CN109388247B

CN109388247B - AUX automatic response device and method of KVM switcher

Info

Publication number: CN109388247B
Application number: CN201811142369.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王勇
Original assignee: Nanjing Xianlong Information Intelligent Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Nanjing Xianlong Information Intelligent Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-28
Filing date: 2018-09-28
Publication date: 2021-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-28
Also published as: CN109388247A

Abstract

The invention discloses an AUX automatic response device and method of a KVM (keyboard video mouse) switcher, relates to the technical field of computer control, and aims to solve the problem that the conventional DisplayPort type KVM switcher is inconvenient to use. The technical scheme is that the intelligent control system comprises an FPGA module and a control panel; the control panel is used for switching the channel of the KVM switcher and controlling the display to be connected with the host on the switched channel; the FPGA module is used for virtualizing a plurality of display AUX agents and is also used for automatically allocating one virtual display AUX agent to be connected with the host when the host is not connected with the display; the display AUX agent is used for communicating with the display card of the corresponding host and enabling the display card of the host to correctly complete the initialization process, manual intervention is not needed, and the effect of effectively improving the usability of the displayPort type KVM switcher is achieved.

Description

AUX automatic response device and method of KVM switcher

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of computer control technologies, and in particular, to an AUX auto-response apparatus and method for a KVM switch.

Background

KVM is an abbreviation for Keyboard Video Mouse. The KVM switch is a common device in computer host management, and it can control multiple devices with one set of keyboard, mouse and display. In short, a group of keyboard, mouse and display are used for controlling 2, 4, 8 or more computer hosts, and an administrator can freely switch among the computer hosts, so that the working efficiency is improved.

A DisplayPort type KVM switch is a KVM switch with a DisplayPort video interface, and is generally used for connecting a host with a DisplayPort video card interface. Similarly, there are a DVI type KVM switch, an HDMI type KVM switch, and the like.

Since the KVM switch has only one display interface, only one host can be connected to the display at a time. If several hosts are started simultaneously, it is necessary that some hosts have no display connected to them. In this case, some kinds of hosts cannot normally complete the initialization of the graphics card, and the display cannot normally operate even if the host is switched to the display at a later time. The occurrence of this problem is determined by the characteristics of the DisplayPort interface, in which an AUX low-speed link for information exchange is provided in addition to a high-speed main link for transmitting audio and video. The host can read DPCD information and EDID information in the display through the AUX low-speed link and configure link parameters according to the information. If the host does not read useful information through the AUX during starting, the host display card cannot normally complete initialization.

In order to solve the above problems, the present DisPlayPort KVM switch generally switches a display to one host, then starts the host, and after the host is started, switches the display to the next host and starts the host, and sequentially operates until all the hosts are started.

However, the above prior art solutions have the following drawbacks: the display is sequentially switched to each host and the corresponding host is started until all the hosts are started, so that the operation is complicated, and the complicated operation brings great inconvenience to the use of the DisplayPort type KVM switch.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide an AUX automatic response device and method of a KVM switcher, which have the effect of effectively improving the usability of the displayPort type KVM switcher.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following technical solutions:

an AUX automatic answering device of KVM switcher, includes display and a plurality of host computer, still includes:

the control panel is used for switching the channel of the KVM switcher and controlling the display to be connected with the host on the switched channel;

the FPGA module is used for virtualizing a plurality of display AUX agents and is also used for automatically allocating one virtual display AUX agent to be connected with the host when the host is not connected with the display;

the display AUX agent is used for communicating with the display card of the corresponding host and enabling the display card of the host to correctly complete the initialization process.

By adopting the technical scheme, all low-speed signals in the KVM switch are accessed into the FPGA module, the FPGA module virtualizes a plurality of display AUX agents, when the host is not connected with the display, the FPGA module can automatically allocate one virtual display AUX agent to be connected with the display, and the virtual display AUX agent is responsible for communicating with the host display card, receiving the read-write operation of the host and replying the query of the host, thereby helping the host display card to correctly complete the initialization process. The whole process is automatically completed by the FPGA without manual intervention, and the usability of the DisplayPort type KVM switcher is greatly improved.

