Systems and methods for establishing interaction between a local computer and a remote computer

• US 7,260,624 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Sivertsen, Clas Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAZARO, DAVID R
• Application Number:
  US10/247,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-205, 709217-219, 709/224, 709/208, 709/223, 700/19, 361/748, 361/752, 710/5, 710/40, 715/740, 715/750, 715/751, 715753-756
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Methods and devices provide for remote management of a local computer by transferring screen frames produced by the local computer for viewing at a remote computer. The screen frame data may be obtained by digitizing an analog video output of the local computer and then grabbing frames from the digitized video, or by directly grabbing frames from a digital video output of the local computer. Additionally, interaction may be established with the local computer through user input devices such as a mouse and keyboard of the remote computer whose signals are transferred back to the local computer to alter the screen frames being produced by the local computer that are then transferred back to the remote computer for display.

Claims

1. A method for establishing interaction between a local computer and a remote computer, comprising:

receiving a video signal from the local computer through a video input of a device directly interfaced to an external video output port of the local computer such that the device is externally and rigidly connected to the local computer without the use of an external video cable for transferring video signals between the local computer and the device;

grabbing a screen frame from the video signal to produce screen frame data;

transmitting the video signal from the local computer to a video output configured for connection to a local display device;

transmitting the screen frame data to a remote computer for display, wherein transmitting the screen frame data to the remote computer comprises providing a web server with an Internet Protocol (IP) address that the screen frame data is accessed from upon receiving a request that is directed to the web server at the IP address;

receiving a first user input from over a network;

receiving a second user input from a user device for the local computer;

if the first and second user inputs are received in succession, providing each user input to the local computer when received;

if the first and second user inputs are received simultaneously, assigning user input priority to one of the first or second user inputs; and

providing user input to the local computer according to the assigned priority.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising compressing the screen frame data obtained from the video signal prior to transmitting the screen frame data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing a first set of screen frame data previously transmitted to the remote computer to a second set of screen frame data and transmitting only the screen frame data taken from the second set of screen frame that is different than the first set of screen frame data.

4. A method for providing interaction between a local computer and a remote computer, comprising:

obtaining a digitized video signal having screen frames of the local computer via a video input of a device directly interfaced to an external video output port of the local computer such that the device is externally and rigidly connected to the local computer without the use of an external video cable for transferring video signals between the local computer and the device;

grabbing a frame from the digitized video signal to create screen frame data;

transmitting the digitized video signal to a video output configured for connection to a local display device;

transmitting the screen frame data over a network to a remote computer, wherein transmitting the screen frame data over a network to a remote computer comprises providing a web server with an Internet Protocol (IP) address that the screen frame data is provided from upon receiving a recluest that is directed to the web server at the IP address;

receiving a first user input over the network from the remote computer in response to transmitting the screen frame data;

receiving a second user input from a user device for the local computer; and

if the first and second user inputs are received one after the other, providing each user input to the local computer when received; and

if the first and second user inputs are received simultaneously, assigning user input priority to one of the first or second user inputs; and

providing user input to the local computer according to the assigned priority.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising compressing the screen frame data prior to transmission.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein upon receiving the user input at the local computer, the method further comprises:

grabbing a new screen frame from the digitized video signal produced by the local computer that incorporates changes resulting from the user input received from the remote computer to produce new screen frame data; and

transmitting the new screen frame data to the remote computer.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising comparing a first set of screen frame data previously transmitted to the remote computer to a second set of screen frame data and transmitting screen frame data from the second set of screen frame data that is different than the first set of screen frame data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the screen frame data only occurs when the difference between the first set of screen frame data and the second set exceeds a threshold value.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving an analog video signal from the local computer; and

digitizing the analog video signal to produce the digitized video signal.

10. A device for establishing interaction between a local computer and a remote computer, comprising:

a user device input for a local mouse and a local keyboard;

a user device output in communication with the local computer;

a video input that receives video signals of the local computer, wherein the video input is directly interfaced to an external video output port of the local computer providing the video signals of the local computer such that the device is externally and rigidly connected to the local computer without the use of an external video cable for transferring video signals between the local computer and the device;

a frame grabber that grabs screen frames from the video signals to create screen frame data;

a video output configured to transmit the video signals of the local computer to a local display device;

a network interface device;

at least one processing device configured to provide signals from the local mouse and keyboard input to the local computer, to provide the video signals of the local computer to the video output, and to provide the screen frame data to the network interface device for distribution across a network, wherein the processing device establishes a web server having an IP address and provides the screen frame data from the web server upon receiving a request that is directed to the web server at the IP address through the network interface device; and

a controller in communication with the at least one processing device and the user device input, the controller being configured to arbitrate between user device input from the network and user device input from the local mouse or local keyboard and provide user device input through the user device output to the local computer as each input occurs if the inputs are received alternately, and according to an assigned priority if the inputs are received simultaneously.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to compress the screen frame data prior to providing the screen frame data to the network interface device.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the user device input is connected to a keyboard and a mouse.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising a case housing the video input, the frame grabber, the network interface device, and the at least one processing device.

