Portable, computer-peripheral apparatus including a universal serial bus (usb) connector

Abstract

A portable computer-peripheral apparatus comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector. The apparatus is operable to communicate with a computer terminal (e.g. a ‘PC’). Following connection to the PC, the apparatus initialises (i.e. presents or enumerates itself) as a HID keyboard and then sends to the terminal a first predefined sequence of keycodes automatically without manual interaction; the keycodes complying with the human interface device (HID) keyboard standard protocol. Each keycode represents and simulates a keystroke, such as those performed when a user strikes a key on the PC keyboard. The keycode sequence automates the direct access to content, and/or or the initiation of a task or other process.

1 . A portable computer-peripheral apparatus including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector and a button, the apparatus being operable to communicate with a computer terminal such that, following connection to the terminal, the apparatus initialises or presents itself as a human interface device (HID) keyboard, wherein the apparatus is configured to send to the computer terminal an automated series of HID keycodes representing a password string in response to receiving a press of the button by a user. 
     
     
         2 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the received press of the button is a single press of the button. 
     
     
         3 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the HID keycodes include unique data identifying a user and/or the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the HID keycodes include unique data authenticating a user and/or the apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  in which the apparatus is a HID device. 
     
     
         6 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including in addition means of communicating with the terminal wirelessly. 
     
     
         7 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a USB microcontroller. 
     
     
         8 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the portable computer-peripheral apparatus is a USB key. 
     
     
         9 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an additional driver is not required for the computer terminal. 
     
     
         10 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the automated series of HID keycodes do not include a full command for automated login but instead only a part of a login. 
     
     
         11 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the automated series of HID keycodes automates direct access to content, and/or initiation of a task or other process. 
     
     
         12 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to use inbuilt components of commonly used operating systems, such as such as MacOS or Windows. 
     
     
         13 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes both the USB connector and a wireless connection; wherein in use the apparatus is first connected physically to the computer terminal by the USB connector, initiating transmission of a sequence of HID keycodes that performs a ‘pairing’ operation between the apparatus and the computer terminal; thus providing clearance for subsequent automatic wireless communication between the apparatus and the computer terminal. 
     
     
         14 . The portable computer-peripheral apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the automated series of HID keycodes are transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory storage medium, the computer program product executable on a portable computer-peripheral apparatus comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector and a button, the computer program product executable on the portable computer-peripheral apparatus to:
 (i) following connection of the portable computer-peripheral apparatus to a computer terminal, to initialise or to present the portable computer-peripheral apparatus as a human interface device (HID) keyboard to the computer terminal;   (ii) detect a press of the button by a user, and   (iii) in response to detecting the press of the button, to send to the computer terminal an automated series of HID keycodes representing a password string.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the received press of the button is a single press of the button. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the HID keycodes include unique data identifying a user and/or the apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the HID keycodes include unique data authenticating a user and/or the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the automated series of HID keycodes do not include a full command for automated login but instead only a part of a login. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the automated series of HID keycodes automates direct access to content, and/or initiation of a task or other process.