# US 9,653,039 B2 · Method, apparatus and system for changing to which remote device a local device is in communication via a communication medium through use of interruption of the communication medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,653,039 B2 - Document ID: US9653039B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/433,970 - Filed: 2012-03-29 - Published: 2013-10-03 - Granted: 2017-05-16 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-29 - Assignees: Thinklogical, LLC - Applicants: Martin Green - Inventors: Martin Green - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9653039B2 ## CPC - G06F 13/4022: {using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network (G06F13/4009 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/14: Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} - G06F 13/24: using interrupt (G06F13/32 takes precedence) - G06F 21/82: Protecting input, output or interconnection devices - G09G 5/006: {Details of the interface to the display terminal (specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04)} - G09G 2370/24: Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract A method, apparatus and system for changing to which remote device a local device is in communication via a communication medium, communicates with a matrix switch forming part of the system by interruption of the communication medium by the local device. Upon receipt of a unit of information via interruption of the communication medium, the matrix switch causes the local device to be in communication with another remote device other than the remote device that it was previously in communication. In one embodiment, the switching is to a next available remote device of a plurality of remote devices while in another embodiment, the matrix switch switches the local device to a switch configuration device for further communication therewith via the communication medium, thereby allowing the local device to select which other remote device it desires to be in communication. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of communicating comprising: in response to a request from a local device, toggling a transmitter On and Off in a pattern to generate multiple consecutive On/Off bits having On/Off signals with a same pulse width that represents a unit of information, said transmitter configured to transmit high speed data via a communication medium at a first end thereof, the communication medium also having a second end; said transmitter interrupting said communication medium at said first end corresponding to said pattern, each interrupting of said communication medium at said first end resulting in a detection of a loss of signal at said second end; using a detection of a respective loss of signal at said second end for detecting the pattern of interruption of said communication medium at said second end so as to determine said unit of information; and in response to said detection, changing to which remote device of a plurality of remote devices said local device is in communication via said communication medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is toggled via a transmit disable input of the transmitter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of changing to which remote device of a plurality of remote devices that the local device is in communication comprises a plurality of devices ranging from 1 to N where N is a positive integer greater than 2 and wherein the changing to which device of the plurality of remote devices, said local device is in communication is to the next sequentially higher or next sequentially lower device i, where i is a positive integer from 1 to N, depending upon a value of the unit of information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one remote device is a switch configuration device and wherein the local device is connected to the switch configuration device if said pattern is detected. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the switch configuration device communicates with an internal switch control of a matrix switch so as to allow the local device to select which of the plurality of remote devices it is to be in communication. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the local device communicates with the switch configuration device via data transmitted over the communication medium rather than via interruption of said communication medium. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the local device communicates with the switch configuration device via data transmitted over the communication medium rather than via interruption of said communication medium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein in response to said detection of the pattern of interruption of said communication medium, the local device is connected to a switch configuration device in communication with the second end of the communication medium and when connected to said switch configuration device, the local device communicates therewith so as to select the next remote device of the plurality of remote devices said local device is in communication. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the local device communicates with the switch configuration device by transmitting data via the communication medium rather than interruption of said communication medium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting the pattern of interruption of said communication medium at said second end so as to determine said unit of information is via an output signal of a receiver portion of a transceiver associated with the communication medium at its second end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the transceiver is a small form factor pluggable transceiver. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the output signal of the transceiver is a loss of signal (LOS) output status signal of the transceiver. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is part of a transceiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the transceiver has a transmit disable input and wherein the toggling of the transmit disable input changes a state of the transmit disable input for a minimum period of time necessary for interrupting the communication medium a period of time sufficient for allowing detection of said disruption at the second end of the communication medium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein said toggling of the transmit disable input for a sufficiently long period of time so as to allow for its detection at the second end of the communication medium as a bit of information of said unit of information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the unit of information is an On and Off sequence that repeats for a minimum amount of times. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the steps are repeated for a plurality of local devices each communicating via a communication medium with one of said plurality of remote devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the same pulse width is 9 milliseconds. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method of communicating comprises a method of communicating via a KVM matrix switch, wherein the second end of the communication medium is disposed at the KVM matrix switch, and wherein the KVM matrix switch facilitates the changing to which remote device the local device is in communication with. ### Claim 20 An input/output (I/O) extender comprising: a transmitter, and an input module configured to receive a control request to change to which remote device of a plurality of remote devices a local device is in communication via a communication medium, said input module configured to toggle said transmitter On and Off in a pattern to generate multiple consecutive On/Off bits having On/Off signals with a same pulse width that represents a unit of information upon receipt of the control request from said local device; wherein said transmitter is connected to a first end of said communication medium and is configured to transmit high speed data via said communication medium to a second end of said communication medium, said transmitter in response to said toggling, interrupting said communication medium corresponding to said pattern, each interrupting of said communication medium at said first end configured to result in a detection of a loss of signal at said second end. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The I/O extender according to claim 20, wherein the input module further comprises a transmitter disable input for receipt of said control request. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The I/O extender according to claim 20, wherein the unit of information has a value to cause a matrix switch to connect the I/O extender to a second remote device different from a remote device to which the I/O extender is in communication prior to transmission of said unit of information. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The I/O extender according to claim 20, further wherein the transmitter is part of a transceiver connected to said communication medium. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The I/O extender according to claim 20, wherein the same pulse width is 9 milliseconds. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The I/O extender according to claim 20, wherein the second end of the communication medium is disposed at a KVM matrix switch, and wherein the KVM matrix switch is configured to facilitate the change to which remote device the local device is in communication with. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) A communication system comprising: the I/O extender of claim 20, and a matrix switch, comprising, a receiver configured to receive said high speed data via said communication medium at a second end thereof and having a loss of signal (LOS) status notification configured to detect interruption of said communication medium; an input module in communication with the LOS status notification and configured to detect said unit of information corresponding to the pattern of the detected interruption of said communication medium; a crosspoint switch, and a switch control in communication with said LOS status notification and configured to cause the crosspoint switch to change which remote device of a plurality of remote devices said local device is in communication. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The communication system according to claim 26, further comprising a switch configuration device remote device, wherein said switch control causes the crosspoint switch to cause the local device to communicate with said switch configuration device upon detection of said unit of information. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The communication system according to claim 27, wherein the switch configuration device is configured to allow the local device to select which remote device it desires to communicate with, the switch configuration device configured to communicate such a selection to the matrix switch to cause the local device to be in communication with the selected remote device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The communication system according to claim 26, wherein the receiver is part of a transceiver. ### Claim 30 A transmitter comprising: a transmit disable input configured to be toggled On and Off in a pattern to generate multiple consecutive On/Off bits having On/Off signals with a same pulse width that represents a unit of information, said transmitter configured to transmit high speed data via a communication medium having a first end and a second end; and an input module in communication with the transmit disable input, said input module configured, in response to said toggling of the transmit disable input, to interrupt said communication medium corresponding to said pattern in order to change to which remote device of a plurality of remote devices a local device is in communication via said communication medium, each interruption of said communication medium at said first end configured to result in a detection of a loss of signal at said second end. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The transmitter according to claim 30, wherein the transmitter is part of a transceiver. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The transmitter according to claim 30, wherein the same pulse width is 9 milliseconds. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The transmitter according to claim 30, wherein the second end of the communication medium is disposed at a KVM matrix switch, and wherein the KVM matrix switch is configured to facilitate the change to which remote device the local device is in communication with.