The invention is further configured to: the FPGA module comprises:

the display AUX agent is formed by corresponding AUX agent modules in a virtual mode;

the system comprises a plurality of selector switch modules, a plurality of control modules and a plurality of host computers, wherein the selector switch modules are correspondingly connected with an AUX agent module and used for controlling the connection state between the AUX agent module and the corresponding host computer;

and the AUX reader is used for reading out and writing the DPCD information and the EDID information in the display into all AUX agent modules.

By adopting the technical scheme, when the equipment is powered on, the AUX reader reads DPCD and EDID information in the display into the FPGA through the AUX bus, and writes the DPCD and EDID information into all AUX agent modules. After writing, the AUX reader controls the operation of the switch module according to the selection of the control panel, the AUX bus of the selected host is directly connected with the AUX of the display, and the AUX buses of the other unselected hosts are connected with the corresponding AUX agent modules. All the hosts can normally communicate with AUX, so that the initialization of the display card is completed, and the usability of the KVM switcher is effectively improved.

The invention is further configured to: the AUX reader comprises an information reading/switching control module, and DPCD information and EDID information in the display are read out by the information reading/switching control module and written into all AUX agent modules; the information reading/switch control module is also used for controlling the operation of the switch module according to the selection of the control board to the channel of the KVM switcher.

The invention is further configured to: the AUX reader also comprises an HPD control module; the HPD control module is used for setting HPD signals of all the hosts low when the AUX automatic response device is powered on; the HPD control module is also used for setting the HPD signals of all the hosts high after the DPCD information and the EDID information in the display are written into all the AUX agent modules by the information reading/switching control module.

By adopting the technical scheme, the HPD signal is a hot plug indicating signal, the HPD signal is output for the display and used for informing the host that the display is inserted, the HPD signal is input for the host, and the host knows that the display is connected when the HPD is high. The HPD control module and the information reading/switching control module work in a matched mode, when the equipment is powered on, the HPD control module sets HPD signals of all the hosts to be low, and after DPCD information and EDID information of the AUX agent module are written in, the HPD control module sets HPD signals of all the hosts to be high and informs the hosts of being capable of AUX communication. At the moment, the selected host AUX is directly communicated with the display, and the rest unselected hosts AUX are communicated with the AUX agent module. When the HPD control module sets the HPD signals of all the hosts high, all the hosts can normally carry out AUX communication, and the display card can be initialized without switching the display to the host, so that the working efficiency is effectively improved.

The invention is further configured to: the control panel is provided with a switching key which is used for transmitting a switching signal for switching a channel of the KVM switcher to the information reading/switch control module.

By adopting the technical scheme, the change-over switch module is controlled by the change-over signal S0S1, when one port is selected in S0S1, the host of the port is directly connected with the display, and the host which is not selected is connected with the corresponding AUX agent module, so that the effect of conveniently switching over the host is achieved.

The invention is further configured to: the switching signal transmitted by the switching key is a binary digital signal.

By adopting the technical scheme, the binary digital signals have the advantages of strong anti-interference capability, convenience in storage, processing and exchange and the like, and taking 4 hosts as an example, the S0S1 can be 00, 01, 10 or 11. When S0S1=00, selecting to switch to the 1 st host; when S0S1=01, selecting to switch to the 2 nd host; when S0S1=10, selecting to switch to the 3 rd host; when S0S1=11, switching to the 4 th host is selected.

