Wireless management of remote devices

• US 7,818,480 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIIP, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Raritan Americas Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Hoerl, David, Burgess, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Niketa I
• Assistant Examiner(s): Unelus; Ernest
• Application Number:
  US10/988,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20060267936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 710/2, 710/223, 710/62, 710/73, 710/100, 345/1.1, 345/2.1, 345/158, 345/520, 709/223, 709/253
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• 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 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Disclosed is a wireless remote network management system for interfacing a series of remote devices (e.g., computers, servers, networking equipment, etc.) to one or more user workstations. The system is multifunctional to allow multiple users to control remote devices through serial access or keyboard, video, and cursor control device access via wireless and hard-wired connections. The remote devices are preferably coupled to a wireless-enabled remote management unit through a chain of computer interface modules, and each user workstation includes a wireless user station coupled to a keyboard, a video monitor and a cursor control device. The remote management unit and user stations preferably communicate via a wireless network, which enables a user workstation to access, monitor and control any of the remote devices.

Claims

1. A wireless, multifunction remote device management system comprising:

at least one user workstation of the type including at least one from the group consisting of;

a keyboard, a monitor, and a cursor control device;

at least a first type of remote device containing a KVM interface;

at least a second type of remote device containing a serial interface;

at least a first type of remote interface module;

wherein the first type of remote interface module contains a first power extractor circuit and a KVM interface connector for connecting to a KVM interface of one of the first types of remote devices;

wherein the first power extractor circuit extracts power from the first type of remote device via the KVM interface connector;

at least a second type of remote interface module;

wherein the second type of remote interface module contains a second power extractor circuit and a serial interface connector for connecting to the serial interface of one of the second type of remote devices;

wherein the second power extractor circuit extracts power from a remote device management unit connected to the second remote interface; and

wherein the first type and second type of remote interface modules perform separate functions; and

wherein the remote device management unit, contains a workstation user'"'"'s profile information, and is coupled to said user workstation wirelessly or via a packet-switched network connection, and to said first type of remote interface module and said second type of remote interface module, and

wherein said remote device management unit after verifying a workstation user'"'"'s access to said remote device based on the workstation user'"'"'s profile, communicates information to and from said user workstation and to and from said first type of remote device and said second type of remote device via said KVM interface of the first remote interface module and said serial interface of the second remote interface module, and

wherein said first type of remote interface module and said second type of remote interface modules are connected in a chain-like configuration to each other and to the remote maintenance unit, and

wherein said system enables power control of at least the first type of remote device and at least the second type of remote device from said user workstation, and wherein power control includes an ability to cycle power on and off at least the first type of remote device and the second type of remote device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote device management unit bi-directionally communicates with said user workstation over a wireless network.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second remote interface modules bi-directionally communicate with said remote device management unit.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said chain-like configuration enables that less than all of the at least first and second remote interface modules be equipped with wireless interfaces to said remote device management unit.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the last remote interface module in the chain like configuration is connected to either said remote device management unit or a terminator.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said first remote interface module and said second remote interface module comprise a first class of remote interface modules and a second class of remote interface modules.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said single first remote device interface connector contains connections for receiving video output of a remote device, for sending and receiving keyboard signals from said remote device, and for sending and receiving cursor control signals from said remote device.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said single second remote device interface connector contains connections for transmitting and receiving data signals.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein a user may control a plurality of said remote devices at one time.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote device management unit couples to a power strip to enable power control of said remote device from said user workstation.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein said first remote device is accessible via a serial port and said second remote device is accessible via a keyboard port, a video port and a cursor control port.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein said first remote device and said second remote device are accessible via serial ports.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein said first remote device and said second remote device are accessible via keyboard ports, video ports and cursor control ports.

