computer in place of being received and transmitted through a keyboard, andwhereby the functional connection of the data link to the keyboard port causes the computer to enable the keyboard port.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, apparatus, and method for emulating the operation of a peripheral device of a computer. An adapter for communicating keyboard data to a computer via a data link and for communicating display data from the computer to an external device. The adapter eliminates the need for the peripheral device to be directly connected to the computer by enabling the computer to operate without the peripheral device while still receiving or generating the data normally processed by the peripheral device. The adapter presents itself to the computer as if the adapter were the emulated peripheral device. Thus, the operation of the adapter is transparent to the computer. A remote user can access the computer, via the adapter, by communicating keyboard data generated by the user on a keyboard at a remote location. The adapter communicates display data to the user at the remote location, so that the user can monitor the operation and output of the computer. The adapter provides access to the remote user at substantially all times that the computer is operative, including the time immediately following start-up of the computer. A method is also provided for enabling a computer to process keyboard data without having a keyboard directly connected to the computer. The method also enables the computer to transmit display data to an external device at substantially all times that the computer is operative, including the time immediately following start-up of the computer.
46 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An adapter for use with a computer having a keyboard port, for enabling the computer to receive keyboard data other than through a keyboard, the adapter comprising:
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a controller that is not part of a keyboard; a data link that is not part of a keyboard; and an interface operative to receive the keyboard data from an external device and to provide the controller with access to the keyboard data; the controller being operative to receive the keyboard data and to cause transmission of the keyboard data to the data link; the data link being operative to receive the keyboard data from the controller and to provide the keyboard data to the keyboard port at substantially all times that the computer is operative; and the data link having a functional connection to the keyboard port, and the data link being further operative to cause the computer to enable the keyboard port, whereby the keyboard data is received by the controller, and transmitted to and through the data link to the computer in place of being received and transmitted through a keyboard, and whereby the functional connection of the data link to the keyboard port causes the computer to enable the keyboard port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An adapter for receiving keyboard data from an external device and for transmitting keyboard data, in place of a keyboard of a computer, the adapter comprising:
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a controller that is not part of a keyboard and is not part of the external device; a data link that is not part of a keyboard; the controller being operative, at substantially all times that the controller is active, to receive the keyboard data from the external device and to cause transmission of the keyboard data to the data link; the controller being further operative to electronically identify itself as if the controller were a keyboard; and the data link being operative, at substantially all times that the data link is active, to receive the keyboard data from the controller and to transmit the keyboard data, whereby the keyboard data is received by the controller and transmitted to and through the data link in place of a keyboard. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. In a system including a computer without an attached keyboard and including an external device, a method for processing keyboard data without the attached keyboard, comprising the steps of:
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receiving the keyboard data from the external device; converting the keyboard data into keystroke data; providing the keystroke data to the computer; and causing the computer without the attached keyboard to receive the keystroke data at substantially all times that the computer is operative. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for enabling a computer, without an attached keyboard, to receive keyboard data, comprising:
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a computer having a keyboard port and not having an attached keyboard; an adapter, functionally connected to the computer, being operative to process the keyboard data by having a controller, and a data link that are functionally connected; and an interface operative to receive the keyboard data from an external device and to provide the controller with access to the keyboard data; the controller being operative to cause the reception of the keyboard data and to cause the transmission of the keyboard data to the data link; the data link being operative to receive the keyboard data and to transmit the keyboard data to the keyboard port of the computer; wherein the data link of the adapter makes a direct connection with the keyboard port of the computer, and wherein the direct connection causes the computer to enable the keyboard port during an initialization procedure, thereby enabling the computer to receive keyboard data without having an attached keyboard. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification