TWI521918B - Remote management system - Google Patents

Description

Remote management system

The present invention relates to a remote management system and method, and more particularly to a method for updating or archiving in a remote management system.

Due to the rapid development of the Internet, current information systems are often composed of various devices scattered in different places. In order to effectively manage devices scattered throughout the country, remote management systems are increasingly welcomed and valued.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional remote management system 10. This system 10 includes a remote management device 12, a controlled computer device 14, and a client computer device 16. The remote management device 12 is directly coupled to the controlled computer device 14 using its computer interface 121. The computer interface 121 can include a VGA port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, an RJ45 port, or another SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) port. In addition to transmitting the video signal of the controlled computer device 14 and the mouse keyboard signal, the computer interface 121 can also use the Binary Data Transport Protocol (BDTP) to transmit data, but the transmission rate is low, and when the transmission is interrupted, There is a risk of hardware damage.

On the other hand, the remote management device 12 is connected to the client computer device 16 via the network 18, which may be a local area network, a wide area network, or the Internet. Thereby, the client computer device 16 can control the controlled computer device 14 through the remote management device 12.

An aspect of the present invention provides a remote management system and method, wherein a controlled interface between a controlled computer device and a remote management device is used to transmit control signals and archive data to increase security and convenience in use. , to avoid the hardware damage caused by the interruption of data transmission.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a remote management system and method, wherein a network interface and a non-network interface are provided between the remote management device and the controlled computer device, wherein the network interface is used to transmit the archive data. Instead of a web interface (or computer interface), it transmits video, mouse, keyboard signals, and other control signals between the hardware of the controlled computer device. For example, the network interface can be based on the TCP/IP protocol network interface, and the non-network interface can be a SCSI protocol-based signal transmission interface.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a remote management system and method, wherein a client computer device controls a controlled computer device through a non-network interface (or a computer interface) of a remote management device, so that the controlled computer device passes through the network. The circuit is connected to the network interface of the remote management device, and further selects to download the file data from the user terminal computer device or select the upload file data from the user terminal computer device, so that the file can be exchanged between the controlled computer device and the user terminal computer device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the remote management system includes a remote management device, a client program, and a control interface. The remote management device further includes a computer interface, a first network interface, and a second network interface. The computer interface is connected to the first computer device for receiving the image signal output by the first computer device; the first network interface enables the remote management device to be coupled to the first computer device via the first network; the second network interface The remote management device is coupled to the second network. The client program is executed on the second computer device, so that the second computer device can communicate with the remote management device via the second network for the user to manage the remote management device and control the first computer device. Thereby, the user can select the download file from the second computer device to the first computer device by using the control interface, or select the upload file from the first computer device to the second computer device.

In another embodiment, the remote management system includes a remote management device, a client program, and a control interface. The remote management device also includes a computer interface and a network interface. The computer interface is connected to the first computer device for receiving the image signal output by the first computer device; the network interface enables the remote management device to be coupled to the network bandwidth sharer, and the network bandwidth share device enables remote management The device can be connected to the network, the network bandwidth sharer and the remote management device can be coupled to the first computer device. Thereby, the user can select the download file from the second computer device to the first computer device by using the control interface, or select the upload file from the first computer device to the second computer device.

In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a remote management method, comprising the steps of: connecting to a first computer device by a computer interface of a remote management device to receive an image signal output by the first computer device; The first network interface of the management device is coupled to the first computer device via the first network; the second network interface of the remote management device is coupled to the second network; and the client program is executed on the second computer device The second computer device can communicate with the remote management device via the second network for the user to manage the remote management device and control the first computer device; and browse according to one of the remote management devices. The page selects to download the file from the second computer device to the first computer device, or selects to upload the file from the first computer device to the second computer device.

In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a remote management method comprising the steps of: connecting to a first computer device by a computer interface of a remote management device; and coupling a network interface of the remote management device to the network a bandwidth sharer, wherein the network bandwidth sharer couples the remote management device to the first computer device to form the first network; the network bandwidth sharer is coupled to the second network; Executing on the second computer device, so that the second computer device can perform network communication with the remote management device via the second network, for the user to manage the remote management device and control the first computer device; One of the browsing pages provided by the device selects to download the file from the second computer device to the first computer device, or selects to upload the file from the first computer device to the second computer device.

The objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments illustrated herein.