14. The device of claim 10, further comprising a USB controller and a USB output port in communication with a USB port of the local computer, and wherein the processing device controls the USB controller to emulate a storage device of the remote computer for use by the local computer.

15. The device of claim 10, further comprising a USB controller and a USB output port in communication with a USB port of the local computer, and wherein the processing device controls the USB controller to emulate a keyboard and a mouse.

16. The device of claim 10, further comprising XOR circuitry for comparing a first set of screen frame data to a second set of screen frame data to determine a difference between the first set of screen frame data and the second set, and wherein the processing device provides only the screen frame data that comprises the difference to the network interface.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the processing device provides the screen frame data only when the difference between the first set of screen frame data and the second set exceeds a threshold value.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein upon the device being operably connected to receive the video input, the device is located other than within a rack.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the video input is connected to a video output port of the local computer and the network interface device is connected to a network interface such that the device is in-line between the video output port and the network interface.

20. The device of claim 10, wherein upon the device being operably connected to receive the video input, the device is not permanently affixed where the device is located such that it is portable.

21. The device of claim 10, further comprising:

an output for mouse and keyboard signals being provided to the local computer;

a mouse connector on a printed circuit board within the device, wherein the mouse connector is electrically coupled to the input for the local mouse and the output to the local computer; and

a keyboard connector on the printed circuit board within the device, wherein the keyboard connector is electrically coupled to the input for the local keyboard and the output to the local computer.

22. A device for establishing interaction between a local computer and a remote computer, comprising:

a video input that receives video signals of the local computer, wherein the video input is directly interfaced to an external video output port of the local computer providing the video signals of the local computer such that the device is externally and rigidly connected to the local computer without the use of an external video cable for transferring video signals between the local computer and the device;

a frame grabber that grabs screen frames related to the video signals to create screen frame data;

a video output configured to transmit the video signals of the local computer to a local display device;

a network interface device;

at least one processing device configured to provide the video signals of the local computer to the video output, provide the screen frame data to the network interface device for distribution across a network, and receive user input data from the network, wherein the processing device establishes a web server having an IP address and provides the screen frame data from the web server upon receiving a request that is directed to the web server at the IP address through the network interface device;

a user device input connected to at least one user device;

a user device output in communication with the local computer; and

a controller in communication with the at least one processing device and the user device input, the controller being configured to arbitrate between user device input from the network and user input from the at least one user device and provide user device input through the user device output to the local computer as each input occurs if the inputs are received alternately, and according to an assigned priority if the inputs are received simultaneously.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the video signals of the local computer are analog, and wherein the device further comprises:

an analog-to-digital converter that digitizes the analog video signals of the local computer to produce digitized video signals, and wherein the frame grabber grabs screen frames from the digitized video signals.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to compress the screen frame data prior to providing the screen frame data to the network interface device.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the user device input is connected to a keyboard and a mouse.

26. The device of claim 22, further comprising a case housing the video input, the analog-to-digital converter, the frame grabber, the network interface device, and the at least one processing device.

27. The device of claim 22, further comprising a USB controller and a USB output port in communication with a USB port of the local computer, and wherein the processing device controls the USB controller to emulate a storage device of the remote computer for use by the local computer.

28. The device of claim 22, further comprising XOR circuitry for comparing a first set of screen frame data to a second set of screen frame data to determine a difference between the first set of screen frame data and the second set, and wherein the processing device provides only the screen frame data that comprises the difference to the network interface.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the processing device provides the screen frame data only when the difference between the first set of screen frame data and the second set exceeds a threshold value.

30. The device of claim 22, wherein upon the device being operably connected to receive the video input, the device is located other than within a rack.

31. The device of claim 22, wherein the video input is connected to a video output port of the local computer and the network interface device is connected to a network interface such that the device is in-line between the video output port and the network interface.

32. The device of claim 22, wherein upon the device being operably connected to receive the video input, the device is not permanently affixed where the device is located such that it is portable.

33. A device for providing interaction with a local computer, comprising:

an input for a local mouse and a local keyboard;

an output for mouse and keyboard signals being provided from the local mouse and keyboard and from a remote mouse and keyboard to external mouse and keyboard inputs of the local computer;

a controller configured to arbitrate between user input received from the remote mouse and keyboard and user input received from the local mouse and keyboard and provide input to the local computer as each input occurs if the inputs are received in succession, and according to an assigned priority if the inputs are received simultaneously;

an input for video from the local computer, wherein the video input comprises a video input port directly interfaced to a video output port providing the video signals of the local computer such that the device is externally and rigidly connected to the local computer without the use of an external video cable for transferring video signals between the local computer and the device;

a video output configured to transmit the video from the local computer to a local display;

a frame grabber configured to grab screen frames from the video to create screen frame data;

a network interface device configured to transmit the screen frame data across a network;

a processing device configured to provide the video to the video output and to provide the screen frame data to the network interface device for distribution across the network, wherein the processing device establishes a web server having an IP address and provides the screen frame data from the web server upon receiving a request that is directed to the web server at the IP address through the network interface device; and

wherein the local mouse and local keyboard input, the mouse and keyboard signal output, the controller, the video input, the video output, the frame grabber, the network interface device, and the processing device are configured on a plurality of stacked circuit boards.