PC Keyboard In/Out of the basic stamp?
Vern Graner
Posts: 337
Recently, I came across a need for the ability to intercept/interpret the data from a PC keyboard before it was then passed along to the PC. I was wondering if anyone had done this already and had code that would read a standard PS2 style keyboard and also would allow the stamp to send PS2 keyboard compatible keystrokes to the PC? The hookup I envision would look something like this:
PC Keyboard--->BSII--->PC
Ideally, I would like to have the BSII "Watch" the input for keystrokes and simply pass them through to the keyboard jack on the PC unless the stamp sees a keystroke (or keystroke combo) that triggers a reaction such as:
Vern
PS: before someone points out the obvious that this could be done with a utility program in DOS or Windows, this is not an option as the I/O is being sent to a machine while it is in the BIOS screen, before any OS is operating..
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Post Edited (Vern) : 6/9/2005 9:27:47 PM GMT
PC Keyboard--->BSII--->PC
Ideally, I would like to have the BSII "Watch" the input for keystrokes and simply pass them through to the keyboard jack on the PC unless the stamp sees a keystroke (or keystroke combo) that triggers a reaction such as:
- BSII Sees "A", BSII sends "A"
- BSII Sees "f", BSII sends "f"
- BSII Sees "4", BSII sends "4"
- BSII Sees "CTRL-R", BSII sends "ALT-Q"
- BSII Sees "CTRL-C", BSII sends "CTRL-C"
Vern
PS: before someone points out the obvious that this could be done with a utility program in DOS or Windows, this is not an option as the I/O is being sent to a machine while it is in the BIOS screen, before any OS is operating..
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Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE | "If the network is down, then you're Senior Systems Engineer | obviously incompetent so why are we Texas Information Services | paying you? Of course,if the network http://www.txis.com | is up, then we obviously don't need Austin Office 512 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" ©VLG
Post Edited (Vern) : 6/9/2005 9:27:47 PM GMT
Comments
·· There used to be a device available called the KeyVerter that allowed you to connect a PC keyboard to the Stamp and read key presses.· You might be able to find a used one on eBay.· That would allow you to obtain the keystrokes.· As for sending them, I have heard of people doing that directly from the Stamp Module.
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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support
csavage@parallax.com
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Sid Weaver
Need a bezel for your LCD?
Newzed@aol.com
Post Edited (Newzed) : 6/9/2005 10:47:39 PM GMT
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I just edited the post.· Thanks, Paul.
Sid
Wow! That handily solves the "keyboard in" part.. now how about the keyboard out?
Vern
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Here is a direct link to the PAK-6 Co-Processoer, if you want to learn more about it:
http://www.awce.com/pak6.htm
Regards,
Bruce Bates
I think I gave up trying to be sneaky around.. hmm lets just say "over 40"!
Frankly, if I wanted a keystroke logger, there are plenty of those around and they would take considerably less brain power for me to implement than this idea!
Vern
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If the systems are all identical, would you consider using a bios copy/restore utility that boots off of a floppy or cd???
A lot of the newer mobs do support this option.
Good luck!
Bob N9LVU
start:
serin 14, baud, [noparse][[/noparse]STR keyin\20\13
for x = 0 to 19
if keyin(x) = 0 THEN
debug cr
goto start
ENDIF
debug keyin(x)
next
I·can a string of 20 charcters to the debug screen or I can press one key then Enter and the screen will display the key I pressed.
I wrote another routine:
if key(x) = "A" then
serout 16, baud, [noparse][[/noparse]"1234", cr]
When I press A on my little keyboard followed by Enter the debug screen displays 1234.
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Sid Weaver
Need a bezel for your LCD?
Newzed@aol.com
·
Though a good idea, and one that was considered, there is some data that is specific to each machine. I need the ability to have the system non-interfere with regular keystrokes, but then "jump into action" when it sees the command it is supposed to replace with a string of digits.
The "input" portion to the stamp seems to be solvable with a couple of hardware solutions (though I'm still curious if it could be done software-only). At this point all I would need would be a routine that would allow the Stamp to send PS2 keyboard formatted text out.
Does anyone know if this is possible through software on the stamp or through hardware (i.e. a serial->ps2 keyboard adapter)?
Thanks for the idea though.. we might be able to use this to pre-set the bios and then maybe have the operators just change the specifics... hmm might merit exploration. Only stumbling block I can see is these are custom single board PCs w/o any floppy or CDROM...
Vern
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Thanks for this little "Proof of concept" of the intercept and replace idea!
Vern
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Sid
I mean the output of the stamp needs to be plugged into the PS2 keyboard port of a PC and generate signls the PC will accept as if the PC were simply "seeing" a PS2 keyboard. i.e. {PC Keyboard}--->{BSII}--->{PC} The end result being an "insert" between a "regular" x86 PC and a "regular" PS2 style keyboard. Does that help?
Vern
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Sound logical?
Sid