Keyboard identification sequence

Claim 1

A computer terminal keyboard of a data processing system having an identity for a particular use and the capability to change to another identity for another use, said computer terminal keyboard comprising: (a) first means for generating a first portion of a code which identifies a first specific configuration of said computer terminal keyboard; (b) second means for generating a second portion of the code identifying the first specific configuration of said computer terminal keyboard; (c) third means responsive to a query electronic signal from a host computer of said data processing system for commencing a series of operations to identify the configuration of said computer terminal keyboard to said host computer; (d) fourth means coupled to said third means and said first means for comparing said first portion of the code with a predetermined value; (e) fifth means coupled to said first means, said second means, said third means and said fourth means for combining said first and said second portions of the code into an ID byte when said fourth means indicates that said first portion of the code is equal to the predetermined value; (f) a keyboard means coupled to said third means, having a plurality of keys; and (g) sixth means coupled to said third means and said fifth means for storing said ID byte, and wherein said series of operations of said third means further identifies a predetermined set of said plurality of keys as being in an "on" or an "off" position, said ID byte and the position of said predetermined plurality of keys identifying said computer terminal keyboard configuration.