Multi-mode keyboard

• US 10,606,370 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2019
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pro-Boards, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pro-Boards, LLC
• Inventors: Potts, Brian H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ma, Calvin C
• Application Number:
  US16/503,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20190324557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 345169, 345173, 345174, 345168, 715810, 715818
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence

Abstract

A method includes receiving a first keystroke signal from a keyboard indicating a first key has been pressed while operating in a first state, switching the keyboard from the first state to a second state. During the second state, a second keystroke signal is received from the keyboard indicating a second key has been pressed. In response, a plurality of keystroke signals is determined and sent to a second computing device during the second state. Further during the second state, a third keystroke signal is received from the keyboard indicating a third key has been pressed. In response, the keyboard switches from the second state to a third state. During the second state, the keyboard is compatible with a first type of computing device or word processing application. During the third state, the keyboard is compatible with a second type of computing device or word processing application.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a keyboard, a memory keystroke signal, wherein the memory keystroke signal is received in response to a user depressing a first physical key on the keyboard;

initiating, by the processor, a recording mode in response to receiving the memory keystroke signal, during which received any keystroke signals received are recorded in a buffer;

receiving, by the processor during the recording mode, one or more keystroke signals and recording the one or more keystroke signals in the buffer;

receiving, by the processor, a recall memory keystroke signal, wherein the recall keystroke signal is received in response to the user depressing a second physical key on the keyboard;

ending, by the processor, the recording mode in response to receiving the recall memory keystroke signal and initiating a recall memory mode;

storing, by the processor, in a memory of the keyboard, an association between the recall memory keystroke signal and the one or more keystroke signals recorded in the buffer during the recording mode;

receiving, by the processor, the recall memory keystroke signal from the keyboard during the recall memory mode in response to the user again depressing the second physical key on the keyboard; and

sending, by the processor during the recall memory mode and in response to receiving the recall memory keystroke signal, each of the one or more keystroke signals directly to a second computing device in the order in which the one or more keystroke signals were recorded during the recording mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the processor, along with the recall keystroke signal during the recall memory mode, an alternate function keystroke signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the alternate function keystroke signal is generated when at least one of an alt key, a control key, a shift key, an option key, a function key, or a command key on the keyboard is pressed.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining, by the processor, an alternate one or more keystroke signals from the memory associated with the alternate function keystroke signal and the recall memory keystroke signal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending, by the processor during the recall memory mode and in response to receiving the recall memory keystroke signal and the alternate function keystroke signal, the alternate one or more keystroke signals directly to a second computing device.

6. A system comprising:

a memory of a keyboard; and

a processor of the keyboard coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a memory keystroke signal, wherein the memory keystroke signal is received in response to a user depressing a first physical key on the keyboard;

initiate a recording mode in response to receiving the memory keystroke signal, during which received any keystroke signals received are recorded in a buffer;

receive, during the recording mode, one or more keystroke signals and record the one or more keystroke signals in the buffer;

receive a recall memory keystroke signal, wherein the recall keystroke signal is received in response to the user depressing a second physical key on the keyboard;

end the recording mode in response to receiving the recall memory keystroke signal and initiate a recall memory mode;

store, in a memory of the keyboard, an association between the recall memory keystroke signal and the one or more keystroke signals recorded in the buffer during the recording mode;

receive the recall memory keystroke signal from the keyboard during the recall memory mode in response to the user again depressing the second physical key on the keyboard; and

send, during the recall memory mode and in response to receiving the recall memory keystroke signals, each of the one or more keystroke signals directly to a second computing device in the order in which the one or more keystroke signals were recorded during the recording mode.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first physical key and the second physical key are a same key on the keyboard.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first physical key and the second physical key are different physical keys on the keyboard.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the keyboard further comprises a plurality of physical recall memory keys.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to, during a second recording mode, receive a second recall memory keystroke signal from one of the plurality of physical recall memory keys.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to receiving the second recall memory keystroke signal from one of the plurality of physical recall memory keys, end the recording mode and initiate a recall memory mode.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to store, in the memory of the keyboard, a second association between the second recall memory keystroke signal and a second one or more keystroke signals recorded in the buffer during the second recording mode.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to, during the recall memory mode, receive the second recall memory keystroke signal and, in response, send each of the second one or more keystroke signals directly to a second computing device in the order in which the second one or more keystroke signals were recorded during the second recording mode.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the second one or more keystroke signals stored as the second association are associated with only one of the plurality of physical recall memory keys that was pressed by the user during the second recording mode.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the one or more keystroke signals are associated with a plurality of physical keys of the keyboard.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor of a keyboard, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a memory keystroke signal, wherein the memory keystroke signal is received in response to a user depressing a first physical key on the keyboard;

initiating a recording mode in response to receiving the memory keystroke signal, during which received any keystroke signals received are recorded in a buffer;

receiving, during the recording mode, one or more keystroke signals and recording the one or more keystroke signals in the buffer;

receiving a recall memory keystroke signal, wherein the recall keystroke signal is received in response to the user depressing a second physical key on the keyboard;

ending the recording mode in response to receiving the recall memory keystroke signal and initiating a recall memory mode;

storing, in a memory of the keyboard, an association between the recall memory keystroke signal and the one or more keystroke signals recorded in the buffer during the recording mode;

receiving the recall memory keystroke signal from the keyboard during the recall memory mode in response to the user again depressing the second physical key on the keyboard; and

sending, during the recall memory mode and in response to receiving the recall memory keystroke signals, each of the one or more keystroke signals directly to a second computing device in the order in which the one or more keystroke signals were recorded during the recording mode.