CZ24503U1 - Device for automatic switching between computers using common mouse and common keyboard - Google Patents

Description

Technical field

The technical solution relates to a device for automatically switching between computers using a common mouse and a common keyboard. The device includes at least two computers, a KVM switch, and an input peripheral unit that includes a common mouse and a common keyboard.

Background Art

A common practice in computer control is to connect standard peripheral units for character input (usually a computer keyboard) and position detection (so-called pointing devices, such as a computer mouse, tablet, joystick, etc.) directly to a computer system with a display unit

- monitor. As a rule, the motion of the pointing device on the monitor is shown as a cursor movement over the desktop or the cursor. part of the desktop. These peripheral units are generally known and standardized computer system components and, in addition to data entry, are in most cases used directly to control the system itself.

and? The trend of the past few years has been the increasingly emerging computer systems that, using a special multi-output or multiple redundant single-output imaging subsystem, can generate multiple outputs at the same time, such as extending the desktop to multiple display monitors - monitors . Usually, the control of such a system is based on the motion of the pointing device, or the keyboard, if the system allows it, and the switching of the cursor between the individual display units when reaching the edge of the workspace portion occupying the physical surface of the display device. With the exception of systems that allow direct cursor control using a computer keyboard, this input peripheral has no function when switching the current display unit. This solution is used, for example, in the control of railway traffic at dispatching input computers of a single service station, where the railroad relief is usually displayed via several side-by-side monitors, which can be switched by moving the mouse, respectively. using the arrow keys on the keyboard. The disadvantage of this solution when operating multiple separate systems is that each system must be equipped with its own set of input peripheral units that occupy valuable space on the desktop while increasing the need to operate the workplace by constantly thinking of which peripheral unit belongs to which system . For example, in rail transport, the average number of three separate systems at one site seems to be inadequate, albeit widely used.

To reduce the large number of input peripheral units, while controlling multiple discrete computer systems, the KVM (Keyboard-Video-Mouse) switches enable the connection of a single set of input peripheral units to route data signals from the input peripheral units to the selected computer system and at the same time from that system to route the display subsystem output to a connected display unit. Typically, the selection of the current computer system is done by pressing the switch set number button of the switch, or by combining a few keys with specialized switches. A disadvantage of these solutions is the limitation of the ability to route only a single display subsystem output to each connected computer system, which is inconsistent in the field of rail traffic control, e.g., the requirement to display a station relief across multiple monitors. In addition, switching the output of the imaging subsystems is contrary to the requirement for railway control safety where the operator must at all times have an overview of the entire controlled area and of all downstream information systems. While it is possible to connect all the display subsystem outputs directly to the display units and to switch only the data signals of the input peripheral units, but in the absence of feedback to the operator in the form of switching the display subsystem output, this solution appears to be non-intuitive and therefore unusable.

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US 2011/0010473 A1 discloses a manual KVM switch embedded directly into a monitor. The advantage of this solution is space saving, which is the only advantage over standard KVM switches.

US 5,748,189 discloses a method of automatically switching input peripheral units between several display subsystems of one computer system simultaneously with the possibility of switching between multiple such separate computer systems. The disadvantage, however, is the use of a local computer network for the transmission of events generated by input peripheral units, which, for example, in the case of railway traffic control, cannot be used due to the requirement for the closed network of the station signaling equipment. Another disadvantage is the need to install special software on every controlled computer system.

US 2UUy / U2M4l is a device for switching between computers. The device includes an automatic KVM switch that meets the functional requirements for automatically switching input peripheral devices between computer systems. Data that is sent from the mouse is sent to the switch driver via a one-way communication channel. It is important to note. that this data only signals the relative movement of the mouse since the last movement report. This does not allow the driver to derive the mouse pointer position on the host computer screen. The switch driver has a bidirectional communication channel with software that is resident on the connected host. When the user moves the mouse pointer to the edge of its currently active display, as well as the software resident on the host, it recognizes that the pointer is located at the edge of the display and sends a message to the driver inside the switch. controls the position of the pointer on the display. Further, each computer must be equipped with a resident driver that receives motion device motion information through a switch device and a bidirectional communication channel and forwards said pointer motion information. Each computer must have a dedicated service that monitors pointer movements using the pointer driver and communicates with the resident driver to ensure that the driver sends a message to the switch driver when the pointer performs a defined motion.