The second aim of the invention is realized by the following technical scheme:

an AUX automatic response method of a KVM switcher comprises the following steps:

step S1, add an FPGA-based automatic answering device on the basis of KVM switch;

step S2, an AUX reading module, a plurality of AUX agents and a plurality of change-over switches are built in the FPGA, and the FPGA is connected with a change-over key module;

step S3, when the automatic answering device is powered on, the AUX reading module reads out DPCD information and EDID information in the display through the AUX bus and writes the DPCD information and EDID information into all AUX agents;

and step S4, the AUX reading module controls each selector switch to operate according to the switching signal transmitted by the switching key module, so that the AUX bus of the selected host is connected with the AUX bus of the display, and the AUX bus of the unselected host is connected with the corresponding AUX agent and communicates.

By adopting the technical scheme, only an AUX automatic response device based on the FPGA needs to be added on the basis of the existing DisplayPort type KVM switcher, the AUX agent in the FPGA automatically completes interaction with the host when the host is started, the read-write operation of the host is responded, the host is helped to successfully complete the initialization of the display card, the problem that the host cannot be normally started without a display is solved, and the DisplayPort type KVM switcher has the effect of effectively improving the usability of the DisplayPort type KVM switcher.

The invention is further configured to: the step S3 includes the following sub-steps:

step S31, when the automatic answering device is powered on, the AUX reading module sets the HPD signals of all the hosts low;

step S32, the AUX reading module reads out DPCD information and EDID information in the display through the AUX bus and writes the DPCD information and EDID information into all AUX agents;

in step S33, the AUX reading module sets the HPD signals of all hosts high, and notifies the corresponding hosts that AUX communication is possible.

The invention is further configured to: in step S4, the switching signal transmitted by the switching key module is a binary digital signal.

By adopting the technical scheme, when the automatic answering device is started, the AUX reading module firstly reads DPCD information and EDID information in the display, writes the information into all AUX agents, and then enters an off-line state. When the host computer is started, the host computer which is not connected with the display can communicate with the AUX agent, DPCD and EDID information of the display can be obtained from the AUX agent, the display can be normally initialized without switching the display to the host computer, and the working efficiency is effectively improved.

In conclusion, the beneficial technical effects of the invention are as follows:

1. through the arrangement of the FPGA module and the control panel, the usability of the DisplayPort type KVM switcher can be effectively improved;

2. through the setting of change over switch, HPD control module and information reading/on-off control module, have and can guarantee that all host computers can normally accomplish the initialization of display card, effectively improved work efficiency's effect.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall structure of an AUX auto-answer apparatus of a KVM switch according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an AUX auto-answer method of a KVM switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of step S3 according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart for embodying the working process of the FPGA in the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 10, control panel; 11. switching a key; 20. an FPGA module; 21. an AUX agent module; 22. a diverter switch module; 23. an AUX reader; 24. an information reading/switch control module; 25. an HPD control module; 30. a display; 40. a host.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example one

Referring to fig. 1, the AUX auto-response device of a KVM switch according to the present invention includes a display 30 and a plurality of hosts 40, and the AUX auto-response device includes a control board 10 and an FPGA module 20. The control board 10 is used for switching channels of the KVM switch and controlling the display 30 to connect to the host 40 on the switched channel. The FPGA module 20 is used to virtualize a plurality of display AUX agents and to automatically assign a virtual display AUX agent to connect to the host 40 when the host 40 is not connected to the display 30. It should be noted that the technical solution of the present application is also applicable to the case of using other programmable devices (such as PLD, CPLD, single chip, microprocessor, etc.) besides FPGA to implement.

Referring to fig. 1, in the present embodiment, 4 hosts 40 are provided, that is, 4 virtual display AUX agents are provided. While the first host 40 is connected to the display 30, the remaining 3 hosts 40 are connected to the corresponding display AUX agents. The AUX agent of the display is responsible for communicating with the video card of the corresponding host 40, receiving the read-write operation of the host 40, and replying to the query of the host 40, thereby helping the host 40 to successfully complete the initialization of the video card. It should be noted that the AUX auto-answer device may be formed on the same circuit board as other parts of the KVM switch, or may be formed as an independent circuit board module.

