JP2582908B2 - Keyboard emulator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a keyboard emulator capable of simplifying a key input process by supporting a user customizing function for software.

(Prior Art) In an information processing device such as a workstation or a personal computer having a keyboard as an input device, software created individually according to the needs of the user is used, or a commercially available software corresponding to the purpose is used. I use software.

In the case of the former software, since it is created individually so that the user can easily use it, there is no need to perform user customization, but since it is a single item production, it takes time and effort in the creation process and lacks versatility.

On the other hand, when using the latter distribution software,
It uses the user customization function of the software to respond to user needs.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) However, according to the above-described conventional example, creating software for each user requires a lot of development time,
It is not versatile and expensive.

In addition, if distribution software having no user customizing function is used, it is difficult to meet user needs.

Furthermore, even when using distribution software having a user customization function, all user customization functions of each distribution software must be acquired, which is very troublesome. For example, at present, the assignment of function keys on the keyboard also differs depending on the individual user customizing function.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard emulator that supports a user customizing function without changing current software and simplifies key input processing. It is in.

[Configuration of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, a keyboard emulator according to the present invention includes a keyboard and an information processing device main body in an information processing device such as a workstation or a personal computer having a keyboard as an input device. A signal characteristic recording unit prerecorded with the signal characteristics of the information processing device, and code data supplied from a host computer or an external device of the information processing device. A control unit that reads a signal characteristic corresponding to each input code data from the signal characteristic recording unit, an electric signal generation unit that generates an electric signal based on the read signal characteristic, and a generated electric signal or the keyboard. And a connection unit for supplying the electric signal to the apparatus main body.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, when code data such as a character code is supplied from a host computer or an external device, a signal characteristic corresponding to the input code data is read from a signal characteristic recording unit, and the signal characteristic is read. Is supplied to the apparatus main body.

Therefore, when viewed from the apparatus main body, the electric signal input from the keyboard connected to the apparatus main body and the electric signal based on the code data from the host computer or the external apparatus can be handled in exactly the same manner. Support of the customization function and simplification of the key input device can be achieved.

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

In this embodiment, an information processing apparatus such as a workstation or a personal computer is constituted by the keyboard 1 and the terminal main body (corresponding to the "apparatus main body" in claim 1). Is connected to a keyboard emulator 3. The terminal body 2 of the information processing apparatus is connected to a host computer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a computer) 4.

The keyboard emulator 3 includes an operation unit 5, a simple keyboard 6, a storage unit 7, and a connection unit 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. Also,
The operation unit 5 similarly supplies a code corresponding to a key input from the simple keyboard 6 to the storage unit 7.

The simple keyboard 6 has only keys that are always used by the operator, and is used as an auxiliary.

The storage unit 7 includes a control unit 9, a signal characteristic storage unit 10, and an electric signal generation unit 11.

The control unit 9 extracts an electric characteristic corresponding to the input code from the signal characteristic storage unit 10 according to the input code from the operation unit 5 and supplies the characteristic data to the electric signal generation unit 11.

In the signal characteristic storage unit 10, the characteristics of the electric signal adapted to the terminal body 2 are recorded in advance.

The electric signal generator 11 generates an electric signal corresponding to the signal characteristic data supplied via the controller 9 and outputs the electric signal to the connection unit 8.

The connection unit 8 supplies the input electric signal to the terminal body 2. The connection section 8 supplies an electric signal from the keyboard 1 to the terminal body 2 during normal use.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The operation unit 5 monitors whether or not there is an input code. If there is an input code (step ST1), then, whether the input code is from the computer 4 or an external device,
Alternatively, the input code from the simple keyboard 6 is determined. If the input code is from the computer 4 or an external device, the input code is transferred to the control unit 9 prior to the input code from the simple keyboard 6 (step ST2YES, step 3). ).

On the other hand, if it is an input code from the simple keyboard 6,
Similarly, the input code is transferred to the control unit 9 (step
ST2NO, step ST4).

The control unit 9 extracts signal characteristic data corresponding to the input code from the signal characteristic recording unit 10 based on the transferred input code, and outputs the characteristic data to the electric signal generating unit 11 (step ST5).

The electric signal generation unit 11 generates an electric signal from the input signal characteristic data (step ST6), and the generated electric signal is supplied to the terminal body 2 via the connection unit 8 (step ST7).

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

For this reason, for example, if the terminal device is considered as a CAD device, if keyboard commands such as drawing reading, initial setting such as screen display, etc. are automatically output to the terminal main body 2 via the keyboard emulator 4, an operator corresponding to the command can be used. The trouble of key input can be omitted.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the keyboard emulator according to the present invention, when viewed from the apparatus main body, an electric signal input from a keyboard connected to the apparatus main body and an electric signal based on code data from a host computer or an external device. And can handle signals at all. As a result, the user customizing function can be supported without changing the current software, and the key input processing of the operator can be greatly simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An information processing apparatus such as a workstation or a personal computer having a keyboard as an input device, the apparatus being interposed between the keyboard and the information processing apparatus main body. A signal characteristic recording unit recorded in advance, and a control unit that inputs code data supplied from a host computer or an external device of the information processing apparatus and reads a signal characteristic corresponding to the input code data from the signal characteristic recording unit. And an electrical signal generation unit that generates an electrical signal based on the read signal characteristic; and a connection unit that supplies the generated electrical signal or the electrical signal from the keyboard to the device main body. And a keyboard emulator.