Zero Client Device with Integrated Secure KVM Switching Capability

• US 20120317181A1
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ClearCube Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ClearCube Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Husain, Syed Mohammad Amir, Printz, Randy P.
• Application Number:
  US13/491,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20120317181A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• 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 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2358/00 Arrangements for display data security
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/022 Centralised management of display operation, e.g. in a server instead of locally
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5614 User Network Interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5617 Virtual LANs; Emulation of LANs
• 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 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/344 Out-of-band transfers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 : Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 : End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 : Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 : In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 : Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 : Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 : Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/12 : Protocol engines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 : Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• 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

Abstract

System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.

Claims

1. A zero client device, comprising:

a housing;

a transcoding processing unit, comprised in the housing, wherein the transcoding processing unit is implemented on a first circuit board;

a communications processing unit, comprised in the housing and coupled to the transcoding processing unit, wherein the communications processing unit is implemented on a second circuit board, and wherein the communications processing unit is configured to connect to devices over a network;

one or more processor system boards, comprised in the housing; and

a KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) and USB switch, comprised in the housing, and configured to connect human interface devices to at least one of the one or more processor system boards or the transcoding processing unit in response to user input;

wherein the zero client device has no user-modifiable storage medium;

wherein the communications processing unit is configured to;

determine an identifier of a server to which connection is desired;

provide a network communication channel to the transcoding processing unit for accessing the server;

wherein the transcoding processing unit is configured to;

instantiate the zero client session with the server through the network communication channel provided by the communications processing unit;

wherein the transcoding processing unit is further configured to;

receive input data from one or more human interface devices via the KVM and USB switch;

encode the input data; and

provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over the network to the server via the zero client session;

wherein the communications processing unit is configured to;

receive the encoded input data from the transcoding processing unit;

transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server via the zero client session;

receive output data from the server over the network via the zero client session; and

send the output data to the transcoding processing unit;

wherein the transcoding processing unit is further configured to;

receive the output data from the communications processing unit;

decode the output data; and

send the decoded output data to at least one of the one or more human interface devices via the KVM and USB switch.

2. The zero client device of claim 1, wherein the communications processing unit comprises Virtual Private Network (VPN) software for securely connecting to the server over the network, and wherein the communications processing unit is further configured to:

instantiate a VPN session with the server via the VPN software, wherein the VPN session enables communications between components or devices connected to the communications processing unit and any systems or networks to which the server provides access.

3. The zero client device of claim 1, further comprising:

a color display front panel, comprised in or on the housing, and coupled to the KVM and USB switch, wherein the color display front panel comprises a user interface to the KVM and USB switch and provides an indication as to which of the one or more processor system boards and the at least one transcoding processing unit the user interface devices are currently connected.

4. The zero client device of claim 1,

wherein the KVM and USB switch is further configured to switchably and simultaneously connect each of the transcoding processing unit and the one or more processor system boards to a respective display device;

and

wherein the communications processing unit is configured with program instructions implementing software based keyboard and mouse sharing that allows the keyboard and mouse to span all display devices coupled to the transcoding processing unit and the one or more processor system boards, respectively.

5. The zero client device of claim 1, wherein audio output from the zero client device is multiplexed and fed to a speaker system via a single line out, and wherein audio inputs to the zero client device are aggregated so that a single microphone feeds the transcoding processing unit and the one or more processor system boards.

6. The zero client device of claim 1, wherein the KVM and USB switch comprises one or more tamper proof sensors configured to detect whether the housing has been opened.

7. The zero client device of claim 6, wherein the KVM and USB switch is further configured to perform an action in response to at least one of the one or more tamper proof sensors detecting that the housing has been opened, and wherein the action comprises one or more of:

disable itself;

use electrical surges or programmed instructions to disable any connected zero client devices;

log the detection;

or

use programmed instructions to send a tamper notification to a connected device of the detection, wherein the tamper notification is useable by the connected device to take its own action in response to the detection.