TWI476602B - Remote management system and remote management method - Google Patents

Description

Remote management system and remote management method

The present invention relates to remote management, and more particularly to a remote management system and remote management method capable of providing more image processing channels in a virtual manner.

The Keyboard-Video-Mouse switch (KVM switch) allows users to control multiple computers with a single keyboard, screen and mouse, while the IP-based KVM Switch goes one step further. Enable users of desktop or notebook computers to manage multiple remotely controlled computers and view the images transmitted by the controlled computers via the Internet. For example, in Taiwan, managers in Taiwan can remotely manage servers located in the US computer room through a networked KVM switch. Unlike the remote control software (such as VNC), the network type KVM switch is externally connected to one of the hardware devices of the controlled computer, and does not need to be attached to the operating system of the controlled computer, even if the controlled computer is in the BIOS stage. In the case that the operating system cannot be loaded due to a fault, the network type KVM switch can still capture the desktop image output by the controlled computer and remotely control the controlled computer.

The network type KVM switch can directly connect one or more controlled computers to one or more controlled computers to receive analog video signals output by the one or more controlled computers, and then the image processing unit ( Channel) converts the analog image signals into a plurality of consecutive digital still images. Generally, each static image is further divided into a plurality of blocks. After comparing the blocks corresponding to the two static images, the blocks with different pixel values can be found. The pixel values of the different blocks will be transmitted to the remote central control computer via the network in the form of network packets via the JPEG encoding compression technology. After the remote central computer decodes and processes the packets, the remote control computer decodes and processes the packets. These pictures can be seen on their screens. At present, the average network type KVM switch has an image update frequency of about 30 frames per second (30 Frame Per Second) on the central control computer.

At the same time, the central control computer will also transmit control signals such as its keyboard or mouse to the network type KVM switch through the network, and the network type KVM switch recognizes that the destination of these control signals is charged. After the computer, these control signals will be forwarded to the controlled computer. After receiving the control signals, the controlled computer will output the image signals to the network type KVM switch according to these control signals. The above image processing of the network type KVM switch, the user of the central control computer will be able to see the image output of the controlled computer on its screen, so that the user of the central control computer can manage and control this by the remote control. A plurality of controlled computers connected to the network type KVM switch, even if the central control computer is far away from the controlled computer, the user can still feel as if directly controlling the controlled computer.

In addition, some types of network type KVM switches will not be directly connected to the keyboard/screen/mouse port of the controlled computer, but will be controlled by the computer 埠-Adapter (Adapter). The architecture of the computer extends the distance between the networked KVM switch and the computer being controlled. The adapter is also commonly referred to as a Computer Interface Module (CIM), a Dongle, a Server Interface Module (SIM), or a RIP (Rack Interface Pod).

Although the existing network type KVM switch can connect up to at least 32 to 40 controlled computers, it is actually limited by the limited number of image processing channels, and the number of independent images that can be provided to the remote central control computer. It is far less than 32 units. Generally speaking, at present, a network type KVM switch has only four image processing channels at most, so it can only perform image processing on the above four image sources at the same time, that is, at most only Can provide up to 4 independent images to the remote central computer on the network. In other words, under the same user authority, if there are already 4 central control computers occupying the 4 image processing channels, the fifth user can only watch the 4 after logging in to the network type KVM switch. The same image of one of the Taichung control computers.

Therefore, it is necessary to propose solutions to the above problems.

The present invention provides a remote management system and a remote management method, and provides a virtual image processing channel in the remote management system to solve the problems encountered in the prior art without changing the existing hardware architecture of the remote management system. The above problems are reached.

The remote management system and the remote management method disclosed in the present invention alternately switch between two different computers through the switching module without changing the hardware cost of the network type KVM switch. To provide more image processing channels in a virtual way. For example, when the user decides to use the virtual image processing channel to image capture and process the selected two controlled computers, the switching module will automatically connect the two different computers corresponding to the two controlled computers. Alternately switching between 埠, the captured odd image can be provided to a first central control computer; the even image captured can be provided to a second central control computer. Thus, a single physical image processing channel can become two virtual image processing channels. Similarly, in accordance with the spirit of the present invention, a single physical image processing channel can also be three or more virtual image processing channels.

In a specific embodiment, the remote management system of the present invention is configured to couple the M central control computers to the P controlled computers via the network. The remote management system includes a remote management device and M remote remote programs. The remote management device includes Q image processing channels, a switching module, a central processing unit, an encoding module, and a network interface controller.

The remote management device has P computer ports, which are respectively coupled to the P station controlled computers. M remote remote control programs are respectively executed on the M central control computer for network communication with the remote management device, so that one or more central control computers of the M central control computers generate keyboards and keyboards. The control signal related to the cursor movement can be transmitted to the remote management device, thereby managing the remote management device and controlling the P-controlled computer. The P computers receive one or more video signals output by the P controlled computers according to the control signal.

The Q image processing channels are used for image processing of one or more image signals from P computers, wherein the Q system is less than or equal to P. The switching module is used to couple Q image processing channels to P computers.

