TWI427966B - Remote management system, kvm switch, and remote managing method - Google Patents

Description

Remote management system, multi-computer switcher and remote management method

The invention relates to remote management, in particular to a remote management system, a keyboard-video-mouse switch (KVM switch) and a remote management method for supporting multi-touch functions. .

In recent years, with the continuous evolution of technology, KVM switches allow users to control multiple computers through a single set of keyboards, screens and mice, while network-based KVM switches (IP-based KVM) Switch) further enables users of desktop or notebook computers to manage multiple remotely controlled computers over the network. In addition, since the touch screen not only saves power and does not occupy space, but also has the advantage of being directly input through contact, it is widely loved by the general consumers and has become the mainstream in the screen market, and is widely used in various In electronic products. In particular, the new generation of touch screens supports a new multi-touch function, allowing users to simultaneously generate multiple touch points on the screen, which is the future trend of man-machine interface operation.

In addition, the "Gesture" function has also become popular. The so-called "mouse gesture" function refers to triggering different commands or functions by different "mouse movement trajectories". For example, the user can directly move around the circle with the mouse or move left, right, down, up, etc. Each action can correspond to a different command or activate a special function, such as closing the window. Open a new window, open a specific page, previous page, next page...etc. In some cases, performing various common functions through a mouse gesture is faster and more convenient than finding a button from the menu.

Therefore, in the environment of using a KVM switch, if you can fully utilize the touch screen or mouse gestures that support multi-touch function to operate the controlled computer, you can greatly improve the user's convenience. When the touch screen and mouse gestures that support multi-touch function are gradually popularized, the value can be highlighted. However, in terms of multi-touch function, the current technology can only allow users to control the switch of the multi-computer switch through the multi-touch screen through the On-Screen Display (OSD). The user's action is that the user can't actually operate one or more controlled computers at the far end through the KVM switch by directly touching the multi-touch screen. As far as the mouse gesture function is concerned, there is currently no computer switcher that supports the mouse gesture function, that is, the user cannot control the controlled computer connected to the computer switch with a mouse gesture through the KVM switch.

Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a remote management system, a KVM switch, and a remote management method to solve the above problems encountered in the prior art.

In a specific embodiment, the remote management system of the present invention is configured to couple the first computer to the at least one second computer via the network, so that the user of the first computer can operate the second computer from the remote end. The remote management system includes at least an application and a remote management device. The remote management device includes at least a network interface, a computer interface, a translator, and an image processing module. The network interface receives the network signal. The computer interface includes at least an image interface and a control interface. The translator translates the network signal into a multi-touch signal via the network interface and outputs it to the second computer through the control interface. The image processing module captures and processes the image output by the second computer according to the multi-touch signal through the image interface and transmits the image to the first computer via the network interface. The application generates a window on the first computer based on the captured and processed image for the user to operate the second computer on the first computer.

In practical applications, the control signal is selected from the group consisting of a mouse gesture signal, a mouse button signal, and a touch signal. The translator is selected from the group consisting of a central processing unit, a processor, a controller, and a look-up table. The functions corresponding to the multi-touch signal are zoom-in function, zoom-out function, scroll-up function, scroll-down function and Select from the group consisting of flicks.

In another embodiment, the KVM switch of the present invention is used to couple a set of keyboards, screens, and mice to one or more controlled computers. The KVM switch includes at least a control interface, a translator, a USB interface, a USB device controller, an image interface, and an image switching module. The control interface is used to receive a mouse gesture signal or a mouse button signal issued by the mouse. The translator translates the mouse gesture signal or the mouse button signal into a multi-touch signal. The USB interface is used to connect to the controlled computers. The USB device controller is used to emulate the multi-touch device of the controlled computer into a USB interface, and the multi-touch signal is output to the controlled computers by the USB interface according to the path selection setting according to the USB protocol. The image interface receives image signals output by the controlled computers in response to the multi-touch signals. The image switching module is connected to the controlled computers, and the image signal is transmitted from the image interface to the screen according to the path selection setting.

In another embodiment, the remote management method of the present invention operates in the remote management device, so that the electronic device can be coupled to at least one computer through the remote management device, thereby enabling the electronic device to operate the computer. The remote management method includes at least the following steps: receiving at least one input command from the electronic device; translating the input command into at least one multi-touch command corresponding to a function of the computer; transmitting the multi-touch command to the computer, and causing the computer to The multi-touch command execution function transmits and processes the image output by the computer according to the multi-touch command to the electronic device to generate a window on the electronic device for the user of the electronic device to operate the computer.

Compared with the prior art, the remote management system, the KVM switch and the remote management method according to the present invention realize the use by emulating a remote controlled computer into a multi-touch device having a USB interface. Directly touch the touch screen to multi-touch to operate the remote controlled computer through the KVM switch, and the invention can be applied to both the IP-based KVM Switch or other non-network switches. Network type KVM switch.

In addition, even if the user terminal is not using a multi-touch screen, the user can operate the remote end through the KVM switch by the mouse gesture when the mouse is operated or by pressing the mouse button. The controlled computer does not cause the remote management system, the KVM switch and the remote management method of the present invention to be implemented due to the lack of a multi-touch device on the user side, so that the utility and popularity of the application can be increased. Sex.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a remote management system. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , in the remote management system R, one end of the remote management device 1 is coupled to the first computer 2 and the other end thereof is coupled to at least one of the remote ends. Between the second computers 3, so that the user of the first computer 2 can remotely operate the second computer 3 via the network N, wherein the first computer 2 can communicate with the remote management device 1 through the network N, the remote end The management device 1 can communicate with the second computers 3 through the USB interface and the image interface, but not limited thereto.

In this embodiment, the remote management device 1 can be any electronic device with remote computer management functions, such as a Keyboard-Video-Mouse Switch (KVM Switch), a network-type serial interface management device, or Network type power management device, etc. The first computer 2 may be any electronic device having software execution capability, and the executable application includes at least any kind of web browser, such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), GPS satellite navigation devices, etc. The network N can be an Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), an integrated services digital network (ISDN), an asynchronous transmission network (ATM), or other types of networks. No specific restrictions

The second computer 3 to be controlled may be any type of computer device or network device, such as various servers, desktop computers or notebook computers; these controlled devices may be other electronic devices other than computers, such as the network. Hubs, network routers, etc., typically communicate with the remote management device 1 via an RS-232 interface. It should be noted that the types, types and quantities of the remote management devices, applications or the controlled computers or devices are not limited to the above examples. The aforementioned network type serial interface management device allows the user to remotely control the serial interface of the controlled device (for example, its RS-232 port); the network type power management device allows the user to be controlled by the remote control Power to a computer or device.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a functional block diagram of the remote management system R of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, one end of the remote management device 1 is coupled to the first computer 2 and the other end thereof is coupled to at least one second computer 3 at the remote end. The first computer 2 has a set of keyboard 4, screen 5 and mouse 6. The remote management system R includes a remote management device 1 and an application AP. The remote management device 1 includes a network interface 10, a translator 12, a computer interface 14, and an image processing module 16, and the computer interface 14 includes a control interface 140 and an image interface 142. In the remote management device 1, the network interface 10 is coupled to the translator 12; the translator 12 is coupled to the control interface 140 of the computer interface 14; the image interface 142 of the computer interface 14 is coupled to the image processing module 16; The processing module 16 is coupled to the network interface 10.

In this embodiment, the application AP is executed on the first computer 2 of the user end, which enables the first computer 2 to communicate with the remote management device 1 through a network-related protocol, and causes the first computer 2 to be keyboarded. 4. The control signal received by the screen 5 or the mouse 6 is converted into a network signal. In fact, the above control signals may be keyboard signals, mouse gesture signals, mouse button signals or touch signals. The mouse gesture signal and the mouse button signal are generated by the user operating the mouse 6 and converted into a network signal by the application AP executed on the first computer 2; the touch signal is used by the user. The screen 5 having the multi-touch function is generated and converted into a network signal by the application AP executed on the first computer 2. It can be seen from the above that even if the screen 5 coupled to the first computer 2 does not have a multi-touch function, the user can generate a mouse gesture signal or a mouse button signal by operating the mouse 6, and the application is After the AP converts it into a network signal, it transmits it to the remote management device 1 through the network N or other transmission mode.

When the network signal is transmitted from the first computer 2 of the user terminal to the remote management device 1, the remote management device 1 receives the network signal through its network interface 10. Next, the translator 12 will receive the network signal from the network interface 10 and translate the network signal into a multi-touch signal. Then, the translated multi-touch signal is output to the corresponding second computer 3 through the control interface 140 of the computer interface 14.

In practical applications, the translator 12 of the remote management device 1 can be a central processing unit, a processor, a controller, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a look-up table, or Other devices or software programs having signal translation functions, or any combination of the above elements, are not specifically limited. The FPGA is a circuit that can repeatedly change the configuration. The logic gate component that can be programmed by the user is especially suitable for applications that must be constantly changed during product development to effectively speed up the time to market. The logic gate characteristics of the FPGA can be changed according to the needs of the designer and provide various basic functions. For example, if the translator 12 converts the network signal into a multi-touch signal according to the comparison table, the comparison table needs to record corresponding to different mouse gestures, pressing the mouse button action, and the multi-touch gesture. The various functions of the multi-touch signal, and the functions can be performed on the remote second computer 3. In fact, the functions corresponding to the above multi-touch signals may be a zoom-in function, a zoom-out function, a scroll-up function, and a scroll-scroll- Down) function or flick function, but not limited to this.

It should be noted that when the second computer 3 receives the multi-touch signal transmitted by the remote management device 1, the remote management device 1 emulates the second computer 3 as a multi-touch with a USB interface. The device, as far as the second computer 3 is concerned, the remote management device 1 is like a multi-touch device having a multi-touch function. Therefore, the second computer 3 will be executed in response to the multi-touch signal. Corresponding functions (for example, up scrolling function, but not limited thereto), and outputting one image of the second computer 3 to the remote management device 1. Then, the remote management device 1 receives the image through the image interface 142 of the computer interface 14 and captures and processes the image through the image processing module 16, and the network interface 10 processes the image. The image is transmitted to the first computer 2. This capture captures the analog digital image and the processing may include encoding and compression of the video signal. After that, the application AP executing on the first computer 2 generates a window on the first computer 2 according to the processed image, so that the user can operate the remote second computer through the window on the first computer 2. . This window allows the user of the first computer to feel as if the second computer is directly operated.

It should be noted that the first computer 2 on the user side does not have to execute the application AP to operate the remote second computer 3. For example, if the first computer 2 is an iPad, since the touch screen has a multi-touch function, the first computer 2 needs to execute a specific application corresponding to the iPad; if the first computer 2 is through a traditional mouse Generate control signals, ie no need to execute any specific application.

In summary, because the remote management device 1 emulates the second computer 3 as a multi-touch device with a USB interface, the second computer 3 treats the remote management device 1 as truly multi-touch. The touch control device is the same, so that the control signal received by the first computer 2 is generated by the user touching the screen through the finger or the user operating the mouse, when the control signal is converted into a network signal and transmitted to the far end. When the device 1 is managed, the remote management device 1 translates the message into a multi-touch signal, so that the second computer 3 performs the corresponding function according to the multi-touch signal transmitted by the remote management device 1. Thereby, the user is allowed to operate the first computer 2 to remotely manage or control the remote second computer 3 through the remote management device 1.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a KVM switch. Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a functional block diagram of the KVM switch of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the KVM switch 7 is coupled between a set of keyboard 4, a screen 5, a mouse 6 and the other end thereof is coupled to at least one controlled computer PC coupled to the remote end. There may be an adapter between the KVM switch 7 and each controlled computer PC to extend the distance between the KVM switch 7 and each controlled computer PC, which is currently up to 1000 inches. Hey. This adapter can also be called a Computer Interface Module (CIM). The KVM switch 7 includes a control interface 70, a translator 72, a USB interface 74, a USB device controller 76, an image output interface 78, an image input interface 79, and an image switching module 80. The keyboard 4, the screen 5 and the mouse 6 are respectively coupled to the control interface 70; the control interface 70 is coupled to the translator 72; the translator 72 is coupled to the USB device controller 76; and the USB device controller 76 is coupled to the USB device. The USB interface 74 is coupled to the controlled computer PC; the image interface 78 is coupled to the screen 5; the controlled computer PC is coupled to the image interface 78; and the image switching module 80 is coupled to the controlled computer PC and the image interface 78. .

