Wireless management system for control of remote devices

• US 20060285514A1
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIIP, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RIIP, Inc.
• Inventors: McGinnis, Martin, Leibovich, Izzy, Hoerl, David, Newman, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/04 Network management architectures or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

The present invention discloses a wireless remote device management system for wirelessly interfacing a plurality of remote devices (e.g., computers, servers, etc.) with one or more user workstations. Each remote device is coupled to a wireless transceiver. The user workstations may include a wireless user station coupled to a keyboard, a video monitor, and a cursor control device. Preferably the transceivers and wireless user stations use an 802.11 compatible network for communication. Additionally, a wireless access point may be utilized for centralized communications between the transceivers and user workstations. The present invention also enables the transceivers and wireless user workstations to communicate directly without the need for any additional hardware.

Claims

1. A system for providing wireless monitoring and control of remote devices, said system comprising:

at least one networking device;

at least one user workstation comprising a keyboard, video monitor, cursor control device, and wireless communication circuitry, and which communicates with said at least one networking device via a wireless network;

a plurality of remote devices; and

a plurality of wireless transceivers coupled to at least one of said remote devices for receiving and converting video signals from said remote devices and for transmitting said converted signals to said at least one networking device via said wireless network;

wherein said at least one networking device bi-directionally communicates with said plurality of wireless transceivers and said at least one user workstation; and

wherein said user workstation transmits keyboard and cursor control device data from said keyboard and cursor control device to said at least one networking device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless network is an 802.11 wireless network.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless network is an ad-hoc wireless network.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless network is an infrastructure wireless network.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said networking device includes circuitry for displaying a menu of said plurality of remote devices on said video monitor.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said menu provides access to and control of a select one of said plurality of remote devices.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of wireless transceivers are powered by said plurality of remote devices.

8. A system for providing wireless monitoring and control of remote devices, said system comprising:

at least one user workstation comprising a keyboard, video monitor, cursor control device, and wireless communication circuitry;

a plurality of remote devices; and

a plurality of wireless transceivers coupled to at least one of said remote devices for receiving and converting video signals from said remote devices and for transmitting said converted signals to said user workstation via a wireless network;

wherein said user workstation bi-directionally communicates with said plurality of wireless transceivers; and

wherein said user workstation wirelessly transmits keyboard and cursor control device data from said keyboard and cursor control device to at least one of said wireless transceivers via said wireless network.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said wireless network is an 802.11 wireless network.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein said wireless network is an ad-hoc wireless network.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein said wireless network is an infrastructure wireless network.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein said system further comprises a wireless enabled switch.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said wireless enabled switch includes circuitry for displaying a menu of said plurality of remote devices on said video monitor.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said menu provides access to and control of a select one of said plurality of remote devices.

15. A system according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of wireless transceivers are powered by said plurality of remote devices.

16. A method for wireless monitoring and control of remote devices, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a menu of available remote devices at a user workstation;

requesting access to a select one of said available remote devices by clicking on a link corresponding to said select remote device;

transmitting a request to access said select remote device via a wireless network;

transmitting keyboard and cursor control device signals to said select remote device via said wireless network;

converting video signals from said select remote device; and

transmitting said converted video signals to said user workstation via said wireless network.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

updating said menu of available remote devices as additional remote devices become available and as previously available remote devices become no longer available.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein said wireless network is an 802.11 wireless network.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein said wireless network is an ad-hoc wireless network.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein said wireless network is an infrastructure wireless network.