System for video digitization and image correction for use with a computer management system

• US 20050114894A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIIP, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RIIP, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoerl, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,683,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/74
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

The present invention discloses a remote network management system for coupling a series of remote serial devices, servers, and computers to one or more user workstations allowing for selective access of the remote devices. The remote serial devices, servers, and computers are all connected to a remote management unit which interfaces the user workstations to the remote devices. The power supply of each remote device is also connected to the remote management unit through a controllable power supply. The video from the remote networking equipment is digitized and optimized by an LCD controller located within the remote management unit before it is compressed for transmission. An option menu containing a menu of all the remote devices allows a user to select and operate any of the remote devices. The option menu is also utilizes to selectively control the power to the remote serial devices, servers, and computers.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A system for improved video digitization and image correction, said system comprising:

a plurality of workstations coupled to a communications medium;

a remote management unit coupled to said communications medium, said remote management unit including a video digitizer for converting analog video signals to digital video signals, said analog video signals received from at least one of a plurality of remote networking devices; and

an image correcting circuit for processing said digital video signals received from said digitizer.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of workstations is of a type comprising at least one keyboard, video monitor and cursor control device, and wherein each of said plurality of workstations is capable of accessing and operating said plurality of remote networking devices through said remote management unit.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said remote management unit controls a power supply for each of said remote networking devices.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein said communications medium is at least one selected from the group consisting of a LAN, a WAN, a wireless connection, a modem, a direct modem connection, and the Internet.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of remote networking devices is connected to said remote management unit through cabling via a port selected from the group consisting of a serial port, parallel port, keyboard port, video port, cursor control device port, USB port, firewire port, bluetooth port, Ethernet port, and a power supply port.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein said remote management unit controls access by requiring identification data to authenticate a user.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein said remote management unit and said plurality of user workstations communicate via TCP/IP.

9. The system according to claim 2, wherein said remote management unit and said plurality of user workstations communicate via the Internet.

10. The system according to claim 2, wherein said video digitizer includes an analog to digital converter.

11. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image correcting circuit includes an input interface circuit for detecting a color palette utilized by said remote network device.

12. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image correcting circuit includes a synchronization selector circuit for receiving horizontal and vertical synchronization signals.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said image correcting circuit includes a mode detection circuit for receiving said synchronization signals from said synchronization selector circuit and for determining a frequency of said synchronization signals.

14. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image correcting circuit includes an auto-adjustment circuit for performing at least one of active area detection, pixel brightness searching, pixel measurement and phase distortion measurement.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said auto-adjustment circuit updates timing of a clock during said phase distortion measurement.

16. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image correcting circuit includes a downscaler circuit for reducing high video resolution to low video resolution.

17. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image correcting circuit includes an upscaler circuit for increasing low video resolution to high video resolution.

18. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image correcting circuit includes an option menu circuit for enabling a user to select one of a plurality of serial devices, remote servers, remote computers or power devices.

19. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image correcting circuit modifies each pixel of said digital video signals according to a color palette.

20. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image correcting circuit includes a dithering circuit for approximating a color for a pixel of said digital video signals.

21. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image correcting circuit includes an output interface circuit for adjusting timing of said analog video signals.

22. The system according to claim 2, wherein said remote management unit includes a video processor circuit for compressing said digital video signals.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said video processor circuit includes a pixel receiving circuit for receiving pixel information from said digital video signals.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said video processor circuit includes a frame buffer circuit for storing said pixel information.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein said video processor circuit includes a video compression circuit.

26. The system according to claim 2, wherein said processing includes converting said digital video signals for compatibility with a video display of one of said plurality of workstations.

27. A method for providing improved video digitization and image correction for the transmission of video signals, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving analog video signals from one of a plurality of remote devices connected to a remote management unit;

(b) converting said analog video signals to digital video signals;

(c) correcting said digital video signals; and

(d) transmitting said digital video signals to one of a plurality of user interface devices.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said user interface devices are accessible by inputting unique authentication information.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

displaying said digital video signals on a video display of one of said user interface devices.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

compressing said digital video signals prior to said transmitting.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein a compression algorithm is used to perform said compressing.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said compression algorithm determines noise in said digital video signals, smoothes said digital video signals, determines changes to pixels of said digital video signals, and compresses said changed digital video signals.

33. The method according to claim 27, wherein said transmitting occurs via TCP/IP.

34. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting is performed by an image correction circuit.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein said image correction circuit includes an interface circuit for detecting a color palette of said digital video signals.

36. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes receiving horizontal and vertical synchronization signals.

37. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes determining one or more frequencies of said digital video signals.

38. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes detecting an active area of a video image represented by said digital video signals.

39. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes determining brightness of each pixel of said digital video signals.

40. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes measuring phase distortion of said digital video signals.

41. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes measuring one or more pixels of said digital video signals.

42. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes reducing high video resolution to low video resolution.

43. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes increasing low video resolution to high video resolution.

44. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes dithering said digital video signals.

45. The method according to claim 27, wherein said correcting further includes adjusting timing of said digital video signals.

46. The method according to claim 27, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

storing pixel information of digital video signals.