US 6,476,854 B1 · Video eavesdropping and reverse assembly to transmit video action to a remote console

Abstract

A computer system having integrated remote console functionality. Cycles intended for a video graphics controller are snooped to acquire the video data or control information contained in the cycle. Analysis is performed on the video data to detect sequential or repetitive operations. The video data is encoded into higher level primitives, if possible. The video data and primitives are held in a first-in-first-out (FIFO) memory until the FIFO reaches a critical level, or a staleness timer times out. Special firmware executed in system management mode reads the FIFO and converts the video data and primitives into conventional ASCII text or the required format. The firmware also maintains a copy of the video frame buffer to further encode the video data, if possible. The firmware then transmits the conventional ASCII text via a modem to a user stationed at a remote computer system.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method of monitoring activity of a remote computer at a local computer, the remote computer coupled to the local computer by a communications channel, the remote computer having a bus coupled to a video controller that generates a video output responsive to video operations on the bus, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) snooping video operations occurring on the bus, said video operations containing data;
and
(b) transmitting the data over the communications channel to the local computer.

An apparatus for monitoring video activity of a remote computer system, the remote computer system including memory and a data communications device, the data communications device connectable to a local computer for sending the video activity to the local computer, the apparatus comprising:

a processor operable in a system management mode, said processor for providing video transactions, said transactions comprising address, data, command and control portions;
a bus coupled to said processor, memory and data communications device, said bus for passing the video transactions to a video controller that generates a video output responsive to the video transactions on the bus;
a bus transaction snooping device coupled to said bus for snooping the video transactions;
and
a video transaction processing device coupled to said bus transaction snooping device, said video transaction processing device operable to encode the video transactions;
a first buffer for storing the encoded video transactions;
wherein the processor periodically reads the encoded video transactions from said first buffer and causes the encoded video transactions to be sent to the local computer via the data communications device.

4 more elements

a processor operable in a system management mode, said processor for providing video transactions, said transactions comprising address, data, command and control portions;
a bus coupled to said processor, memory and data communications device, said bus for passing the video transactions to a video controller that generates a video output responsive to the video transactions on the bus;
a hard disk system coupled to said bus;
a bus transaction snooping device coupled to said bus for snooping the video transactions;
a video transaction processing device coupled to said bus transaction snooping device, said video transaction processing device operable to encode the video transactions;
and
a first buffer for storing the encoded video transactions;
wherein the processor periodically reads the encoded video transactions from said first buffer and causes the encoded video transactions to be sent to the local computer via the data communications device.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Video eavesdropping and reverse assembly to transmit video action to a remote console

Life of this patent

Video eavesdropping and reverse assembly to transmit video action to a remote console

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29