Asynchronous/synchronous KVMP switch for console and peripheral devices

• US 20050283563A1
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Kevin, Lou, Tony, Yang, Sampson
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/455 Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A signal switch for sharing a video monitor, a plurality of console devices compliant with an industry standard and one or more than one peripheral device in any of a plurality of computer systems, is provided comprising a CPU with a first memory for storing a management program for managing the signal switch; a hub switch module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with any of the plurality of computer systems, and the one or more than one peripheral device; a device control module for emulating according to the industry standard the plurality of console devices, connected to the CPU and the hub switch module; a host control module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with the plurality of console devices; and a video control module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with a video monitor device.

Claims

1. A signal switch for sharing a video monitor, a plurality of console devices compliant with an industry standard and one or more than one peripheral device in any of a plurality of computer systems, comprising:

a CPU comprising a first memory for storing a management program for managing the signal switch;

a hub switch module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with any of the plurality of computer systems, and the one or more than one peripheral device and any of the plurality of console devices, wherein the management program makes a signal passing from the hub switch module to the one or more than one peripheral device; and

a video control module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate With a video monitor device,

wherein the console devices can be switched either synchronously or asynchronously with the one or more than one peripheral device to the same one of the plurality of computer systems or to different ones of the plurality of computer systems, without interruption of the signal to the one or more than one peripheral device.

2. The signal switch of claim 1, further comprising an OSD control device connected to the CPU and the video control module.

3. The signal switch of claim 1, further comprising a root hub.

4. The signal switch of claim 1, wherein the industry standard is the Device Class Definition for Human Interface Devices (HID).

5. A signal switch for sharing a video monitor, a plurality of console devices compliant with an industry standard and one or more than one peripheral device in any of a plurality of computer systems, comprising:

a CPU comprising a first memory for storing a management program for managing the signal switch;

at least one hub module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with any of the plurality of computer systems, the one or more than one peripheral device and the console devices, wherein the management program makes a signal passing from the hub module to the one or more than one peripheral device to emulate origination from a computer;

a control module connected to the hub module and the CPU, wherein the CPU may control the control module to emulate according to the industry standard the plurality of console devices; and

a video control module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with a video monitor device,

wherein the console devices can be switched either synchronously or asynchronously with the one or more than one peripheral device to the same one of the plurality of computer systems or to different ones of the plurality of computer systems, without interruption of the signal to the one or more than one peripheral device.

6. The signal switch of claim 5, further comprising an OSD control device connected to the CPU and the video control module.

7. The signal switch of claim 5, the at least one hub module comprising a root hub.

8. The signal switch of claim 5, wherein the industry standard is the Device Class Definition for Human Interface Devices (HID).

9. A signal switch for sharing one or more console devices and one or more peripheral devices in any of a plurality of computer systems, comprising:

a first channel for connecting a selected console device from the one or more console devices to a selected computer system from the plurality of computer systems;

a second channel connecting the selected computer system to a selected peripheral device from the one or more peripheral devices, the second channel having a data flow between the first computer system and the selected peripheral device;

a switching means used to switch the selected console device in the first channel, wherein said switching may interrupt the data flow through the second channel between the selected computer system and the selected peripheral device.