Network based KVM switching system

• US 20050044184A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vertiv IT Systems, Inc. (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Avocent Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Schultz, Stephan, Thomas, Christopher L., Anderson, Robin L., Gilgen, Robert L., DesMarais, Mark, Collins, Jamie F., Pinkston, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) switching protocol is disclosed in which KVM information is applied to a network of workstations. At least one data converter communicates on the workstation network and retrieves KVM information from the workstation network that is addressed to a server assigned to the converter. The converter places the KVM information in a format suitable to the assigned server and applies the converted KVM information to the appropriate standard device ports of the server. The system provides motherboard access to the servers that is characteristics of KVM switches but provides essentially unlimited scalability not known in traditional KVM switches.

Claims

1-41. -41. (Canceled).

42. A converter for communicating data between a workstation and one server of a plurality of servers, the plurality of servers communicating with each other across a server network, the converter comprising:

a network interface facility communicatively coupling the converter to the workstation across a packet switched network; and

a communication link communicatively coupling the converter to the server, said communication link transmitting keyboard, video, cursor control data between the converter and the server.

43. A converter as in claim 42, wherein the server network and the packet switched network are the same network.

44. A converter as in claim 42, wherein the server network and the packet switched network are different networks.

45. A method of communicating data between a workstation and one server of a plurality of servers, the plurality of servers communicating with each other across a server network, the method comprising:

transmitting keyboard, video and cursor control data from the workstation across a packet switched network;

receiving the keyboard, video and cursor control data from the packet switched network; and

converting the keyboard, video and cursor control data into a format suitable for transmission to a keyboard port, a video port and a cursor control port of the server.

46. A method as in claim 45, wherein the server network and the packet switched network are the same network.

47. A method as in claim 45, wherein the server network and the packet switched network are different networks.