Automated keyboard mouse switch
First Claim
1. A set of data processing systems operating utilizing a single set of input devices, comprising:
- a single set of input devices including a pointing device;
at least two data processing systems sharing the single set of input devices, each data processing system having a logical display area logically arranged to have at least one boundary in common with a logical display area for another data processing system, wherein a pointer driven cursor controlled by the pointing device is located within a logical display area for an active data processing system receiving input signals from the single set of input devices; and
switching means including an input controller coupled to said single set of input device and to each of said at least two data processing systems, wherein said switching means, responsive to the active data processing system signaling movement of the cursor past a logical common boundary between two logical display areas, for automatically switching transmission of signals from the single set of input devices from the active data processing system to another data processing system corresponding to a logical display area sharing the logical common boundary with the logical display area for the active data processing system, wherein the other data processing system becomes the active data processing system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A single set of input devices (keyboard, mouse, etc.) is employed with a plurality of data processing systems each having a separate display. The logical display areas for the displays are arranged in a contiguous array to have common boundaries, with an edge (e.g., a right boundary or a lower boundary) of one logical display area coinciding with an edge of another logical display area (e.g., a left boundary or an upper boundary). When a cursor controlled by a pointing device is moved past a logical display area boundary which the current active data processing system shares in common with another data processing system, the active data processing system to which input device signals are transmitted is automatically switched to the other data processing system. No manual switching or hot-key sequence by the user is required, and the active data processing system may be automatically switch among any of a number of data processing systems simply by moving the cursor across logical display area boundaries between the data processing systems.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A set of data processing systems operating utilizing a single set of input devices, comprising:
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a single set of input devices including a pointing device; at least two data processing systems sharing the single set of input devices, each data processing system having a logical display area logically arranged to have at least one boundary in common with a logical display area for another data processing system, wherein a pointer driven cursor controlled by the pointing device is located within a logical display area for an active data processing system receiving input signals from the single set of input devices; and switching means including an input controller coupled to said single set of input device and to each of said at least two data processing systems, wherein said switching means, responsive to the active data processing system signaling movement of the cursor past a logical common boundary between two logical display areas, for automatically switching transmission of signals from the single set of input devices from the active data processing system to another data processing system corresponding to a logical display area sharing the logical common boundary with the logical display area for the active data processing system, wherein the other data processing system becomes the active data processing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for operating multiple data processing systems using a single set of input devices, said method comprising:
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an active data processing system receiving signals from a pointing device within the single set of input devices controlling movement of a cursor within a first logical display area for the active data processing system; responsive to movement of the cursor past a logical common boundary between the first logical display area and a second logical display area of an inactive data processing system, said active data processing system signaling an input controller coupled to said active data processing system and coupled to the inactive data processing system; and in response to said signaling by said active data processing system, said input controller automatically switching transmission of signals from the single set of input devices from the active data processing system to said inactive data processing system, such that the inactive data processing system becomes the active data processing system and input signals from the single set of input devices control movement of the cursor within the second logical display area. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An automatic input switching device, comprising:
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an input controller; an input connection within the input controller for a single set of input devices including a pointing device; output connections within the input controller for at least two data processing systems; switching logic within the input controller at least two data processing systems transmitting input signals from the single set of input devices to an active data processing system, wherein the switching logic, responsive to receipt of signaling from the active data processing system indicative of movement of a cursor past a logical common boundary between the logical display area of the active data processing system and a logical display area for another data processing system, automatically switches transmission of the input signals from the single set of input devices from the active data processing system to said another data processing system, wherein said another data processing system becomes the active data processing system. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification