KVM switch system with a simplified external controller
AssigneeAvocent Corporation
InventorPhilip M. Kirshtein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A KVM switch system with external control functionality is described. A KVM switch is able to be controlled from an external device. The external device can either include a single button dedicated to controlling the desktop KVM switch or indicate a state of the KVM switch. The external device can be connected to the desktop KVM switch through a plurality of communication media. The external device can be small in size and attached to an object on a user's desktop.
Claims13
An external controller for use with a peripheral switch coupling user peripheral devices to a plurality of target devices, the external controller comprising:
- a communications interface for coupling the external controller to the peripheral switch;
- a selector switch for requesting that the external controller change which of the plurality of target devices is connected to the user peripheral devices;
- control circuitry for commanding, via the communications interface, the peripheral switch to couple the user peripheral devices to at least one of the plurality of target devices;
- and
- a display adapted to indicate which of the plurality of target devices is coupled to the user station hub, wherein the external controller does not include an interface for receiving video signals from the plurality of target devices.
A micro-receiver comprising:
- an input interface adapted to couple a computer peripheral to said micro-receiver;
- an output interface adapted to couple said micro-receiver to a computer peripheral port of a KVM switch;
- a command interface, separate from the input interface, for receiving commands from an external controller;
- and
- a converter for converting commands received from the external controller to commands that can be received by a KVM switch and applying the converted commands to the output interface.
A peripheral switch system comprising:
- a peripheral switch coupling user peripheral devices to a plurality of target devices;
- an external controller for use with the peripheral switch coupling user peripheral devices to a plurality of target devices, the external controller comprising:
- a communications interface for coupling the external controller to the peripheral switch;
- a selector switch for requesting that the external controller change which of the plurality of target devices is connected to the user peripheral devices;
- control circuitry for commanding, via the communications interface, the peripheral switch to couple the user peripheral devices to at least one of the plurality of target devices;
- and
- a display adapted to indicate which of the plurality of target devices is coupled to the user station hub, wherein the external controller does not include an interface for receiving video signals from the plurality of target devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.