Although 4 hosts 40 are taken as an example in the present application to describe an application scenario of the present application, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the technical solution of the present application is applicable to various scenarios, such as 2 hosts 40, 8 hosts 40, and the like, and the present application is not limited in this respect.

Referring to fig. 1, the FPGA module 20 includes an AUX reader 23, 4 AUX agent modules 21, and 4 switch modules 22, and the 4 display AUX agents are respectively virtually formed by the corresponding AUX agent modules 21. The switch modules 22 are connected to the AUX proxy modules 21 in a one-to-one correspondence manner, and are configured to control a connection state between the AUX proxy modules 21 and the corresponding hosts 40. Wherein, when one host 40 is directly connected to the display 30 through the switch module 22, the other 3 hosts 40 are connected to the corresponding AUX agent module 21. The AUX reader 23 is used to read out the DPCD information and EDID information in the display 30 and write these information into all the AUX agent modules 21 (i.e., into the corresponding display AUX agents). When the host 40 is connected to the corresponding AUX agent of the display, the host 40 obtains DPCD information and EDID information of the display 30 from the current AUX agent of the display, thereby normally completing initialization of the graphics card of the host 40.

It should be noted that, in the present application, the AUX reader 23 is taken as an example to specifically describe the technical solution of the present application, but those skilled in the art can understand that the technical solution of the present application is also applicable to a case where the DPCD information and EDID information of the display 30 are directly written into the display AUX agent without including the AUX reader 23.

Referring to fig. 1, the AUX reader 23 includes an information reading/switching control block 24 and an HPD control block 25, and the HPD control block 25 is connected to the information reading/switching control block 24. The DPCD information and EDID information in the display 30 are read out by the information reading/switching control module 24 and written into all the AUX agent modules 21, and the information reading/switching control module 24 is further configured to control the operation of the switcher module 22 according to the selection of the channel of the KVM switch by the control board 10. The HPD control module 25 is also connected with 4 hosts 40, when the AUX automatic answering device is powered on, the HPD control module 25 sets the HPD signals of all the hosts 40 to be low; when the information reading/switching control module 24 writes the DPCD information and the EDID information in the display 30 into all the AUX proxy modules 21, the HPD control module 25 sets the HPD signals of all the hosts 40 high. It should be noted that the HPD signal is a hot plug indication signal, the HPD signal is an output for the display 30 and is used to notify the host 40 that the display 30 is plugged in, the HPD signal is an input for the host 40, and the host 40 knows that the display 30 is plugged in when the HPD signal is high.

Referring to fig. 1, a switch button 11 is provided on the control board 10, and the switch button 11 is used to transmit a switch signal for switching the channel of the KVM switch to the information reading/switch control module 24, by which the FPGA module 20 can know to which host 40 on which channel the user wants to connect the keyboard, mouse, and display 30. Preferably, in order to simplify the complexity, the FPGA module 20 may directly receive the switching signal sent by the switching key 11. In this embodiment, the switching signal transmitted by the switching key 11 is a binary digital signal S0S1, and when S0S1=00, the switching to the 1 st host 40 is selected; when S0S1=01, a switch to the 2 nd host 40 is selected; when S0S1=10, a switch to the 3 rd host 40 is selected; when S0S1=11, switching to the 4 th host 40 is selected. When the number of the host computers 40 is greater than 4, the switching signal transmitted by the switching key 11 may be a multi-bit binary digital signal greater than two bits.

The implementation principle of the above embodiment is as follows:

when the AUX automatic answering machine is powered on, the information reading/switch control module 24 reads DPCD information and EDID information in the display 30 into the FPGA module 20 through the AUX bus and writes them into the 4 AUX agent modules 21. After the writing is completed, the information reading/switch control module 24 controls the operation of the switch module 22 according to the selection of the switch button 11. When the AUX bus of the selected host 40 is directly connected to the AUX bus of the display 30, the AUX buses of the remaining 3 unselected hosts 40 are connected to the corresponding AUX agent modules 21.