The central processing unit forms communication with the Q image processing channels and the switching module, and controls the Q image processing channels and the switching module, thereby enabling an image processing channel selected from the Q image processing channels in the first mode. The image signal from the same computer can be sampled at a sampling frequency of N images per second. In the second mode, an image processing channel selected from the Q image processing channels can sample a certain image signal at a sampling frequency of N1 images per second to obtain the first sampling data, and the image processing channel also The sampling frequency of N2 images 秒 is used to sample another image signal from different computer 以 to obtain second sampling data, where N1 plus N2 is equal to or smaller than N.

The encoding module is configured to encode the first sampled data and the second sampled data to obtain the first encoded data and the second encoded data, respectively. The network interface controller forms communication with the central processing unit, and after at least part of the first encoded data and the second encoded data is converted into a packet, the packet is transmitted to the different central control computers selected by the M central control computer via the network. So that the remote management device can provide at least Q+1 pictures to the Q+1 central control computer in the M central control computer, and the Q+1 pictures correspond to the Q+1 units in the P control computer. Control the computer.

In another embodiment, the remote management system of the present invention is configured to couple the first central control computer and the second central control computer to the first controlled computer and the second controlled computer via the network. The remote management system includes a remote management device, a first code, and a second code. One end of the remote management device is coupled to the first controlled computer and the second controlled computer. The first code is executed on the first central control computer for network communication with the remote management device, so that the first control signal generated by the first central control computer related to the movement of the keyboard or the cursor can be transmitted to Remote management device. The second code is executed on the second central control computer for communicating with the remote management device via the network, so that the second control signal generated by the second central control computer related to the movement of the keyboard or the cursor can be transmitted. Go to the remote management device.

The remote management device includes a first computer port, a second computer port, an image processing channel, a switching module, a central processing unit, and a network interface controller. The first computer system corresponds to the first controlled computer and receives the first image signal output by the first controlled computer according to the first control signal. The second computer system corresponds to the second controlled computer and receives the second image signal output by the second controlled computer according to the second control signal. The image processing channel is used for image processing of the first image signal or the second image signal. The switching module couples the image processing channel to the first computer and the second computer. The central processing unit forms communication with the image processing channel and the switching module.

In the first mode, the first image signal or the second image signal can be converted into N static images per second by the image processing channel. In the second mode, the switching module alternates between the first computer port and the second computer port, so that the first image signal can be converted into N1 static images per second by the image processing channel, and the second image signal is It can be converted into N2 static images per second by the image processing channel, and N1 plus N2 is equal to or smaller than N. The network interface controller communicates with the central processing unit to convert at least a portion of the blocks of the static image into packets. In the first mode, the packet representing at least part of the blocks of the N still images is transmitted to the first central control computer or the second central control computer via the network; or in the second mode, it represents N1 static images per second. The packet of at least part of the block is transmitted to the first central control computer via the network, and the packet representing at least part of the block of N2 static images per second is transmitted to the second central control computer via the network.

In another embodiment, the remote management method of the present invention is used to couple M central control computers to a P-controlled computer via a network. The remote management method includes the following steps: providing a remote management device, where the remote management device has P computers, Q image processing channels, and a switching module, wherein the Q system is less than or equal to P, and the remote management device is P. The computer computers are respectively coupled to the P-controlled computers; the M remote control programs are respectively executed on the M central control computers to perform network communication with the remote management device, so that one or more of the M central control computers are in the middle The control signals generated by the control computer related to the movement of the keyboard or cursor can be transmitted to the remote management device, thereby managing the remote management device and controlling the controlled computer of the P station, so that the P computers receive P controlled computers in response to the control. One or more image signals outputted by the signal; image processing of one or more image signals from the P computer frames by Q image processing channels; coupling of Q image processing channels to P computers by the switching module埠; controlling Q image processing channels and switching modules, so that an image processing channel selected from Q image processing channels in the first mode can be from a sampling frequency pair of N images per second; One image signal of the same computer is sampled; in the second mode, an image processing channel selected from the Q image processing channels can sample an image signal at a sampling frequency of N1 images per second to obtain the first image. Sampling data, and the image processing channel also samples another image signal from different computer frames at a sampling frequency of N2 images per second to obtain second sampling data, where N1 plus N2 is equal to or less than N; The sampled data and the second sampled data are encoded to obtain the first encoded data and the second encoded data respectively; after at least part of the first encoded data and the second encoded data is converted into a packet, the packet is transmitted to the M via the network. Different central control computers selected by Taichung Control Computer, so that the remote management device can provide at least Q+1 screens to Q+1 central control computers in M central control computers, and Q+1 screens correspond to P stations respectively. The Q+1 station in the controlled computer is controlled by the computer.

Compared with the prior art, the remote management system and the remote management method according to the present invention pass the switching mode without increasing the hardware cost of the network type KVM switch (without changing the existing hardware architecture). The group alternates between two different computers to provide more image processing channels in a virtual manner. Therefore, even if the network type KVM switch has only four hardware image processing channels, the remote management system and the remote management method can provide independent image sources for five (inclusive) or more central control computers.

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. The remote management system is configured to couple a plurality of central control computers to a plurality of controlled computers via a network. It should be noted that since the remote management device (network type KVM switch) used in the current remote management system has a maximum of 4 image processing channels, it can only provide up to 4 independent images. The number is given to the remote central computer on the network. However, the remote management system of the present invention can be alternately switched between two different computers through its switching module, so that it can be provided in a virtual manner without increasing the hardware cost of the remote management device. Multiple image processing channels provide independent image sources for more central control computers.

Please refer to FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the coupling relationship between the remote management system of the present invention and the central control computer and the controlled computer. As shown in FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, the remote management device 10 of the remote management system 1 couples the M central control computers A ₁ to A _M to the P controlled computers B ₁ through the network W. B _P . In this way, the M central control computers A ₁ ~A _M can be coupled to the remote management device 10 through the network W to manage or control the P controlled computers B ₁ ~B _P . A computer having a computer controlled B _P between the remote management apparatus 10 interface module CIM, controlled for extending between the distal end 10 and the management computer B _P from the device. In addition, the remote management device 10 can also have a local keyboard, a screen, and a mouse.

The computer interface module CIM is a device externally connected to the controlled computer, and has a casing and a plurality of cables extending outward from the casing, and has a plurality of connectors, such as a VGA connection, at an end of the cable away from the casing. And a USB connector for electrically connecting to a controlled computer. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the computer can be replaced by a PS/2 or other connector; the VGA connector can be replaced by a DVI connector or an HDMI connector. In addition, the housing HS of the computer interface module is provided with an RJ-45 interface for connecting a CAT-5 cable or other similar cable, such as CAT-5e or CAT-6.

The differential driver module of the computer interface module converts the image (usually a single-ended signal) output by the controlled computer into a plurality of differential image signals and outputs the same to the remote management device 10 to increase the number. The distance the image can be transmitted (for example, up to 1000 inches). In fact, other signals may be interspersed among the differential image signals, such as vertical/horizontal sync signals or test signals for detecting image attenuation or skew. In a preferred embodiment, the differential drive module of the computer interface module can be an AD8146, AD8147 or AD8148 provided by Analog Devices.

In practical applications, the M central control computers A ₁ ~ A _M can be user-side electronic devices, such as desktop computers, notebook computers, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) or GPS satellite navigation. Hand-held mobile devices such as devices; P-controlled computers B ₁ ~ B _P can be remote computer devices, such as various servers, desktop computers or notebook computers. It should be noted that the types, types and quantities of the central control computer and the controlled computer are not limited to the above examples. As for the network W, it can be an internet, a regional network, such as an Ethernet or any other type of network, and there is no specific limitation.

Next, please refer to FIG. 2, which is a functional block diagram of the remote management system 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the remote management system 1 includes a remote management device 10 and M remote remote control programs RG ₁ to RG _M . The remote management device 10 includes P computers 1P ₁ to P _P , Q image processing channels CH ₁ to CH _Q , a switching module SW, a central processing unit 12 and a network interface controller 16 . Among them, the M central control computer A ₁ ~ A _M is coupled to the network interface controller 16 through the network W; the P controlled computer B ₁ ~ B _P are respectively coupled to P computers 埠 P ₁ ~ P _P The central processing unit 12 is coupled to P computers 埠P ₁ to P _P , Q image processing channels CH ₁ to CH _Q , switching module SW and network interface controller 16 respectively; and the output terminal of the switching module SW respectively coupled to the Q video processing channels CH ₁ ~ CH _Q; Q pieces of image processing channels CH ₁ ~ CH _Q through the CPU 12 are coupled to the network interface controller 16. In addition, a set of local end keyboards KB and a mouse MS can be coupled to the central processing unit 12, and the local end display DS can be coupled to the output end of the switching module SW.

In a preferred embodiment, the switching module SW may be a switching matrix composed of a plurality of crosspoint switches, such as the AD8177 provided by a plurality of Analog Devices, or multiple multiplexes. A switching matrix composed of multiplexers having 40 inputs and 5 outputs. Each of the image processing channels CH ₁ to CH _Q includes an analog/digital conversion module 301. In addition, when the remote management device 10 is coupled to the controlled computers B ₁ to B _P by using the computer interface module CIM, each of the image processing channels CH ₁ -CH _Q may optionally include a differential receiving mode. A Differential Receiver 300, such as the AD8145 provided by Analog Devices, is used to restore the differential video signal to a single-ended video signal prior to analog to digital conversion.

In this embodiment, the M remote remote control programs are respectively executed on the M central control computers A ₁ to A _M for communicating with the remote management device 10 in the remote management system 1 through the network W. One of the control signals generated by one or more of the M central control computers A ₁ to A _M and the keyboard or cursor movement can be transmitted to the remote management device 10 to manage the remote management device 10 and control P station is controlled by computer B ₁ ~B _P . In addition, the remote control program can also provide a management interface for the user of the central control computer A ₁ ~ A _{M to} be managed by the remote management system 1 . The remote control program can be a web browser, a combination of a web browser and a plugin, or any other suitable application. This remote control program may have different versions depending on the operating system of the central computer A ₁ ~ A _M. In addition, the program is provided by the vendor of the remote management system. When one or more of the controlled computers B ₁ to B _{P of the P} station receive the control signal, the remote remote control program cooperates with the remote management system 1 so that the station or the plurality of controlled computers will One or more image signals are output in response to the control signal.

Since the remote management device 10 is coupled to the P controlled computers B ₁ to B _P through its P computers 埠 P ₁ ~ P _P respectively, P computers 埠 P ₁ ~ P _P will receive the station or more One or more video signals output by the computer controlled by the computer. After the selection of the switching module SW, the Q image processing channels CH ₁ ~CH _Q can perform image processing on one or more (Q or more) image signals from P computers 埠P ₁ to P _P Where Q is less than or equal to P. Generally, at present, a remote management device 10 has only four image processing channels, that is, the Q system is less than or equal to four. Assume that Q is equal to 4, that is, the remote management device 10 has four physical image processing channels CH ₁ to CH ₄ , but the four image processing channels CH ₁ to CH ₄ can transmit multiple image signals from more than four computers. Image processing is performed to generate more than 4 images that can be independently provided to the central control computer.

Each of the Q image processing channels CH ₁ -CH _Q includes a differential receiving module 300, an analog/digital conversion module 301, and a digital signal processing module 302. The differential receiving module 300 is configured to convert the differential signal received from the switching module SW into a single-ended signal, and then convert the digital signal into a digital signal by the analog/digital conversion module 301, and the digital signal processing module 302 performs subsequent signal processing. However, in another preferred embodiment, the same differential receiving module 300 can be shared by the plurality of analog/digital conversion modules 301 and the digital signal processing module 302.

The central processing unit 12 forms communication with the Q image processing channels CH ₁ to CH _Q and the switching module SW, and controls the operations of the Q image processing channels CH ₁ to CH _Q and the switching module SW. In this embodiment, the central processing unit 12 can control the switching module SW to selectively couple the P computers P ₁ P _{P P of the} remote management device 10 to the Q image processing channels CH ₁ -CH _Q , That is, the central processing unit 12 can control the switching module SW to couple any one of the P computers 埠P ₁ to P _P to any one of the Q image processing channels CH ₁ to CH _Q , or An open circuit is formed between any of the P computers 埠P ₁ to P _P and the Q image processing channels CH ₁ to CH _Q .

For example, the central processing unit 12 can control the switching module SW to couple the image processing channel CH _{1 to} the computer 埠 P ₁ , so that the image processing channel CH ₁ can receive the first image transmitted by the controlled computer B ₁ to the computer 埠 P ₁ . The signal, and the image processing channel CH ₁ performs image processing on the first image signal. Of course, the central processing unit 12 can also control the switching module SW to switch the image processing channel CH _{1 to} the computer 埠 P ₂ , so that the image processing channel CH ₁ can receive the second image signal transmitted by the controlled computer B ₂ to the computer 埠 P ₂ . And the image processing channel CH ₁ performs image processing on the second image signal.

In the present invention, an operation mode for sampling an image signal from a computer frame from one of the Q image processing channels CH ₁ to CH _Q can be divided into the following two types:

In the physical channel mode (the first mode), the image processing channel CH ₁ can sample the image signals from the same computer at a sampling frequency of N images per second, and will be from the same computer through the analog/digital conversion module 301. The image signal of 埠 is converted into continuous N still images per second. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the CPU 12 controls the switch SW to the computer module port P ₁ is coupled to the image processing channels CH _1, the image processing in the first mode of the channel CH ₁ will be in Chen N images per second sampling frequency received from the computer ports P ₁ B is a computer controlled ₁ SG ₁ a first video signal is sampled, and through analog / digital conversion module 301 of the first video signal is converted into a continuous SG ₁ N static images per second. In fact, N can be 30, that is, the sampling frequency of the image processing channel CH ₁ in the first mode to the first image signal SG ₁ can be 30 images per second, but not limited thereto.

