JPH02224109A - Computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of function keys by previously set up whether the function execution command object of each function key is a terminal equipment or a host computer in each function key. CONSTITUTION:An operator sets up whether the function execution instruction object of each function key C is the terminal equipment A or the host computer B in each function key and stores the set contents in a storage means E. When an optical function key C is depressed by the operator after completing said setting, an instruction object selecting means F reads out the set contents corresponding to the function key from the storage means E and selects the instruction object corresponding to the set contents. Consequently, it is unnecessary to individually form each corresponding function key C to distinguish an instruction to the terminal equipment A from that to the host computer B, so that the number of function keys C can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a computer system in which a terminal device is emulated by a host computer.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there have been computer systems in which a terminal device is emulated by a host computer such as a personal computer.

Such computer systems are provided with function keys for instructing the terminal device and the host computer to execute various functions. Conventionally, the following method has been adopted to distinguish between instructions to a terminal device and instructions to a host computer.

The first method is to assign a function key that instructs a terminal device to execute a function and a function key that instructs a host computer to execute a function to separate keys.

The second method is to assign the function key that instructs the terminal device to execute a function and the function key that instructs the host computer to execute the function to the same key, and when that key is operated, other control keys (
This method distinguishes between instructions to both depending on whether a state key (state key) has been operated or not.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, if the above-mentioned first method is adopted in order to distinguish between instructions to the terminal device and instructions to the host computer, there is a drawback A1 in that the number of function keys increases and it takes time and effort to select the keys.

Further, when the second method is adopted, there is a drawback that key operations become complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a computer system in which instructions can be given to a terminal device and a host computer separately by simple key operations without increasing the number of function keys. purpose.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a computer system in which a terminal device A is emulated by a host computer B, as shown in the functional block diagram in FIG. A function key C for instructing a device to execute a predetermined function, and a target setting means for setting whether the target to be instructed to perform a predetermined function by operating the function key C is terminal device A or host computer B. and storage means E for storing the settings set by the referent setting means in association with the function key C; and storage means E for storing the settings set by the referent setting means in association with the function key C when the function key C is operated. Referential target selecting means F is provided for reading out the setting contents shown in FIG.

[For production]

In the above configuration, the operator first sets, for each function key, whether the instruction target for the function execution by the function key C is the terminal device A or the host computer B, using the target setting means. The setting contents are stored by the storage means E in association with each function key.

After the setting is completed, when an arbitrary function key C is operated by the operator, the referent selection means F reads the setting contents corresponding to the operated function key from the storage means E and selects the referent according to the setting contents. Make a choice.

As a result, a function execution instruction from the operated function key is sent to an instruction target preset by the operator.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer system implementing the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the terminal device 1 includes a control section 2, a keyboard 3, a storage section 4, a communication control section 5, and a screen display section 6.

The i control unit 2 is constituted by a microcomputer consisting of a microprocessor (not shown), its processing program, a ROM that stores fixed data, and a RAM that stores temporary data, and performs referent setting processing and instructions, which will be described later. Target selection process.

Executes setting status display processing, etc.

The keyboard 3 includes a terminal device and a host computer 7.
A plurality of function keys for instructing the controller 2 to execute predetermined functions, and various keys for sending various information, commands, etc. to the control unit 2 are provided.

The storage unit 4 is composed of, for example, a magnetic disk, and the third
As shown in the figure, each flag (81 to Sn) set by the referent setting process described later is stored in each address (Fl to Fn) corresponding to each function key of the keyboard 3.

The communication control section 6 connects the control section 2 to a host computer 7 that emulates the terminal device 1 via a communication port a8, and controls communication between the two.

The screen display section 6 is composed of, for example, a CRT display device, and displays various information sent from the control section 2 on the screen.

In the above configuration, when data to be sent to the host computer 7 is input from the keyboard 3, the control unit 2 transmits the input data to the host computer 7 via the communication control unit 5 and the communication line 8. .

On the other hand, the host computer 7 sends the data sent from the control unit 2 and the data generated by itself to the control unit 2 via the communication line 8 and the communication control unit 5, and the control unit 2 displays these data on the screen. section 6.

Next, the pointing target setting process executed by the control unit 2 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

This instruction target setting process is a process for presetting whether the target to be instructed to execute a predetermined function by each function key of the keyboard 3 is the terminal device 1 or the host computer 7.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure for executing this instruction target setting process based on instructions from the keyboard 3.