2A shows a first preferred embodiment of the remote management system 20 of the present invention. The system 20 includes a remote management device 22, one or more controlled computer devices (e.g., servers or large data hosts) 24, and a client computer device (e.g., a personal computer) 26. The remote management device 22 in this embodiment can be implemented based on a remote KVM switch product such as KN4140, KN4132, KN2108 or KN2116 produced by ATEN International Co., Ltd., wherein the hardware of the KN4140 is implemented. The architecture will be described in detail later, but the invention is not intended to be limited thereto. In addition, the remote management system 20 can include a plurality of remote management devices 22 and a plurality of controlled computer devices 24, but for clarity of illustration of the present invention, the following embodiments include only one remote management device 22 and one controlled computer device 24 It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

First, the remote management device 22 is coupled to the controlled computer device 24 by its computer interface 222, and the remote management device 22 additionally utilizes its first network interface 223 to connect to the controlled computer device 24 via the network 29. The details of this section will be described later.

The remote management device 22 has a second network interface 225, which is connected to the client computer device 26 via the network 28. The network 28 can be a regional network, a wide area network, or an Internet. Includes a network gateway, router, or bridge (not shown in Figure 2A). Preferably, the second network interface 225 includes a Gigabit network chip card, and the data between the client computer device 26 and the remote management device 22 is transmitted by using an Internet Protocol (IP) packet.

2B shows a second preferred embodiment of the remote management system 20 of the present invention. Similar to the first embodiment, the remote management device 22 is directly coupled to the controlled computer device 24 using its computer interface 222 and appropriate cable, while the remote management device 22 additionally utilizes its network interface 225 through the Internet. Network 28 communicates with client computer device 26. On the other hand, since the remote management device 22 and the network interface 225 of the Internet 28 further have a router 285 (or a network bandwidth sharer), the network bandwidth sharer can provide remote management respectively. The device 22 and the controlled computer device 24 have individual area network IP addresses, so the remote management device 22 can form a regional network with the controlled computer device 24 using the network interface 225 and the router 285. At the same time, the network bandwidth sharer 285 is also available for the remote management device 22 to connect to the Internet. Therefore, the remote management device 22 only needs a single network chip card (the network interface 225) to simultaneously The client computer device 26 and the controlled computer device 24 perform network communication.

Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the remote management device 22 of FIG. 2A. The remote management device 22 has a first network interface 223 and a second network interface 225. The remote management device 22 further includes an image processing unit 2210, a matrix switch 2220, and a central processing unit 2230. The matrix switch 2220 is coupled to a plurality of computer interfaces (also referred to as controlled computer ports) 222 for selectively outputting a plurality of image signals output by the controlled computer device 24 to the image processing unit 2210.

Although the computer interface 222 is a plurality of RJ-45 connectors, the computer interface 222 of the present invention is not limited to such a connector, and can be implemented by other types of connectors, such as a DB-15 connector. PS/2 connector or USB connector. The matrix switcher 2220 can be a matrix switch module composed of a 16-input and a 5-output cross-point switch or a plurality of cross-point switches. If the matrix switch 2220 is a 16-input and 5-output cross-point switch, then five image signals can be selected from the 16 controlled computer devices 24 and output to the client computer device 26. The central processing unit 2230 is coupled to a plurality of (for example, five) image processing units 2210, and arranges a plurality of image signals to a path output to the client computer device 26, and converts the image signals into appropriate network packets for transmission to the Network 28. Since the output/input pin of the central processing unit 2230 may be insufficient, a switch 2225 can be added between the central processing unit 2230 and the central processor 2230. If the output/input pin of the central processing unit 2230 is sufficient, the switch 2225 can be omitted, that is, the image processing unit 2210 can directly output to the central processing unit 2230. In addition, the central processing unit 2230 is further connected to a display card (VGA card), two network interface chips (NICs), and a USB controller in a bus bar 2240 or any other suitable manner. The display card is used to drive a local screen (not shown), and the USB controller is used to control a local keyboard and/or a mouse (not shown).

Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a further schematic diagram of the image processing unit 2210 and the matrix switch 2220 of FIG. Each image processing unit 2210 further includes a differential single-ended converter 2212, an analog digital converter 2214, and a digital image processor 2216. The differential single-ended converter 2212 is configured to receive an analog image signal of the differential mode and convert it into a single-ended mode and output to the analog digital converter 2214, and the analog digital converter 2214 is used for the differential single-ended converter 2212. The analog image signal is converted into a digital signal. Digital image processor 2216 is used to sample, encode, encrypt, and/or compress digital signals. It should be noted that if the remote management device 22 and the controlled computer device 24 are not connected to each other using an adapter, and the image format of the output of the controlled computer device 24 is a single-ended mode, it may be omitted. The differential single-ended converter 2212, that is, the single-ended video signal output by the controlled computer device 24, can be directly processed by the analog digital converter 2214.

