Network management card for use in a system for screen image capturing

A network management card for use in a host system, comprising:

• a local reset and clock generator which generates a local reset and a local clock that is separate and independent from a bus clock of the host system;
• a power supply which provides optional power backup;
• a memory which stores configuration information, a program for implementing a video capture sequence of operations, and an operating system that is separate and independent from the host system;
• a processor which processes said configuration information, said operating system, and said program for implementing said video capture sequence of operations from said memory;
• a network controller which provides an interface to a computer network for communications with a remote system over said computer network;
• and
• a bus controller which is operatively connected to said local reset and clock generator, said power supply, said processor, and said network controller, and which tracks events on a bus, including operations of a video subsystem of the host system, and which implements said video capture sequence of operations to capture a screen image provided by said video subsystem of the host system to said processor for transmission via said network controller to a remote system over said computer network for remote system management.

A card for use in a host system, comprising:

• a software programmed to implement a video capture sequence of operations, a local clock and a local reset which are separate and independent from the host system;
• and
• a bus controller operatively connected to said local clock, said local reset and controlled by said software, for tracking events on a bus of the host system, including operations of a video subsystem of the host system, and for implementing said video capture sequence of operations to capture a screen image provided by said video subsystem of the host system for transmission over a computer network to a remote system, said bus controller comprising:
• Programmable Snoop Engines (PSEs) programmed to snoop all input/output (I/O) cycles passing through the bus for sensing a video mode transition in the video subsystem between text and graphics modes;
• and
• a Video Capture Hardware Assist Machine (HWAM) arranged to execute said video capture sequence of operations for capturing said screen image of the host system for transmission over said computer network to the remote system for remote viewing and remote system management.

A process of capturing a screen image of a host system having a video subsystem for transmission to a remote system over a communication link, comprising:

• receiving a request from the remote system to execute a video capture sequence of operations;
• tracking events on a bus of the host system, including a video mode change from said video subsystem of the host system between a text mode and one of graphics modes;
• and
• executing said video capture sequence of operations to capture a screen image provided by said video subsystem of the host system, and to transmit the screen image captured from said video subsystem of the host system to the remote system over said communication link, for remote viewing and remote system management.

A process comprising:

• receiving a request from a remote system over a communication link to capture a screen image of a host system having a video system;
• tracking events on a bus of the host system, including video mode transitions between text and graphics modes in a video subsystem of the host system;
• and
• executing a video capture sequence of operations to capture a screen image provided by the video subsystem of the host system for transmission to the remote system over the communication link.