For this reason, it is necessary to install special software on each connected computer and this software then gives instructions to the switch driver. This technical solution uses two-way data communication between the computer system and the switch, which is unacceptable in the area and in the rail traffic management because of the requirement to ensure the required level of safety.

The essence of the technical solution

The above drawbacks are eliminated or substantially reduced by a computer-to-computer switching device using a common mouse and a common keyboard, according to the present invention, wherein each computer has at least one USB interface following

A USB / HID driver, each connected to a common mouse driver and a common keyboard driver. Each computer includes at least one display system, each display system being connected to at least one display unit. The common mouse and common input peripheral keyboard are connected to the computers unidirectionally via an automatic KVM switch that includes a logical unit for moving the common mouse at the cursor position, unidirectionally connected to the logic unit switching the signal output from the automatic KVM switch. The automatic KVM switch is unidirectionally connected to each computer via the USB interface of the respective computer.

This device is used to automatically switch between computers using a common mouse and a keyboard. The user generates, using the input peripheral unit, the common keyboard and the common mouse, the movement of the common mouse and press and / or release the common keyboard key. The automatic KVM switch receives the motion information of the common mouse, this information is processed by its logical unit to convert the relative coordinates of the common mouse motion to the absolute coordinates of the position pointer on the display units and in the downstream data signal output switching unit decides by exceeding the range of these

-?.

Absolute coordinates about switching the keyboard data signal to a particular computer, and an automatic KVM switch generates pointer position information on display units in absolute coordinates for the same particular particular computer. The multi-level common mouse controller of each computer receives position indicator information on the absolute coordinate display of the automatic KVM switch that maps the pointer to the pointer position on the respective display units. If the absolute coordinate does not exceed a predetermined range, the signal is routed to the current selected computer. If the absolute coordinates exceed the preselected range, then in the automatic KVM switch the switching of the data signal output from the automatic KVM switch to another particular computer will switch in the logic unit.

The main advantage of this technical solution is the automatic switching of the common keyboard and the common mouse independently of the computer's operating system without the need for additional software, provided that the operating system supports the USB interface. Another advantage is the unidirectional data flow, which is important for use in applications where high technical safety is required, such as in railway operation according to ČSN EN 50 129.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A device for automatically switching between computers using a common mouse and a common keyboard between two or more PCs according to the present invention is described in detail in the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a two-computer device; FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a two-computer device; and FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of an automatic switching method.

Examples of technical solutions

Example 1 (Fig. 1)

In the control of railway traffic at the dispatching site, the device according to the present invention can be applied to reduce the number of input peripheral units 4 of multiple computers 1, 2 operated by one dispatcher. Typically, the first computer is a computer of the unified service station, on which the railroad relief is usually displayed on several display units 131, 132. The second computer 2 is usually a computer-technological superstructure of a railway signaling system. Between the two computers i, 2, you can move smoothly with a common mouse 41.

Fig. 1 illustrates one possible example of a device connection for automatically switching between two computers 1, 2 by a common mouse 41 and a common keyboard 42 comprising a first computer 1, a second computer 2, a KVM switch 3, and an input peripheral unit 4.

The first computer 1 comprises a USB interface I connected to a USB / HID controller 12 which communicates with the controller 121 of the common mouse 41 and the common keyboard driver 122. The first computer 1 includes a display system 13, e.g. The display system 13 is connected to the first display unit 131 and the second display unit 132.

