System of co-located computers in a framework including removable function modules for adding modular functionality

• US 7,069,368 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ClearCube Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ClearCube Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Thornton, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/728,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 710301-314, 710/100, 361/686, 711/114, 725/74
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure

Abstract

A system and method for configuring a system in which one or more centrally located computers are coupled to one or more human interfaces (HIs), and in which removable function modules are used to provide additional functionality to the computers. Each computer includes all the elements that make up a standard personal computer, such as a PC motherboard with a microprocessor CPU, memory, and network and interface logic, configured on a single card, and is called a computer card. The system includes a cabinet, or cage, with slots for accepting a plurality of computer cards, and a cage connector which couples to each inserted computer card. A removable function module engages the cage connector via a module connector. The use of the cage connector as an intermediate connection between the computer cards and the function module allows removal and/or exchange of computer cards without the need to disconnect the cables from the cage, as well as removal and/or exchange of the function module without the need to disconnect the computer cards. Each removable function module includes cable connectors corresponding to each computer card slot which may couple to one or more cables for communicating with external systems, such as networks and/or human interface devices, and circuitry which provides additional functionality to the computer cards. Each removable function module may include multiple circuit boards to provide multiple additional functions to the system, such as network processes, switching, routing, analog and digital telephony, video, audio, or other functions.

Claims

1. A system comprising a plurality of computing systems, the system comprising:

a cage having a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive a computer card;

a plurality of computer cards, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computer card includes a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage;

a removable function module, wherein the removable function module is operable to electrically couple to the plurality of computer cards, wherein the removable function module is operable to provide additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of computer cards is configured for coupling to one or more cables for communication of encoded human interface signals with a remote location.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of computer cards is further configured for communication of network signals with a network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cage further includes a cage connector positioned proximate to each of the slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector includes a plurality of computer card connectors which are each configured to couple to one of the computer cards when the computer cards are inserted into slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector further includes a plurality of second connectors electrically coupled to the plurality of computer card connectors;

wherein the removable function module is operable to be coupled to the plurality of second connectors.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of second connectors are each configured for coupling to one or more cables for communication of encoded human interface signals with a remote location, and for communication of network signals with a network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the removable function module is a first removable function module that provides first functionality;

wherein the first removable function module is operable to be removed and replaced with a second different removable function module, wherein the second removable function module provides second different functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage.

7. The system of claim 1,

wherein the removable function module comprises one or more of:

at least one cable connection module, wherein the at least one cable connection module is operable to provide cable connections to one or more cables for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one network card, wherein the at least one network card is operable to provide a network interface to the plurality of computer cards; and

at least one network switch, wherein the at least one network switch is operable to perform network switching functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one data switch, wherein the at least one data switch is operable to perform data switching functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one network router, wherein the at least one network router is operable to perform network routing functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one network processing unit, wherein the at least one network processing unit is operable to perform network processing functions for the plurality of computer cards;

a Gigabit Ethernet network interface, wherein the Gigabit Ethernet network interface includes a Gigabit Ethernet bus, wherein the Gigabit Ethernet network interface comprises a plurality of Gigabit Ethernet ports for each of at least a subset of the plurality of computer cards;

at least one gateway, wherein the at least one gateway is operable to perform gateway functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one firewall, wherein the at least one firewall is operable to restrict network access to the plurality of computer cards;

a human interface switching unit, wherein the human interface switching unit is configurable to route encoded human interface signals from one or more of the plurality of computer cards to one or more of a plurality of remote human interface devices coupled to the removable function module;

at least one analog POTS unit, wherein the at least one analog POTS unit is operable to provide standard analog telephony services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one digital telephone, wherein the at least one digital telephone is operable to provide digital telephony services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one PBX unit, wherein the at least one PBX unit is operable to provide PBX services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telecommunication device, wherein the at least one VoIP telecommunication device is operable to provide VoIP services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one MPEG video unit, wherein the at least one MPEG video unit is operable to provide MPEG video services to the plurality of computer cards.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the external connectors are standard connectors, and wherein the standard connectors comprise one or more of RJ45, db9, db25, or dbhd15 connectors.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computing systems comprises a plurality of independent computing systems.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each computer card comprises:

a frame;

a printed circuit board mounted to the frame;

a CPU comprised on the printed circuit board;

a memory comprised on the printed circuit board;

a non-volatile memory comprised on the frame;

network interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board for interfacing to a network;

human interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board which is operable to receive two or more human interface signals and encode the two or more human interface signals into a format suitable for transmission to a remote location;

wherein the human interface logic is further operable to receive two or more encoded human interface signals from the remote location and decode the two or more encoded human interface signals from a format suitable for transmission from the remote location;

a human interface connector coupled to the human interface logic, wherein the human interface connector is configured to couple to the one or more cables for communication of the encoded human interface signals with a remote location; and

a power supply comprised on the frame, wherein the power supply is operable to couple to an external power source and supply power to the plurality of computing systems.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer card contains a personal computer.

11. A system comprising a plurality of computing systems, the system comprising:

a cage having a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive a computer card;

a plurality of computer cards, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computer card includes a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage;

wherein the cage further includes a cage connector positioned proximate to each of the slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector includes a plurality of computer card connectors which are each configured to couple to one of the computer cards when the computer cards are inserted into slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector further includes a plurality of second connectors electrically coupled to the plurality of computer card connectors; and

a removable function module, wherein the removable function module is operable to couple to the plurality of second connectors, wherein the removable function module is operable to provide additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of computer cards is configured for coupling to one or more cables for communication of encoded human interface signals with a remote location, and for communication of network signals with a network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of computer cards is configured for coupling to the one or more cables through the plurality of second connectors.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of computer cards is configured for coupling to the one or more cables through the plurality of second connectors and through the removable function module.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the removable function module is a first removable function module that provides first functionality;

wherein the first removable function module is operable to be removed and replaced with a second different removable function module, wherein the second removable function module provides second different functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage.

16. The system of claim 11,

wherein the removable function module comprises one or more of:

at least one cable connection module, wherein the at least one cable connection module is operable to provide cable connections to one or more cables for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one network card, wherein the at least one network card is operable to provide a network interface to the plurality of computer cards; and

at least one network switch, wherein the at least one network switch is operable to perform network switching functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one data switch, wherein the at least one data switch is operable to perform data switching functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one network router, wherein the at least one network router is operable to perform network routing functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one network processing unit, wherein the at least one network processing unit is operable to perform network processing functions for the plurality of computer cards;

a Gigabit Ethernet network interface, wherein the Gigabit Ethernet network interface includes a Gigabit Ethernet bus, wherein the Gigabit Ethernet network interface comprises a plurality of Gigabit Ethernet ports for each of at least a subset of the plurality of computer cards;

at least one gateway, wherein the at least one gateway is operable to perform gateway functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one firewall, wherein the at least one firewall is operable to restrict network access to the plurality of computer cards;

a human interface switching unit, wherein the human interface switching unit is configurable to route encoded human interface signals from one or more of the plurality of computer cards to one or more of a plurality of remote human interface devices coupled to the removable function module;

at least one analog POTS unit, wherein the at least one analog POTS unit is operable to provide standard analog telephony services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one digital telephone, wherein the at least one digital telephone is operable to provide digital telephony services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one PBX units, wherein the at least one PBX unit is operable to provide PBX services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telecommunication device, wherein the at least one VoIIP telecommunication device is operable to provide VoIP services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one MPEG video unit, wherein the at least one MPEG video unit is operable to provide MPEG video services to the plurality of computer cards.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the external connectors are standard connectors, wherein the standard connectors comprise one or more of RJ45, db9, db25, or dbhd15 connectors.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of computing systems comprises a plurality of independent computing systems.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein each computer card comprises:

a frame;

a printed circuit board mounted to the frame;

a CPU comprised on the printed circuit board;

a memory comprised on the printed circuit board;

a non-volatile memory comprised on the frame;

network interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board for interfacing to a network;

human interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board which is operable to receive two or more human interface signals and encode the two or more human interface signals into a format suitable for transmission to a remote location; and

a human interface connector coupled to the human interface logic, wherein the human interface connector is configured to couple to the one or more cables for transmission of the encoded human interface signals to a remote location; and

a power supply comprised on the frame, wherein the power supply is operable to couple to an external power source and supply power to the plurality of computing systems.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising a cable connection module, wherein the cable connection module comprises a plurality of third connections which are operable to electrically connect to the plurality of second connectors, and wherein the cable connection module is further operable to couple to one or more cables for one or more of communications between each computer card and respective remote locations, and communications between each computer card and a network.

