Computer network having commonly located computing systems

• US 6,012,101 A
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ClearCube Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: INT Labs Incorporated
• Inventors: Heller, Andrew, Thornton, Barry, Barrett, Daniel, Ely, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US09/072,397
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.8, 395/200.76, 395/200.69, 395/200.68, 345/125, 345/326, 709/250, 709/246, 709/239, 709/238
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A computer network comprised of a plurality of interconnected nodes, each having a DTE device coupled thereto. Plural ones of the DTE devices are each further comprised of a computing system positioned at a first location and a human interface, which includes a video monitor, and plural I/O devices, specifically, a keyboard, mouse and printer, positioned at a second location remotely located relative to the first location. The first locations at which the computing systems of the DTE devices are positioned are commonly located. The DTE devices further include a first encoder coupled to the computing system, a first decoder coupled to the video monitor and the at least one I/O device and a transmission line which couples the encoder to the decoder. The first encoder receives, from the computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to the video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to the at least one I/O device. The first encoder combines the video and the non-video signals into a combined signal and transmits the combined signal to the first decoder via the transmission line. The first decoder receives the combined signal, separates the video and non-video signals therefrom for respective propagation to the video monitor and the at least one I/O device.

Claims

1. A computer network, comprising:

a plurality of interconnected nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto and wherein said DTE device coupled to a first one of said nodes further comprises;

a computing system located at a first location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said first location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor and an input/output ("I/O") device;

a first interface device coupled to said computing system;

a second interface device coupled to said video monitor and said I/O device of said human interface;

a transmission line coupling said first and second interface devices;

said first interface device receiving, from said computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to said video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to said I/O device and combining said video signal and said non-video signal into a combined video/non-video signal having a format suitable for transmission to said second interface device;

said combined video/non-video signal being transmitted to said second interface device via said transmission line;

said second interface device receiving said combined video/non-video signal from said first interface device and separating said video signal and said non-video signal therefrom for respective propagation to said video monitor and said I/O device.

2. A computer network according to claim 1 wherein said transmission line coupling said first and second interface devices is a 4-wire cable.

3. A computer network according to claim 1 and further comprising a cable for interconnecting said plurality of nodes.

4. A computer network according to claim 1 wherein said cable is a thin wire coaxial cable.

5. A computer network according to claim 1 wherein said computing system further comprises a computer chassis and at least one computing system component housed in said computer chassis and coupled to said first interface device.

6. A computer network according to claim 1 wherein said first I/O device of said human interface further comprises either a printer, a keyboard, or a mouse coupled to said second interface device.

7. A computer network, comprising:

a plurality of interconnected nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto and wherein said DTE device coupled to a first one of said nodes further comprises;

a computing system located at a first location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said first location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor and at least one input/output ("I/O") device;

a first encoder coupled to said computing system;

a first decoder coupled to said video monitor and said at least one I/O device;

a transmission line coupling said encoder and said decoder;

said first encoder receiving, from said computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to said video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to said at least one I/O device and combining said video and said non-video signals into a first combined signal;

said first decoder receiving said first combined signal from said first encoder and separating said video and non-video signals therefrom for respective propagation to said video monitor and said at least one I/O device.

8. A computer network, comprising:

a plurality of interconnected nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto and wherein said DTE device coupled to a first one of said nodes further comprises;

a computing system located at a first location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said first location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor and at least one input/output ("I/O") device;

a first encoder coupled to said computing system;

a first decoder coupled to said video monitor and said at least one I/O device; and

a transmission line coupling said encoder and said decoder;

said first encoder receiving, from said computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to said video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to said at least one I/O device and combining said video and said non-video signals into a first combined signal;

said first decoder receiving said first combined signal from said first encoder and separating said video and non-video signals therefrom for respective propagation to said video monitor and said at least one I/O device;

wherein said human interface further comprises first, second and third I/O devices and wherein said computer network further comprises;

a second encoder, coupled to said computing system and said first encoder, said second encoder receiving a first non-video signal to be transmitted to said first I/O device, a second non-video signal to be transmitted to said second I/O device and a third non-video signal to be transmitted to said third I/O device and combining said first, second and third non-video signals into said non-video signal received by said first encoder; and

a second decoder, coupled to said first decoder and said first, second and third I/O devices, said second decoder receiving said non-video signal from said first decoder, separating said first, second and third non-video signals therefrom and transmitting said first, second and third non-video signals to said first, second and third I/O devices, respectively.

9. A computer network according to claim 8 wherein said first I/O device is a keyboard, said second I/O device is a mouse and said third I/O device is a printer.

