Signal switch for console and peripheral devices

• US 20030093599A1
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: ATEN Technology Incorporated (ATEN International Company Limited)
• Inventors: Lou, Tony, Chen, Kevin, Yang, Sampson
• Granted Patent: US 6,957,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/72
• 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, 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, comprising:

a CPU comprising 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, such that a signal passing from the hub switch module to the one or more than one peripheral device emulates origination from a computer;

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.

2. The signal switch of claim 1, further comprising an OSD control device connected to the CPU and the video control module.

3. The signal switch of claim 1, the host control module comprising a root hub.

4. The signal switch of claim 1, wherein the industry standard is the Device Class Definition for Human Interface Devices (HID).

6. The signal switch of claim 1, where the management program comprises steps for managing the signal switch, and the method of claim 5.

5. A method 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 through a signal switch, comprising:

initializing the signal switch;

emulating one or more of the console devices according to the industry standard;

enumerating ports of a root hub;

determining whether any downstream ports exists, and if so, enumerating the downstream ports;

determining whether any of the plurality of console devices is connected to the root hub, or any downstream ports, and if so, then enumerating each connected device;

determining whether any of the connected devices is compliant with the industry standard;

enumerating each complaint connected device and parsing any data from such device; and

repeatedly polling to determine whether any of the plurality of console devices, any of the one or more than one peripheral device, or any downstream port, has been plugged or unplugged, and if so, resetting control.

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

means for switching 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.