EP0983560A1

EP0983560A1 - Method and device for transferring data between two computers

Info

Publication number: EP0983560A1
Application number: EP98929336A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Detlef Arndt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-05-20
Filing date: 1998-05-18
Publication date: 2000-03-08
Also published as: AU7913598A; WO1998053409A1; DE19721129A1; DE19721129C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transferring data between computers. According to the invention, data in a first computer are read out in a first data format, then converted into a second data format and read into a second computer. The invention also relates to a device for transferring data between a first and a second computer, said computers being connected to each other for data purposes at least indirectly. The aim of the invention is to provide a means of transferring data between computers in such a way that data in a first data format can be converted into a second format without using complex programs or interfering with the data or program structure of the software used. To this end, the first computer and the second computer are activated to output and input the data via the keyboard of a control computer (3). The respective kex values TWA, TWB and the respective time values TZA and TZB are logged and the data being transferred are inputted into the second computer by means of anallocation program, said data being determined from the screen data of the first computer.

Description

Method and arrangement for data transmission between

Computers

The invention relates to a method for data transmission between computers, in which data from a first computer is read out in a first data format, then converted into a second data format and read into a second computer.

The invention further relates to an arrangement for data transmission between a first and a second computer, which are at least indirectly connected to one another on the data side.

Computers are used to manage data in many areas of business, science and the community. Basically, software is used that builds up databases. These databases have a format in which the data is stored, which depends on the respective software.

With the use of the software it is not uncommon for large databases to be built, which in turn represent a considerable value, since this value at least reflects the working time that was used to set up the databases.

If software no longer meets the requirements of a user, there is of course the option of Use of other software. It is problematic, however, that most of the new software used is not compatible with the old software with regard to the managed data. This means that when changing from one database software to another, the data saved with considerable effort cannot be used.

In order to avoid the loss of this value, it is usually possible to transfer data to a new program by creating special conversion software. These are regularly specific programs, which in turn involve a considerable amount of effort in program creation. In addition, data conversion is very often only associated with an intervention in the database software, which can lead to copyright problems. In addition, a precise knowledge of the data structure is generally required, which is not or not readily available, especially with personal data, which is usually encrypted for data protection reasons.

The object of the invention is to enable data transfer between computers in such a way that data of a first data format can be converted into a second data format with little programming effort, without having to intervene in the data or program structure of the software used.

A first procedural solution to the problem is that in one learning step key values TW _{A of} the keys, the actuation of which generates a screen display of the values to be transmitted on the first computer and time intervals TZ _A between several key presses are stored in one file each. In an output step, the key values TW _{A are} read out and passed with the associated time intervals TZ _A to the keyboard input of the first computer. The screen display data are then sent to the printer command data via a print screen function Printer output (LPT 1) of the first computer (1) passed. This printer command data is stored in a screen file in the control computer. After an analysis of the screen file for the data to be transmitted, this data is stored in a data file that can be read or converted by the second computer.

This method makes it possible to read out the data to be entered on the second computer taking over from any screen display mask of an unknown program with an unknown data structure. This data is stored in the data file after the analysis of the screen data. This data file can be read by the second computer or at least in such a format that it can be converted with a conventional conversion program into the data structure which can be understood by the receiving program on the second computer. This enables data to be transferred between two computers without having to intervene in the internal program or data structure.

A second procedural solution provides that in a learning step key values TW _{B of} the keys, the actuation of which enables data input on the second computer and time intervals TZ _B between several key presses are stored in one file each. In one input step, the data to be transmitted are read out of a data file and belong to the key values TW _B and / or the time segments TZ _B and, together with the key values TW _{B, are} entered as key values in the second computer.

In the not uncommon cases in which the data is in a form that can be read out without an analysis, but cannot be entered or can only be entered manually, for example due to the lack of a conversion program, this method can be used to transfer data without entering the data. or to have to intervene in the program structure of the receiving second computer. A combination between the first and the second process-side solution enables an off-line connection between the first and the second computer. The data to be transferred from the first computer are made available in a data file for transfer by the second computer. There is no need to intervene in internal structures in either the first or the second computer.

A third procedural solution to the problem is that in a first learning step key values TW _{A of} the keys, the actuation of which generates a screen display of the values to be transmitted on the first computer, and time intervals TZ _A between several key presses are each stored in a file. In a second learning step, key values TW _{B of} the keys, the actuation of which enables data input on the second computer and time intervals TZ _B between several key actuations are stored in a file. In an output step, the time key values TW _{A are} read out, which are sent to the keyboard input of the first computer with the associated time intervals TZ _A. The screen display data is then passed as a printer command data to the printer output (LPT 1) of the first computer (1) via a print screen function and stored in a screen file in the control computer. In an input step, the data to be transmitted are determined from the screen file and associated with the key values TW _B and / or the time segments TZ _B and, together with the key values TW _B, entered into the second computer (6) as key values.

The screen output and the keyboard are used as the interface between the two computers. A precise knowledge of the different database programs and the data formats is not necessary and it is therefore not necessary to intervene in the program or data structure.

The method can not only be used to transfer data between Personal computers are used. It can also be used in computer networks or on mainframes, where mainframe terminals represent the first and second computers. Furthermore, the method can also be used for data transmission between computer networks and individual computers or in other combinations.

In a particularly favorable embodiment of the method according to the invention, the key values TW _B with the data to be entered are passed to the keyboard input of the second computer in the input step.

The program of the second computer is thus excited by the key values TW _B and / or by the time intervals TZ _B for readiness for data input. Because the data determined from the first computer are entered as key values at the keyboard input, a complete decoupling of the different program systems is achieved.

This method will take a considerably longer time than a data conversion via a program to be created separately. However, this method can be used universally and in many cases is easier to implement than the creation of a separate conversion program and the subsequent error-free execution of the data conversion. In addition, this form of • conversion can be followed precisely on the screen and can therefore also be traced or even programmed by a non-specialist.

As an alternative to data input via the keyboard input of the second computer, an embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that in the input step the key values TW _B with the data to be input are given to an internal bus of a third computer and after the data transmission or a part thereof has been completed transferred data from the third computer into the second computer. This embodiment of the method according to the invention has the advantage that the data is not input via a keyboard input, so that it can be carried out at a much higher speed. Due to the fact that the data are brought into the second computer from the third computer, it is possible for the second computer to carry out the data to be entered without any technical intervention.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention it is provided that the printer command data are additionally stored in the control computer as a control file. Instead of the keyboard value for triggering the print screen function, a jump keyboard value is stored in the TW _A file and / or in the TW _B file, which is not a function on the first or second computer but a processing of the respective one TZ _A or TZ _B file triggers control commands contained. The first control command triggers a print screen function and the second control command compares target data with the control file, as a result of which either the further control commands or the keyboard commands following the jump keyboard value are processed.

A method of this type can be used to check whether the screen page which is currently used for output or input actually corresponds to the desired screen page, as a result of which data transmission errors can be avoided. For example, it is possible to branch to the control command processing from the TZ _A or TZ _A file after the jump keyboard value. The comparison command can be used to trigger a search, for example, for the desired word "main new" in the control file. If this search is successful, you can continue with the work because, for example, the main menu shows the desired input or output screen page. If the comparison is negative, you can branch to a troubleshooting routine that, for example, forces the main menu to appear or that causes a program to be terminated. On the arrangement side, the object is achieved in that a control computer is interposed between the first and the second computer in such a way that the first computer is connected to the control computer for data output in series or in parallel or via a serial / parallel interface. To control the first computer, a parallel or a serial output of the control computer is connected to the keyboard input of the first computer via a keyboard interface. For control and data input of the second computer, a second parallel or serial output of the control computer is connected to the keyboard input of the second computer via a second keyboard interface.

