Sharing a single serial port between system remote access software and a remote management microcontroller
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorJohn D. Graf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A serial port is shared by a microcontroller and a host application. The microcontroller initially responds to a remote user making connection to the serial port. Upon the remote user requesting connection to the host application, a hardware switch connects a serial port connector to serial port hardware utilized by the host application. The connection between the remote user and the host application is monitored, so that when the connection between the remote user and the host application is discontinued, the serial port connector is reconnected to the microcontroller.
Claims20
A method for sharing a serial port between a microcontroller and a host application running on a processing unit, comprising the following steps:
- (a) using the microcontroller to initially respond to a remote user making connection to the serial port;
- (b) upon the remote user requesting connection to the host application, making a switch so that a connection is established between the remote user and the host application through the serial port;
- (c) monitoring the connection between the remote user and the host application;
- and,
- (d) when the connection between the remote user and the host application is discontinued connecting the serial port to the microcontroller.
A computing system comprising:
- a serial port connector;
- a microcontroller;
- a host application which runs on a processing unit of the computing system;
- serial port hardware, which the host application uses for communication;
- and
- a switch which connects the serial port connector to either the microcontroller or the serial port hardware, wherein:
- the switch initially connects the microcontroller to the serial port connector so that the microcontroller initially responds to a remote user making connection the serial port connector,
- the switch connects the serial port hardware to the serial port connector upon the remote user requesting connection to the host application, and
- the switch re-connecting the serial port to the microcontroller when a connection between the remote user and the host application is discontinued.
A device for allowing a serial port connector to be shared, comprising:
- a switch which connects the serial port connector to either a microcontroller or a through a serial port hardware to a host application running on a processing unit of a computing system;
- and,
- control logic for controlling the switch, wherein in response to the control logic, the switch initially connects the microcontroller to the serial port connector so that the microcontroller initially responds to a remote user making connection the serial port connector, the switch connecting the serial port hardware to the serial port connector upon the remote user requesting connection to the host application, and the switch re-connecting the serial port connector to the microcontroller when a connection between the remote user and the host application is discontinued.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.