TW200411520A - Multi-computer switch - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-computer switch is disclosed, by which more than one computer can be controlled by a set of mouse and keyboard, and the computer controlled by the mouse and the keyboard is displayed by a screen connected with the multi-computer switch. It comprises: a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor to transmit the mouse data and the keyboard data to the third microprocessor; a third microprocessor transmitting the mouse command and keyboard command to the currently controlled computer through the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor; and an image signal decoder circuit to decode the image signal of the computer controlled through the image decoder circuit for being displayed on the screen; and further a switch display to output a switching signal for switching the channel of image output, and transmit the switching signal to the third microprocessor, so that the third microprocessor can transmit the mouse command and keyboard command to the corresponding computer.

Description

200411520 V. Description of the invention (1) [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to a switch, especially a multi-computer switch that controls all computers with a set of keyboard, mouse and screen. Previous technology] The so-called multi-computer switch, also known as KVM switch, K refers to the keyboard, V refers to the video, and M refers to the mouse. It can manage multiple computers. An effective tool for your computer. You can easily control all your computers with a single keyboard, mouse, and screen. In the early production of computer hosts, they must test for at least 48 hours. In order to test a large number of screens and keyboards, a simple computer switcher was created, which can save extra glory and keyboards during production testing. Most of the system is a DOS environment, plus the network was not universal at the time, so it does not pay too much attention to functions. The current multi-computer switch is usually used in an environment where one or more administrators manage multiple computers, or an environment where one user must operate two or more computers, including network operation centers, data centers, servers Install multiple computers at the same time in the computer room, software development, test laboratory, service center, departmental LAN and desktop. Multi-computer switches have many advantages, such as using space and neatly reorganizing two, three, or more computers on a desktop or rack. It can also save the cost of keyboards, screens and mice that are not commonly used in server rooms and data centers. It can also centrally manage and manage multiple computers without the need to switch from one user workstation to another. Workstation

Page 5 200411520 V. Description of the invention (2) I adore, you can hold your computer switch and manage it with a set of mouse, keyboard and monitor: and: yes! "Brain type" is for the manufacturer or the shrine clothing [Inventive Content]. Shell is a quite necessary device. | Computer ί:; The purpose of last month is to provide -species = to achieve the purpose of controlling multiple computers. 1 Device, so that :: ίί: f: month :? Ludo's computer switches the mouse and keyboard control currently controlled by the mouse and keyboard, and displays the connection screen, including the multicomputer switch one The above PS / 2 connection ^ switch; Ϊ bus switch is connected to the j bus connected to a second exchange = two microprocessors, more than one PS / 2 port via a PS / 2 sink; two; 3: the 5 stream f switch is connected to a row connected to the first micro processor; the second, 2: the I 2 C bus PS / 2 bus is connected to a first Hi processor, and Mouse signal and keyboard signal, and will take two two f one port for the first microprocessor to use the "milk-milk command and keyboard command via I" respectively; and-image signal management = to the present The control is that the image switch is connected to one of the computers controlled by $ f The video port is used for | code, and then is displayed on the screen through a video decoding circuit that is connected to the video with the sign =. In addition, the third port connected to the Mu channel is connected to the video signal indicator through a decoding circuit. It is used to turn a switch signal through a horse circuit. 200411520 V. Invention description (3) to switch the video output channel And transmits the switching signal to the third microprocessor, and it is obtained that the third microprocessor can transmit the mouse command and the keyboard command to the corresponding computer. Regarding the features and implementation of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [Embodiment]

First, please refer to "Figure 1" for a diagram of the system architecture to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the multiple computer switches 100 disclosed in the present invention can be connected to at least one computer 200. The computer 200 is not connected to a peripheral device such as a screen, a mouse, and a display device such as a screen. Instead, the multi-computer switch 1 0 0 enables the keyboard 3 0 0 and the mouse 4 0 0 to control multiple computers. The multi-computer switcher 1 0 5 displays the computer currently being controlled on the screen 5 0 0.

The computer referred to here is not only connected to one computer, but is connected to multiple computers. It is represented by only one computer for the convenience of explanation. The computers referred to in the following description are also representative unless otherwise specified. Multiple computers. Please refer to "Figure 2" for the internal composition of the multi-computer switcher 100. It includes a first bus switch 101 and a second bus switch 101. The first bus switch 101 is a keyboard port for connecting to a computer 2000, such as PS / 2 port or AT port, you can use multiple switches with a port to connect, such as a four-to-one demultiplexer, you can achieve the purpose of controlling multiple computers. The second bus switch 102 is a mouse port used to connect to a computer 200. For example, the PS / 2 port can also be connected in series by using multiple switches with two ports. For example, four-to-one 200411520 five 'invention description (4) a demultiplexer. In addition, it is far from the peripheral control devices. Ports 1 and 11 are connected to a keyboard. The _ port includes the mouse. The first port Hi is not necessarily n2 connected to a mouse. Only when connected, a bus must be replaced with a connector to connect the key moxibustion, or a slider can be connected to the remote i. 1. The connection of Jia Ab 'must be /, this /, and the peripheral channel number of the peripheral port connection is clear. The first representative will be connected to the keyboard, and the second representative will be connected to the mouse. ΰ The first bus switch 101 is connected to a first microprocessor 121 through a PS2 bus 151. Similarly, the second bus switch 1102 is connected to the first micro processor 12 2 through a PS 2 bus. Rows 152 are connected. The first microprocessor 1 2 1 is used to receive the keyboard signal output from the computer 2000 and output to the third microprocessor 1 2 3; the second microprocessor 〇 00 is used The mouse signal output from the computer 2000 is received and output to the third microprocessor i 2 3. The third microprocessor 1 2 3 is used for processing mouse signals, keyboard signals, keyboard commands and mouse commands of the computer 2000. The first microprocessor 1 2 1, the second microprocessor 1 2 2, and the third microprocessor 1 23 are interfaces that use an I 2C bus as a signal transmission. 5 The I 2 C bus is a kind of input and output with peripherals. Communication interface between components. The main consideration of using the three microprocessors here is to reduce the third micro-processor's calculation. The signal from the monitoring computer 2000 can be more complete without any signal loss. The first microprocessor 1 2 1, the second microprocessor 1 2 2 and the third microprocessor 1 2 3 adopt a priority interrupt control microprocessor (p r i 〇 r i t y

Interrupt Controller (PIC) Micro Processor)) ° The video output port connected to the computer 2 0 0 is an image switcher 103.

Page 8 200411520 V. Description of the invention (5) It is connected through a video bus (VGA Bus). The first bus switch 101 and the second bus switch 102 are both bidirectional digital switches, and the video switch 103 is a unidirectional analog switch. The image switcher 10 is only used to output the image signal to the screen display, so a one-way switcher is sufficient. Connect to a screen through the third port 11 3 and display the information of the computer you are currently controlling. An image signal decoding circuit 1 4 0 composed of a decoder 1 41 and a demultiplexer 1 4 2 is connected between the image switcher 103 and the third port 11 3, and the decoder 1 4 1 is a device having decoding Function integrated circuit chip (IC), demultiplexer 1 4 2 is a two-to-one demultiplexer, which is used to decode the image signal output by the image switcher 103 and display it on the third connection. The port is connected to the 11 3 screen. In addition to the above components, it also includes a switching display 1 4 3, which is used to switch the computer to be controlled, and can display the currently switched computer with an LED indicator. It is connected to the decoder 1 41 through a decoding circuit 1 4 4 Used to decode the selected output channel for switching display 1 4 3 display. Switching the display 1 4 3 only selects the channel to which the image should be output, and does not switch between the first bus 101 and the second bus 102. The third microprocessor 1 2 3 transmits the mouse command and the keyboard command to the corresponding computer according to the switching signal output from the switching display 1 4 3. A protection circuit 145 is further included between the third microprocessor 1 2 3 and the switching display 143, which is a Schmitt circuit to prevent the unstable signal generated during the switching from affecting the third micro processing. Operation of the device 1 2 3. Another state reader 1 4 6 is a integrated circuit chip with parallel input / serial out, which is used for 200411520 V. Description of the invention (6) Read the state of the power supply into the third Microprocessor 1 2 3. The expansion interface 14 7 connected to the demultiplexer 14 2 and the third microprocessor 12 3 is used to stack with another multi-computer switcher to control more computers. The third microprocessor 1 3 2 is further connected with a logic gate 1 4 9. The logic gate 1 4 9 is a logic gate with an enabled pin for detecting whether a user is using a mouse or a keyboard. It is used to receive whether there is a mouse command or a keyboard command.

The following describes the internal operations of the first microprocessor, the second microprocessor, and the third microprocessor with a flowchart. The first microprocessor and the second microprocessor are mainly used to monitor whether there is data to be transferred to the third microprocessor. The third microprocessor is the core of the multi-computer switcher and is used to handle the slippage from the computer 200. Mouse data and keyboard data, and send mouse commands and keyboard commands to the computer 2000.

First, the main flow of the third microprocessor will be described. Please refer to "Figure 3" for the main flowchart of the third microprocessor. The third microprocessor is mainly used to connect the mouse and keyboard through the first port and the second port and to process mouse commands and keyboard commands. When the computer is turned on, the third microprocessor will detect the keyboard and mouse (step 6 10), and establish the initial display initialization data (step 6 11), that is, obtain the currently set display channel from the switching unit ( display channel). Then continuously monitor the 12 C bus for data (step 6 12), if any, execute the I 2 C interrupt procedure (step 613). The I2C interrupt refers to the interrupt that is triggered by the I2C engine. The third microprocessor is a microprocessor with built-in support for I 2 C bus. When the I 2C bus has data to be input to the third microprocessor, 200411520 Invention description at the fifth row (7) The built-in I 2 C engine will be used when the white ancestors have the necessary information. The first program is currently being executed. When the 120 confluence is crying and the second material, the microprocessor will receive and process the data from the first micro interrupt. ; 微;; ί = mouse data and keyboard data. Program. First of all, please ^ "Follow the above process' still includes three interrupt flowcharts, apricot; Figure", PS / 2 for the third microprocessor The third microcomputer; device I = command or keyboard command to be transmitted to the computer 200. Interrupt the current third and second execution =-PS / 2 interrupt program (step 6 2 0), the processor will mouse 5 or execute The program. Then, the third micro)), the program sends the 刭 t ί ί 叩 order to the 120 bus (step 621 The third micro-processing = the starting point (step 622). Broken refers to another interrupt program of Zhongsi w for switching interrupts. Switching display switching during switching is triggered by switching channels. When switching the display, this Switching message, r guard, indicates that the computer currently being controlled will be changed. Please refer to $ issued by the switch display to trigger the third microprocessor. When the user 5 picture "'is the switch of the third microprocessor Interrupted flowchart when the processor will switch the computer being controlled by the switching unit 'third microstep 63 ^ ,, close |, once a switching interrupt signal is switched, the switching interrupt process is executed (step like transfer wheel $' to transfer the image After the channel is switched to the shadow set by the switching unit (step (Step 63 丨)), return to the interruption point of the program. Each mouse will now switch. At this time, the third microprocessor will switch the total power according to the switching signal. The keyboard command is transmitted to the corresponding computer via the first bus switcher and the second bus. = An interrupt program is the internal timer interrupt, and the internal timer interrupt is triggered by the internal timer by the micro-processing. ,system To update the current

200411520 V. Description of the invention (8) Power status table, so that the first bus switcher and the second bus switcher can monitor the computer according to the updated power status table, without having to update each of the bus switchers. One port is monitored to reduce the overall effectiveness. B Please refer to "Figure 6" for the flowchart of the internal timing interrupt of the third microprocessor. When the internal timer triggers the internal timing interrupt (step 6 4 0), The three microprocessors read the sequence data output from the status reader into the current power state, and update the power state table in the third microprocessor (step 641), and change the display channel and switch the display on the display. Light, and finally return to the program interruption point (step 642). Next, the operation flow of the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor will be described. The operation modes of the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor are the same. Therefore, the following description will apply to both the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor. processor. Please refer to "Figure 7" for the main flowchart of the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor. The first microprocessor and the second microprocessor are used to continuously monitor the computer for slippage. Mouse data and keyboard data. When the multi-computer switch is turned on, the internal bus switch will perform the initialization process (step 7 10) to monitor all the mouse and keyboard of the connected multi-computer switch at the same time. Data is to be transmitted. After the initialization, the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor continuously monitor, that is, continuously monitor whether PS / 2 has data to be transmitted (step 711). When there is data to be transmitted, the The data is transmitted from the PS / 2 bus to the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor, and then sent to the I 2 C bus (step 7 1 2) and received by the third microprocessor. Finally the program returns to step 7 1 1.

Page 12 200411520 V. Description of the invention (9) There is an interrupt program in the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor, which is a 12 C interrupt, which means that when the third microprocessor has a mouse command and a keyboard command, When transmitting to the computer 2000, the I 2C engine will perform an internal interrupt procedure (step), that is, this interrupt procedure will be executed when the third microprocessor is to transmit a command, so that the first microprocessor And the second microprocessor can receive mouse commands and keyboard commands and send them to the PS / 2 bus to control the computer 300. Please refer to "Figure 8" for the I 2C interrupt flow chart of the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor. When the third microprocessor is to transmit a command, the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor will execute an I 2 C interrupt (step 7 2 0), and the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor will execute an I 2C interrupt. The bus receives a mouse command or a keyboard command (step 72 1), and transmits the command to the PS / 2 bus via the bus switcher and then enters the computer. After the transmission is completed, the monitoring program inside the first microprocessor will return to the interruption point (steps 7 2 2), and then continue to monitor the computer for data transmission. The multi-computer switch disclosed in the present invention adopts an electronic design and is not a traditional mechanical product built in the general market. Therefore, the computer does not crash or the keyboard / mouse cannot work during the switching process, and it is easy to install. Plug and play, no need to install any interface card or install any program. When the computer is turned on, the temporary installation will not cause the computer to crash, which is very suitable for the computer room. There is no need to shut down the server host, so you can operate with peace of mind. In addition, it has the following advantages: 1. Easy to extend in architecture. 2. Modular, easy to develop firmware. 200411520 V. Description of the invention 3. Transparency 4. Lighter 5 5. Continuous operation 6. May 7. Regardless of the patent insurer which is used to qualify the spirit. (10) Through the I 2 C bus, you can stack switches to control more computers. Changing the microprocessor and bus type can easily increase the number of stacks. The connected computer can be turned on and off at any time without affecting the operation of other computers. 〇 When the computer is turned on at any time, it automatically connects its keyboard and mouse function. The present invention is disclosed above with the foregoing preferred embodiments, but it is not the present invention. Any person skilled in the art of similarity can make some changes and retouches without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention must be seen in this specification. Defined by the scope of the attached patent application

Page 14 200411520 Brief description of the diagram Figure 1 is a system architecture diagram of the multi-computer switcher applying the present invention; Figure 2 is a circuit block diagram of the multi-computer switcher of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a main flowchart of the third microprocessor of the multi-computer switch of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a PS / 2 interrupt flowchart of the third microprocessor of the multi-computer switch of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the switching interrupt of the third microprocessor of the multi-computer switch of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the internal timing interrupt of the third microprocessor of the multi-computer switch of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a main flowchart of a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor of the multi-computer switch of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a first microprocessor and a multi-computer switch of the present invention. I 2 C interrupt flowchart of the second microprocessor. [Illustration of Symbols] More than 100 computer switches 200 computers 300 keypads 400 mice 500 screens 101 first bus switch 102 second bus switch 103 video switch 111 first connection port

