Ast Research, Inc.

Michael K Goodman

Charles F Raasch

Farzad Noorbehesht

An apparatus and method emulates mouse pointer functions utilizing a keyboard having an additional special function key. When the special function key is depressed, designated keys on the keyboard are interpreted as 'mouse keys' which may be used to direct a pointer on a computer screen in a manner similar to a conventional mouse pointer. In one embodiment, the keys used as cursor movement keys during normal operation are designated as 'mouse keys' which effect the movement of the pointer on the screen when the special function key is depressed. In addition, other keys may be used as left and right mouse buttons and as mouse lock keys. In one embodiment, the pointer speed is gradually increased when the user continuously holds any of the cursor movement keys down for a preselected interval. The data generated by the 'mouse keys' are indistinguishable from data provided by conventional mouse pointer devices so that a conventional mouse driver and standard command protocol may be used in accordance with the present invention.

Keyboard pointing device

A security system for stand alone and portable computer hosts which utilizes both a hardware key and a password key to enable-access to the computer host. The entry of the password key and the hardware key is monitored by the keyboard controller. The keyboard controller alters a status bit during the POST portion of the host code if access is granted. The host security is divided into two levels of security, a first administrative level and a second user level. The administrative level is accessible by the entry of a first password or by the hardware key and enables access to all levels of the host SET-UP configuration. The user level is accessible by the entry of a second password and only enables access to a limited portion of the setup configuration.

Security system for a stand-alone computer

An ISA-compatible computer system includes an additional function key on its keyboard. The additional function key does not have a defined function for conventional ISA-standard computers. When a conventional alphanumeric key or function key is activated on the keyboard, the computer system is interrupted using IRQ1 and the key information is communicated to the computer system so that the computer system can respond in a conventional manner using a conventional keyboard interrupt handling routine. When the additional function key and an alphanumeric key are activated in combination, a second interrupt different from the IRQ1 interrupt is activated (e.g., IRQ15). The computer system responds to the second interrupt by inputting an identification of the activated alphanumeric key and performing a selected predetermined function in response thereto. The handling of the second interrupt is performed by a separate interrupt handling routine within the computer system so that conventional terminate and stay resident (TSR) programs that intercept conventional keyboard inputs cannot readily intercept keyboard input initiated by the additional function key.

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Tustin, CA, United States of America

Michael K Goodman