11. A wireless multifunctional remote device management system comprising:

at least one user workstation including at least one of the group consisting of;

a keyboard, a monitor, and a cursor control device;

at least a first type of remote device and a second type of remote device;

wherein the first type of remote device and the second type of remote device are different types of devices;

a first type of remote interface module for connecting to said first remote device and containing a first power extractor circuit and a KVM interface connector for coupling to only one first type remote device via said KVM interface connection;

wherein the first type of power extractor circuit extracts power from the first type of remote device via the KVM interface connector;

a second type of remote interface module containing a second power extractor circuit and a serial interface connection, for connecting the second type of remote interface module to the said second type of remote device via said the serial interface connection, wherein the second power extractor circuit extracts power from a remote device management unit connected to the second remote interface; and

the remote device management unit, containing a workstation user'"'"'s profile information is coupled to said user workstation wirelessly or via a packet-switched network connection, and coupled to said first and second types of remote devices via the first type of remote interface module and the second type of remote interface module,

wherein the first and second types of remote interface modules are coupled in a chain like configuration to each other and to the remote maintenance unit;

and

wherein said wireless remote device management system enables keyboard, video and mouse (“

KVM”

) control, power control and serial control of the remote devices after verifying a workstation user'"'"'s access to said remote device based on the workstation user'"'"'s profile, and wherein power control includes an ability to cycle power on and off to said remote devices.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first remote interface modules comprises:

a single first remote device interface connector, wherein said single first remote device interface connector connects to one of said remote device management unit, another remote interface module, or a terminator;

an output port, wherein said output port connects to one of another remote interface module, or a remote device management unit;

connections for receiving video output of a remote device, for sending and receiving keyboard signals from said remote device, and for sending and receiving cursor control signals from said remote device; and

circuitry for power control, sending and receiving signals, signal conversion, and storage.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said single first remote device interface connector receives video and data signals.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein said circuitry converts and combines said video output with said video signals received by said input port for transmission.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein said circuitry combines said keyboard signals and said cursor control signals into a data packet.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said data signal received at said single first remote device interface connector is combined with said data packet by said circuitry for transmission.

17. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first class of remote interface modules bi-directionally communicates with said remote device and said remote device management unit.

18. A system according to claim 11, wherein said remote device management unit bi-directionally communicates with said user workstation over a wireless network.

19. A system according to claim 11, wherein said second class of remote interface modules comprises:

a chain input port, wherein said chain input port connects to one of said remote device management unit, another remote interface module, or a terminator;

a chain output port, wherein said chain output port connects to one of another remote interface module, or a remote device management unit;

connections for sending and receiving serial signals from a remote device; and

circuitry for power control, sending and receiving signals, signal conversion, and storage.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein said chain input port receives video and data signals.

21. System according to claim 20, wherein said video signals pass directly through said second remote interface modules.

22. A system according to claim 19, wherein said circuitry converts said serial signals into a data packet.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said data signal received at said input port is combined by said circuitry with said data packet for transmission.

24. A system according to claim 11, where said second remote interface modules bi-directionally communicates with said remote device and said remote device management unit.

25. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first and second remote interface modules are connected in a chain-like configuration, wherein the first of said remote interface modules in said chain-like configuration is further connected to a remote device management unit, and wherein the last of said remote interface modules in said chain-like configuration is further connected to either a remote device management unit or to a terminator,

wherein said chain-like configuration enables that less than all of said remote interface modules be equipped with wireless interfaces to said remote device management unit.

26. A wireless, multifunction remote device management system for providing KVM control and power control of remotely located computer servers, comprising:

at least a first type of interface module with a KVM interface for coupling to a remotely located computer server;

at least a second type of remote interface module with a serial interface for coupling to a remotely located serial device; and

a remote device management unit, containing a workstation user'"'"'s profile information, coupled to KVM control devices for controlling devices and wirelessly coupled to said remote interface module,

wherein the first type of remote interface module and the second remote interface module communicate in a chain-like configuration with each other and with the remote management unit;

wherein said system enables power control of said remotely located servers and serial devices from a user workstation,

wherein power control includes an ability to cycle power on and off to said remote devices, and

wherein said first and second remote interface modules contain a power extractor circuit to extract power from the remote device management unit or the remotely located computer server.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said wireless remote device management system enables KVM control and serial control of a remotely located computer server device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said remote device management unit couples to a power strip to enable power control of said remotely located servers from said user workstation.