Portable data storage and editing device

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 . The questions raised in reexamination request No. 09/004,214 filed Apr. 10, 1996, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

I claim:  
     
       1. A portable data input, storage and editing device comprising: 
       input means for data entry;  
       storage means for storage of data entered by said input means;  
       transfer means for transferring data entered by said input means to the keyboard interface of a separate host computer; , said transfer means comprising:  
       
         connecting means for connecting said portable device to the keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via the keyboard interface of the host computer; and  
       
       
         emulator means for modifying said data prior to being transferred from said portable device for receipt by the keyboard interface of the host computer; 
       
       processor means for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in one of a plurality of modes, and  
       portable power storage means for operating at least said input means, said storage means and said processor means when said portable device is disconnected from the host computer thereby enabling remote input, storage and editing of said data entered by said input means,  
       wherein the host computer comprises a keyboard interface, and  
       said transfer means comprises connecting means for connecting said device to said keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via said keyboard interface .  
     
     
       2. A device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising initiating means for initiating a program operating on the host computer. 
     
     
       3. A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the host computer comprises a power interface for selectively transferring power from the host computer to said input means, storage means and processor means when the device is connected to the host computer. 
     
     
       4. A device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising macro generating means for replacing a first sequence of a first number of keystroke characters represented by said data entered by said input means by a second sequence of a second number of keystroke characters. 
     
     
       5. A device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising output key means for initiating a data output transfer via said transfer means to the host computer. 
     
     
       6. A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said processor means for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in one of a plurality of modes is programmed for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in: 
       an active mode wherein said data entered by said input means is stored in said storage means and said transfer means accesses data from said storage means for transfer to the host computer, and  
       a bypass mode wherein said transfer means transfers data directly from said input means to the host computer.  
     
     
       7. A device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said program is operable for controlling transfer of file data between said device and the host computer. 
     
     
       8. A device as recited in  claim 7  wherein said program is RAM-resident. 
     
     
       9. A device as recited in  claim 6  wherein said input means comprises a keyboard for inputting data to the host computer, thereby providing for the host computer a detachable keyboard for standard and remote operation, wherein in standard operation said processor means controls said input means, storage means and transfer means to operate in said bypass mode and said keyboard is attached to the host computer via said keyboard interface to input sequences of characters to the host computer, while in said remote operation said processor means controls said input means, storage means and transfer means to operate in said active mode and said keyboard is detached from the host computer for inputting sequences of characters to said storage means for subsequent transfer via said keyboard interface to the host computer. 
     
     
       10. A device as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a bypass means for causing said processor means to establish said bypass mode. 
     
     
       11. A device as recited in  claim 9  wherein said transfer means further comprises emulation means for emulating a keyboard of any of a plurality of computers, thereby allowing said device to be used as the keyboard of any of said computers. 
     
     
       12. A device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said bypass means comprise a program for selecting among a plurality of operating modes, including a keyboard emulation mode wherein said input means emulates one of a plurality of predetermined keyboards of the host computer. 
     
     
       13. A device as recited in  claim 10  wherein said bypass means comprises a plurality of switches for routing data from said input means to said transfer means via said storage means and for routing data from said input means to said transfer means bypassing said storage means. 
     
     
       14. A device as recited in  claim 10  further comprising editing means for editing strings of characters represented by said data entered by said input means prior to transfer said data to the host computer, said bypass means comprises means for routing data from said input means to said transfer means via said storage means in said active mode and for routing data from said input means to said transfer means in said bypass mode, bypassing said storage means, and for bypassing said editing means in said bypass mode. 
     
     
       15. A portable data input, storage and editing device comprising: 
       input means for data entry;  
       storage means for storage of data entered by said input means;  
       transfer means for transferring data entered by said input means to the keyboard interface of a separate host computer, said transfer means comprising:  
       
         connecting means for connecting said portable device to the keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via the keyboard interface of the host computer, and  
       
         emulator means for modifying said data prior to being transferred from said portable device for receipt by the keyboard interface of the host computer ; and  
       processor means for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in one of a plurality of modes including:  
       an active mode wherein said data entered by said input means is stored in said storage means and said transfer means accesses data from said storage means for transfer to the host computer, and  
       a bypass mode wherein said transfer means transfers data directly from said input means to the host computer,  
       further comprising editing means for editing strings of characters represented by said data entered by said input means prior to transfer said data to the host computer,  
       wherein the host computer comprises a keyboard interface, and  
       said transfer means comprises connecting means for connecting said device to said keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via said keyboard interface .  
     