In this embodiment, the control interface 70 is configured to receive a mouse gesture signal or a mouse button signal issued by the mouse 6. In fact, the mouse gesture signal and the mouse button signal are generated by the user operating the mouse 6. The control interface 70 can also receive the keyboard button signal sent by the keyboard 4 or the touch signal sent by the screen 5, which is not limited by this example. In addition, since many manufacturers of the keyboard 4, the screen 5, and the mouse 6 are produced, the KVM switch 7 can be improved between the keyboard 4, the screen 5, and the mouse 6 by way of firmware upgrade. Compatibility.

Next, the translator 72 translates the mouse gesture signal or the mouse button signal into a multi-touch signal and transmits it to the USB device controller 76. Then, the USB device controller 76 will emulate the controlled computer PC as a multi-touch device of the USB interface, and output the multi-touch signal according to the path selection setting by the USB interface 74 to the corresponding USB protocol 74. Charged computer PC. It should be noted that since there may be more than one computer PC, the number of USB device controllers 76 may be more than one. The above path selection setting will include the output object of the multi-touch signal, that is, The path selection setting selects one of the plurality of USB device controllers 76 and outputs the multi-touch signal to a controlled computer PC via the USB interface 74.

When the corresponding controlled computer PC receives the multi-touch signal, since the USB device controller 76 of the KVM switch 7 has emulated the controlled computer PC as a multi-touch device of the USB interface, the computer is controlled. From the perspective of the PC, the KVM switch 7 seems to be the same as the multi-touch device with multi-touch function. Therefore, the controlled PC will perform the corresponding functions in response to the multi-touch signal, and The image signal of one of the controlled computer PCs is output to the KVM switch 7. Then, the KVM switch 7 will receive the image signal through the image input interface 79, and then the image switching module 80 transmits the image signal to the screen 5 via the image output interface 78 according to the path selection setting for the screen. 5 Display the image of the controlled computer 3.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a remote management method. In this embodiment, the remote management method is implemented in the remote management device, so that the electronic device can be coupled to the at least one computer through the remote management device, thereby enabling the electronic device to operate the computers. Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a flow chart showing the remote management method of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, the remote management method performs step S10 to receive at least one input command from the electronic device. Next, the remote management method performs step S12 to translate the input command into at least one multi-touch command corresponding to the function of the computer. Then, the remote management method performs step S14 to transmit the multi-touch command to the computer, so that the computer performs the function according to the multi-touch command. Finally, the remote management method performs step S16, and the image outputted by the computer according to the multi-touch command is captured and processed and transmitted to the electronic device to generate a window on the electronic device for the user of the electronic device to operate the computer. .

In practical applications, the actions performed by the user operating the computer may be a mouse gesture, a multi-touch gesture, or a mouse button press. The above functions can be zoom-in, zoom-out, scroll-up, scroll-down, or flick. Features. In addition, in step S14, the multi-touch command is transmitted to the computer through the USB transmission protocol, so that the computer recognizes that it is coupled and controlled by the multi-touch device.

Compared with the prior art, the remote management system, the KVM switch and the remote management method according to the present invention realize the use by emulating a remote controlled computer into a multi-touch device having a USB interface. Multi-touch directly on the touch screen to operate the remote controlled computer through the KVM switch, and the present invention is also applicable to a network type KVM switch or other non-network type KVM switch .

In addition, even if the user terminal is not using a multi-touch screen, the user can operate the remote end through the KVM switch by the mouse gesture when the mouse is operated or by pressing the mouse button. The controlled computer does not cause the remote management system, the KVM switch and the remote management method of the present invention to be implemented due to the lack of a multi-touch device on the user side, so that the utility and popularity of the application can be increased. Sex.

The features and spirit of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover various modifications and equivalents within the scope of the invention as claimed.

