System for dynamic configuration of an input device by downloading an input device layout from server if the layout is not already display on the input device

• US 6,301,626 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Knox, Paul Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): DU, THUAN N
• Application Number:
  US09/406,840
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 710/8, 710/10, 710/62, 711/111, 711/115, 709/217, 709/213, 400/89, 400/90, 400/472
• US Class Current: 710/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A system and method is provided that displays different symbols on an input device corresponding to different input device layouts. On a keyboard type input device, each key on the keyboard has an individually controllable display device which displays one or more symbols in a given symbol set. Software detects which keyboard layout should be used, downloads the keyboard layout over a network, such as the Internet, and causes the display device in each key to display the appropriate symbol or symbols. A virtual machine embedded in the keyboard provides a platform independent execution environment and simplifies the development of different types of input device layouts. This unique arrangement obviates the need for purchasing different keyboards and software to accommodate the different character sets used by different languages or different specialized software applications.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method to configure an input device having a set of display elements capable of displaying symbols, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting an input device layout;

retrieving the input device layout from a network, wherein the retrieving step further includes the steps of;

determining if the identified input device layout is already displayed on the input device; and

downloading the identified input device layout over the network from a server having a plurality of input device layouts based upon the determination; and

displaying a set of symbols on the display elements corresponding to the input device layout.

2. The computer-readable medium in claim 1 wherein the selecting step further includes instructions for reading an environment variable that indicates the input device layout.

3. The computer-readable medium in claim 1 wherein the selecting step further includes instructions for reading a switch value that indicates the input device layout.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the selecting step further includes instructions for reading a value from a smartcard that indicates the input device layout.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the retrieving step further includes the step of downloading the identified input device layout from a server connected to the network.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the retrieving step further includes the step of downloading an applet containing the identified input device layout over the network from a server having a plurality of applets capable of processing input device layouts.

7. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method to configure an input device having a set of display elements capable of displaying symbols, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting an input device layout;

retrieving the input device layout from a network, wherein the retrieving step further includes the steps of;

determining if the identified input device layout is already displayed on the input device; and

downloading an applet having the identified input device layout over the network from a server having a plurality of applets capable of processing device layouts based upon the determination; and

displaying a set of symbols on the display elements corresponding to the input device layout.

8. A processor designed to configure an input device having a set of display elements capable of displaying symbols, comprising:

means for identifying an input device layout;

means for accessing the input device layout over a network

means for determining if the identified input device layout is already displayed on the input device;

means for downloading the identified input device layout over the network from a server having a plurality of input device layouts based upon the determination; and

means for displaying a set of symbols on the display elements corresponding to the input device layout.

9. A data processing system that facilitates configuring an input device having a set of display elements, comprising:

a server capable of storing a plurality of input device layouts; and

a network connected to the server that enables the plurality of input device layouts to be downloaded into the input device; and

a processor connected to the network that identifies an input device layout, accesses the input device layout over the network, determines if the identified input device layout is already displayed on the input device, downloads the identified input device layout over the network from the server based upon the determination, and displays a set of symbols on the display elements corresponding to the input device layout.

10. A processor designed to configure an input device having a set of display elements capable of displaying symbols, comprising:

means for identifying an input device layout;

means for accessing the input device layout over a network means for determining if the identified input device layout is already displayed on the input device;

means for downloading an applet having the identified input device layout over the network from a server having a plurality of applets capable of processing device layouts based upon the determination; and

means for displaying a set of symbols on the display elements corresponding to the input device layout.

11. A data processing system that facilitates configuring an input device having a set of display elements, comprising:

a server capable of storing a plurality of input device layouts; and

a network connected to the server that enables the plurality of input device layouts to be downloaded into the input device; and

a processor connected to the network that identifies an input device layout, accesses the input device layout over the network, determines if the identified input device layout is already displayed on the input device, downloads an applet having the identified input device layout over the network from the server based upon the determination, and displays a set of symbols on the display elements corresponding to the input device layout.