     
       16. A portable data input, storage and editing device comprising: 
       input means for data entry;  
       storage means for storage of data entered by said input means;  
       transfer means for transferring data entered by said input means to the keyboard interface of a separate host computer, said transfer means comprising:  
       
         connecting means for connecting said portable device to the keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via the keyboard interface of the host computer, and  
       
         emulator means for modifying said data prior to being transferred from said portable device for receipt by the keyboard interface of the host computer ; and  
       processor means for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in one of a plurality of modes including:  
       an active mode wherein said data entered by said input means is stored in said storage means and said transfer means accesses data from said storage means for transfer to the host computer, and  
       a bypass mode wherein said transfer means transfers data directly from said input means to the host computer,  
       further comprising translating means for translating sequences of characters represented by said data entered by said input means from an input format for the device to a format usable by an application program running on the host computer,  
       wherein the host computer comprises a keyboard interface, and  
       said transfer means comprises connecting means for connecting said device to the keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via said keyboard interface .  
     
     
       17. A device is recited in  claim 16  wherein said translating means operates to translate said sequence of characters from said input format to any of a plurality of formats used by multiple applications running on said host computer. 
     
     
       18. A device is recited in  claim 16  wherein said translating means operates to translate said sequences of characters form one format usable by one application program running on the host computer to another format usable by another application program running on the host computer. 
     
     
       19. A portable data input, storage and editing device comprising: 
       input means for data entry;  
       storage means for storage of data entered by said input means;  
       transfer means for transferring data entered by said input means to the keyboard interface of a separate host computer  
       connecting means for connecting said portable device to the keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via said keyboard interface of the host computer, and  
         an emulator means for modifying said data prior to being transferred from said portable device for receipt by the keyboard interface of the host computer ; and  
       processor means for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in one of a plurality of modes including:  
       an active mode wherein said entered data is stored in said storage means and said transfer means accesses data from said storage means for transfer to the host computer, and  
       a bypass mode wherein said transfer means transfers data directly from said input means to the host computer,  
       the host computer including a keyboard interface and said transfer means including connecting means for connecting said device to said keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via said keyboard interface; 
       said input means including a keyboard for inputting data to for the host computer, thereby providing for the host computer a detachable keyboard for standard and remote operation, wherein in standard operation said processor means controls said input means, storage means and transfer means to operate in said bypass mode and said keyboard is attached to the host computer via said the keyboard interface of the host computer to input sequences of characters to the host computer by the emulator means, while in said remote operation said processor means controls said input means, storage means and transfer means to operate in said active mode and said keyboard is detached from the host computer for inputting sequences of characters to said storage means for subsequent transfer via said the keyboard interface to the host computer; and  
       further comprising editing means for editing strings of characters represented by said data entered by said input means prior to transfer of said data to the host computer.  
     
     
       20. A device as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising macro generating means for replacing a first sequence of a first number of keystroke characters represented by said data entered by said input means by a second sequence of a second number of keystroke characters. 
     
     
       21. A device as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a bypass means for causing said processor means to establish said bypass mode, 
       said bypass means comprises means for routing data from said input means to said transfer means via said storage means in said active mode and for routing data from said input means to said transfer means in said bypass mode, bypassing said storage means, and for bypassing said editing means in said bypass mode.  
     
     
       22. A portable data input, storage and editing device comprising: 
       input means for data entry;  
       storage means for storage of data entered by said input means;  
       transfer means for transferring data entered by said input means to the keyboard interface of a separate host computer, said transfer means comprising  
       
         connecting means for connecting said portable device to the keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via the keyboard interface of the host computer, and  
       
         emulator means for modifying said data prior to being transferred from said portable device for receipt by the keyboard interface of the host computer ;  
       processor means for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means, thereby enabling remote input, storage and editing of said data entered by said input means, and  
       record and playback means for recording the data entered by said input means and for playing back the recorded data, thereby to provide a fault-tolerant operating capability to the portable device,  
       wherein the host computer has a keyboard interface, and  
       said transfer means comprises connecting means for connecting said device to said keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means to the host computer via said keyboard interface .  
     
