Transparent keyboard hot plug

摘要

A computer system that provides for transparent plugging and unplugging of a keyboard independent of system operation. A virtual keyboard device communicates with the system keyboard controller when no keyboard is plugged. The virtual keyboard device provides appropriate responses to inquiries from the operating system during startup, allowing the system to boot without an actual keyboard being present. When a keyboard is plugged, its presence is detected and it is configured by a virtual keyboard controller. The newly configured keyboard is then coupled to the system keyboard controller. On unplug, the lack of a keyboard is detected by monitoring the power supply to the keyboard, whereupon the virtual keyboard is again coupled to the system keyboard controller.