As a result of this arrangement, the first computer is operated during the first learning step and the second computer is operated during the second learning step via the control computer and in particular via its keyboard. With the keyboard input of the control computer, the first computer is controlled and moved to the control computer for data output via the print screen function. The keyboard values are passed from the keyboard of the control computer to the first computer via the keyboard interface. The printer command data goes through the serial or parallel port of the first computer to the control computer. In the same way, the second learning step is carried out via the control computer in such a way that the second computer can also be operated via the keyboard of the control computer. Here, too, the keyboard is entered into the second computer via the keyboard interface.

After reading out the printer command data from the first computer and selecting the data to be transmitted to the control computer, the key values TW _B stored in the first learning step and the time intervals TZ _{B are} brought to the keyboard input of the second computer via the second keyboard interface. The input data prepared in the control computer are then likewise input to the keyboard input of the second computer via the second keyboard interface. In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention it is provided that the second computer is connected to the control computer in series or in parallel or via a second parallel / serial interface.

With this arrangement, a screen control is also possible on the second computer.

A second possibility of arranging the task on the arrangement side is that a control computer is interposed between the first and the second computer in such a way that the first computer is connected to the control computer for data output serially or in parallel or via a serial / parallel interface. To control the first computer, a parallel or serial output of the control computer is connected to the keyboard input of the first computer via a keyboard interface. A second parallel or serial output of the control computer is at least indirectly connected to the internal bus of the second computer or a third computer. This third computer is either at least temporarily connected to the second computer on the data side or it has a storage medium which can be exchanged with a second computer.

This arrangement avoids that the keyboard values TW _B or the data to be input to the second computer have to be given via the keyboard input, as a result of which the input can be carried out considerably faster.

The arrangement-side solutions are designed in such a way that a parallel port with eight data lines is connected to a buffer, the low byte outputs of which are connected to a first I-out-of-16 decoder and the high-byte outputs are connected to a second I-out 16 decoders are connected. Furthermore, a keyboard matrix is provided, via which the outputs of the first I-out-16 decoder with the column inputs and the outputs of the second I-out-16 decoder with the row inputs of keyboard electronics known per se, which are also shown in FIG known manner has a keyboard connector for connection to a computer, is connectable.

This makes it possible to use the arrangement according to the invention independently of the respective keyboard electronics.

The invention is to be explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment. In the accompanying drawings

Fig.l is a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the invention

2 shows a schematic representation of a keyboard interface

3 shows a circuit structure of a keyboard interface

4 shows a schematic overview of the method and

5 shows a program flow chart for the method.

As shown in FIG. 1, a first computer 1 with a parallel interface LPT 1 is connected via a parallel / serial interface 2 to a serial interface COM 1 of a control computer 3. The control computer 3 is connected with its parallel interface LPT 1 via a first keyboard interface 4 to the keyboard input of the first computer 1.

Furthermore, the control computer 3 is connected to a parallel interface LPT 2 via a second keyboard interface 5 with the keyboard input of a second computer 6.

The control computer 3 is provided with a keyboard, not shown. Thus, the first computer 1 can be operated via the parallel interface LPT 1 of the control computer 3 via the first keyboard interface 4. With this operation the keyboard values TW _A and the intermediate times between the keyboard operations TZ _{A are also} logged by the control computer 3. This is shown in FIG. 4. As can be seen from this, a file is recorded for recording the key values TW _A and in the same way a file is recorded for recording the time values TZ _A.

These keyboard values generate an output mask on the screen of the first computer 1. This output mask is given to the parallel interface LPT 1 of the first computer 1 by means of the print screen function. From there, the data reaches the serial interface COM 1 of the control computer 3 via the parallel serial / interface 2. In the control computer 3, an analysis of the printer command data takes place from the serial printer data at the serial interface COM 1 of the control computer 3. This analysis program is the only part of the program that is tailored to the output mask of the first computer 1. A data file is then compiled from this analysis.

