Terminal configuration manager

Abstract

A terminal configuration management system manages the configuration of a microprocessor-based computer terminal which includes three types of memory elements: non-volatile read only memory, non-volatile read/write memory, and volatile random access memory, including configuration registers for storing short term configuration data that defines the configuration of the terminal. The read only memory has a block of standard configuration data, as well as configuration management processing routines stored therein which allow configuration parameters defined by the configuration data to be selectively displayed on the display screen of the terminal and to be readily modified and/or summarized through the use of specially labeled keys of a keyboard included in the terminal which correspond to the labeling used to identify the choices of configuration parameter values and groupings displayed on menu lists. Simplified table structures allow many such menu lists to be managed by few processing routines, using vocabulary strings which allow phrases and phrase fragments which are defined only once in the terminal's memory. Standard configuration data stored in the non-volatile read only memory is transferred to the configuration registers upon initial power up of the terminal. Modified short term configuration data may be transferred to the non-volatile read/write memory where it becomes long term configuration data. Such long term configuration data is transferred back to the configuration registers upon subsequent application of power to the terminal.