KVM switch with embedded bluetooth module

• US 8,671,235 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Inventors: Hsueh, Chao-Hsuan, Tung, Shu-Ching, Tsai, Ping-Wen, Yu, Hsiang-Jui
• Primary Examiner(s): Alrobaye, Idriss N
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, DAVID E
• Application Number:
  US13/193,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20120284449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• 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 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• 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: G09G 2370/20 Details of the management of multiple sources of image data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch

Abstract

A switch device that allows a user to use the same non-Bluetooth user console (e.g., keyboard, mouse) to control both non-Bluetooth computers and Bluetooth master machines such as tablet computers, smart phones, etc. The switch device includes a console port for connecting to the console and one or more computer ports for connecting to one or more computers, as well as a Bluetooth module for communicating with Bluetooth master machines. A controller processes input device data received via the console port, and either sends the data to a selected Bluetooth master machine or a selected computer, or perform other functions such as switching, Bluetooth device pairing and disconnecting based on the input device data. The controller stores link information of the Bluetooth master machines already paired with the computer switch for quickly switching to a Bluetooth master machine. The switch device can be with or without video switching.

Claims

1. A switch device for communications between a user console and one or more computers and one or more WPAN (wireless personal area network) master devices, the user console including one or more user input devices and a monitor, the switch device comprising:

a console interface for connecting to the user console, including a first input device connector for connecting to the user input devices of the user console and a first video connector for connecting to the monitor of the user console;

a computer interface including one or more computer ports for connecting to the one or more computers via non-wireless connections, respectively, each computer port including a second input device connector and a second video connector;

a wireless interface for wireless communication with the one or more WPAN master devices using a predefined wireless communication technology;

a controller coupled to the console interface, the computer interface and the wireless interface,

wherein in response to a first selection command selecting one of the one or more computer ports, the controller transmits input device data from the first input device connector of the console interface to the second input device connector of a selected one of the one or more computer ports, whereby the input device data controls the computer connected to the selected computer port, and

wherein in response to a second selection command selecting one of the one or more WPAN master devices, the controller converts input device data received from the first input device connector of the console interface into data compliant with the predefined wireless communication standard, and transmits the converted data to the WPAN master device via the wireless interface by acting as a slave of the WPAN master device according to the predefined wireless communication standard, whereby the input device data controls the selected one of the one or more WPAN master devices; and

a video switch coupled to the computer interface and the console interface, wherein in response to the first selection command, the video switch transmits video data from the second video connector of the selected one of the one or more computer ports to the first video connector of the console interface, whereby video signals from the computer connected to the selected computer port is displayed on the monitor of the user console, and wherein the video switch transmits no video signal from the wireless interface to the first video connector of the console interface in response to the second selection command.

2. The switch device of claim 1, further comprising a storage unit coupled to the controller for storing pairing information and link information for the one or more WPAN master devices.

3. The switch device of claim 2, wherein the controller automatically performs paring with the one or more WPAN master devices using the stored paring information and link information.

4. The switch device of claim 1, further comprising:

a host controller coupled to the first input device connector of the console interface for controlling the input devices of the user console and for receiving the input device data from the input devices; and

one or more device controller connected to the second input device connectors of the one or more computer ports, respectively, for emulating one or more user input devices for the connected computers.

5. The switch device of claim 4, wherein the console interface includes two first input device connectors for connecting to a keyboard and a mouse of the user console, and

wherein the switch device further comprises a hub having an upstream end and at least two downstream ends, wherein the upstream end is coupled to the host controller, and the downstream ends are coupled to the two first input device connectors, whereby the host controller communicates with the keyboard and the mouse via the hub.

6. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the WPAN master devices are selected from the group consisting of tablet computers, smart phones, smart handheld devices, and video game consoles.

7. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface includes a wireless communication module, which is selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth module, a Ultra Wide Band module, a ZigBee module, and a Near Field Communication module.

8. The switch device of claim 1, further comprising:

a body for housing the controller; and

a plurality of cables extending from the body for electrically connecting to the one or more computers;

wherein each cable has a first end and a second end, the first end being permanently or removably connected to the body and electrically connected to the console interface, the controller, and the video switch, the second end being adapted for connecting to one of the computers.

9. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the first and second input device connectors are USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors.

10. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the first and second selection commands are received by the controller from the user input device via the console interface.

11. A switch device for communications between a user input device and a computer and one or more WPAN (wireless personal area network) master devices, the switch device comprising:

a console interface including a first input device connector for connecting to the user input device;

a computer interface including a second input device connector for connecting to an input device connector of a computer;

a wireless interface for wireless communication with the one or more WPAN master devices using a predefined wireless communication technology; and

a controller coupled to the console interface, the computer interface and the wireless interface,

wherein in response to a first selection command selecting the computer interface, the controller transmits input device data from the first input device connector to the second input device connector, whereby the input device data controls the computer connected to the second input device connector, and

wherein in response to a second selection command selecting one of the one or more WPAN master devices, the controller converts input device data received from the first input device connector of the console interface into data compliant with the predefined wireless communication standard, and transmits the converted data to the WPAN master device via the wireless interface by acting as a slave of the WPAN master device according to the predefined wireless communication standard, whereby the input device data controls the selected one of the one or more WPAN master devices.

12. The switch device of claim 11, further comprising a storage unit coupled to the controller for storing pairing information and link information for the one or more WPAN master devices.

13. The switch device of claim 12, wherein the controller automatically performs paring with the one or more WPAN master devices using the stored paring information and link information.

14. The switch device of claim 11, further comprising:

a host controller coupled to the first input device connector of the console interface for controlling the input devices of the user console and for receiving the input device data from the input devices; and

a device controller connected to the second input device connector of the computer interface for emulating a user input device for the connected computer.

15. The switch device of claim 11, wherein the WPAN master devices are selected from the group consisting of tablet computers, smart phones, smart handheld devices, and video game consoles.

16. The switch device of claim 11, wherein the wireless interface includes a wireless communication module, which is selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth module, a Ultra Wide Band module, a ZigBee module, and a Near Field Communication module.

17. The switch device of claim 11, further comprising:

a body for housing the controller; and

a cable extending from the body for electrically connecting to the computer;

wherein the cable has a first end and a second end, the first end being permanently or removably connected to the body and electrically connected to the console interface and the controller, the second end being adapted for connecting to the computer.

18. The switch device of claim 11, wherein the first and second input device connectors are USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors.

19. The switch device of claim 11, wherein the first and second selection commands are received by the controller from the user input device via the console interface.

20. A method for sharing a user input device of a user console among one or more computers and one or more WPAN (wireless personal area network) master devices, comprising:

providing a switch device having a console interface, a computer interface including one or more computer ports, and a wireless interface for wireless communication with the one or more WPAN master devices using a predefined wireless communication technology;

connecting the user input device to the first input device connector of the switch device;

connecting the one or more computers to the one or more computer ports of the switch device, respectively;

pairing the switch device with the one or more WPAN master devices;

in response to a first selection command selecting one of the one or more computer ports, the switch device transmitting input device data from the console interface to the selected one of the one or more computer ports, whereby the input device data controls the computer connected to the selected computer port; and

in response to a second selection command selecting one of the one or more WPAN master devices, the switch device converting input device data received from the console interface into data compliant with the predefined wireless communication standard, and transmitting the converted data to the WPAN master device via the wireless interface by acting as a slave of the WPAN master device according to the predefined wireless communication standard, whereby the input device data controls the selected one of the one or more WPAN master devices.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the switch device automatically performs paring with the one or more WPAN master devices using stored paring information and link information of the one or more WPAN master devices.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the WPAN master devices are Bluetooth master machines, and wherein the console interface and the computer interface use USB (Universal Serial Bus) connections.

23. The method device of claim 20, further comprising receiving the first and second selection commands by the switch device from the user input device via the console interface.