21. A method for configuring a plurality of computing systems, the method comprising:

inserting a plurality of computer cards into a cage, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computer card includes a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage, wherein the cage comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive one of the computer cards; and

attaching a first removable function module to electrically connect with the plurality of computer cards, wherein the first removable function module provides a first additional functionality to each of the at least a subset of the plurality of computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

removing the first removable function module; and

attaching a second removable function module to electrically connect with at least a subset of the plurality of computer cards, wherein the second removable function module provides a second additional functionality to each of the at least a subset of the plurality of computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

electrically coupling each of the computer cards to one or more cables, wherein the one or more cables are configured to couple each of the computer cards to respective one or more human interface devices located remotely from the cage.

24. The method of claim 23,

wherein said electrically coupling comprises attaching the one or more cables to the first removable function module, wherein the one or more cables couple the first removable function module to the one or more human interface devices.

25. The method of claim 23,

wherein the one or more human interface devices are located more than 20 feet from the cage.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

electrically coupling each of the computer cards to one or more cables, wherein the one or more cables are configured to couple each of the computer cards to a network.

27. The method of claim 26,

wherein said electrically coupling comprises attaching the one or more cables to the first removable function module, wherein the one or more cables couple the first removable function module to the network.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

electrically coupling each of the computer cards to one or more cables, wherein the one or more cables are configured to couple the plurality of computer cards to one or more telephone lines.

29. The method of claim 28,

wherein said electrically coupling comprises attaching the one or more cables to the first removable function module, wherein the one or more cables couple the first removable function module to the one or more telephone lines.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein each computer card comprises:

a frame;

a printed circuit board mounted to the frame;

a CPU comprised on the printed circuit board;

a memory comprised on the printed circuit board;

a non-volatile memory comprised on the frame;

network interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board for interfacing to a network;

human interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board which is operable to receive two or more human interface signals and encode the two or more human interface signals into a format suitable for transmission to a remote location; and

a human interface connector coupled to the human interface logic, wherein the human interface connector is configured to couple to one or more cables for transmission of the encoded human interface signals to the remote location;

wherein the human interface logic is further operable to receive two or more encoded human interface signals from the remote location and decode the two or more encoded human interface signals from a format suitable for transmission from the remote location; and

wherein the human interface connector is further configured to couple to the one or more cables for reception of the encoded human interface signals from the remote location.

31. A method for configuring a plurality of computing systems, the method comprising:

inserting a plurality of computer cards into a cage, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computer card includes a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage, wherein the cage comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive one of the computer cards, wherein the cage further includes a cage connector positioned proximate to each of the slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector includes a plurality of computer card connectors which are each coupled to one of the computer cards when the computer cards are inserted into the slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector further includes a plurality of second connectors electrically coupled to the plurality of computer card connectors;

attaching a first removable function module to the plurality of second connectors, wherein the first removable function module provides a first additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage; and

attaching one or more cables to the first removable function module, wherein the one or more cables couple the first removable function module to one or more of a plurality of human interface devices located remotely from the cage.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

detaching the one or more cables from the first removable function module;

detaching the first removable function module from the plurality of second connectors;

attaching a second removable function module to the plurality of second connectors, wherein the second removable function module provides a second additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage; and

attaching the one or more cables to the second removable function module, wherein the one or more cables couple the second removable function module to the one or more of the plurality of human interface devices located remotely from the cage.

33. The method of claim 31,

wherein the one or more cables also couple the first removable function module to one or more networks for communication between the plurality of computer cards and the one or more networks.

34. The method of claim 31,

wherein the one or more cables also couple the first removable function module to one or more telephone lines for communication of telephony signals between the plurality of computer cards and the one or more telephone lines.

