Method and apparatus for binding peripheral devices to a computer
View Patent ↗A non-keyboard computer peripheral device represents itself to a host computer as having a keyboard function in addition to representing its actual function. Keyboard status signals are generated by the host computer in response to a user pressing different keys on an actual keyboard. The peripheral device uses the keyboard status signals to identify different peripheral device operations selected by the user. In one example, a radio receiving device represents itself to the host computer as including the keyboard function. Pressing a button on the receiving device causes the receiving device to send a sequence of keystroke commands to the host computer that cause the host computer to initiate software applications and to display operating instructions to a user. A series of further binding operations are then executed in accordance with the displayed operating instructions.
1. A computer element comprising: a peripheral device that is not a computer keyboard but where the peripheral device is configured to represent itself as both a keyboard and as a non-keyboard computer peripheral, wherein the peripheral device is further configured to invoke a sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands to cause an action on a host computer; wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands comprises a first portion that causes the host computer to access a web-site from the host device and a second portion that simulates keystroke input to achieve a functionality at the web-site.
2. The computer element of claim 1 , wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands are stored on the peripheral device during manufacture of the peripheral device.
3. The computer element of claim 1 , wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands open a command line interface and initiate host computer applications from the command line interface.
4. A device comprising: memory having stored thereon a sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands; and a controller configured to enumerate the device as a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device and as a virtual USB keyboard and wherein upon enumeration the controller is further configured to retrieve the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands from the memory and send the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands from the virtual USB keyboard to a host computer; wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands are configured to open a web browser on the host computer and then access a web page.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands open a command line interface and initiate host computer applications from the command line interface.
6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the device is a wireless device and wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands are configured to instruct a user how to bind the wireless device with a wireless transmitter.
7. The device of claim 4 , wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands are installed on the memory by the manufacturer and wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands are configured to cause the host computer to display information or execute commands for opening an application on the host computer.
8. The device of claim 4 , further comprising a button, wherein user activation of the button causes the controller to retrieve the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands from the memory and send the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands from the virtual USB keyboard to the host computer.
9. A device comprising: memory having stored thereon a sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands that when executed by a host device are configured to cause an action on the host device; a controller configured to enumerate the device as a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device and as a virtual USB keyboard; and a user input mechanism coupled to the controller, wherein activation of the user input mechanism causes the controller to retrieve the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands from the memory and to cause the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands to be transmitted to the host computer via the virtual USB keyboard to cause the action on the host computer; wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands comprises a first portion that causes the host computer to access a web-site from the host device and a second portion that simulates keystroke input to achieve a functionality at the web-site.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the action comprises performing a bind operation to discover wireless devices for linkage to the host computer.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the action comprises invoking a help application on the host computer.
12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the sequence of simulated keyboard keystroke commands comprises a first portion that causes the host computer to launch a help functionality offered on the host device and a second portion that simulates keystroke input into the help functionality.