Method and apparatus for switching of KVM switch ports using gestures on a touch panel

• US 8,519,960 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Inventors: Chu, Hung Chi, Chen, Tsung Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Agustin, Peter Vincent
• Application Number:
  US12/561,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method in a KVM switch system for interacting with the user to switch computer ports using a touch panel device having a touch-sensitive screen is described. The system allows a user to accomplish port switching by “drawing” a symbol (such as an Arabic number) representing a port number on the touch screen, coupled with other actions, such as one or more touches of the screen, an action using another input device such as a mouse, keyboard, buttons, etc., to confirm the port number input.

Claims

1. A method for switching to a selected computer port of a keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) switch device having a plurality of computer ports, comprising:

receiving touch panel input data and recording a touch point movement trail based on the touch panel input data;

determining whether the touch point movement trail matches one of a plurality of predefined symbols representing a port number;

determining whether a predefined confirmation signal is received, wherein the predefined confirmation signal represents either a touch of a predefined confirmation icon displayed on the touch panel, or a touch of a predefined key in a keyboard displayed on the touch panel, or a predefined special symbol drawn on the touch panel; and

switching to a computer port corresponding to the one of the plurality of predefined symbols if the predefined confirmation signal is received.

2. A keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) switch device for connected to a user console, the user console including a touch panel, the KVM switch device comprising:

a console port for connecting to the user console;

a plurality of computer ports for connecting to a plurality of computers;

a switching circuit for connecting the console port to a selected one of a plurality of computer ports; and

a control circuit for controlling the switching circuit,

wherein the control circuit receives touch panel input data and records a touch point movement trail based on the touch panel input data, determines whether the touch point movement trail matches one of a plurality of predefined symbols representing a port number, determines whether a predefined confirmation signal is received, wherein the predefined confirmation signal represents either a touch of a predefined confirmation icon displayed on the touch panel, or a touch of a predefined key in a keyboard displayed on the touch panel, or a predefined special symbol drawn on the touch panel, and controls the switching circuit to connect the console port to a computer port corresponding to the one of the plurality of predefined symbols if the predefined confirmation signal is received.

3. The KVM switch device of claim 2, wherein the touch panel is an integral part of the KVM switch device.

4. The KVM switch device of claim 3, wherein the KVM switch device with the integrated touch panel is a rack-mounted device.

5. A touch panel device for use with a keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) switch device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive screen; and

a control circuit connected to the touch-sensitive screen for processing data generated by the touch-sensitive screen,

wherein the control circuit receives touch panel input data and records a touch point movement trail based on the touch panel input data, determines whether the touch point movement trail matches one of a plurality of predefined symbols representing a computer port number, determines whether a predefined confirmation signal is received, wherein the predefined confirmation signal represents either a touch of a predefined confirmation icon displayed on the touch panel or a touch of a predefined key in a keyboard displayed on the touch panel or a predefined special symbol drawn on the touch panel, and generating a port switch signal for the KVM switch representing the computer port number corresponding to the one of the plurality of predefined symbols if the predefined confirmation signal is received.