     
       23. A device as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said transfer means comprises said record and playback means. 
     
     
       24. A device as recited in  claim 22  wherein said input means comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       25. A portable data input, storage and editing device comprising: 
       
         first input means for data entry;  
       
       
         storage means for storage of data entered by said first input means;  
       
       
         transfer means for transferring data entered by said first input means to the keyboard interface of a separate host computer, said transfer means comprising:  
       
       
         connecting means for connecting said portable device to the keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said first input means and emulating a second input means different from said first input means from said portable device to the host computer prior to being transferred from said portable device to the keyboard interface of the host computer;  
       
       
         processor means for controlling said first input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in one of a plurality of modes, wherein said processor means is programmed for controlling said transfer means to transfer data emulating second input means different from said first input means for receipt by a keyboard interface of the host computer, and  
       
       
         portable power storage means for operating at least said first input means, said storage means and said processor means when said portable device is disconnected from the host computer thereby enabling remote input, storage and editing of said data entered by said first input means. 
       
     
     
       26. A device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the host computer comprises a power interface for selectively transferring power from the host computer to said input means, storage means and processor means when the portable device is connected to the host computer. 
     
     
       27. A device as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising output key means for initiating a data output transfer via said transfer means to the host computer. 
     
     
       28. A device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said processor means is programmed for controlling said first input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in: 
       
         an active mode wherein said data entered by said first input means is stored in said storage means and said transfer means accesses data from said storage means for transfer to the host computer, and  
       
       
         a bypass mode wherein said transfer means transfers data directly from said first input means to the keyboard interface of the host computer. 
       
     
     
       29. A device as recited in  claim 28 , further comprising a bypass means for causing said processor means to establish said bypass mode. 
     
     
       30. A device as recited in  claim 29  wherein said bypass means comprises a plurality of switches for routing data from said first input means to said transfer means via said storage means and for routing data from said input means to said transfer means bypassing said storage means. 
     
     
       31. A device as recited in  claim 25  further comprising editing means for editing strings of characters represented by said data entered by said first input means prior to transfer of said data to the host computer. 
     
     
       32. A portable data input, storage and editing device comprising: 
       
         input means for data entry;  
       
       
         storage means for storage of data entered by said input means;  
       
       
         transfer means for transferring data entered by said input means to the keyboard interface of a separate host computer, said transfer means including:  
       
       
         emulating means for modifying said data prior to being transferred from said portable device to the keyboard interface of the host computer;  
       
       
         processor means for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in one of a plurality of modes,  
       
       
         portable power storage means for operating at least said input means, said storage means and said processor means when said portable device is disconnected from the host computer thereby enabling remote input, storage and editing of said data entered by said input means, and  
       
       
         a means for housing said input means, storage means, transfer means, processor means and portable power storage means, and  
       
       
         connecting means for connecting said portable device to the keyboard interface of the host computer and for transferring said data entered by said input means from said portable device to be received by the keyboard interface of the host computer. 
       
     
     
       33. A device as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the host computer comprises a power interface for selectively transferring power from the host computer to said input means, storage means and processor means when the portable device is connected to the host computer. 
     
     
       34. A device as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising output key means for initiating a data output transfer via said transfer means to the host computer. 
     
     
       35. A device as recited in  claim 32 , wherein said processor means for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in one of a plurality of modes is programmed for controlling said input means, said storage means and said transfer means to operate in: 
       
         an active mode wherein said data entered by said input means is stored in said storage means and said transfer means accesses data from said storage means for transfer to the host computer, and  
       
       
         a bypass mode wherein said transfer means transfers data directly from said input means to the keyboard interface of the host computer. 
       
     
     
       36. A device as recited in  claim 35 , further comprising a bypass means for causing said processor means to establish said bypass mode. 
     
     
       37. A device as recited in  claim 36  wherein said bypass means comprises a plurality of switches for routing data from said input means to said transfer means via said storage means and for routing data from said input means to said transfer means bypassing said storage means. 
     
     
       38. A device as recited in  claim 32  further comprising editing means for editing strings of characters represented by said data entered by said input means prior to transfer of said data to the host computer. 
     
     
       39. A device as recited in  claim 32  wherein the transfer means further comprising an emulating means for modifying said data that is transferred from said portable device for receipt by the keyboard interface of the host computer.