Asynchronous/synchronous switching of console devices and peripheral devices

• US 8,140,734 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: ATEN Technology Incorporated (ATEN International Company Limited)
• Inventors: Lou, Tony, Chen, Kevin, Yang, Sampson
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US12/341,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 710305-317, 710 62- 64, 710 72- 73, 710 8- 19, 709227-232
• US Class Current: 710/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/455 Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines
• 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 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A signal switch for sharing a video monitor, a plurality of console devices compliant with an industry standard and one or more than one peripheral device in any of a plurality of computer systems, is provided comprising a CPU with a first memory for storing a management program for managing the signal switch; a hub switch module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with any of the plurality of computer systems, and the one or more than one peripheral device; a device control module for emulating according to the industry standard the plurality of console devices, connected to the CPU and the hub switch module; a host control module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with the plurality of console devices; and a video control module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with a video monitor device.

Claims

1. A signal switch for sharing a video monitor, console devices including a mouse and a keyboard, compliant with an industry standard and one or more than one peripheral device in any of a plurality of computer systems, comprising:

a CPU for managing the signal switch;

a hub switch module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with any of the plurality of computer systems, and the one or more than one peripheral device,

a device control module for emulating the console devices according to the industry standard, connected to the CPU and the hub switch module;

a host control module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with the plurality of console devices; and

a video control module connected to the CPU and configured to communicate with the video monitor;

wherein a communication link between the one or more peripheral devices and one of the plurality of computer systems can be maintained even while between the console devices and another one of the plurality of computer systems is established.

2. The signal switch of claim 1, wherein the hub-switch module comprises at least one hub.

3. The signal switch of claim 1, wherein the switching circuit comprises at least one switch.

4. A signal switch for sharing one or more console devices and one or more peripheral devices in any of a plurality of computer systems, wherein each console device includes a keyboard, a monitor and a mouse, the signal switch comprising:

a first channel for connecting a selected console device from the one or more console devices to a first selected computer system from the plurality of computer systems;

a second channel connecting the first selected computer system to a selected peripheral device from the one or more peripheral devices;

a third channel for connecting the selected console device to a second selected computer system from the plurality of computer systems; and

a switching circuit configured to switch the selected console device between the first channel and the third channel without changing the second channel connecting the first selected computer system and the selected peripheral device.

5. The signal switch of claim 4, wherein the one or more peripheral devices include an audio device.

6. The signal switch of claim 4, wherein the one or more selected peripheral device includes USB (Universal Serial Bus) device.

7. The signal switch of claim 4, further comprising a device control module connected to the switching circuit for emulating the console devices according to an industry standard.

8. The signal switch of claim 4, wherein the selected peripheral device is an audio device.

9. The signal switch of claim 4, wherein the selected peripheral device is a USB device.

10. The signal switch of claim 4, wherein the switching circuit comprises at least one hub.

11. The signal switch of claim 4, wherein the switching circuit comprises at least one switch.

12. The signal switch of claim 7, wherein the device control module emulates the selected console device for the first selected computer system when the switching circuit switches the selected console device from the first channel to the third channel.

13. The signal switch of claim 7, further comprising a CPU for managing the signal switch, wherein the CPU is connected to the switching circuit and the device control module.

14. A signal switch for sharing one or more console devices and one or more peripheral devices in any of a plurality of computer systems, the signal switch comprising:

a first channel for connecting a selected console device from the one or more console devices to a first selected computer system from the plurality of computer systems;

a second channel connecting the first selected computer system to a selected peripheral device from the one or more peripheral devices, the second channel having a data flow between the first selected computer system and the selected peripheral device;

a third channel for connecting the selected console device to a second selected computer system from the plurality of computer systems; and

a switching circuit configured to switch the selected console device between the first channel and the third channel without interruption of the data flow through the second channel between the first selected computer system and the selected peripheral device.

15. The signal switch of claim 14, wherein the one or more peripheral devices include an audio device.

16. The signal switch of claim 14, wherein the selected peripheral device is an audio device.

17. The signal switch of claim 14, wherein the one or more peripheral devices include a USB device.

18. The signal switch of claim 14, further comprising a device control module connected to the switching circuit for emulating the console devices according to an industry standard.

19. The signal switch of claim 14, wherein the one or more console devices includes a keyboard, a monitor and a mouse.

20. The signal switch of claim 14, wherein the selected peripheral device is a USB device.

21. The signal switch of claim 18, wherein the device control module emulates the selected console device for the first selected computer system when the switching circuit switches the selected console device from the first channel to the third channel.

22. The signal switch of claim 18, further comprising a CPU for managing the signal switch, wherein the CPU is connected to the switching circuit and the device control module.

23. A signal switch for sharing a set of console devices and one or more peripheral devices in any of a plurality of computer systems, comprising:

a first channel for connecting a first console device selected from the set of console devices to a first selected computer system selected from the plurality of computer systems;

a second channel for connecting the first selected computer system to a selected peripheral device selected from the one or more peripheral devices;

a third channel for connecting the first console device to a second selected computer system selected from the plurality of computer systems;

a fourth channel for connecting a second console device selected from the set of console devices to the first selected computer system;

a fifth channel for connecting the second console device to the second selected computer system; and

a switching circuit for switching the set of console devices from the fourth channel to the fifth channel without interrupting data flow of the first channel and the second channel.

24. The signal switch of claim 23, wherein the first console device is a keyboard and the second console devices is a mouse.

25. The signal switch of claim 23, wherein the first console device is a mouse and the second console devices is a keyboard.

26. The signal switch of claim 24, wherein the set of console devices further comprise a third console device.

27. The signal switch of claim 24, wherein the third console device is a monitor.