Page 15 200411520 Brief description of the diagram 112 Second port 113 Second port 121 First micro-processing 122 Second micro-processing 123 Second micro-processing 140 Image signal solution 141 Solving horse 142 Demultiplexer 143 Switching the display 144 calcite horse circuit 145 protection circuit 146 status reader 147 expansion interface 149 logic F 151 PS / 2 bus 152 PS / 2 bus 153 I 2C I zone bus step 6 1 0 receive mouse and keyboard data step 6 1 1 Create the displayed initialization data Step 6 1 2 Whether the I 2 C bus has data Step 6 1 3 Receive the data Step 6 2 0 PS / 2 Interrupt Step 6 2 1 Send the data to the I 2 C bus Step 6 2 2 Back to program break point

Page 16 200411520

The diagram briefly explains step 6 3 0 switch interrupt step 6 3 1 change image transmission channel step 6 3 2 return to program interruption point step 6 4 0 internal timing interrupt step 6 4 1 update power status table step 6 4 2 return to program interrupt Step 7 1 0 Initialize the bus switcher Step 7 1 1 PS / 2 Whether the bus has data transmission step 71 2 Receive data step 7 2 0 I 2C interrupt step 7 2 1 Receive data and send to the bus step 7 2 2 Back to program break point

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Claims (1)

200411520 VI. Scope of patent application1. A multi-computer switcher, so that more than one computer can be controlled by a group of mouse and keyboard 'and the computer controlled by the mouse and the keyboard can be controlled through one and the multi-computer switcher. The connected screen display includes: a first microprocessor connected to a bus k switch via a PS / 2 bus; the 5 bus switch is connected to more than one PS / 2 port; a The second microprocessor is connected to a bus switcher via a PS / 2 bus, and the bus switch is connected to a PS / 2 connection; ---- 丄 ^ 胜 / 爪 妍 逆 推Host the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor, and connect to a first-port and a second port via a wideband, use = ^, mouse signal and keyboard signal 'and slide the command The first micro-processing cry 2 is transmitted to the currently controlled computer through the first micro-processor. The test signal processor is an image signal decoding circuit. The image switch is connected to an image switch to change the current The computer under control! 1ζ: f port, after decoding like a decoding circuit, then connect it via 5 disks, i = f, and connect it through one of the third ports of the video connection;; f is like a decoding circuit • as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application Not many. -Switching the display through a%: switcher ’and including a 3 code circuit for outputting-switching signals connected to the video signal. 200411520 6. The scope of patent application, and the switching signal is transmitted to the third microprocessor, so that the third microprocessor can transmit the mouse command and keyboard command to the corresponding computer. 3. The multi-computer switch as described in item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein a protection circuit is further connected between the switching display and the third microprocessor to avoid unstable signals generated by switching image output channels. 4 · The computer switch as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the first microprocessor is a priority interrupt microprocessor (PIC Microprocessor) 〇5. As described in item 1 of the patent application scope Computer switch, wherein the second microprocessor is a priority interrupt microprocessor (PIC Microprocessor) ° 6. The computer switch as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the third microprocessor is A Priority Interrupt Microprocessor (PIC Microprocessor). The multi-computer switch as described in the first item of the patent application scope, wherein the first bus switch is a switch that transmits a digital signal in both directions. 8. The multi-computer switch as described in item 7 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first bus switch is formed by concatenating more than one many-to-one demultiplexer. 9. The multi-computer switch according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the second bus switch is a switch that transmits digital signals in both directions. 10. The multi-computer switch as described in item 9 of the scope of patent application, wherein the second bus switch is connected in series by more than one many-to-one demultiplexer. Page 19 200411520 6. Scope of patent application. 1 1. The multi-computer switch as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the image decoding circuit further includes a decoder and a demultiplexer. 1 2. The multi-computer switch as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, further comprising a status reader for reading the power status of more than one computer and outputting it to the third microprocessor. 1 3. The multi-computer switch as described in item 11 of the scope of patent application, wherein the status reader is a integrated circuit crystal with parallel input and input sequence output 0 1 4. As the scope of patent application 1 1 The computer switch described in the above item, wherein the status reader is connected to the at least one PS / 2 port. 15. The multi-computer switch as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, further comprising an expansion interface connected to the demultiplexer and the three microprocessors for connecting the multi-computer switch to another Multiple computer switches are stacked and connected. painting__ Μ page 20