Please refer to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. In the virtual channel mode (second mode), the image processing channel CH ₂ can sample the image signal from a computer 每秒 at a sampling frequency of N1 images per second to obtain the first a sampling data, and transmitted through the analog / digital conversion module 301 converts still images per second as N1 Chen, CH ₂ and the image processing path N2 Yi Yi Chen images per second sampling frequency from the other port of another computer An image signal is sampled to obtain second sampled data, which is converted into N2 static images per second by the analog/digital conversion module 301, wherein N1 plus N2 is equal to or smaller than N. That is to say, the central processing unit 12 in the second mode can control the switching module SW to alternately switch between two different computer ports (for example, the computers 埠 P ₂ and P ₃ ). For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the central processing unit 12 controls the switching module SW to couple the image processing channel CH _{2 to} the computer 埠 P ₂ at the first time, the image processing channel CH ₂ can be N1 per second. Zhen a video sampling frequency from the receiving computer controlled port P ₂ of the second computer B SG _{2 2} video signal is sampled to obtain a first sampled data, and transmitted through the analog / digital conversion module 301 converts it into second N1 static images 祯; as shown in FIG. 4B, when the central processing unit 12 controls the switching module SW to switch the image processing channel CH _{2 to} the computer 埠P ₃ at the second time, the image processing channel CH ₂ can be The sampling frequency of the N2 images 秒 is sampled by the computer 埠P ₃ receiving the third image signal SG _{3 of the} controlled computer B ₃ to obtain the second sampling data, and converted into the second analog data by the analog/digital conversion module 301. N2 static images per second. At the third time, as shown in FIG. 4A, the central processing unit 12 controls the switching module SW to couple the image processing channel CH _{2 to} the computer 埠 P ₂ ; at the fourth time, it will be as shown in FIG. 4B. The central processing unit 12 controls the switching module SW to switch the image processing channel CH _{2 to} the computer 埠 P ₃ , and the rest can be deduced by analogy, and will not be described again.

In fact, because during the sampling process in the first mode (as shown in FIG. 3), unless the user gives an instruction to switch the computer, the switching module SW does not perform the switching action, but in the second mode. In the sampling process (as shown in Figures 4A and 4B), even if the user does not issue an instruction to switch the computer, the switching module SW is still controlled by the central processing unit 12, for example, in two different computers (for example The computer 埠P ₁ and P ₂ ) are alternately switched to achieve the effect of two virtual image processing channels. Thus, in the same period of time (e.g. one second), the number of images the video processing channel in the first mode Chen sampled to ₂ CH (N number) will be greater than (or equal to) the channel CH ₂ to the image processing The sum of the number of images 采样 sampled in the second mode (N1+N2). For example, assuming N equal to 30, and N1 and N2 are equal to 10, i.e. the channel CH ₂ to the image processing mode at a first sampling frequency used 30 images per second Chen, CH ₂ and the image processing to the first channel In the second mode, the second image signal SG ₂ of the computer 埠P ₂ can be sampled at a sampling frequency of 10 image frames per second, and the third image signal SG of the computer 埠P ₃ is sampled at a sampling frequency of 10 image frames per second. ₃ to sample.

Then, the digital signal processing module 302 of the image processing channel CH ₂ first divides the static image images into a plurality of blocks, and then compares the corresponding blocks of the two front and rear still images to find two static images. The different blocks of the image are encoded and the encoded data of the different blocks are transmitted to the central processing unit 12. This encoding process may have the effect of lossy or lossless compression. In fact, the digital signal processing module 302 can include a digital signal processor (DSP) to encode different blocks of the front and rear still images to generate encoded data, but not limited thereto. The encoding method used by the digital signal processing module 302 can include JPEG, Wavelet Transform, or any other suitable encoding.

In this embodiment, the network interface controller 16 is in communication with the central processing unit 12, and after the central processing unit 12 converts at least a portion of the blocks of the static image frames into a packet, the network interface controller 16 The packet is transmitted to the different central control computers selected by the M central control computers A ₁ to A _M via the network W, so that the remote management device 10 can provide at least more than the number of image processing channels (Q). Q+1 screens are given to the Q+1 central control computer of the M central control computer A ₁ ~A _M , and the Q+1 screens are respectively corresponding to the Q+1 of the P controlled computers B ₁ ~B _P Control the computer. It should be noted that the above-mentioned "at least part of the block" which is converted into the static image of the packet refers to the different blocks of the two front and rear still images which are found after comparing the corresponding blocks of the two previous images, and does not include Before and after the two static images, there is no change in the block.

For example, if Q is equal to 4, that is, the remote management device 10 uses four image processing channels CH ₁ to CH ₄ , the remote management device 10 can provide five images taken from different controlled computers to the M stations. Control 5 computers in the computer A ₁ ~ A _M , and the 5 screens correspond to 5 of the P controlled computers B ₁ ~ B _P.

In addition to the above two modes, the remote management system 1 can also operate in the third mode and the fourth mode. As shown in FIG. 5A, in the third mode, the remote management device 10 can provide a split screen (PIP) to any of the M central control computers A ₁ to A _M (for example, the central control computer A ₁ ). ) and the full screen display function. As shown in the figure, the split screen H and the full screen display J are respectively displayed on the two screens MR ₁ and MR ₂ to which the central control computer A ₁ is connected. It should be noted that the plurality of image sources H ₁ to H ₄ constituting the divided screen H are corresponding to the corresponding image signals by the plurality of different image processing channels (for example, CH ₁ to CH ₄ ) at the same or different sampling frequencies. The source is sampled and encoded, and the same or different sampling frequencies are less than N.

