Passive video multiplexing method and apparatus priority to prior provisional application
First Claim
1. A method of encoding video synchronization signals Hsync, Vsync within a keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) extension system, the method comprising:
- encoding R, G, B video signals differentially around respective common mode voltage signals, the common mode signals representing encoded functions of combinations of the video synchronization signals; and
differentially driving R, G, B video signals so as to allow removal of their respective common mode signals, such that(i) a net alternating current produced by each of the differential video signals is substantially zero; and
(ii) a net alternating current produced by encoded synchronization signals is substantially zero.
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Abstract
A passive video multiplexing method and apparatus for encoding video synchronization signals within a KVM extension system. A Rack Interface Pod (RIP) is provided for receiving video signals from a network server and providing them to a remote user via a local area network (LAN). The analog signals received by the RIP are transmitted to a Rack Connection Manager (RCM) having video processing logic, a supervisory processor, a KVM switch system, and Ethernet interface circuitry. A plurality of ARI systems are connected to the RCM, and a plurality of network servers, intended to be controlled by the remote user, are connected to each ARI by a respective wiring strip or Pod Expansion Module (PEM). The RCM performs selective switching by sourcing current through a pair of diodes associated with an active channel of the PEM while reverse biasing diodes associated with an inactive channel to select a network server among the plurality of network servers. Switching of video is accomplished without processing the video signals.
66 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of encoding video synchronization signals Hsync, Vsync within a keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) extension system, the method comprising:
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encoding R, G, B video signals differentially around respective common mode voltage signals, the common mode signals representing encoded functions of combinations of the video synchronization signals; and differentially driving R, G, B video signals so as to allow removal of their respective common mode signals, such that (i) a net alternating current produced by each of the differential video signals is substantially zero; and (ii) a net alternating current produced by encoded synchronization signals is substantially zero. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of encoding video synchronization signals within a keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) server management system, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of interface ports for receiving KVM signals from a plurality of servers, each interface port including a differential video channel; providing a pair of switching diodes for each differential video channel; multiplexing different video channels down to common differential channels; encoding R, G, B video signals around their respective common mode signals for each differential channel; differentially driving R, G, B video signals and their respective common mode signals, said common mode signals representing functions of video synchronization signals Hsync and Vsync, respectively; switching individual differential video channels by varying common mode voltages of respective individual differential channels, and forward biasing or reverse biasing the switching diodes for enabling or disabling a respective differential channel; and providing both common mode and differential mode terminations at a receiving end of the R, G, B video signals so as to remove common mode signals from said video signals and extract original video synchronization signals.
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4. A method of interfacing KVM signals provided by an Analog Long Interconnect port to network server, said method comprising:
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differentially driving R, G, B video channel signals with video synchronization encoded on respective common mode signals, the common mode signals representing encoded functions of combinations of the video synchronization signals; providing corrective frequency compensation for the transmission losses encountered by R, G, B channel signals in extended cabling; multiplexing between a plurality of cabling extensions; and forwarding the R, G, B channel signals to a remote user through a network interface.
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5. A keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) server management system, comprising:
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a plurality of network interfaces, each interface having network ports for communicating KVM signals to a remote user workstation, each said user workstation communicatively coupled to the network for communicating KVM signals to a plurality of network servers via corresponding network ports; and a switch for communicating KVM signals between the remote user workstations and a select network server from among said plurality of network servers.
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6. A method of encoding video synchronization signals within a keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) server management system, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of interface ports for receiving KVM signals from a plurality of servers; providing in each server interface port a pair of switching diodes for each differential video channel; multiplexing differential video channels down to common differential channels; encoding R, G, B video signals around their respective common mode signals for each differential channel; differentially driving R, G, B video signals and their respective common mode signals, said common mode signals representing functions of video synchronization signals Hsync and Vsync, respectively; switching differential channels by varying the common mode voltages of respective channels; and receiving both common mode and differential mode terminations at a receiving end. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) server management system, comprising:
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a network interface unit comprising; a network port communicatively coupled to a network to communicate digitized KVM signals with a remote user workstation via said network; a plurality of interface ports communicatively coupled directly to a corresponding plurality of servers via corresponding lines; a signal conditioner to convert native KVM signals from a server into an intermediate format for transmission over one of the corresponding lines; at least one switch communicatively coupled to at least one interface port for communicating keyboard and mouse signals between a select server among a plurality of servers coupled to said switch via corresponding lines, each line coupled to said switch comprising a plurality of wires, each said wire including a single diode; and wherein R, G, B signals are encoded around their respective common mode voltage signals using a sync on green encoding on one of R, G, B color components in order to select a server among said plurality of servers, the common mode signals representing encoded functions of combinations of video synchronization signals.
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10. A method of encoding video synchronization signals in a keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) server management system, comprising:
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communicatively coupling a network port of a network interface unit to a network for communicating digitized KVM signals with a remote user workstation; communicatively coupling a plurality of interface ports to a corresponding plurality of servers via corresponding lines; converting native KVM signals from a server into an intermediate format for transmission over one of the corresponding lines; communicatively coupling at least one switch to at least one interface port for communicating keyboard and mouse signals between a select server among a plurality of servers coupled to said switch via corresponding lines, each line coupled to said switch comprising a plurality of wires, each said wire including a single diode; and encoding R, G, B signals are around their respective common mode voltage signals using a sync-on-green technique in order to select a server among said plurality of servers, the common mode signals representing encoded functions of combinations of video synchronization signals.
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11. A keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) server extension system, comprising:
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a network interface unit comprising; a network port communicatively coupled to a network to communicate digitized KVM signals with a remote user workstation via said network; an interface port to communicatively couple to a server via a communication link; and a signal conditioner to convert native KVM signals from the server into an intermediate format for transmission over the communication link.
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12. A video signal switch, comprising:
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a plurality of server blade backplane slots to receive server blades outputting a corresponding plurality of differentially encoded video signals around a plurality of common mode voltages; a backplane in which the plurality of server blades in the backplane slots commonly connect and communicate, the backplane including a pair of diodes for each of said blades to control switching among the plurality of differentially encoded video signals; and at least one receiver communicating with the backplane to receive the differentially encoded video signals switched by the diodes. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of encoding video synchronization signals Hsync, Vsync within a keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) extension system, the method comprising:
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encoding R, G, B video signals differentially around respective common mode voltage signals, the common mode signals representing encoded functions of combinations of both the video synchronization signals Hsync, Vsync; and differentially driving R, G, B video signals so as to allow removal of their respective common mode signals, such that (i) a net alternating current produced by each of the differential video signals is substantially zero; and (ii) a net alternating current produced by encoded synchronization signals is substantially zero.
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Specification