10. A computer network according to claim 8 wherein said first encoder receives R, G, B, HSYNC and VSYNC video signals from said computing system and combines said R and HSYNC video signals into a second combined signal to be transmitted to said first decoder, combines said B and VSYNC video signals into a third combined signal to be transmitted to said first decoder and combines said G video signal and said non-video signal into said first combined signal.

11. A computer network according to claim 10 wherein said first encoder transmits said HSYNC and VSYNC video signals to said second encoder, said second encoder using said HSYNC and VSYNC video signals to time combining said first, second and third non-video signals into said non-video signal.

12. A computer network according to claim 11 wherein said first decoder transmits said HSYNC and VSYNC video signals to said second decoder, said second decoder using said HSYNC and VSYNC video signals to time separating said non-video signal into said first, second and third non-video signals.

13. A computer network, comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto; and

a connective structure for interconnecting said DTE devices respectively coupled to said plurality of nodes into a computer network;

said DTE device coupled to a first one of said nodes further comprising;

a computing system located at a first location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said first location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor and an input/output ("I/O") device;

a first interface device coupled to said computing system, said first interface device including an encoding circuit;

a second interface device coupled to said monitor and said I/O device, said second interface device including a decoding circuit; and

a 4-wire cable coupling said first and second interface devices, said 4-wire cable being comprised of first, second, third and fourth transmission lines;

said encoding circuit receiving, from said computing system, plural video signals to be transmitted to said video monitor and a non-video output signal to be transmitted to said I/O device, combining said non-video signal with a selected one of said plural video signals to produce a combined signal and transmitting said combined signal over a selected pair of said first, second, third and fourth transmission lines of said 4-wire cable;

said decoding circuit receiving said combined signal from said first interface device and separating said combined signal into said video signal for transmission to said video monitor and said non-video signal for transmission to said I/O device.

14. A computer network according to claim 13 wherein said second interface device further comprises:

an encoding circuit having an input coupled to said I/O device and an output coupled to said selected pair of said transmission lines;

said encoding circuit encoding a non-video input signal, received from said I/O device, for transmission to said computing system over said selected pair of transmission lines.

15. A computer network according to claim 14 wherein said first interface device further comprises:

a decoding circuit having first and second inputs coupled to respective ones of said selected pair of said transmission lines and an output coupled to said computing system;

said decoding circuit decoding said non-video input signal received from said encoding circuit of said second interface device for transmission to said computing system.

16. A computer network having commonly located computing systems, comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto; and

a connective structure for interconnecting said DTE devices respectively located at said plurality of nodes into a computer network;

wherein at least two of said nodes are positioned at a common location and wherein said DTE device coupled to each one of said at least two nodes positioned at said common location further comprises;

a computing system located at said common location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said common location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor and an input/output ("I/O") device;

a first interface device coupled to said computing system;

a second interface device coupled to said video monitor and said I/O device;

a transmission line coupling said first interface device and said second interface device;

said first interface device converting a video signal to be transmitted to said video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to said I/O device into a combined signal having a format suitable for transmission to said second interface device over said transmission line and said second interface re-converting said combined signal having said format, received from said first interface device over said transmission line, into said video signal and said non-video signal for respective propagation to said video monitor and said I/O device.

17. A computer network according to claim 16 wherein said computing systems respectively coupled to each one of said at least two nodes are housed together in a shared computer room.

18. A computer network according to claim 16 wherein said computing systems respectively coupled to each one of said at least two nodes are housed together in a common support structure located in a shared computer room.

19. A computer network according to claim 18 wherein said common support structure is a computer rack.

20. A computer network according to claim 19 wherein said second location at which said human interface for said computing system coupled to a first one of said at least two nodes is also remotely located relative to said second location at which said human interface for said computing system coupled to a second one of said at least two nodes is located.

21. A computer network having commonly located computing systems, comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto; and

a connective structure for interconnecting said DTE devices respectively located at said plurality of nodes into a computer network;

wherein at least two of said nodes are positioned at a common location and wherein said DTE device coupled to each one of said at least two nodes positioned at said common location further comprises;

a computing system located at said common location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said common location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor and at least one input/output ("I/O") device;

a first encoder coupled to said computing system;

a first decoder coupled to said video monitor and said at least one I/O device;

a transmission line coupling said encoder and said decoder;

said first encoder receiving, from said computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to said video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to said at least one I/O device and combining said video and said non-video signals into a first combined signal;

said first decoder receiving said first combined signal from said first encoder and separating said video and non-video signals therefrom for respective propagation to said video monitor and said at least one I/O device.

22. A computer network according to claim 21 wherein said connective structure is arranged in a bus topology.

23. A computer network according to claim 21 wherein said second location at which said human interface for said computing system coupled to a first one of said at least two nodes is also remotely located relative to said second location at which said human interface for said computing system coupled to a second one of said at least two nodes is located.

24. A computer network according to claim 21 wherein said computing systems respectively coupled to each one of said at least two nodes are housed together in a shared computer room.

25. A computer network according to claim 21 wherein said computing systems respectively coupled to each one of said at least two nodes are housed together in a common support structure located in a shared computer room.

26. A computer network according to claim 25 wherein said common support structure is a computer rack.

27. A computer network having commonly located computing systems, comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto; and

a connective structure for interconnecting said DTE devices respectively located at said plurality of nodes into a computer network;

wherein at least two of said nodes are positioned at a common location and wherein said DTE device coupled to each one of said at least two nodes positioned at said common location further comprises;

a computing system located at said common location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said common location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor and at least one input/output ("I/O") device;

a first encoder coupled to said computing system;

a first decoder coupled to said video monitor and said at least one I/O device;

a transmission line coupling said encoder and said decoder;

said first encoder receiving, from said computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to said video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to said at least one I/O device and combining said video and said non-video signals into a first combined signal;

said first decoder receiving said first combined signal from said first encoder and separating said video and non-video signals therefrom for respective propagation to said video monitor and said at least one I/O device;

wherein said human interface of said DTE device coupled to each one of said at least two nodes further comprises first, second and third I/O devices and wherein said DTE device coupled to each one of said at least two nodes further comprises;

a second encoder, coupled to said computing system and said first encoder, said second encoder receiving a first non-video signal to be transmitted to said first I/O device, a second non-video signal to be transmitted to said second I/O device and a third non-video signal to be transmitted to said third I/O device and combining said first, second and third non-video signals into said non-video signal received by said first encoder; and

a second decoder, coupled to said first decoder and said first, second and third I/O devices, said second decoder receiving said non-video signal from said first decoder, separating said first, second and third non-video signals therefrom and transmitting said first, second and third non-video signals to said first, second and third I/O devices, respectively.

28. A computer network according to claim 27 wherein said first I/O device is a keyboard, said second I/O device is a mouse and said third I/O device is a printer.

29. A computer network according to claim 27 wherein said first encoder receives R, G, B, HSYNC and VSYNC video signals from said computing system and combines said R and HSYNC video signals into a second combined signal to be transmitted to said first decoder, combines said B and VSYNC video signals into a third combined signal to be transmitted to said first decoder and combines said G video signal and said non-video signal into said first combined signal.

30. A computer network, comprising:

a first computing system located at a first location;

a first human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said first location, said first human interface comprised of a video monitor and an input/output device;

a first interface device coupled to said first computing system, said first interface device including an encoding circuit;

a second interface device coupled to said monitor and said input/output device of said first human interface, said second interface device including a decoding circuit;

a 4-wire cable coupling said first and second interface devices, said 4-wire cable coupling said first and second interface devices being comprised of first, second, third and fourth transmission lines;

said encoding circuit of said first interface device receiving, from said first computing system, a first set of plural video signals to be transmitted to said video monitor of said first human interface and a first non-video output signal to be transmitted to said input/output device of said first human interface, combining said first non-video signal with a selected one of said first set of plural video signals to produce a first combined signal and transmitting said first combined signal over a selected pair of said first, second, third and fourth transmission lines of said 4-wire cable coupling said first and second interface devices;

said decoding circuit of said second interface device receiving said first combined signal from said first interface device and separating said first combined signal into said selected one of said first set of plural video signals for transmission to said video monitor of said first human interface and said first non-video signal for transmission to said input/output device of said first human interface;

a second computing system commonly located at said first location with said first computing system;

a second human interface located at a third location, said third location remotely located relative to said first location and to said second location, said second human interface comprised of a video monitor and an input/output device;

a third interface device coupled to said second computing system, said third interface device including an encoding circuit;

a fourth interface device coupled to said monitor and said input/output device of said second human interface, said fourth interface device including a decoding circuit;

a 4-wire cable coupling said third and fourth interface devices, said 4-wire cable coupling said third and fourth interface devices being comprised of first, second, third and fourth transmission lines;

said encoding circuit of said third interface device receiving, from said second computing system, a second set of plural video signals to be transmitted to said video monitor of said second human interface and a second non-video output signal to be transmitted to said input/output device of said second human interface, combining said second non-video signal with a selected one of said second set of plural video signals to produce a second combined signal and transmitting said second combined signal over a selected pair of said first, second, third and fourth transmission lines of said 4-wire cable coupling said third and fourth interface devices;

said decoding circuit of said fourth interface device receiving said second combined signal from said third interface device and separating said second combined signal into said selected one of said second set of video signals for transmission to said video monitor of said second human interface and said second non-video signal for transmission to said input/output device of said second human interface; and

a connective structure for interconnecting said first computing system and said second computing system into a computer network.