For example, the image source H ₁ is formed by sampling and encoding the first image signal SG ₁ of the controlled computer B ₁ by the image processing channel CH ₁ at a sampling frequency of 10 image frames per second; the image source H ₂ The image processing channel CH ₂ is configured to sample and encode the second image signal SG ₂ of the controlled computer B ₂ at a sampling frequency of 15 image frames per second; the image source H ₃ is composed of the image processing channel CH ₃ The sampling frequency of 20 images per second is sampled and encoded by the third image signal SG ₃ of the controlled computer B ₃ ; the image source H ₄ is sampled by the image processing channel CH ₄ at 25 images per second. The frequency is formed by sampling and encoding the fourth image signal SG ₄ of the controlled computer B ₄ . The image source of the full screen display J is composed of the image processing channel CH ₅ sampling and encoding the fifth image signal SG ₅ of the controlled computer B ₅ at a sampling frequency of 30 image frames per second.

As shown in section in FIG. 5B, a fourth mode, the remote management apparatus 10 may further station control computer for any M A ₁ ~ A _M of a medium in the control computer (e.g. central computer A ₂₎ provide dual-screen display Features. The dual screen display is respectively displayed on the two screens MR ₃ and MR ₄ connected to the central control computer A ₂ . The screen displayed by the screen MR ₃ corresponds to the desktop image of the first controlled computer B ₁ , and the screen displayed by the screen MR ₄ corresponds to the desktop image of the second controlled computer B ₂ . The current cursor CUR is on the screen MR ₃ , indicating that the user is operating on the first controlled computer B ₁ and the second controlled computer B ₂ is only in the monitoring state. Thus, MR imaging source 10 will screen the distal end ₃ of the management apparatus to provide higher sampling frequency; and the video source will provide the _{screen. 4} MR lower sampling frequency. The higher sampling frequency can be the aforementioned frequency N (30 images per second), and the lower sampling frequency can be the aforementioned frequency N1 or N2. When the user moves the cursor CUR from the screen MR ₃ to the screen MR ₄ , it means that the user wants to operate the second controlled computer B ₂ (not just monitoring), and the remote management device 10 will play the screen MR ₄ Provide a higher sampling frequency. That is, in this mode, the remote management device 10 provides a higher sampling frequency for the image source (controlled computer) corresponding to the screen where the cursor CUR is located. For example, at this time, the image displayed on the screen MR ₄ needs to use the sampling frequency F _{1 of} 30 image frames per second, and the image displayed on the screen MR ₃ only needs the sampling frequency F _{2 of} 10 images per second. can. That is, the image displayed on the screen where the non-cursor is located is provided by the virtual image processing channel. At the same time, in addition to providing images to the screen MR ₃ , the virtual image processing channel may also provide images to another central control computer.

The present invention also discloses a remote management method, as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B. In step S10, M remote remote control programs are respectively executed on the M central control computer to perform network with the remote management device. The communication enables the control signals related to the keyboard or cursor movement generated by one or more central control computers of the M central control computers to be transmitted to the remote management device, thereby managing the remote management device and controlling the P-controlled computer. The remote management device has P computers respectively coupled to the P-controlled computer.

In step S12, the P computers receive one or more video signals output by the P controlled computers in response to the control signals. In step S14, the Q image processing channels are coupled to the P computers through the switching module, wherein the Q system is less than or equal to P. In step S16, image processing is performed on one or more image signals from the P computer frames through the Q image processing channels. In step S18, the Q image processing channels and the switching module are controlled such that in the first mode, an image processing channel selected from the Q image processing channels can have the same sampling frequency pair of N images per second. The image signal of the computer is sampled. In the second mode, an image processing channel selected from the Q image processing channels can sample a certain image signal at a sampling frequency of N1 images per second to obtain the first image signal. The data is sampled, and the same image processing channel also samples another image signal from different computer frames at a sampling frequency of N2 images per second to obtain second sampling data, where N1 plus N2 is equal to or smaller than N.

In step S20, the first sampled data and the second sampled data are encoded to obtain first encoded data and second encoded data, respectively. In step S22, after at least part of the first encoded data and the second encoded data is converted into a packet, the packet is transmitted to a different central control computer selected by the M central control computer via the network, so that the remote management device is enabled. At least Q+1 screens can be provided to the Q+1 central control computer in the M central control computer, and the Q+1 screens respectively correspond to the Q+1 different controlled computers in the P controlled computers.

In the step S24, in the third mode, the remote management device can further provide a split screen and a full screen display function to a central control computer. The split screen and the full screen display are respectively displayed on the first screen and the second screen connected to the central control computer, and the plurality of image sources constituting the divided screen are respectively the same or different by a plurality of different image processing channels. The sampling frequency is composed after sampling and encoding, and the same or different sampling frequencies are less than N.

In step S26, in the fourth mode, the remote management device can further provide a dual screen display function to a central control computer. The dual screen display system is respectively displayed on the first screen and the second screen connected to the central control computer, and the image corresponding to the image source of the second screen is moved when the cursor of the control computer moves from the first screen to the second screen. The sampling frequency of the processing channel will be adjusted to N, and the sampling frequency of the image processing channel corresponding to the image source of the first screen will be adjusted to be less than N.

