Smartphone Keyboard Scancode Mapping for Multi-Device Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless keyboards are bulky, and households with multiple computers face challenges when multiple users need to interact with these devices simultaneously, as each computer typically requires its own keyboard and mouse.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device, such as a smartphone, can establish a data connection with a computer and simulate a keyboard or mouse by mapping key presses to scancodes, allowing the handheld device to send key press data to execute actions on the computer, thereby enabling shared input across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless keyboards are used to eliminate cables, then convenience is improved, but device bulkiness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a remote device (smartphone, tablet, or wireless display device) to create a virtual copy of the keyboard interface. The remote device receives input signals from the user and transmits them to the display device, effectively copying keyboard functionality without requiring a physical keyboard at the display location. This resolves the contradiction by providing keyboard convenience wirelessly while avoiding the bulkiness of wireless keyboards.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote device acts as an intermediary between the user and the display device. Instead of having the user interact directly with a physical keyboard at the display location, the remote device mediates the interaction by receiving input, processing it, and transmitting it to the display device. This intermediary approach provides keyboard functionality without requiring the bulky wireless keyboard hardware.
2Reliability
If each computer has its own keyboard and mouse, then user interaction reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The remote device is designed to be universal and can function as different input devices (keyboard, mouse, touchpad) depending on the interaction mode. The system allows a single remote device to serve multiple computers or the same computer in different roles, providing multi-functionality that reduces the total number of input devices needed while maintaining reliable user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple input devices into a single remote device. Instead of having separate keyboards and mice for each computer, the system combines keyboard, mouse, and touchpad functions into one remote device that can interact with multiple display devices. This merging reduces device complexity and cost while maintaining interaction reliability through proper signal routing and device identification.
3Productivity
If multiple users want to use computers simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but the need for multiple input devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic device assignment where the remote device can switch between different display devices or computers based on user needs. The input signals are dynamically routed to the appropriate display device, allowing multiple users to access different computers simultaneously through the same physical remote device. This dynamic approach enables simultaneous user interaction without requiring separate input devices for each user-computer combination.
Data Source
AI summary
A data connection can be established between a handheld device (e.g., a mobile phone or smartphone) and a computerized second device. For example, an action associated with a keyboard scancode can be mapped to a key on the keypad of the handheld device. A key press on a keypad of the handheld device can be translated into key press data. The key press data can be sent to the second device over the data connection, causing the action to be executed on the second device.