The second computer 6 is also controlled via the keyboard of the control computer 3 by means of the second parallel interface LPT 2 of the control computer 3 with the second keyboard interface 5. The keyboard TW values _B and located between the keyboard values TW _B values TZ _B in the file _B TW and TZ _B are logged. These keyboard values generate readiness for input in the input mask on the second computer 6. Then the data corresponding to the values to be entered are taken from the data file and sent via the parallel interface LPT 2 and the second keyboard interface 5 to the keyboard input of the second computer 6 and the input fields are thus filled out.

The second computer 6 is connected with its parallel port LPT 1 to the control computer 3 via a second parallel / serial interface. This enables a check in accordance with method claim 6. The analysis program running in the control computer 3 is shown in FIG. As can be seen from this, the key sequences for starting and calling up the input masks are stored on the second computer 6, ie on the computer on which the new program is running, after a program start. The data file in which the data determined by the first computer 1 are then opened. The data fields are then read out of the data file 1 and assigned to the fields of the input mask of the second computer 6.

The keyboard interface 4 or 5 used in this exemplary embodiment contains a buffer memory 8. This buffer memory 8 is connected to a first decoder 9 with its low-value data lines and to a second decoder 10 with its higher-value data lines. As shown in FIG. 3, the outputs of the first decoder 9 serve to control the transistors T1 to T8 of a transistor matrix 12. The transistors T1 to T8 are connected to the column inputs of a well-known keyboard electronics 12.

The outputs of the second decoder 10 are used to control the transistors T9 to T19, which in turn are connected to the rows of the keyboard electronics 12. The transistors T20 to T22 control special function keys.

In the keyboard electronics 12, on the one hand, the debouncing of the keyboard switches normally connected to this keyboard electronics 12 takes place and, on the other hand, a combination of the keyboard signals which are given to the keyboard inputs of the computers 1 or 6 via the keyboard connector 13.

As can be seen from this exemplary embodiment, it is in no way necessary to intervene neither in the program of the first computer 1 nor in the program of the second computer 6, nor to have special knowledge of the structure of the two to have databases used on computers. The method according to the invention and the circuit arrangement according to the invention can thus be used on computers with a wide variety of program structures.

Method and arrangement for data transmission between

Computers

Reference list

first computer first parallel / serial interface control computer first keyboard interface second keyboard interface

6 second computer

7 second parallel / serial interface

8 buffers

9 first decoder

10 second decoder

11 transistor matrix 12. _. Keyboard electronics 13 keyboard connector

COM 1 serial interface

COM 2 serial interface

LPT 1 parallel interface

LPT 2 parallel interface

TW _A Keyboard value of the first computer

TW _B Keyboard value of the second computer

TZ _A Time value of the keyboard actuation of the first computer

TZ _B Time value of the keyboard actuation of the second computer

T1 to T22 transistor of the transistor matrix

Claims

Method and arrangement for data transmission between computers Patent claims

1. Method for data transmission between computers, in which data from a first computer is read out in a first data format, then converted into a second data format and read into a second computer, thereby ensuring that there is no marking,

that in a learning step, key values TW _A of the keys, the actuation of which generates a screen display of the values to be transmitted on the first computer (1) and time intervals TZ _A between several key presses are each saved in a file, and

that in an output step the key values TW _A are read out and sent to the keyboard input of the first computer (1) with the associated time intervals TZ _A and then the screen display data is sent as printer command data to the printer output (LPT 1) of the first computer via a print screen function (1) are directed, and are stored in the control computer in a screen file and after an analysis of the screen file after the data to be transmitted, this data is stored in a data file that can be read or converted by the second computer.

2. Method for data transmission between computers, in which data from a first computer is read out in a first data format, then converted into a second data format and read into a second computer, thereby ensuring that there is no marking,

that in a learning step, key values TW _B of the keys, the actuation of which enables data entry on the second computer (6) and time intervals TZ _B between several key presses are each saved in a file and

that in an input step the data to be transmitted is read out of a data file and associated with the key values TW _B and/or the time periods TZ _B and entered into the second computer (6) as key values together with the key values TW _B.