Compared with the prior art, the remote management system and the remote management method according to the present invention alternately between two different computers through the switching module without increasing the hardware cost of the network type KVM switch. Switch to provide more image processing channels in a virtual way. Therefore, even if the network type KVM switch has only four hardware image processing channels, the remote management system and the remote management method can provide independent image sources for five (inclusive) or more central control computers.

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~S26. . . Process step

RG ₁ ~ RG _M . . . Remote control program

1. . . Remote management system

10. . . Remote management device

CH ₁ ~CH _Q , CH. . . Image processing channel

SW. . . Switching module

12. . . CPU

16. . . Network interface controller

300. . . Differential receiving module

301. . . Analog/digital conversion module

302. . . Digital signal processing module

P ₁ ~P _P . . . Computer

W. . . network

A ₁ ~A _M . . . Central computer

B ₁ ~B _P . . . Controlled computer

CD ₁ . . . First code

CD ₂ . . . Second code

SG ₁ ~ SG ₅ . . . First image signal ~ fifth image signal

MR ₁ ~ MR ₄ . . . Screen

F ₁ , F ₂ . . . Sampling frequency

H. . . Split screen

J. . . Full screen display

H1~H4. . . Image source

CUR. . . cursor

KB. . . keyboard

MS. . . mouse

DS. . . monitor

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a coupling relationship between a remote management system of the present invention and a central control computer and a controlled computer.

Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the remote management system in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the image processing channel sampling the image signal from the same computer in the first mode.

4A and 4B illustrate that the image processing channel alternately samples different image signals from different computer frames in the second mode.

The fifth picture is shown in the third mode, and the split screen and the full screen display are respectively displayed on the two screens connected to the central control computer.

Figure 5B shows that in the fourth mode, the dual screen display system is respectively displayed on the two screens connected to the central control computer.

6A and 6B are flow charts showing a method of operating a remote management system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

10. . . Remote management device

12. . . CPU

RG ₁ ~ RG _M . . . Remote control program

CH ₁ ~CH _Q . . . Image processing channel

SW. . . Switching module

16. . . Network interface controller

P ₁ ~P _P . . . Computer network

A ₁ ~A _M . . . Central computer

B ₁ ~B _P . . . Controlled computer

300. . . Differential/single-ended conversion module

301. . . Analog/digital conversion module

302. . . Digital signal processing module

KB. . . keyboard

MS. . . mouse

DS. . . monitor

Claims (10)

