KVM switch and a computer switching method

• US 20060262138A1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Inventors: Zhang, Jin-Yu
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• 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 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch

Abstract

An input signal from the set of user interface devices is captured, and the input signal is converted into a packet by a console processor. The packet is transferred to a remote processor, and the remote processor generates an update command according to the packet. The update command is transferred to the console processor, and an OSD image is generated according to the update command. The OSD image is overlapped onto a video signal from the computers, and the overlapped video signal is output to the set of the user interface device.

Claims

1. A KVM switch, for a set of user interface devices to share a plurality of computers, the KVM switch comprising:

a switching device, arranged to route paths between the set of user interface devices and the computers, wherein the switching device has a remote processor; and

at least one console module, electrically connected between the switching device and the set of user interface devices, the console module comprising;

an input circuit, arranged to receive an input signal from the set of user interface devices;

a console processor, arranged to convert the input signal into a packet and transfer the packet to the remote processor, wherein the remote processor is arranged to generate an update command according to the packet;

an OSD generator, arranged to generate an OSD image according to the update command; and

an overlap circuit, arranged to overlap the OSD image onto a video signal from the computers and output the overlapped video signal to the set of user interface device.

2. The KVM switch of claim 1, wherein the input signal is a keyboard signal or a mouse signal.

3. The KVM switch of claim 1, wherein the console module is electrically connected to the switching device through a CAT5 cable or a wireless connection.

4. The KVM switch of claim 1, wherein the console module further comprises:

a display memory, arranged to store content for the OSD image, wherein the console processor is arranged to update the content according to the update command, and the OSD generator is arranged to generate the OSD image based on the updated content provided from the display memory.

5. The KVM switch of claim 1, wherein the remote processor is arranged to control an OSD running status of the KVM switch, and the update command is generated based on the OSD running status.

6. A computer switching method for a set of user interface devices to share a plurality of computers, the method comprising:

capturing an input signal from the set of user interface device;

converting the input signal into a packet by a console processor;

transferring the packet to a remote processor;

generating an update command according to the packet by the remote processor;

transferring the update command to the console processor;

generating an OSD image according to the update command;

overlapping the OSD image onto a video signal from the computers; and

outputting the overlapped video signal to the set of the user interface devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the input signal is a keyboard signal or a mouse signal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the packet is transferred to the remote processor through a CAT5 cable or a wireless connection.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

updating content for the OSD image according to the update command by the console processor; and

generating the OSD image based on the updated content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the content is stored in a display memory.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the remote processor is arranged to control an OSD running status of the KVM switch, and the update command is generated based on the OSD running status.

12. A computer switching method for a set of user interface devices to share a plurality of computers, the method comprising:

capturing an input signal from the set of user interface devices;

converting the input signal into a packet by a console processor;

transferring the packet to a remote processor;

generating an update command according to the packet by the remote processor;

transferring the update command to the console processor;

updating content for an OSD image stored in a display memory according to the update command by the console processor;

generating an OSD image based on the updated content by an OSD generator;

overlapping the OSD image onto a video signal from the computers by an overlap circuit; and

outputting the overlapped video signal to the set of the user interface devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the input signal is a keyboard signal or a mouse signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the packet and the update command are transferred through a CAT5 cable or a wireless connection.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the remote processor is arranged to control an OSD running status of the KVM switch, and the update command is generated based on the OSD running status.

16. A KVM switch, for a set of user interface devices to share a plurality of computers, the KVM switch comprising:

a switching device, arranged to route paths between the set of user interface devices and the computers, the switching device comprising;

a remote processor arranged to generate an OSD image; and

an overlap circuit, arranged to overlap the OSD image onto a video signal from the computers and output the overlapped video signal to the set of user interface device; and

at least one console module, electrically connected between the switching device and the set of user interface devices, the console module comprising;

an input circuit, arranged to receive an input signal from the set of user interface devices; and

a console processor, arranged to convert the input signal into a packet and transfer the packet to the remote processor, wherein the OSD image is generated according to the packet.

17. The KVM switch of claim 16, wherein the input signal is a keyboard signal or a mouse signal.

18. The KVM switch of claim 16, wherein the console module is electrically connected to the switching device through a CAT5 cable or a wireless connection.

19. The KVM switch of claim 16, wherein the remote processor is arranged to control an OSD running status of the KVM switch, and the OSD image is generated based on the OSD running status.

20. A computer switching method for a set of user interface devices to share a plurality of computers through a switching device, the method comprising:

capturing an input signal from the set of user interface device;

converting the input signal into a packet by a console processor;

transferring the packet to a remote processor;

generating an OSD image according to the packet by the remote processor;

overlapping the OSD image onto a video signal from the computers by the switching device; and

outputting the overlapped video signal to the set of the user interface devices.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the input signal is a keyboard signal or a mouse signal.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the packet is transferred to the remote processor through a CAT5 cable or a wireless connection.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the remote processor is arranged to control an OSD running status of the KVM switch, and the OSD image is generated based on the OSD running status.