JPH11203029A - Control system for plural terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable centralized control, from one control terminals, of the keyboard/mouse operation of plural terminals by switching, based on a control signal from a selection means, input signals on the controlling side distributed by a distribution means and input signals on the controlled side inputted from a controlled side input means. SOLUTION: A keyboard signal KS and a mouse signal MS from a distributor (D1) 5 are amplified, distributed by an amplifier/distributor (D2) 13 and respectively transmitted to switchers 25C1 ,..., 25Cn of client terminals 20C1 ,..., 20Cn . A control terminal 10 selects any one of client terminals 20C1 ,..., 20Cn to be controlled by a keyboard 1 and a mouse 3 of the control terminal 10 and transmits that selection information to a terminal selector(TS) 11 as controlled object client terminal information. The terminal selector(TS) 11 watches the status information of each switcher 25 and sends a control (m) signal to a switcher 25 cm of which switching of outputs is required.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system for a plurality of terminals suitable for simultaneously controlling any one of the plurality of terminals when the plurality of terminals are connected via a network or the like. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when constructing a client / server system, it is not rare that a client / server system is constructed by combining a plurality of products of other companies in addition to products developed in-house. In the system test process in such a case, a performance / load test is performed to confirm and guarantee the performance, safety, and reliability of the constructed system. At this time, in addition to conducting tests using a dedicated test program, the actual system that became a product,
For parts of other products whose internal structure is unknown, the black box test must be performed by actually operating the product application using a keyboard, mouse, etc.

Conventionally, in such a case, an operator is attached to each terminal of a plurality of client terminals, and all terminals are operated at the same time by a naval tactic to perform updating, etc., as shown in FIG. Keyboard 101 and mouse 103
A switch 105 for selectively switching signal lines is provided between an input device such as
5, a method of switching signal lines and selecting the client terminals 107a, 107b,..., 107n to be controlled, an agent program for connecting each client terminal to the control terminal via a network and receiving a control command from a server in advance Has been incorporated in each client terminal, and a method of controlling each client terminal via this agent program has been used.

[0004]

However, each of the above-mentioned conventional methods has the following problems or restrictions.

In the method of operating each client terminal by an operator, it is necessary to operate a plurality of terminals at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to collect operators equal to the number of terminals corresponding to the operation contents. Too much labor is required, such as labor costs for operators and labor for instructors to prepare instructions. Further, when it is essential to control the client terminals at the same time, the operation by manual operation has low accuracy and lacks reliability.

In the method of selectively selecting a client terminal to be controlled by the switch 105, a plurality of client terminals cannot be controlled simultaneously because the input device and the client terminal have a one-to-one relationship. .

The method of incorporating an agent program into each client terminal requires an agent program for each terminal. Therefore, when the operating system of the client terminal (hereinafter simply referred to as OS) is switched, a program corresponding to the OS is executed. If development costs are high and traffic is congested in the network, control signals may not reach terminals at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a keyboard and a keyboard of a plurality of terminals are provided from one control terminal.
An object of the present invention is to provide a control system for a plurality of terminals that can centrally control mouse operations.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a control system for a plurality of terminals when a plurality of controlled terminals are controlled from a control side. A control side input means for inputting various instructions to the controlled side terminal, and a controlled side provided to each controlled side terminal for inputting various instructions to the controlled side terminal. Input means, distribution means for distributing a control-side input signal input via the control-side input means and relating to various instructions to the controlled-side terminal to the plurality of controlled-side terminals, and the plurality of controlled-side terminals Selecting means for selecting a desired controlled terminal among the desired ones and outputting a control signal, provided for each controlled terminal, and distributed by the distribution means based on the control signal from the selecting means. Control input signal And summarized in that with a switching means for switching between the control side input signal input from the controlled side input means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the control-side input signal distributed by the distribution unit and the controlled-side input signal input from the controlled-side input unit to the controlled-side terminal selected by the control-side selection unit. It becomes possible to switch between the side input signal and the switching means. This makes it possible to simultaneously control a plurality of controlled terminals desired by the control side only by operation from the control side.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that any one of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball or a touch panel is appropriately used as the control-side input means and the controlled-side input means. I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the switching means according to the first or second aspect indicates whether the connection state of the switching means selects a control-side input signal or a controlled-side input signal. The gist is to output status information.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the selecting means according to claim 3 refers to the status information from the switching means when selecting the controlled terminal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the selection means of the third or fourth aspect holds status information of the desired switching means when the input means is switched by the switching means of the controlled terminal. The point is that after changing the held status by the control side of the controlled terminal, the switching means is set based on the changed status information.

Further, the invention described in claim 6 is the invention according to claim 1.
The described controlled terminal includes a terminal side switch,
The gist is that the switching means can switch between the control-side input signal distributed by the distribution means and the controlled-side input signal input from the controlled-side input means based on a switching signal of the terminal-side switch.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system for a plurality of terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The control system for a plurality of terminals shown in FIG. 1 includes a control terminal device 10 on the control side and a plurality of client terminal devices 20C1,..., 20Cm,.
It is composed of 0Cn.