The HPD control module 25 and the information reading/switching control module 24 work in cooperation, when the AUX automatic response device is powered on, the HPD control module 25 sets the HPD signals of all the hosts 40 to be low, and after the AUX writing of the AUX proxy module 21 is completed, the HPD control module 25 sets the HPD signals of all the hosts 40 to be high, and notifies the hosts 40 that AUX communication can be performed. At this time, the host 40 selected by the switch key 11 directly communicates with the display 30, and the remaining 3 unselected hosts 40 communicate with the corresponding AUX agent modules 21. Through the technical scheme of the application, all the hosts 40 can normally communicate with AUX to complete the initialization of the display card, and the problem that the hosts 40 cannot be normally started without the display 30 is solved.

Example two

Referring to fig. 2, an AUX auto-response method for a KVM switch disclosed in the present invention includes the following steps:

it should be noted that the automatic answering device is also applicable to a case where it is implemented using other programmable devices (such as PLD, CPLD, single chip microcomputer, microprocessor, etc.) than FPGA.

the selector switches are connected with the AUX agents in a one-to-one correspondence manner and are used for controlling the corresponding host to be connected with the corresponding AUX agents or directly connected with the display;

specifically, when the host is connected with the corresponding AUX agent, the host acquires DPCD information and EDID information of the display from the current AUX agent, so that initialization of the display card of the host is normally completed;

It should be noted that the switch button module is used to transmit a switch signal for switching the channel of the KVM switch to the FPGA, and through the switch signal, the FPGA can know to which host on which channel the user wants to connect the keyboard, the mouse, and the display. In this embodiment, taking 4 hosts as an example, the switching signal transmitted by the switching key module is a binary digital signal S0S1, and when S0S1=00, the switching is selected to the 1 st host; when S0S1=01, selecting to switch to the 2 nd host; when S0S1=10, selecting to switch to the 3 rd host; when S0S1=11, selecting to switch to the 4 th host; when the number of the hosts is more than 4, the switching signal transmitted by the switching key module can be a multi-bit binary digital signal with more than two bits.

Referring to fig. 3, step S3 includes the following sub-steps:

It should be noted that the AUX reading module is connected to all hosts, the HPD signal is a hot plug indication signal, and for the display, the HPD signal is output to notify the host that the display is inserted; the HPD signal is an input to the host, which knows that there is a display access when the HPD signal is high.

Referring to fig. 4, a workflow after the FPGA-based auto-answer apparatus is powered on is shown. After the FPGA is initialized, the FPGA can read EDID information and DPCD information of the display, and during the period, the FPGA can judge whether the EDID information and DPCD information of the display are read completely. Taking 4 displays as an example, if the reading of DPCD information and EDID information in the displays by the FPGA is completed, the information is written into the AUX agent 1, the AUX agent 2, the AUX agent 3 and the AUX agent 4; and if the reading is not finished, the FPGA continuously reads the EDID information and the DPCD information in the display. Further, taking the AUX agent 1 as an example, if it is determined that the DPCD information and the EDID information of the AUX agent 1 have been written, it is determined whether the switch key module selects the current port; and if the DPCD information and the EDID information of the AUX agent 1 are judged not to be written completely, the DPCD information and the EDID information are continuously written into the AUX agent 1. After finishing writing the DPCD information and the EDID information of the AUX agent 1, if the current port is selected by the switching key module, controlling the corresponding switch to operate to connect the current host with the display (namely AUX1 is connected with AUX 0); if the current port is not selected by the switching key module, the corresponding switch is controlled to operate, so that the current host is connected with the AUX agent 1 (namely AUX1 is connected with AUX agent 1).

