Seamless computer system remote control

• US 20020133580A1
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dake, Gregory William, Grimes, Benjamin Russell
• Granted Patent: US 6,959,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/026 Arrangements or methods related to booting a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A remote control application is loaded and executes on a service processor independent from a main processor within a remotely managed system, prior to power on for the main processor. The remote control application grabs and packetizes video data from the remotely managed system for transmission to the remote console via a TCP/IP connection transport layer, and receives keyboard/mouse signals in the same manner for insertion into the remotely managed systems'"'"'s keyboard/mouse controller(s) as though originating from locally attached peripherals. The service processor also feeds up a Java applet for displaying the video data and capturing keyboard/mouse actions through a browser at the remote console. Remote control is thus enabled from power up of the main processor continuously through operating system load by the main processor with a single user interface, a single connection, and no special utility requirements at the remote console.

Claims

1. A method of remote control, comprising:

executing, on a service processor independent of a main processor within a remotely managed data processing system, a remote control application, wherein the remote control application;

gets video data from the video hardware within the remotely managed system;

transmits the video data to a remote console over a network connection coupling the remotely controlled system to the remote console;

receives keyboard/mouse signals from the remote console over the network connection; and

forces the received keyboard/mouse signals into a keyboard/mouse controller within the remotely managed system as if the received keyboard/mouse signals had originated with locally attached peripherals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of executing a remote control application further comprises:

utilizing the remote control application to communicate with the remote console utilizing a TCP/IP network connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of executing a remote control application further comprises:

utilizing the remote control application to serve to the remote console a Java applet for displaying the video data and capturing the keyboard/mouse signals, wherein the remotely managed system may be remotely controlled utilizing a browser executing within the remote console.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of executing a remote control application further comprises:

utilizing a remote control application which executes independently of the operating system loaded or executed on the main processor within the remotely managed system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of executing a remote control application further comprises:

loading the remote control application for execution by the service processor prior to the power on self test for the main processor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of executing a remote control application further comprises:

utilizing the remote control application executing on the service processor to provide remote control capability to the remote console from power on self test for the main processor continuously through operating system load for the main processor and beyond.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of executing a remote control application further comprises:

utilizing the remote control application executing on the service processor to provide a single user interface for remote control by the remote console from power on self test for the main processor continuously through operating system load for the main processor and beyond.

8. A system for remote control, comprising:

a remote console;

a network connection coupling the remote console to a remotely managed data processing system; and

a service processor independent of a main processor within the remotely managed data processing system, the service processor executing a remote control application, wherein the remote control application;

gets video data from the video hardware within the remotely managed system;

transmits the video data to the remote console over the network connection;

receives keyboard/mouse signals from the remote console over the network connection; and

forces the received keyboard/mouse signals into a keyboard/mouse controller within the remotely managed system as if the received keyboard/mouse signals had originated with locally attached peripherals.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote control application communicates with the remote console utilizing a TCP/IP network connection.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote control application serves to the remote console a Java applet for displaying the video data and capturing the keyboard/mouse signals, wherein the remotely managed system may be remotely controlled utilizing a browser executing within the remote console.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote control application executes independently of the operating system loaded or executed on the main processor within the remotely managed system.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote control application is loaded for execution by the service processor prior to the power on self test for the main processor.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote control application executing on the service processor provides remote control capability to the remote console from power on self test for the main processor continuously through operating system load for the main processor and beyond.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote control application executing on the service processor provides a single user interface for remote control by the remote console from power on self test for the main processor continuously through operating system load for the main processor and beyond.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the remote control application further comprises:

instructions for utilizing the remote control application to communicate with the remote console utilizing a TCP/IP network connection.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the remote control application further comprises:

instructions for utilizing the remote control application to serve to the remote console a Java applet for displaying the video data and capturing the keyboard/mouse signals, wherein the remotely managed system may be remotely controlled utilizing a browser executing within the remote console.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the remote control application further comprises:

instructions for utilizing a remote control application which executes independently of the operating system loaded or executed on the main processor within the remotely managed system.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the remote control application further comprises:

instructions for loading the remote control application for execution by the service processor prior to the power on self test for the main processor.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the remote control application further comprises:

instructions for utilizing the remote control application executing on the service processor to provide remote control capability to the remote console from power on self test for the main processor continuously through operating system load for the main processor and beyond.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the remote control application further comprises:

instructions for utilizing the remote control application executing on the service processor to provide a single user interface for remote control by the remote console from power on self test for the main processor continuously through operating system load for the main processor and beyond.

15. A computer program product within a computer usable medium for remote control, comprising:

a remote control application executing on a service processor independent of a main processor within a remotely managed data processing system, wherein the remote control application;

gets video data from the video hardware within the remotely managed system;

transmits the video data to a remote console over a network connection coupling the remotely controlled system to the remote console;

receives keyboard/mouse signals from the remote console over the network connection; and

forces the received keyboard/mouse signals into a keyboard/mouse controller within the remotely managed system as if the received keyboard/mouse signals had originated with locally attached peripherals.