The control terminal device 10 includes a control terminal 7 to which the keyboard 1 and the mouse 3 are connected via the distributor 5,
It comprises a terminal selector 11 to which the control terminal 7 and the control switch 9 are connected, and an amplifying / distributing device 13 to which the distributor 5 is connected. Also, the terminal selector 11 and the amplifier / distributor 13 are provided with a switch 2 provided in a client terminal side device 20C1,..., 20Cm,.
, 25Cm,..., 25Cn.

The distributor 5 is provided between the keyboard 1 and the mouse 3 and the control terminal 7, and amplifies and distributes input signals from the keyboard 1 and the mouse 3, ie, the keyboard signal KS and the mouse signal MS, respectively. Distribute to At this time, the distributor 5 may have an amplification function.

The terminal selector 11 is connected to the control terminal 7 via, for example, an RS-232C. The control terminal 7 receives control target client terminal information. Outputs separate switch status information. The terminal selector 11 is connected to the respective switches 25C1,..., 25Cm,..., 25Cn of the plurality of client terminal side devices 20C1,. ,…,
(M),..., (N), and status information is input from each of them.

The amplifying / distributing unit 13 is composed of an amplifying unit and a distributing unit. After amplifying the keyboard signal KS and the mouse signal MS from the distributor 5, a plurality of client terminal side devices 20C1,..., 20Cm,. , 25Cm,..., 25Cn.

Next, the controlled side will be described. , 20Cm,..., 20Cn
Are basically the same in configuration, so that the client terminal side device 20C1 will be mainly described. The client terminal side device 20C1
Switch 25C1 in which C1 and mouse 23C1 are terminal switches
Is connected to the client terminal 27C1 via a terminal switch 29C1. The switch 25C1 is connected to a terminal-side switch 29C1.

The switch 25C1 includes signals from the keyboard 21C1 and the mouse 23C1, ie, a keyboard signal KC1 and a mouse signal MC1, and signals from the keyboard 1 and the mouse 3 of the control terminal 7, ie, a keyboard signal KS and a mouse signal MS. And a control (1) signal from the terminal selector 11 of the control terminal 7 and the terminal side switch 29C1.
Is input. From the switch 25C1, a keyboard signal (keyboard signal KC1 or keyboard signal KS) and a mouse signal (mouse signal MC1 or mouse signal MS) switched in response to a control (1) signal or a switching signal from the terminal side switch 29C1. Is output to the client terminal 27C1.
Status information indicating the switch state of C1 is output to the terminal selector 11.

In the following, the client terminal device 20 inputted and selected via the keyboard 1 and the mouse 3 of the control terminal 7, for example, a plurality of client terminal devices 20C1,
, 20Cm among the client terminal side devices 20C1,..., 20Cm will be described.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram for controlling the operation of the keyboard 21 and the mouse 23 of the n client terminal devices 20 from the control terminal device 10. Here, it is assumed that the keyboard interface standard of all the terminals (the control terminal side device 10 and the client terminal side device 20) is the same, and that the mouse interface standard of all the terminals is also the same. The delay of the amplifying device is adjusted by, for example, setting the number of stages of the amplifying device equal so that synchronization can be obtained between the client terminals.

In this embodiment, before the control is started,
Unify the state of client terminals (for example, screen size, number of icons, arrangement, etc.).

First, by operating the keyboard 1 and the mouse 3 connected to the control terminal 7, signals corresponding to these operations, that is, a keyboard signal KS and a mouse signal MS are transmitted through the distributor (D1) 5 to the control terminal. 7 and amplification
It is output to each of the distributors (D2) 13. The keyboard signal KS and the mouse signal MS from the distributor (D1) 5 are amplified and distributed by the amplifier / distributor (D2) 13,
Each of the client terminals 20C1,..., 20Cm.
, 25Cm,..., 25Cn.

The inputs to the switch 25C1 are the keyboard signal KS and the mouse signal MS transmitted from the amplifier / distributor (D2) 13 of the control terminal device 10, and the keyboard connected to each client terminal device 20C1. 21C1
And each signal of the mouse 23C1, that is, the keyboard signal KC1
And a control signal (1) for controlling the switching of these signals and a switching signal from the terminal side switch 29C1.

The output of the switch 25C1 is
One of the input signals of the system, that is, the output of any one of the keyboard signal KS and the mouse signal MS or the keyboard signal KC1 and the mouse signal MC1, and the status of these outputs, that is, the switch status of the switch 25C1. .

The switching of the switch 25C1 is performed by a switching control signal for the terminal side switch 29C1 and the terminal selector 11 on the control side.
Is switched by a toggle according to the control (1) signal from.

The output of the switch 25C1 is either the control terminal side or the keyboard 21C1 and mouse 23 attached to the client side.
The switch state of C1 is collected in the terminal selector (TS) 11 using the status information. Further, the status information is totaled and sent to the control terminal 7 as terminal-specific switch status information.

In the control terminal 10, the client terminal 20
, 20Cm,..., 20Cn can be selected to be controlled by the keyboard 1 and the mouse 3 of the control terminal 10, and the selected information is used as the terminal information of the client terminal to be controlled. TS) 11. The terminal selector (TS) 11 is connected to each switch 25
The control (m) signal is sent to the switch 25Cm which needs to switch the output, in view of the status information.