The implementation principle of the above embodiment is as follows:

the automatic answering device in the method mainly comprises an FPGA (field programmable gate array) agent, an AUX reading module and a change-over switch. When the automatic answering device is powered on, the AUX reading module reads DPCD information and EDID information in the display into the FPGA through the AUX bus and writes them into all AUX agents. And after the writing is finished, the AUX reading module controls the operation of the change-over switch according to the selection of the change-over key module. When the AUX bus of the selected host is directly connected with the AUX bus of the display, the AUX buses of the other unselected hosts are connected with the corresponding AUX agents.

When the automatic answering device is powered on, the AUX reading module sets the HPD signals of all the hosts low, and after the AUX of the AUX agent is written into the hosts, the AUX reading module sets the HPD signals of all the hosts high and informs the hosts of the possibility of AUX communication. At the moment, the host selected by the switching key module directly communicates with the display, and the rest unselected hosts are in communication connection with the corresponding AUX agent. Through the technical scheme of the application, all hosts can normally communicate with the AUX, so that the initialization of the display card is completed, and the problem that the hosts cannot be normally started without a display is solved.

The embodiments of the present invention are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments, so: all equivalent changes made according to the structure, shape and principle of the invention are covered by the protection scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An AUX auto-answer apparatus of a KVM switch, comprising:

a control board (10) for switching channels of the KVM switcher and controlling the display (30) to be connected with the host (40) on the switched channel;

the FPGA module (20) is used for virtualizing a plurality of display AUX agents and is also used for automatically allocating one virtual display AUX agent to be connected with the host (40) when the host (40) is not connected with the display (30);

the FPGA module (20) comprises:

a plurality of AUX agent modules (21), the display AUX agent being virtually formed by corresponding AUX agent modules (21);

the system comprises a plurality of selector switch modules (22), wherein the selector switch modules (22) are correspondingly connected with an AUX agent module (21) and are used for controlling the connection state between the AUX agent module (21) and a corresponding host (40);

an AUX reader (23) for reading out and writing the DPCD information and EDID information in the display (30) into all AUX agent modules (21);

when one host (40) is directly connected with the display (30) through the change-over switch module (22), the rest hosts (40) are connected with the corresponding AUX agent module (21); the display AUX agent formed by the AUX agent module (21) receives the read-write operation of the corresponding host (40) and replies the query of the corresponding host (40) so that the corresponding host (40) can successfully complete the initialization of the display card.

2. The AUX auto-answer apparatus of KVM switch according to claim 1, wherein said AUX reader (23) comprises an information reading/switching control module (24), said DPCD information and EDID information in said display (30) are read out by said information reading/switching control module (24) and written into all AUX agent modules (21); the information reading/switch control module (24) is also used for controlling the operation of the switch module (22) according to the selection of the channel of the KVM switch by the control board (10).

3. The AUX auto-answer apparatus of KVM switch of claim 2, wherein said AUX reader (23) further comprises an HPD control module (25); the HPD control module (25) is used for setting HPD signals of all the hosts (40) to be low when the AUX automatic answering device is powered on; the HPD control module (25) is also used for setting the HPD signals of all the hosts (40) high after the DPCD information and the EDID information in the display (30) are written into all the AUX agent modules (21) by the information reading/switch control module (24).

4. The AUX auto-answer apparatus of KVM switch according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: the control board (10) is provided with a switching key (11), and the switching key (11) is used for transmitting a switching signal for switching a channel of the KVM switcher to the information reading/switching control module (24).

5. The AUX auto-answer apparatus of KVM switch according to claim 4, wherein: the switching signal transmitted by the switching key is a binary digital signal.

6. An AUX automatic response method of a KVM switcher is characterized by comprising the following steps:

7. The AUX auto-answer method of claim 6, wherein the step S3 includes the following sub-steps:

8. The AUX automatic response method according to claim 6, wherein the switch signal transmitted by the switch key module in step S4 is a binary digital signal.