Importance

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Abstract

Method and apparatus are described for outputting data from a device, such as a portable keyboard, directly to a keyboard interface 40 of a destination computer 42. The device may be detached from the computer and operate remotely therefrom, in an 'active mode' wherein keystroke data is stored in internal memory thereof, for subsequent transfer to the destination computer. Alternatively, the device may be attached to the computer and function in a 'bypass mode' (or in a keyboard emulation routine of the active mode) as a standard input keyboard therefor. The destination computer 42 may be a personal computer or a terminal of a mainframe computer. The internal circuitry of the device includes a programmable processor 28, a program memory 30, a working memory 32, an input switch device 34, a display 36 and an output interface 38. A bypass switch device 24 permits the device to operate in the bypass mode. A resident program stored in program memory 30 controls input, editing, translation and output of data. The processor 28 performs all control and data processing functions. The working memory 32 provides scratchpad and data memory required to execute the program steps, and storage for keystroke files input in the transfer mode. The device may record a sequence of keystrokes for subsequent output to the destination computer in the event that faulty operation of the destination computer prevents reception and/or storage of the same, thus providing fault-tolerant data transfer. The output interface 38 communicates data and provides handshaking to the keyboard interface 40 of the destination computer 42.

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First Claim