Computer system with LAN-based I/O
First Claim
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1. A computer system, comprising:
- a local area network (LAN);
a plurality of computers, each of the computers comprising at least one central processing unit (CPU) and a LAN interface, which is coupled to communicate over the LAN, while the computers comprise no on-board user interface controllers; and
a console, which comprises user input and output devices and is coupled to communicate over the LAN so as to convey an input received via the user input device over the LAN to each of the computers, and to receive an output generated by each of the computers over the LAN for display using the user output device.
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Abstract
A computer system includes a local area network (LAN) and a plurality of computers. Each of the computers includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) and a LAN interface, which is coupled to communicate over the LAN, while the computers include no on-board input/output (I/O) device controllers other than the LAN interface. One or more peripheral devices are coupled to communicate with the computers over the LAN.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a local area network (LAN);
a plurality of computers, each of the computers comprising at least one central processing unit (CPU) and a LAN interface, which is coupled to communicate over the LAN, while the computers comprise no on-board user interface controllers; and
a console, which comprises user input and output devices and is coupled to communicate over the LAN so as to convey an input received via the user input device over the LAN to each of the computers, and to receive an output generated by each of the computers over the LAN for display using the user output device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Computer apparatus, comprising:
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a central processing unit (CPU);
a system controller, coupled to the CPU and arranged to generate input/output (I/O) commands for transmission over a bus to an I/O device;
a network interface, which is arranged to be coupled to a local area network (LAN); and
an emulation processor, which is coupled to the system controller and to the network interface, and is arranged to trap the I/O commands from the system controller while emulating the I/O device, and to encapsulate the I/O commands in data frames for transmission via the network interface over the LAN to the I/O device, so as to cause the I/O device to fulfill the commands. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An emulation device, comprising:
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trap logic, which is arranged to be coupled to a computer system controller so as to trap input/output (I/O) commands directed by the system controller to an I/O device, while emulating the I/O device; and
a service processor, which is arranged to encapsulate the trapped I/O commands in data frames for transmission over a local area network (LAN) to the I/O device, so as to cause the I/O device to fulfill the commands. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for computing, comprising:
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coupling a plurality of computers to communicate over a local area network (LAN), the computers comprising no on-board user interface controllers; and
coupling a console, which comprises user input and output devices, to communicate over the LAN so as to convey an input received via the user input device over the LAN to each of the computers; and
receiving an output generated by each of the computers over the LAN for display using the user output device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer system, comprising:
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a local area network (LAN);
a plurality of computers, each of the computers comprising at least one central processing unit (CPU) and a LAN interface, which is coupled to communicate over the LAN, while the computers comprise no on-board input/output (I/O) device controllers other than the LAN interface; and
one or more peripheral devices, coupled to communicate with the computers over the LAN. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for computing, comprising:
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coupling a plurality of computers to communicate over a local area network (LAN) via respective LAN interfaces, the computers comprising no on-board input/output (I/O) device controllers other than the LAN interfaces; and
coupling one or more peripheral devices to communicate with the computers over the LAN; and
controlling the peripheral devices by transmitting I/O commands over the LAN from the computers to the peripheral devices. - View Dependent Claims (32, 37)
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- 33. The method according to claim 33, wherein transmitting the Layer 2 data frames comprises conveying the I/O commands by tunneling over Layer 2 on the LAN.
Specification