The second computer 2 comprises a USB interface 21 adjoining the USB / HID controller 22, which communicates with the controller 221 of the common mouse 41 and the controller 222 of the common keyboard 42. The second computer 2 includes a display system 23, e.g. The display system 23 is connected to the display unit 231.

The device according to the invention always comprises at least two computers 1, 2, as is the case in the particular embodiment of FIG. 1. In this exemplary embodiment, each CZ 24503 U1 has computers 1, 2 one USB interface 11, 21. It is possible to use their larger number. Each computer 1, 2 may also have multiple display systems 13, 23 than one. Each display system 13, 23 is connected to at least one display unit 131, 132, 231. The display unit 131,

132, 231 may be, for example, a monitor or a projector. A pointer, such as a cursor, moves on the display unit 131, 132, 231.

The device according to the invention always comprises one automatic KVM switch 3. The KVM switch 3 comprises one logical unit 31 for moving the common mouse 41 at the cursor position, and one logic unit 32 for switching the data signal output. Logical unit 31 is unidirectionally connected to logical unit 32.

The input peripheral unit 4 includes a common mouse 4i and a common keyboard 42.

The common mouse 41 and the common keyboard 42 of the input peripheral unit 4 are unidirectionally connected to each computer 1, 2 via an automatic KVM switch 3. The automatic KVM switch 3 is unidirectionally connected to each computer 1, 2 via the USB interface H, 21 of the respective computer I, 2 .

Example 2 (Fig. 1)

The device according to the present invention works as follows:

The user generates using the common peripheral unit 4, namely the common keyboard 42 and the common mouse 41, the movement of the common mouse 41 and the press or release the common keyboard key 42.

Pressing or releasing key of the common keyboard 42 is handled by the keyboard driver 122, 222 of the respective computer 1, 2, whereby the logical unit 32 of the automatic KVM switch 3 of the data signal decides to switch to the respective computer 1, 2, as follows.

The automatic KVM switch 3 receives the motion information of the common mouse 44. This information is processed by its logical unit 31 to convert the relative motion coordinates of the common mouse 44 to the absolute coordinates of the position pointer on the display units 131, 132, 231, and in the downstream switching unit 32 of the data output switching. The automatic KVM switch 3 further generates the pointer position information on the display units 131, 132, 231 in absolute coordinates for the same particular computer I , 2.

The multilevel controller 121, 221 of the common mouse 44 of each computer I, 2 receives, via the USB interface 11, 21, and subsequently via the USB / HID controller 12, 22 of the respective computer 1, 2, the position indicator information on the display units 131, 132, 231 an automatic KVM switch 3 in absolute coordinates, which the controller 121, 221 maps to a pointer position on the respective display units 131, 132, 231. The display systems 13, 23 generate an output signal for the display units 131, 132, 231.

If the absolute coordinate does not exceed a predetermined range, the signal is routed to the current selected computer 1, 2.

If the absolute coordinate exceeds the preselected range, then in the automatic KVM switch 3, the output in the logic unit 32 switches the output of the data signal from the automatic KVM switch 3 to another particular computer 1, 2.

Example 3 (Fig. 2, 3)

Illustratively, the principle of a method of automatically switching between computers 1, 2 by a common mouse 44 and a common keyboard 42 is explained on the simplified device shown in FIG. The device consists of two computers 1, 2 of an automatic KVM switch 3, a common mouse 43 and a common keyboard 42. The display computer 131 is assigned to the first computer, the display computer 231 is assigned to the second computer 2. shown in Fig. 3.

In a particular example, the common mouse 41 and the common keyboard 42 are switched to the first computer 1. If the user is working with this first computer 1, they move the common mouse 41 or press the common keyboard key 42 within the first computer i. Common Mouse ϋ In the automatic KVM switch 3, the co-ordinates of the common mouse 41 are converted to an absolute coordinate system, and since only the first computer 1 is operated, the absolute coordinate range is not exceeded and the automatic KVM switch 3 remains switched to the first computer i.