3. Method for data transmission between computers, in which data from a first computer is read out in a first data format, then converted into a second data format and read into a second computer, thereby ensuring that there is no marking,

that in a first learning step, key values TW _A of the keys, the actuation of which produces a screen display of the values to be transmitted on the first computer (1), and time intervals TZ _A between several key presses are each stored in a file,

that in a second learning step, key values TWB of the keys, the actuation of which enables data to be entered on the second computer (6), and time intervals TZ _B between several key presses are each stored in a file,

that the time key values TW _A are read out in an output step and sent to the with the associated time intervals TZ _A Keyboard input of the first computer (1) are passed and then via a print screen function the screen display data are passed as printer command data to the printer output (LPT 1) of the first computer (1), in which control computers are saved in a screen file, and

that in an input step the data to be transmitted is determined from the screen file and associated with the key values TW _B and / or the time periods TZ _B and entered into the second computer (6) as key values together with the key values TW _B.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, so that in the input step the

Key values TW _B with the data to be entered are sent to the keyboard input of the second computer (6).

5. The method according to claim 2 or 3, so that in the input step the

Key values TW _B with the data to be entered are given to an internal BUS of a third computer and after the data transfer or part of it has been completed, the transferred data from the third computer are introduced into the second computer (6).

•6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5 so that the printer command data is additionally stored in the control computer as a control file and

that in the TW _A file and/or in the TW _B file, instead of the keyboard value to trigger the print screen function, a jump keyboard value is stored, which is available on the first (1) or second computer

(6) does not trigger a function but rather a processing of control commands contained in the respective TZ _A or TZ _B file, whereby the first control command triggers a print screen function and the second control command triggers a comparison of target data with the control file, as a result of which either the further control commands or the keyboard commands following the jump keyboard value are processed.

7. Arrangement for data transmission between a first computer and a second computer, which are at least indirectly connected to one another on the data side, so that a control computer (3) is interposed between the first (1) and the second computer (6) in such a way that the first Computer (1) is connected to the control computer (3) for data output serially or in parallel or via a parallel/serial interface (2) and

that to control the first computer (1) a parallel or serial output (LPT 1) of the control computer (3) via a first keyboard interface (4) with the keyboard input of the first computer (1) and for controlling and data input of the second computer (6) a second parallel or serial output (LPT 2) of the control computer (3) is connected to the keyboard input of the second computer (6) via a second keyboard interface (5).

8. Arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the second computer (6) is connected to the control computer (3) in serial or parallel or via a second parallel/serial interface (7).

9. Arrangement for data transmission between a first computer and a second computer, which are at least indirectly connected to one another on the data side, characterized in that a control computer (3) is interposed between the first (1) and the second computer (6) in such a way that the first Computer (1) for data output is connected to the control computer (3) serially or in parallel or via a parallel/serial interface (2), so that a separate computer is used to control the first computer. allele or serial output (LPT 1) of the control computer (3) is connected via a keyboard interface (4) to the keyboard input of the first computer (1) and

that a second parallel or serial output (LPT 2) of the control computer (3) is at least indirectly connected to the internal BUS of the second computer (6) or a third computer, which is either temporarily connected to the second computer (6) on the data side or the has a storage medium that can be exchanged with the second computer (6).

10. Arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, so that a parallel port (LPT 1 or LPT 2) with eight data lines is connected to a buffer (7), the low byte outputs of which are connected to a first 1-out-of-16 decoder (8) and its high byte outputs are connected to a second 1-out-of-16 decoder (9) and

that a keyboard matrix (10) is provided, via which the outputs of the first 1 out of 16 decoder (8) with the column inputs and the outputs of the second 1 out of 16 decoder (9) with the row inputs of a known one Keyboard electronics (11), which also has a keyboard connection (12) for connection to a computer (1; 6), can be connected in a known manner.