Interconnection system for viewing and controlling remotely connected computers with on-screen video overlay for controlling of the interconnection switch

In a system including a workstation of the type that includes a keyboard, cursor control device and a video monitor and a plurality of individual computers, a method of transmitting keyboard, cursor control device signals and video signals between the workstation and a selected computer of the plurality of individual computers through a programmable switch, comprising:

• a) receiving keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation;
• b) transmitting the keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation to the selected computer through the programmable switch;
• c) receiving keyboard, cursor control device and video signals from the selected computer;
• d) transmitting the keyboard, cursor control device and video signals from the selected computer to the workstation through the programmable switch;
• e) producing overlaid video signals for display on the video monitor of the workstation;
• f) receiving keyboard or cursor control device signals entered at the workstation in response to the overlaid video signals on the video monitor, and programming the switch to route the keyboard and cursor control device signals to another of the plurality of individual computers;
• g) repeating steps (e) and (f) whenever it is again desired to change the computer between which the keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation are transmitted.

In a system including a workstation of the type that includes a keyboard, cursor control device and video monitor and a plurality of remotely located computers, a method of selectively connecting the workstation to the computers for the transmission between them of keyboard and cursor control device signals, comprising:

• a) producing overlaid video signals for display on the video monitor of the workstation;
• b) generating a control signal in response to the video signals on the video monitor to route the keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation to a first computer of the plurality of remotely located computers and keyboard, cursor control and video signals from the first computer to the workstation;
• c) transmitting keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation to the first computer, and keyboard and cursor control device and video signals from the first computer to the workstation;
• d) generating a control signal in response to the overlaid video signals on the video monitor of the workstation to route the keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation to a second computer of the plurality of remotely located computers, and keyboard, cursor control device and video signals from the second computer to the workstation.

A system for connecting a workstation of the type that includes a keyboard, a cursor control device and a video monitor to a number of computers, comprising:

• a programmable switch for routing keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation to a selected computer and for routing video signals from the selected computer to the video monitor of the workstation;
• a first interface circuit for receiving keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation;
• an on-screen programming circuit that produces video signals for display on the video monitor;
• a programmed microprocessor coupled to the first interface circuit that transmits the keyboard and cursor control device signals to the programmable switch, the microprocessor being further programmed to detect keyboard or cursor control device signals received while the on-screen programming circuit is producing video signals on the video monitor and to control the programmable switch in response to the keyboard or cursor control device signals detected;
• and
• a second interface circuit coupled to the programmable switch for supplying the keyboard and cursor control device signals routed through the programmable switch to the selected computer.

A system for connecting a workstation of the type that includes a keyboard, a cursor control device and a video monitor to a number of computers, comprising:

• a programmable switch for routing keyboard and cursor control signals from the workstation to a selected computer and for routing video signals from the selected computer to the video monitor of the workstation;
• a first interface circuit for receiving keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation;
• an on-screen programming circuit that produces video signals for display on the video monitor;
• a programmed microprocessor coupled to the first interface circuit that transmits the keyboard and cursor control device signals to the programmable switch and controls the on-screen programming circuit to produce the video signals upon the detection of a predefined input from a user of the workstation, the programmed microprocessor further operating to detect keyboard or cursor control device signals received while the on-screen programming circuit is producing video signals on the video monitor and to control the programmable switch in response to the keyboard or cursor control device signals detected;
• and
• a second interface circuit disposed between the programmable switch and the selected computer for supplying the keyboard and cursor control device signals routed through the programmable switch to the selected computer.

A system for connecting a workstation of the type that includes a keyboard, a cursor control device and a video monitor to a number of computers, comprising:

• a programmable switch for routing keyboard and cursor control signals from the workstation to a selected computer and for routing video signals from the selected computer to the video monitor of the workstation;
• a first interface circuit for receiving keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation;
• an on-screen programming circuit that produces video signals for display on the video monitor;
• a processor coupled to the first interface circuit that transmits the keyboard and cursor control device signals to the programmable switch and controls the on-screen programming circuit to produce the video signals upon the detection of a predefined input from a user of the workstation, the processor further operating to detect keyboard or cursor control device signals received while the on-screen programming circuit is producing video signals on the video monitor and to control the programmable switch in response to the keyboard or cursor control device signals detected;
• and
• a second interface circuit disposed between the programmable switch and the selected computer for supplying the keyboard and cursor control device signals routed through the programmable switch to the selected computer.