Isolated KVM combiner for multi-network computer system having a video processor
DCFirst Claim
1. An Isolated KVM combiner for multi-network computer system comprising:
- a keyboard input configured to connect to a keyboard;
a pointing device input configured to connect to a pointing device;
a host controller having an output port, a first input port and a second input port, the first and second input ports connected, respectively, to the keyboard input and the pointing device input to receive user input signals from at least one of said keyboard and said pointing device and generate unidirectional output commands based on said signals from at least one of said keyboard and said pointing device;
at least one first peripheral interface and at least one second peripheral interface connected to at least one first host computer and at least one second host computer, respectively;
a peripheral switch having an input connected to the output port of said host controller and at least two output ports, to selectively direct signals from said host controller only to a selected one of said at least one first peripheral interface and said at least one second peripheral interface at a time;
at least one first physical unidirectional enforcing circuitry and at least one second physical unidirectional enforcing circuitry, each having an input port connected to the output ports of the said peripheral switch to only receive signals from said peripheral switch, and output ports connected to said at least one first peripheral interface and said at least one second peripheral interface, respectively, enforcing data flow only from said peripheral switch to the peripheral interfaces by allowing the data to flow only in one direction;
at least one first video input interface and at least one second video input interface connected to video outputs of said at least one first host computer and said at least one second host computer, respectively;
at least one video output port connected to a user display device;
a digital video processor having an input connected to an output of said host controller;
at least one first video physical unidirectional isolator and at least one second video physical unidirectional isolator, each connected to a respective input of said digital video processor and to one of said at least one first video input interface and said at least one second video input interface, respectively, enforcing data flow only from said at least one first video input interface and said at least one second video input interface, respectively, to said video processor by allowing the data to flow only in one direction,wherein said digital video processor is configured to combine video signals received from said at least one first video input interface and said at least one second video input interface through said at least one first and second video physical unidirectional isolator, respectively, to obtain a composite video signal and outputting said composite video signal to said at least one video output port, andwherein said video processor receives said unidirectional output commands generated by said host controller in response to said user input signals received from at least one of said keyboard input and said pointing device input, whereby absolute data isolation is maintained between the first and second host computers.
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Abstract
The present invention presents apparatuses and systems for operating multiple computers from a single keyboard and a single mouse and view composite videos generated from video output of the multiple computers on a single display, while preventing any possible information leakage between the computers. Keyboard and mouse commands detected by a host controller are used to control a video processor and a peripheral switch. The peripheral switch directs keyboard and mouse signals to one selected host and at the same time, the video processor creates an active display window showing video information from the selected host. Physical unidirectional isolators in the video, keyboard and mouse channels prevent any potential data leakages between hosts.
31 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An Isolated KVM combiner for multi-network computer system comprising:
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a keyboard input configured to connect to a keyboard; a pointing device input configured to connect to a pointing device; a host controller having an output port, a first input port and a second input port, the first and second input ports connected, respectively, to the keyboard input and the pointing device input to receive user input signals from at least one of said keyboard and said pointing device and generate unidirectional output commands based on said signals from at least one of said keyboard and said pointing device; at least one first peripheral interface and at least one second peripheral interface connected to at least one first host computer and at least one second host computer, respectively; a peripheral switch having an input connected to the output port of said host controller and at least two output ports, to selectively direct signals from said host controller only to a selected one of said at least one first peripheral interface and said at least one second peripheral interface at a time; at least one first physical unidirectional enforcing circuitry and at least one second physical unidirectional enforcing circuitry, each having an input port connected to the output ports of the said peripheral switch to only receive signals from said peripheral switch, and output ports connected to said at least one first peripheral interface and said at least one second peripheral interface, respectively, enforcing data flow only from said peripheral switch to the peripheral interfaces by allowing the data to flow only in one direction; at least one first video input interface and at least one second video input interface connected to video outputs of said at least one first host computer and said at least one second host computer, respectively; at least one video output port connected to a user display device; a digital video processor having an input connected to an output of said host controller; at least one first video physical unidirectional isolator and at least one second video physical unidirectional isolator, each connected to a respective input of said digital video processor and to one of said at least one first video input interface and said at least one second video input interface, respectively, enforcing data flow only from said at least one first video input interface and said at least one second video input interface, respectively, to said video processor by allowing the data to flow only in one direction, wherein said digital video processor is configured to combine video signals received from said at least one first video input interface and said at least one second video input interface through said at least one first and second video physical unidirectional isolator, respectively, to obtain a composite video signal and outputting said composite video signal to said at least one video output port, and wherein said video processor receives said unidirectional output commands generated by said host controller in response to said user input signals received from at least one of said keyboard input and said pointing device input, whereby absolute data isolation is maintained between the first and second host computers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification