Abstract: An operating system that provides for the capability to accept input from a number of devices, and transfer the data to the appropriate application without using an application to perform routing tasks, thus freeing up more processor time and memory space for the applications. The operating system includes data format translator applications that may be called by the operating system in order to convert the data to the proper format. The decision as to which data format translator application should be called may be made by using information on the input device which the data came from, as well additional information, to determine if a conversion application or other application is required.

Abstract: In a computer system including a central processing unit and a transducer for providing data input to the system from a source having controllable operational features and parameters for adjusting characteristics of the data independently of the source and where the system's operating system manages data requests from an application program with one or more data entry fields and associated data entry criteria, a method for responding to a data request by the application program includes tagging the input data with an input source identification; packaging the data and the input source identification as a data module, the data module being associated with a predetermined data entry field in the application software; transferring the data module from the transducer to the application via the operating system; and associating the data module to one or more predetermined data entry fields of the application software based on the input source identification and the associated data entry criteria.

Abstract: A configurable operating system allows small, inexpensive, and less powerful computers to run a wide variety of applications. The operating system provides for the capability to accept input from a number of input devices, and transfer the data to the appropriate application without using an application to perform the routing tasks, thus freeing up more processor time and memory space for the applications. Data format translator applications may be called by the operating system in order to convert the data to the proper format. The decision as to which application should be called may be made by using information on the input device which the data came from, as well as additional information, to determine if a conversion application or other application is required.