31. A computer network according to claim 30 wherein said second interface device further comprises:

an encoding circuit having an input coupled to said I/O device of said first human interface and an output coupled to said selected pair of said transmission lines of said first 4-wire cable;

said encoding circuit of said second interface device encoding a first non-video input signal, received from said I/O device of said first human interface, for transmission to said first computing system over said selected pair of transmission lines of said first 4-wire cable; and

wherein said fourth interface device further comprises;

an encoding circuit having an input coupled to said I/O device of said second human interface and an output coupled to said selected pair of said transmission lines of said second 4-wire cable;

said encoding circuit of said fourth interface device encoding a second non-video input signal, received from said I/O device of said second human interface, for transmission to said second computing system over said selected pair of transmission lines of said second 4-wire cable.

32. A computer network according to claim 31 wherein said first interface device further comprises:

a decoding circuit having first and second inputs coupled to respective ones of said selected pair of said transmission lines of said first 4-wire cable and an output coupled to said first computing system;

said decoding circuit of said first interface device decoding said first non-video input signal received from said encoding circuit of said second interface device for transmission to said first computing system; and

wherein said third interface device further comprises;

a decoding circuit having first and second inputs coupled to respective ones of said selected pair of said transmission lines of said second 4-wire cable and an output coupled to said second computing system;

said decoding circuit of said third interface device decoding said second non-video input signal received from said encoding circuit of said fourth interface device for transmission to said second computing system.

33. A computer network, comprising:

a plurality of interconnected nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto and wherein said DTE device coupled to a first one of said nodes further comprises;

a computing system located at a first location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said first location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor and an input/output ("I/O") device;

a first interface device coupled to said computing system;

a second interface device coupled to said video monitor and said I/O device of said human interface;

a transmission line coupling said first and second interface devices;

said first interface device receiving, from said computing system, at least two video signals to be transmitted to said video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to said I/O device and combining said non-video signal and a selected one of said at least two video signals into a combined video/non-video signal;

said combined video/non-video signal and unselected ones of said at least two video signals being transmitted to said second interface device via said transmission line;

said second interface device receiving said combined video/non-video signal from said first interface device, separating said selected video signal and said non-video signal from said combined video/non-video signal, propagating said selected video signal and said unselected ones of said at least two video signals to said video monitor and propagating said non-video signal to said I/O device.

34. A computer network, comprising:

a plurality of interconnected nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto and wherein said DTE device coupled to a first one of said nodes further comprises;

a computing system located at a first location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said first location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor, a first input/output ("I/O") device and a second I/O device;

a first interface device coupled to said computing system;

a second interface device coupled to said video monitor, said first I/O device and said second I/O device;

a transmission line coupling said first and second interface devices;

said first interface device receiving, from said computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to said video monitor, a first non-video signal to be transmitted to said first I/O device and a second non-video signal to be transmitted to said second I/O device, said first interface combining said first non-video signal and said second non-video signal to produce a combined non-video signal and combining said video signal and said combined non-video signal to produce a combined video/non-video signal;

said combined video/non-video signal being transmitted to said second interface device via said transmission line;

said second interface device receiving said combined video/non-video signal from said first interface device, separating said video signal and said combined non-video signal from said combined video/non-video signal, separating said first non-video signal and said second non-video signal from said combined non-video signal from said combined non-video signal, propagating said video signal to said video monitor, propagating said first non-video signal to said first I/O device and propagating said second non-video signal to said second I/O device.

35. A computer network, comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each one of said nodes having a DTE device coupled thereto; and

a connective structure for interconnecting said DTE devices respectively coupled to said plurality of nodes into a computer network;

said DTE device coupled to a first one of said nodes further comprising;

a computing system located at a first location;

a human interface located at a second location, said second location remotely located relative to said first location, said human interface comprised of a video monitor and an input/output ("I/O") device;

a first interface device coupled to said computing system;

a second interface device coupled to said monitor and said I/O device; and

a cable coupling said first and second interface devices, said cable being comprised of a plurality of transmission lines;

said first interface device receiving, from said computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to said video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to said I/O device, combining said video signal and said non-video signal to produce a combined video/non-video signal and transmitting said combined video/non-video signal over a selected pair of said plurality of transmission lines of said cable;

said second interface device receiving said combined video/non-video signal from said first interface device over said selected pair of said plurality of transmission line and separating said combined video/non-video signal into said video signal for transmission to said video monitor and said non-video signal for transmission to said I/O device.