JPH03154120A - Keyboard emulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To support the customizing function without changing the software of the present state and to simplify the key input processing by providing a signal characteristic recording part for recording the signal characteristic of an information processor. CONSTITUTION:An operating part 5 inputs a code such as a character code, etc., outputted from an external device or a computer 4 and supplies its input code to a storage part 7. A control part 9 extracts an electric characteristic corresponding to the input code from a signal characteristic recording part 10 in accordance with the input code from the operating part 5 and supplies its characteristic data to an electric signal generating part 11. In the signal characteristic recording part 10, the characteristic of an electric signal adapted to a terminal body 2 is recorded in advance. Accordingly, in the case of seeing from the terminal body 2 and the computer 4 side, the electric signal generated by the electric signal generating part 11 can be handled equally just like that which is inputted from a keyboard 1. In such a way, the user customizing function can be supported without changing the software of the present state, and the key input processing can be simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a keyboard emulator that supports user customization functions for software and simplifies manual key processing.

(Prior Art) Information processing devices such as workstations and personal computers that are equipped with a keyboard as an input device use software that is individually created according to the needs of the user, or commercially available software that is tailored to the purpose. using software.

In the case of the former type of software, since it is individually created to be easy for users to use, there is no need for user customization, but since it is produced in one piece, the creation process is time-consuming and lacks versatility.

On the other hand, when using the latter distribution software, the user customization function of the software is utilized to meet the user's needs.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, according to the above conventional example, creating software for each user requires a lot of development time, lacks versatility, and is expensive.

Furthermore, if distribution software without user customization functions is used, it will be difficult to meet user needs.

Furthermore, even when using distribution software with user customization functions, the user must learn all the user customization functions of each distribution software, which is extremely troublesome. For example, the current assignment of function keys on a keyboard differs depending on the individual user customization functions.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a keyboard emulator that supports user customization functions without changing the current software and can simplify manual key processing. It is in.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the keyboard emulator of the present invention is connected between the keyboard and the device main body of an information processing device such as a workstation or a personal computer that is equipped with a keyboard as an input device. The apparatus includes a signal characteristic recording section that records signal characteristics of the information processing device, and a control section that inputs a code such as a character code and reads out signal characteristics corresponding to the input code from the signal characteristic recording section for each input code. and an electrical signal generating section that outputs an electrical signal based on the read signal characteristics, and a connecting section that supplies the generated electrical signal or the electrical signal from the keyboard to the device main body. .

(Function) According to the above configuration, when a character code or the like is input from the outside, the signal characteristics corresponding to the input code are read out, and the electric signal according to the signal characteristics is supplied to the main body of the apparatus.

Therefore, inputs from keyboards provided in various information processing devices and the electrical signals can be treated equally, and support for user customization functions and labor for manual key processing are simplified.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment to which a keyboard emulator according to the present invention is applied.

In this embodiment, a keyboard emulator 3 is connected between a keyboard 1 and a terminal main body 2 of an information processing device (terminal device) such as a workstation or a personal computer. Further, the terminal main body 2 is connected to a host computer 4.

The keyboard emulator 3 includes an operation section 5, a simple keyboard 6, a storage section 7, and a connection section 8.

The operation unit 5 inputs a code such as a character code output from an external device or the computer 4 via a communication line, and supplies the input code to the storage unit 7. Further, the operation unit 5 similarly supplies codes corresponding to the manual keystrokes from the simple keyboard 6 to the storage unit 7.

The simple keyboard 6 has only the keys that are regularly used by the operator arranged and is used auxiliary.

The storage section 7 includes a control section 9, a signal characteristic recording section 10, and an electrical signal generation section 11.

In accordance with the input code from the operation unit 5 , the control unit 9 extracts electrical characteristics corresponding to the input code from the signal characteristic recording unit 10 and supplies the characteristic data to the electrical signal generation unit 11 .

In the signal characteristic recording section 10, electric signal characteristics adapted to the terminal main body 2 are recorded in advance.

The electrical signal generating section 11 generates an electrical signal corresponding to the signal characteristic data supplied via the control section 9 and outputs it to the connecting section 8 .

The connection section 8 supplies the input electrical signal to the terminal main body 2. Further, this connecting portion 8 supplies electrical signals from the keyboard 1 to the terminal main body 2 during normal use.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

The operation unit 5 monitors whether or not there is an input code, and if there is an input code (step 5T1), it then determines whether the input code is from the computer 4 or an external device.
Alternatively, it is determined whether the input code is from the simple keyboard 6, and if it is from the computer 4 or an external device, the input code is transferred to the control unit 9 with priority over the manual code from the simple keyboard 6 (step 5T2 YES, step 3).

On the other hand, if the code is input from the simple keyboard 6, the input code is similarly transferred to the control unit 9 (step 5).
72 NO, Step 5T4).

Based on the transferred input code, the control section 9 extracts signal characteristic data corresponding to the input code from the signal characteristic recording section 10, and outputs the characteristic data to the electric signal generation section 11 (step 5T5).

The electrical signal generating section 11 generates an electrical signal from the input signal characteristic data (Step 5T6), and the generated electrical signal is supplied to the terminal main body 2 via the connecting section 8 (Step 5T7).

Therefore, when viewed from the terminal body 2 and computer 4 side,
The electrical signal can be treated as if it were input from the keyboard 1.

For this reason, if we consider the terminal device to be a CAD device, for example, if keyboard commands such as reading drawings, initial settings for screen display, etc. are automatically output to the terminal body 2 via the keyboard emulator 4, the operator will have to Key human effort can be omitted.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the keyboard emulator according to the present invention, it is possible to support user customization functions without changing the current software, and it is possible to greatly simplify the manual key processing by the operator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment to which a keyboard emulator according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the keyboard emulator of the embodiment. 1...Keyboard 2...Terminal body 3...Keyboard emulator 4...Computer 5...Operation section 6...Simple keyboard 7...Storage section 8...Connection section 9... Control unit 10...Signal characteristic recording unit 11...Electrical signal generation unit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A device connected between the keyboard and the main body of an information processing device such as a workstation or a personal computer that is equipped with a keyboard as an input device, the signal characteristic recording the signal characteristic of the information processing device. a recording section; a control section that inputs a code such as a character code and reads signal characteristics corresponding to each input code from the signal characteristic recording section; and an electric signal generator that outputs an electric signal based on the read signal characteristics. A keyboard emulator comprising: a connecting portion for supplying a generated electrical signal or an electrical signal from the keyboard to the device main body.