First, when an arbitrary function key is operated by the operator, the control section 2 reads the key number previously assigned to the operated function key.

Next, when the operator operates the keyboard 3 to specify whether the target for executing the function using the function key operated in the previous step is the terminal device 1 or the host computer 7, the control unit 2 The instruction is read from the keyboard 3 and the function key setting flag Sn is stored in the address Fn assigned to the operated function key in the storage section 4.

Note that this function key setting flag Sn is "0" when the instruction target is the terminal device 1.

If it is the host computer 7, set it to "1".

By repeating the above-described process, the instruction target for each function key on the keyboard 3 is set.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure for executing the instruction target setting process based on instructions from the host computer 7.

The control unit 2 first determines whether or not it has detected the function key setting control code sent from the host computer 7, and if the code is detected, it uses the code to determine the function key number and function key setting flag. Load.

Then, the read setting flag Sn is stored in a predetermined address Fn of the storage unit 4 corresponding to the read function key number.

FIG. 6 shows instructions to be executed when any function key is operated by the operator after the referent of each function key is set by the referent setting process of FIGS. 4 and 5 described above. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing target selection processing.

First, the control unit 2 reads from the keyboard 3 the key number assigned to the operated function key. Then, the setting flag Sn stored at the address Fn corresponding to the key number is read out from the storage unit 4, and it is determined whether the designated target is the terminal device 1 based on the setting flag Sn.

That is, the setting flag read from the storage unit 4 is rQ.
If it is J, it is determined that the instruction target is the terminal device 1, and a predetermined function instructed by the operated function key is executed.

Further, if the setting flag read from the storage unit 4 is “1”, it is determined that the instruction target is the host computer 7, and the code corresponding to the operated function key is sent to the communication control unit 5 and the communication line. 8 to the host computer 7.

The host computer 7 receives this code and executes a predetermined function instructed by the function key.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a setting state display process executed when an operator confirms the setting state of the target of each function key.

When the operator operates a function key for which he wishes to confirm the setting state of the instruction target, the control section 2 first reads the operated function key number from the keyboard 3.

Then, the setting flag Sn stored in the address Fn of the storage section 4 corresponding to the read key number is read out, and the setting state of the object of the operated function key is displayed on the screen display section 6.

As described above, according to the embodiment described above, if it is set in advance for each function key whether the target of the function execution instruction by each function key is the terminal device 1 or the host computer 7, the operator can later When an arbitrary function key is operated, a referent set for the operated function key is automatically selected, and execution of a predetermined function is instructed to the selected referent.

Therefore, there is no need to provide separate function keys for each of the terminal device 1 and the host computer 7 in order to distinguish between instructions, and the number of function keys can be reduced.

Furthermore, there is no need to operate, for example, a control key (state key) at the same time as a function key in order to distinguish the target.

Key operations can be facilitated.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was explained in which the referent setting flag Sn stored in each address Fn of the storage unit 4 is set to "0" in the case of the terminal device 1 and "1" in the case of the host computer 7. , this flag Sn may be set to "1" in the case of the terminal device 1 and "0" in the case of the host computer 7.

Further, the present invention can be implemented in various computer systems in which a terminal device is emulated by a host computer.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in order to distinguish between instructions to the terminal device and instructions to the host computer, function keys for instructions to the terminal device and function keys for instructions to the host computer are used. Since there is no need to provide separate function keys, the number of function keys can be reduced.

In addition, key operations are easy because it is not necessary to operate other keys at the same time as the function key in order to differentiate between instructions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the basic configuration of this invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer system implementing this invention, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the storage contents of the storage unit, FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the referent setting process. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing the pointing target selection process, and FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing the setting state display process. 1...Terminal device 2...Control unit 3...Keyboard 4...Storage unit 5...Communication control unit
6...Screen display unit 7...Host computer 8...Communication line Fig. 4 sl Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 2 Fig. i3 Fig. 7 factor

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A computer system configured to emulate a terminal device by a host computer, comprising: a function key for instructing the terminal device and the host computer to execute a predetermined function; and the function key. instruction target setting means for setting whether a target to be instructed to execute a predetermined function is the terminal device or the host computer; and setting contents set by the instruction target setting means to the function keys. a storage means for storing information in association with the function key; and when the function key is operated, setting contents stored in the storage means in association with the function key are read out from the storage means, and a pointing target is set according to the setting contents. A computer system comprising referent selection means for making a selection.