User interface device for PC system

• US 6,064,368 A
• Filed: 04/08/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Sung Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US09/056,671
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 345/168, 345/169, 341/22, 341/21
• US Class Current: 345/158
• 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

Abstract

A user interface device for a PC system capable of converting user interface data transmitted from an external input device to data which can be recognized by the PC system includes an interface controller which is connected between a remote controller receiver and a system having a system BIOS program and outputs a system management interrupt (SMI) to the system when receiving data from the remote controller receiver and outputs a remote controller key code to the system in accordance with a first and a second transmission commands supplied from the system. An application program is performed by the remote controller key code supplied to the system, for thus previously applied receiver and keyboard controller can be continuously used although a function of the external input device such as the remote controller is changed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an input signal in a personal computer (PC) system having a remote controller detached from the PC system and transmitting a remote signal, a main system having an input control program, an interface controller providing an input key code signal corresponding to said remote signal, and a keyboard controller providing an output key code signal corresponding to said input key code signal to the main system, comprising:

providing a system management interrupt (SMI) signal from the interface controller to the main system in response to said remote signal;

providing a first transmission command signal from the main system in response to the SMI signal;

providing said input key code signal from the interface controller in accordance with the first transmission command signal;

determining a function corresponding to said input key code signal;

providing a second transmission command signal based on said function; and

repeatedly providing said input key code signal from the interface controller in accordance with the second transmission command signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing an input data signal from a keyboard or a mouse physically coupled to the PC system;

and providing a key code signal corresponding to said input data signal from the interface controller.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing said input key code signal in the interface controller; and

clearing said input key code signal from the interface controller when the interface controller does not receive the first transmission command from the main system for a predetermined time after the interface controller provide the SMI signal to the main system.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined time is 500 milliseconds.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said input key code signal corresponds to a particular function; and

storing said input key code signal in the main system based on a result of the determination.

6. A personal computer (PC) system, comprising:

a remote controller detached from the PC system and transmitting a remote signal;

a main system having an input control system program;

an interface controller providing a system management interrupt (SMI) signal to the main system in response to said remote signal, and providing an input key code signal corresponding to said remote signal, wherein the interface controller includes means for storing said input key code signal, and means for clearing a stored input key control signal if the interface controller does not receive the first transmission command from the system for a predetermined time after the interface controller provides the SMI signal to the main system, and wherein the main system includes means for generating a first transmission command signal in response to said SMI signal; and

a keyboard controller providing an output key code signal, corresponding to said input key code signal, to the main system.

7. The PC system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a keyboard physically coupled to the system for providing a keyboard signal; and

a mouse physically coupled to the system for providing a mouse signal.

8. The PC system according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined time is 500 milliseconds.

9. A personal computer (PC) system, comprising:

a remote controller detached from the PC system and transmitting a remote signal;

a main system having an input control system program;

an interface controller providing a system management interrupt (SMI) signal to the main system in response to said remote signal, and providing an input key code signal corresponding to said remote signal wherein the interface controller has a plurality of output data lines, and includes means for providing said input key code signal in accordance with the first transmission command signal, and for repeatedly providing said input key code signal through one of said plurality of output data lines in accordance with the second transmission command signal, wherein the main system includes means for generating a first transmission command signal in response to said SMI signal and means for determining a function corresponding to said output key code signal and providing a second transmission command signal based on said function; and

a keyboard controller providing an output key code signal, corresponding to said input key code signal, to the main system.

10. The PC system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a keyboard physically coupled to the system for providing a keyboard signal; and

a mouse physically coupled to the system for providing a mouse signal.

11. A personal computer (PC) system, comprising:

a remote controller detached from the PC system and transmitting a remote signal;

a main system having an input control system program;

an interface controller providing a system management interrupt (SMI) signal to the main system in response to said remote signal, and providing an input key code signal corresponding to said remote signal wherein the interface controller includes first and second data lines, and wherein the interface controller includes means for providing said input key code signal through the first data line in accordance with the first transmission command signal, and for repeatedly providing said input key code signal through one of the first and second data lines in accordance with the second transmission command signal, wherein the main system includes means for generating a first transmission command signal in response to said SMI signal, and means for determining a function corresponding to said output key code signal and providing a second transmission command signal based on said function; and

a keyboard controller providing an output key code signal, corresponding to said input key code signal, to the main system.