KVM switch for controlling computers and method thereof

• US 7,822,901 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Inventors: Ke, Cheng-chang, Tseng, Kuo-chou
• Primary Examiner(s): Cleary; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US12/169,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/65, 710/72, 710/73, 710/100, 710/305, 710/316, 710/69, 709/203, 713/200, 725/151, 345/161, 345/629, 348/569, 348/584
• US Class Current: 710/305
• 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

Abstract

A system for connecting a console device to computers comprising a graphic user interface menu apparatus for controlling the computers. The system comprises a user-side circuit, a central crosspoint switch, a plurality of computer-side circuits, a menu generating unit and a first switching device. The user-side circuit coupled to the console device receives electronic signals produced by the keyboard and cursor control device and creates a data packet. The central crosspoint switch is coupled to the user-side circuits, receives the data packets and routes the data packets. The computer-side circuits coupled to the central crosspoint switch and the computers receive the data packets from the central crosspoint switch for supplying the data packets to the computers. The menu generating unit generates a menu to be displayed. The first switching device alternately outputs a video signal of the menu data and a video signal from the computers to the video monitor according to a vertical synchronization signal.

Claims

1. In a system for connecting a console device to a plurality of computers, a graphic user interface menu generating apparatus connected between the console device and the plurality of computers, the apparatus comprising:

an image capture device disposed between the console device and the plurality of computers for capturing a plurality of first video signals, each first video signal originating from one of the plurality of computers, to generate a plurality of preview images for the corresponding computers;

a memory for pre-storing the preview images generated by the image capture device in a form of static pictures;

a menu generating unit for generating menu data;

a video signal generator for generating a second video signal based on the menu data and the plurality of preview images pre-stored in the memory; and

a first switching device for outputting the second video signal or one of the plurality of first video signals to the console device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second video signal represents a menu frame containing a representation of at least some of the plurality of computers, wherein the representation indicates which one or a subset of the plurality of computers are selected, the menu frame further including one or more of the plurality of preview images corresponding to the selected one or subset of computers arranged in a non-overlapping relationship, the preview images being different images from the representation.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the representation of the at least some of the plurality of computers has a graphical tree structure.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second switching device for selecting one of the plurality of computers to output a selected one of the first video signals to the first switching device, wherein the second switching device and the first switching device are enclosed in a common housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second switching device for selecting one of the plurality of computers to output a selected one of the first video signals to the first switching device, wherein the second switching device and the first switching device are enclosed in different housings.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter disposed between the plurality of computers and the image capture device for transforming the first video signals from an analog form into digital video data.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the menu generating unit generates an OSD menu.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a synchronization signal source for the menu generating unit to generate the menu data.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vertical synchronization signal source for the first switching device, and wherein the first switching device outputs the second video signal or the first video signals according to the vertical synchronization signal.

10. A method implemented in an apparatus connected between a plurality of computers and a console device, the method comprising:

capturing first video signals, each first video signal originating from one of the plurality of computers, to generate a plurality of preview images for the corresponding computers;

pre-storing the preview images in a memory in a form of static pictures;

generating menu data;

generating a second video signal based on the menu data and the plurality of preview images pre-stored in the memory; and

outputting the second video signal or one of the first video signals to the console device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second video signal representing a menu frame containing a representation of at least some of the plurality of computers, wherein the representation indicates which one or a subset of the plurality of computers are selected, the menu frame further including one or more of the plurality of preview images corresponding to the selected one or subset of computers arranged in a non-overlapping relationship, the preview images being different images from the representation.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the representation of the at least some of the plurality of computers has a graphical tree structure.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising selecting one of the plurality of first video signals to be outputted.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising transforming the first video signals from an analog form into digital video data.

15. A method for displaying a menu on a video monitor, comprising:

(a) receiving a first video signal from a video source, the first video signal including a first vertical synchronization signal;

(b) generating a second video signal representing a menu image, the second video signal being generated based on a second vertical synchronization signal which is derived from the first vertical synchronization signal; and

(c) alternately outputting an entire frame of the first video signal and an entire frame of the second video signal to the video monitor according to a third vertical synchronization signal solely without regard to a horizontal synchronization signal, the third vertical synchronization signal being derived from the first vertical synchronization signal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(d) before step (b), generating a menu data;

wherein in step (b), the second video signal is generated based on the menu data.