S10~S16. . . Process step

R. . . Remote management system

N. . . network

1. . . Remote management device

2. . . First computer

3. . . Second computer

4. . . keyboard

5. . . Screen

6. . . mouse

10. . . Network interface

12, 72. . . Translator

14. . . Computer interface

140, 70. . . Control interface

142. . . Image interface

16. . . Image processing module

7. . . KVM switch

74. . . USB interface

76. . . USB device controller

80. . . Image switching module

PC. . . Controlled computer

AP. . . application

78. . . Image output interface

79. . . Image input interface

1 is a schematic diagram of a remote management device coupled between a first computer and a second computer in a remote management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the remote management system and its remote management device.

Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of a KVM switch in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flow chart showing a remote management method in another embodiment of the present invention.

R. . . Remote management system

AP. . . application

1. . . Remote management device

2. . . First computer

3. . . Second computer

4. . . keyboard

5. . . Screen

6. . . mouse

10. . . Network interface

12. . . Translator

14. . . Computer interface

140. . . Control interface

142. . . Image interface

16. . . Image processing module

Claims (10)

A remote management system, coupled to a second computer via a network, so that a user of the first computer can remotely operate the at least one second computer, the remote management system The method includes: an application executing on the first computer, causing a control signal received by the first computer to be converted into a network signal; and a remote management device connected to the at least one second computer, The remote management device includes: a network interface for receiving the network signal; a computer interface comprising at least one image interface and a control interface; and a translator for translating the network signal into a network interface The multi-touch signal is outputted from the control interface to the at least one second computer; and an image processing module is configured to perform image output on the at least one second computer corresponding to the multi-touch signal via the image interface After being processed and processed, the application is transmitted to the first computer via the network interface; wherein the application generates a window on the first computer for the use according to the captured and processed image The first computer on the at least a second operation of the computer. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the control signal is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard signal, a mouse gesture signal, a mouse button signal, and a touch signal. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the translator is a central processing unit, a processor, a controller, a field programmable logic gate array, and a look-up table. ) and selected from a group of software programs. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the function corresponding to the multi-touch signal is a zoom-in function, a zoom-out function, and an upward A scroll-up function, a scroll-down function, and a flick function are selected from the group consisting of. A keyboard-video-Moue switch for coupling a set of keyboards, screens and mice to at least one controlled computer, the KVM switch comprising at least: a control interface for receiving the a mouse gesture signal or a mouse button signal sent by the mouse; a translator that translates the mouse gesture signal or the mouse button signal into a multi-touch signal; a USB interface for connecting to the at least one controlled computer; a USB device controller for emulating the at least one controlled computer to form the multi-touch device of the USB interface, and the multi-touch signal is based on The path selection setting is outputted by the USB interface to the at least one controlled computer by using a USB interface; an image interface receives an image signal output by the at least one controlled computer according to the multi-touch signal; and an image switching The module is connected to the at least one controlled computer, and the image signal is transmitted from the image interface to the screen according to the path selection setting. The multi-computer switch according to claim 5, wherein the function corresponding to the multi-touch signal is a zoom-in function, a zoom-out function, and an upward A scroll-up function, a scroll-down function, and a flick function are selected from the group consisting of. A remote management method, operating in a remote management device, enabling an electronic device to The at least one computer is coupled to the remote management device to enable the electronic device to operate the at least one computer. The remote management method includes at least the steps of: receiving at least one input command from the electronic device; and inputting the at least one input command Translating into at least one multi-touch command corresponding to one of the functions of the at least one computer; transmitting the at least one multi-touch command to the at least one computer, so that the at least one computer is in accordance with the at least one multi-touch command Performing the function; and transmitting and processing the image output by the at least one computer according to the at least one multi-touch command to the electronic device to generate a window on the electronic device for the electronic device A user operates the at least one computer. The method of claim 7, wherein the user performs the operation performed by the at least one computer by a keyboard signal, a mouse gesture, a multi-touch gesture, and a mouse button press action. Selected from the group consisting of. The method of claim 7, wherein the function is a zoom-in function, a zoom-out function, a scroll-up function, and a function The scroll-down function and a flick function are selected from the group consisting of. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one multi-touch command is transmitted to the at least one computer via a USB transmission protocol, such that the at least one computer determines that it is coupled and controlled by a plurality of Point touch device.