35. The method of claim 31,

wherein the plurality of computing systems comprises a plurality of independent computing systems.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein each computer card comprises:

a frame;

a printed circuit board mounted to the frame;

a CPU comprised on the printed circuit board;

a memory comprised on the printed circuit board;

a non-volatile memory comprised on the frame;

network interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board for interfacing to a network;

human interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board which is operable to receive two or more human interface signals and encode the two or more human interface signals into a format suitable for transmission to at least one of the plurality of human interface devices; and

a human interface connector coupled to the human interface logic, wherein the human interface connector is configured to couple to the one or more cables for transmission of the encoded human interface signals to the at least one of the plurality of human interface devices;

wherein the human interface logic is further operable to receive two or more encoded human interface signals from the at least one of the plurality of human interface devices and decode the two or more encoded human interface signals from a format suitable for transmission from the at least one of the plurality of human interface devices; and

wherein the human interface connector is further configured to couple to the one or more cables for reception of the encoded human interface signals from the at least one of the plurality of human interface devices.

37. A system, comprising:

a cage comprising slots for at least two computer cards, wherein each slot allows a computer card to be inserted and removed;

at least two computer cards in at least two slots of the cage, wherein each computer card comprises a computing system, wherein each computer card comprises a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage;

a cage connector with multiple edge connector receiving slots, wherein each of the at least two computer cards has an edge connector that is received into a respective edge connector receiving slot of the cage connector when the computer card is inserted into the cage;

a removeable function module coupled to at least two computer cards through the cage connector, wherein the removeable function module is capable of interacting with each of the at least two computer cards to add functionality to each of the at least two computer cards.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the removable function module comprises one or more of:

at least one cable connection module, wherein the at least one cable connection module is operable to provide cable connections to one or more cables for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one network card, wherein the at least one network card is operable to provide a network interface to the plurality of computer cards; and

at least one network switch, wherein the at least one network switch is operable to perform network switching functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one data switch, wherein the at least one data switch is operable to perform data switching functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one network router, wherein the at least one network router is operable to perform network routing functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one network processing unit, wherein the at least one network processing unit is operable to perform network processing functions for the plurality of computer cards;

a Gigabit Ethernet network interface, wherein the Gigabit Ethernet network interface includes a Gigabit Ethernet bus, wherein the Gigabit Ethernet network interface comprises a plurality of Gigabit Ethernet ports for each of at least a subset of the plurality of computer cards;

at least one gateway, wherein the at least one gateway is operable to perform gateway functions for the plurality of computer cards;

at least one firewall, wherein the at least one firewall is operable to restrict network access to the plurality of computer cards;

a human interface switching unit, wherein the human interface switching unit is configurable to route encoded human interface signals from one or more of the plurality of computer cards to one or more of a plurality of remote human interface devices coupled to the removable function module;

at least one analog POTS unit, wherein the at least one analog POTS unit is operable to provide standard analog telephony services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one digital telephone, wherein the at least one digital telephone is operable to provide digital telephony services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one PBX unit, wherein the at least one PBX unit is operable to provide PBX services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telecommunication device, wherein the at least one VoIP telecommunication device is operable to provide VoIP services to the plurality of computer cards;

at least one MPEG video unit, wherein the at least one MPEG video unit is operable to provide MPEG video services to the plurality of computer cards.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein each computer card comprises:

a frame;

a printed circuit board mounted to the frame;

a CPU comprised on the printed circuit board;

a memory comprised on the printed circuit board;

a non-volatile memory comprised on the frame;

network interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board for interfacing to a network;

human interface logic comprised on the printed circuit board which is operable to receive two or more human interface signals and encode the two or more human interface signals into a format suitable for transmission to a remote location;

wherein the human interface logic is further operable to receive two or more encoded human interface signals from the remote location and decode the two or more encoded human interface signals from a format suitable for transmission from the remote location;

a human interface connector coupled to the human interface logic, wherein the human interface connector is configured to couple to the one or more cables for communication of the encoded human interface signals with a remote location; and

a power supply comprised on the frame, wherein the power supply is operable to couple to an external power source and supply power to the plurality of computing systems.

41. A system comprising a plurality of computing systems, the system comprising:

a cage having a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive a computer card;

a plurality of computer cards, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computing system comprises a personal computer including a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage, wherein each personal computer comprised on each of the plurality of computer cards interfaces with a separate set of human interface devices, including at least a monitor and a keyboard, to provide personal computer functionality to a user of the separate set of human interface devices;

a removable function module, wherein the removable function module is operable to electrically couple to the plurality of computer cards, wherein the removable function module is operable to provide additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage.