Abstract: A key which is a peripheral device which can directly connect to a host and stores multiple passwords and associated access data. The peripheral device includes an interface to a port of the host for establishing a connection. The peripheral device includes a processor and memory for storing the passwords and a program for both communicating with the host through the port, and for accessing the passwords and associated access data. Unlike the prior art, the present invention does not require the user to have a smart card reader or other token reader in order to access the passwords. In one aspect of the invention, the peripheral device incorporates a form of artificial intelligence to observe and later emulate a user's initial logon to a site. The software not only will recognize the site by storing characteristics of it, but will be able to automatically adapt to variations, if the login page is subsequently modified.

Abstract: A universal command generator that generates commands that are recognizable by multiple contexts, where the universal command libraries are loaded automatically and dynamically as the user switches from context to context. Additionally, a novel gesture recognition method is provided to allow the user to define symbols specific to the users preferences that will work universally. The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises novel methods and apparatus that provide this functionality such as: a method for translating signals from an input device into commands operating on a context-sensitive basis, a method for recognizing and translating a command received from an input device into a command recognizable by a second context, and a device for interpreting and translating commands entered into a first device into commands that are understandable by a second device.