Adjusting the volume by a keyboard via an independent control circuit, independent of a host computer

Abstract

A computer system having dual paths for controlling a peripheral device electrically associated with a host computer. The peripheral device is electrically connected to the host computer and to an independent control circuit. Control inputs for the peripheral device and data and/or control inputs for the host computer are generated by a keyboard or other input device and transmitted to an input controller which directs certain data and/or control inputs to the host computer for processing and directs certain peripheral device control inputs to a state machine for the generation of peripheral device control signals. In such a manner, the independent control circuit provides for the control of the peripheral device while the host computer may process data unrelated to the control of the peripheral device. In one aspect, control of the peripheral device may be effected by both the host computer and the independent control circuit. Accordingly, in this aspect, the independent control circuit further comprises an arbitrator which resolves any control conflicts that arise between the host computer and the independent control circuit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.