At the time of switching of the switch 25, the terminal selector 11 performs the following processing a) and processing b), and the input device (keyboard 1, mouse 3) of the control terminal 10 controls the client terminal 20 to be controlled. It becomes possible to make a selection.

A) For the control terminal 10, all the switches 2
The transmission of the switch state of 5 Cm is stopped. At that time, the control terminal 10 holds the switch state.

B) The switch states of all the switches 25Cm are forcibly set to the input devices (keyboard 21Cm and mouse 23Cm) of the client terminal 20 to be controlled, and from the input devices (keyboard 1, mouse 3) of the control terminal 10. Disconnect. At this time, the switch state is not transmitted to the control terminal 10 by the processing a).

Further, by selecting the control-target client terminal 20 described above, the switch state held in the above-described process a) is changed, and the control switch is turned off, thereby executing the following processes c) and d). Will be c) Set the switch states of all the switches 25Cm to the changed switch states. d) Restart the transmission of the switch states of all the switches 25Cm to the control terminal 10.

Next, a specific description will be given of a case where a PC / AT compatible machine is used as a terminal. First, in the case of a PC / AT compatible machine, the keyboard and mouse connectors conform to the ATorPS / 2 standard, as shown in FIG. 2, and their signal lines are composed of the following four types. a. Data signal (+ 5VDC Signal) b. Clock signal (+ 5VDC Signal) c. Power supply line (+ 5VDC) d. Ground line (0V)

Accordingly, the system configuration is such that the keyboard signal KS shown in FIG. 1 passes two signal lines of the keyboard 1 data signal and the clock signal, and the mouse signal MS line passes the mouse 3 data signal and the clock signal. Pass two signal lines. Since each signal line does not normally assume a branch, the signal line is distributed after being amplified in the distributor (D1) 5 and the amplifier / divider (D2) 13. The power supply and the ground are taken from the terminal, and an external power supply is installed if a problem occurs in the capacity.

Since the clock synchronization method is adopted as the synchronization method, it is only necessary to electrically amplify and distribute the input signal in the distributor D1 and the distribution / amplifier D2. The delay of the amplifying device is adjusted by making the number of stages of the amplifying device the same so that synchronization can be obtained between the client terminals.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since one operator controls a plurality of terminals,
It is possible to reduce human operation and operation errors, and the client terminal to be controlled can be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of terminals. In addition, keyboard and mouse operations are simultaneously input to the client terminal to be controlled, and the keyboard and mouse operations are directly input from the keyboard and mouse input terminals of the client terminal. Further, it is possible to obtain effects such as higher input synchronization accuracy than a method using a network.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the control-side input signal distributed by the distributor and the input from the controlled-side input means are supplied to the controlled-side terminal selected by the control-side selector. And the control-side input signal can be switched by the switching means, so that the control-side control of a plurality of desired controlled-side terminals can be performed simultaneously only by an operation from the control-side. Become. As a result, it is possible to reduce human operations, reduce operation errors, and improve the accuracy of synchronization input between client terminals.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a control system to which a method for controlling a plurality of terminals according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connector used in the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional control system for a plurality of terminals.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 keyboard 3 mouse 5 distributor 7 control terminal 9 control switch 10 control terminal side device 11 terminal selector 13 amplifier / distributor 20 client terminal side device 21 keyboard 23 mouse 25 switcher 27 client terminal 29 terminal side switch

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A control system for a plurality of terminals when a plurality of controlled terminals are controlled by a control side, wherein a control-side input means for inputting various instructions to the controlled terminals; Controlled side input means provided in each controlled side terminal for inputting various instructions to the side terminal, and a control side related to various instructions to the controlled side terminal which is inputted through the control side input means. Distributing means for distributing an input signal to the plurality of controlled terminals; selecting means for selecting a desired desired controlled terminal from among the plurality of controlled terminals and outputting a control signal; Switching means provided for each control-side terminal and switching between a control-side input signal distributed by the distribution means based on a control signal from the selection means and a controlled-side input signal input from the controlled-side input means With Multiple terminal control system according to claim Rukoto. 2. The control system for a plurality of terminals according to claim 1, wherein each of said control-side input means and said controlled-side input means is any one of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, and a touch panel. 3. The switching unit according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit outputs status information indicating whether the connection state of the switching unit is selected from a control-side input signal and a controlled-side input signal. 2. The control system for a plurality of terminals according to 2. 4. The control system according to claim 3, wherein said selecting means refers to status information from said switching means when selecting a controlled terminal. 5. The switching means holds status information of the switching means at the time of switching an input signal in the switching means of the desired controlled terminal, and changes the held status by the control side of the controlled terminal. 5. The control system for a plurality of terminals according to claim 3, wherein the switching means is set according to the changed status information after the step (c). 6. The controlled-side terminal includes a terminal-side switch, and the switching unit receives the control-side input signal distributed by the distribution unit based on a switching signal of the terminal-side switch and the controlled-side input unit. 2. The control system for a plurality of terminals according to claim 1, wherein the input can be switched to a controlled input signal.