Patent ID: 6834294
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of communicating information over a network between a remote server and a client computer keyboard system, comprising:receiving an identifier associated with a user of the client computer; identifying a state of the client computer; requesting from a client-side keyboard message cache a message to be displayed on a display of a keyboard key and an action to be associated with the keyboard key, wherein the request is based at least in part on the identifier and the state of the client computer; determining if the requested message and action are in the cache; upon determining that the requested message and action are in the cache, retrieving the message and action from the cache, displaying the message on the keyboard key display, and performing the action at least partly in response to the keyboard key being depressed; and upon determining that the requested message and action are not in the cache, requesting the message and action from the remote server, receiving the requested message, displaying the message on the keyboard key display, and performing the action at least partly in response to the keyboard key being depressed.