Subsequently, the user decides to work with the second computer 2. The user, through the common mouse 41, moves the common mouse 41 beyond the edge of the display unit 131 of the first computer i. Due to the movement of the common mouse 41 beyond the edge of the first computer display unit 131, the absolute coordinate range for this first computer 1 is exceeded and switched to the second computer 2 by the automatic KVM switch 3.

Now the user has a common mouse 41 and a common keyboard 42 switched to a second computer 2. Subsequently, the user uses a common mouse 41 or a common keyboard 42 within this second computer 2. With each common mouse movement 41, the common mouse coordinates are converted to the common mouse KVM switch 3 41 to an absolute coordinate system. Due to operation only on the second computer 2, the absolute coordinate range is not exceeded and the automatic KVM switch 3 remains switched to the second computer 2.

In order to operate on the first computer, the user has decided to control the first computer 1, and moves the common mouse 41 beyond the edge of the display unit 231 of the second computer 2. The automatic KVM switch 3 converts the coordinates of the common mouse 41 to an absolute coordinate system. Due to the movement of the common mouse 41 beyond the edge of the display unit 31 of the second computer 2, the range of absolute coordinates is exceeded and switched to the first computer i.

Thereby, the common mouse 41 and the common keyboard 42 are switched to the first computer i.

Example 4 (Fig. 2)

Automatic switching according to the present invention is based on the conversion of relative co-ordinates of the common mouse 41 to absolute coordinates from a known predefined range and tracking its overshoot.

In general, the following algorithm can describe the horizontal and vertical direction switching:

1) If, after adding the relative coordinate value to the current absolute coordinate value in the switched direction, the range below the minimum range value is exceeded, then:

- if the output of the common keyboard 42 and the common mouse 41 is redirected to the USB interface 11 of the first computer 1, the absolute coordinate value is initialized to the minimum value of the range,

- otherwise, the absolute coordinate range is added to the current absolute coordinate value in the switched direction, ie the maximum absolute coordinate range minus its minimum value plus one, and the common keyboard output 42 and the common mouse 41 is redirected to the USB interface 11 of the first computer J_.

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2) If, after adding the relative coordinate value to the current absolute coordinate value in the switched direction, the range above the maximum value of the range is exceeded, then:

- if the output of the common keyboard 42 and the common mouse 44 is redirected to the USB interface 21 of the second computer 2, the absolute value of the coordinate is initialized to the maximum value of the range,

- otherwise, the absolute coordinate range is subtracted from the current absolute coordinate value, ie the maximum value of the absolute coordinate range minus its minimum value plus one, and the common keyboard output 42 io and the mouse 4 i is redirected to the USB interface 21 the second computer 2.

Industrial usability

The solution is suitable wherever simultaneous work of one user with multiple computers is needed.

Claims (1)

PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS An apparatus for automatically switching between computers using a common mouse and a common keyboard 15, comprising at least two computers (1,2), a KVM switch (3) and an input peripheral unit (4), comprising a common mouse (41) and a common keyboard (42) ), characterized in that each computer (1, 2) comprises at least one USB interface (11, 21) connected to a USB / HID controller (12, 22), each of which is connected to a common controller (121, 221) a mouse (41) and a controller (122, 222) of a common keyboard (42), 20, each computer (1,2) comprises at least one display system (13, 23), each display system (13, 23) being connected to at least one display unit (131, 132, 231), wherein a common mouse (41) and the common keyboard (42) of the input peripheral unit (4) is unidirectionally connected to the computers (1, 2) via an automatic KVM switch (3) comprising one logical unit (31) for recalculating the movement of the common mouse (41) at the cursor position; unidirectionally connected to one logic unit (32) for switching the data signal output from the automatic KVM switch (3), and the automatic KVM switch (3) is unidirectionally connected to each computer (1,2) via the USB interface (11,21) of the respective computer (1,2).