A remote management system for coupling a M central control computer to a P-controlled computer via a network, the remote management system comprising at least: a remote management device having P computer ports for respectively coupling And the M remote control programs are respectively executed on the M central control computer for network communication with the remote management device, so that one of the M central control computers Or a control signal generated by a plurality of central control computers related to keyboard or cursor movement can be transmitted to the remote management device, thereby managing the remote management device and controlling the P controlled computer; wherein the P computers are Receiving, by the P-controlled computer, one or more image signals outputted by the control signal; wherein the remote management device comprises at least: Q image processing channels for one of the P computers Or a plurality of image signals for image processing, wherein the Q system is less than or equal to P; a switching module for coupling the Q image processing channels to the P computers; a central processing unit, and the Q images Processing channel and the switch The group forms a communication, and controls the Q image processing channels and the switching module, so that a certain image processing channel selected from the Q image processing channels in a first mode can sample N images per second. The frequency samples one image signal from the same computer ;; in a second mode, an image processing channel selected from the Q image processing channels can be a sampling frequency of N1 images per second. The image signal is sampled to obtain a first sampled data, and the first sampled data is encoded to obtain a first encoded data, and the image processing channel is also paired with different computers at a sampling frequency of N2 images per second.另一 another image signal is sampled to obtain a second sampled data, and the second sampled data is encoded to obtain a second encoded data, wherein N1 plus N2 is equal to or less than N; and a network interface controller (network interface controller), forming communication with the central processing unit, after at least part of the first encoded data and the second encoded data is converted into a packet, the packet is transmitted to the M central control computer via the network Selecting different central control computers so that the remote management device can provide at least Q+1 screens to the Q+1 central control computers in the M central control computers, and the Q+1 screens respectively correspond to the P Q+1 units in the computer controlled by the computer were controlled. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the remote management device can provide a split screen and a full screen display function to a central control computer in a third mode, the split screen and The full screen display is respectively displayed on one of the first screen and the second screen connected to the central control computer, wherein the plurality of image sources constituting the divided screen are respectively the same or different by a plurality of different image processing channels The sampling frequency is formed by sampling and encoding, and the same or different sampling frequencies are less than N. The remote management system of claim 2, wherein the remote management device further provides a dual screen display function to a central control computer in a fourth mode, and the dual screen display system respectively presents On the first screen and the second screen to which the central control computer is connected, wherein the cursor of the central control computer is When the first screen is moved to the second screen, the sampling frequency of the image processing channel corresponding to the image source of the second screen is adjusted to N images per second, and the image corresponding to the image source of the first screen is The sampling frequency of the processing channel will be adjusted to less than N images per second. A remote management system is configured to couple a first central control computer and a second central control computer to a first controlled computer and a second controlled computer via a network. The remote management system includes at least: a remote management device, one end coupled to the first controlled computer and the second controlled computer; a first code executed on the first central control computer for networking with the remote management device The first communication signal generated by the first central control computer related to the movement of the keyboard or the cursor can be transmitted to the remote management device; and a second code is executed on the second central control computer. And communicating with the remote management device via the network, so that the second control signal generated by the second central control computer related to keyboard or cursor movement can be transmitted to the remote management device; wherein the remote control device The terminal management device includes: a first computer port corresponding to the first controlled computer and receiving the first video signal output by the first controlled computer according to the first control signal; and a second computer port corresponding to To the second controlled computer Receiving a second image signal output by the second controlled computer in response to the second control signal; an image processing channel for performing image processing on the first image signal or the second image signal; Coupling the image processing channel to the first computer and the a second computer; a central processing unit that forms communication with the image processing channel and the switching module; wherein in the first mode, the first image signal or the second image signal can be converted into each by the image processing channel N seconds of still image frames; in the second mode, the switching module alternates between the first computer port and the second computer port so that the first image signal can be processed by the image The channel is converted into N1 static images per second, and the second image signal can be converted into N2 static images per second by the image processing channel, and N1 plus N2 is equal to or smaller than N; and a network interface controller (network An interface controller, configured to communicate with the central processing unit to convert at least a portion of the static image frames into packets, and in the first mode, the packet representing at least a portion of the N static image frames is Transmitting the network to the first central control computer or the second central control computer; or transmitting, in the second mode, a packet representing at least a portion of the N1 static image frames per second to the first One Control computer, and transmitted to the central computer via the second network on behalf of the packet of the still pictures per second N2 Yoshiyuki least partially block. The remote management system of claim 4, wherein N1 may or may not be equal to N2. The remote management system of claim 4, wherein the image processing channel comprises at least: an analog/digital conversion module for using the first image signal or the second image in the first mode. The signal is converted into continuous N still images per second. 祯, and in the second mode, the first image signal is converted into the N1 static images per second, and the second image signal is converted into the N2 static images per second; and a digital signal processing module After the static image is divided into a plurality of blocks, the digital signal processing module compares the corresponding blocks of the two static images before and after to find the different blocks of the two static images, and then encodes them. The encoded values of the different blocks are transmitted to the central processor. The remote management system of claim 6, wherein the digital signal processing module encodes the static image frames according to a JPEG format. A remote management method for coupling an M central control computer to a P-controlled computer via a network, the remote management method comprising the steps of: providing a remote management device, the remote management device having P Computer 埠, Q image processing channels and a switching module, wherein the Q system is less than or equal to P, and the P computers of the remote management device are respectively coupled to the P controlled computers; respectively, the M central control computers Performing M remote remote control programs to perform network communication with the remote management device, so that control signals related to keyboard or cursor movement generated by one or more central control computers of the M central control computers can be transmitted. Go to the remote management device, and then manage the remote management device and control the P-controlled computer, so that the P computers receive one or more video signals output by the P-controlled computer according to the control signal Taking one or more of the P computers from the Q image processing channels Image processing for image processing; coupling the Q image processing channels to the P computers by the switching module; controlling the Q image processing channels and the switching module, thereby enabling the first mode to An image processing channel selected by the Q image processing channels can sample one image signal from the same computer at a sampling frequency of N image frames per second; in a second mode, the data from the P computer is a plurality of image signals, an image processing channel selected from the Q image processing channels may sample a certain image signal at a sampling frequency of N1 images per second to obtain a first sampling data, and the image processing The channel also samples another video signal from different computer frames at a sampling frequency of N2 images per second to obtain a second sampling data, where N1 plus N2 is equal to or smaller than N; the first sampling data and the The second sampled data is encoded to obtain a first encoded data and a second encoded data, respectively; and at least a portion of the first encoded data and the second encoded data is converted into a After the packet, the packet is transmitted to the different central control computers selected by the M central control computer via the network, so that the remote management device can provide at least Q+1 pictures to the Q+ in the M central control computer. 1 central control computer, and the Q+1 screens correspond to the Q+1 controlled computers in the P controlled computers. The remote management method as described in claim 8 further includes the following steps: in a third mode, the remote management device further provides a split screen and a full screen display function for a certain central control computer. ; The split screen and the full screen display are respectively displayed on one of the first screen and the second screen connected to the central control computer, and the plurality of image sources constituting the divided screen are composed of a plurality of different image processing channels. The sampling and encoding are performed at the same or different sampling frequencies, respectively, and the same or different sampling frequencies are less than N. The remote management method as described in claim 8 further includes the following steps: in a fourth mode, the remote management device further provides a dual screen display function for a certain central control computer; The dual screen display is respectively displayed on one of the first screen and the second screen connected to the central control computer. When the cursor of the central control computer is moved from the first screen to the second screen, the second screen is displayed. The sampling frequency of the image processing channel corresponding to the image source will be adjusted to N, and the sampling frequency of the image processing channel corresponding to the image source of the first screen will be adjusted to be less than N.