Multi-console workstations concurrently supporting multiple users

#When a user logs in to use a given personal computer system, the operating system running on that computer system establishes a session for that user. Conventional operating systems running on computer systems typically support only one session, regardless of how many monitors and display devices are attached to the computer system or are present in the computer system. Also, conventional computer systems usually provide only one physical console for a user. Generally, in the context of conventional personal computer systems, only one local user can access the computer system at a time.

#Technology such as Fast User Switching (FUS) supported by the WINDOWS® XP® operating system, provided by Microsoft Corporation, allows multiple users to access a computer system through respective user accounts. However, FUS does not allow these multiple users to access the computer system simultaneously, and only one user session can be active at a time. In the FUS context, only one user can log-in to the machine at a time, and this user must log out before a second user can log in.

#Other technology such as Terminal Services (TS), supported by various versions of the WINDOWS® family of operation systems, allows multiple users to access a computer system concurrently. However, TS is a thin-client solution, and uses a network to connect a host machine to a plurality of terminals on which information is displayed to the users. While the network does enable multiple users to access the host machine concurrently, it can also be a performance bottleneck that constrains the types of applications that the users can run on the terminals. Some applications require real-time, high-bandwidth multi-media capabilities, such as gaming, audio or video streaming, or other types of graphics-intensive applications. For such applications, the performance of a thin-client solution or any other solution involving or deployed over a network may not be entirely satisfactory, because the demands of such applications may exceed the performance capabilities of the network.

#The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-console, multi-user workstation system.

#FIG. 2 is a diagram showing data flows and components related to initially configuring the multi-console system shown in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a multi-console system 100, with a plurality of consoles 105 or workstations 105 connected directly to a host machine 110. For example, the host machine 110 can be connected to the consoles 105 through device ports or other connection points provided by the hardware of the host machine 110 itself. Host machine 110 can be implemented as a personal computer (PC) running any of the WINDOWS® family of operating systems, along with suitable application software chosen for a given implementation. FIG. 13 illustrates components and architecture suitable for implementing the host machine 110.

#The host machine 110 typically includes one physical console 105(1), comprising input devices 115(1) and output devices 120(1) and 125(1) to enable an administrator 130 (hereafter admin 130) or other authorized users to log in to the host machine 110. Using the physical console 105(1), the admin 130 can initially configure the additional consoles 105(2) and 105(3). Also, the admin 130 or other authorized users can log in to the host machine 110 via the physical console 105(1) to access the resources of the host machine 110.

#The physical console 105(1) and the additional consoles 105(2) and 105(3) contain at least a minimal configuration of output devices 120 and 125 and input devices 115 appropriate to enable respective users 135 to access the resources of the host machine 110. A given console 105 can include visual output device 120 and/or audio output device 125.