Wireless management of remote devices

• US 20060267936A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIIP, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RIIP, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoerl, David, Burgess, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• 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: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch
• 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 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Disclosed is a wireless remote network management system for interfacing a series of remote devices (e.g., computers, servers, networking equipment, etc.) to one or more user workstations. The system is multifunctional to allow multiple users to control remote devices through serial access or keyboard, video, and cursor control device access via wireless and hard-wired connections. The remote devices are preferably coupled to a wireless-enabled remote management unit through a chain of computer interface modules, and each user workstation includes a wireless user station coupled to a keyboard, a video monitor and a cursor control device. The remote management unit and user stations preferably communicate via a wireless network, which enables a user workstation to access, monitor and control any of the remote devices.

Claims

1. A wireless, multifunction remote device management system comprising:

at least one user workstation of the type including at least one from the group consisting of;

a keyboard, a monitor, and a cursor control device;

at least one remote device;

at least one remote interface module coupled to said remote device; and

at least one remote device management unit coupled to said user workstation and said remote interface module.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote device management unit bi-directionally communicates with said user workstation over a wireless network.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote interface module bi-directionally communicates with said remote device management unit.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote interface modules are coupled in a chain-like configuration.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the first of said remote interface modules in said chain-like configuration is connected to said remote device management unit.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the last of said remote interface modules is connected to either said remote device management unit or a terminator.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote interface modules comprise a first class of remote interface modules and a second class of remote interface modules.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said first class of remote interface modules connect to remote devices with video.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein said first class of remote interface modules is powered by said remote device.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein said second class of remote interface modules connect to remote devices without video.

13. A system according to claim 9, wherein said second class of remote interface modules is powered by said remote device management unit.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein a user may control a plurality of said remote devices at one time.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system enables power supply control of said remote device from said user workstation.

3. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

15-16. -16. (canceled)

18. A wireless multifunctional remote device management system comprising:

at least one user workstation of the type including at least one of the group consisting of;

a keyboard, a monitor, and a cursor control device;

at least one remote device;

at least one remote interface module coupled to said remote device; and

at least one remote device management unit coupled to said user workstation and said remote interface module,

wherein said remote interface module is at least one of a first class of remote interface modules, or a second class of remote interface modules.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said first class of remote interface modules comprises:

an input port, wherein said input port connects to one of said remote device management unit, another remote interface module, or a terminator;

an output port, wherein said output port connects to one of another remote interface module, or a remote device management unit;

connections for receiving video output of a remote device, for sending and receiving keyboard signals from said remote device, and for sending and receiving cursor control signals from said remote device; and

circuitry for power control, sending and receiving signals, signal conversion, and storage.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein said first class of remote interface modules receives power from said remote device.

21. A system according to claim 19, wherein said input port receives video and data signals.

22. A system according to claim 19, wherein said circuitry converts and combines said video output with said video signals received by said input port for transmission.

23. A system according to claim 19, wherein said circuitry combines said keyboard signals and said cursor control signals into a data packet.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein said data signal received at said input port is combined with said data packet by said circuitry for transmission.

25. A system according to claim 18, wherein said first class of remote interface modules bi-directionally communicates with said remote device and said remote device management unit.

26. A system according to claim 18, wherein said remote device management unit bi-directionally communicates with said user workstation over a wireless network.

27. A system according to claim 18, wherein said second class of remote interface modules comprises:

an input port, wherein said input port connects to one of said remote device management unit, another remote interface module, or a terminator;

an output port, wherein said output port connects to one of another remote interface module, or a remote device management unit;

connections for sending and receiving serial signals from a remote device; and

circuitry for power control, sending and receiving signals, signal conversion, and storage.

28. A system according to claim 18, wherein said second class of remote interface modules receives power from said remote device management unit.

29. A system according to claim 27, wherein said input port receives video and data signals.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein said video signals pass directly through said second class of remote interface modules.

31. A system according to claim 27, wherein said circuitry converts said serial signals into a data packet.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein said data signal received at said input port is combined by said circuitry with said data packet for transmission.

33. A system according to claim 18, where said second class of remote interface modules bi-directionally communicates with said remote device and said remote device management unit.

34. A system according to claim 18, wherein said first and second classes of remote interface modules are connected in a chain-like configuration,

wherein said first class and said second class of remote interface modules are connected to each other in said chain-like configuration,

wherein the first of said remote interface modules in said chain-like configuration is further connected to a remote device management unit, and

wherein the last of said remote interface modules in said chain-like configuration is further connected to either a remote device management unit or to a terminator.