Referring to FIG. 2A or FIG. 2B, the client computer device 26 can be a personal computer having a mouse 261, a keyboard 263, a display 265, and a storage device 267. The client computer device 26 executes a client program AP that can transmit the mouse and keyboard signals via the network 28 to the remote management device 22 via the hardware device of the client computer device 26, and utilizes the remote management device. The computer interface 221 of 22 is then transmitted to the controlled computer device 24. In addition, the controlled computer device 24 can transmit the video signal and be received by the computer interface 222 of the remote management device 22, and then processed by the remote management device 22 through the digital processing. It is sent to the client computer device 26 and displayed on the display 265 of the client computer device 26. Digital processing here may include image processing and compression in accordance with JPEG, MPEG or H.264 and other related specifications. In other words, the computer interface 222 is responsible for transmitting the mouse, the keyboard, and the video signal (K/V/M). For this part, reference may be made to the aforementioned remote KVM switch product KN4140, which will not be described here.

In addition, the storage device 267 (for example, a hard disk) of the client computer device 26 contains a directory AAA that the user wants to share, and the directory contains a plurality of files. The user can use the client program AP to set the directory AAA as a shared directory, and according to the user's setting, the client program AP can map the directory AAA to the remote management device 22 through the assistance of the operating system. The management device 22, in turn, creates an index page (webpage) based on the directory AAA and the files contained therein, and preferably creates the index page in a web page format (eg, HTML format or XML format).

The connection relationship between the remote management device 22 and the controlled computer device 24 is further explained below. Referring to FIG. 2A, the remote management device 22 is directly coupled to the controlled computer device 24 using its computer interface 222. The computer interface 222 can include a VGA port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, an RJ45 port, or another SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) port. In addition, the computer interface 222 can also include an adapter (not shown), such as the KA9170 provided by Acer Automation, which is mainly used to "single-ended" the output of the controlled computer device 24. The image signal is converted to a "differential" image signal, so the distance between the controlled computer device 24 and the remote management device 22 can be extended to 300 to 1000 inches to increase ease of use. On the other hand, the adapter also extends the transmission distance of other signals (e.g., keyboard/mouse signals) between the remote management device 22 and the controlled computer device 24 in a transmission protocol such as RS-485. The adapter mainly has a USB Device Controller, which can communicate with the operating system of the controlled computer device 24 by means of a related protocol established by the USB standard, so as to be in a controlled computer device. A USB device (such as a keyboard, mouse, or other peripheral device) is simulated on the 24th.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2A, the remote management device 22 utilizes its first network interface 223 to interface with the network interface of the controlled computer device 24 via the network 29. The network interface 223 may include a Gigabit network chip card, and the network 29 is preferably a local area network (LAN), but is not limited thereto. In this local area network 29, the remote management device 22 is assigned a regional IP address (e.g., 10.0.0.122), and the controlled computer device 24 is also assigned a regional IP address (e.g., 10.0.0.124). Thereby, the remote management device 22 and the controlled computer device 24 can perform data transmission on the application layer, in particular, the transmission of the file, for example, an application on the controlled computer device 24 (for example, a web browser). Accessing the required file to the remote management device 22 according to "HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)" or "File Transfer Protocol (FTP)", for example, by the remote management device 22. The index web page corresponding to the directory AAA of the client computer device 26 is used. After accessing the index page of the directory AAA, the controlled computer device 24 can display the index webpage representing the directory AAA, and the video signal of the controlled computer device 24 is received by the computer interface 222 of the remote management device 22, and then It is transmitted to the client computer device 26 via the network 28, and is interpreted by the client program AP and displayed to the user on the client computer device 26 by the display 265.

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below. The user located at the client computer device 26 can use the user interface program AP to call a corresponding control interface, such as an on-screen display (OSD) or a webpage provided by a webpage browser. In a manner, the web browser of the controlled computer device 24 (e.g., Internet Explorer of Microsoft) is launched, and the IP of the remote management device 22 in the network 29 (or the regional network provided by the router 285 in Fig. 2B) is input. Address (10.0.0.122). Correspondingly, the remote management device 22 executes its own software program and provides it to the controlled computer device 24 as a web server. Therefore, the controlled computer device 24 can log in to the remote management device 22 by using a webpage browsing program, and access the index webpage of the corresponding directory AAA provided by the remote management device 22, and the controlled computer device 24 logs in to the remote management device 22. The login log (log) and the accessed index web page can be further displayed to the client computer device 26.

For example, the index page shows that the directory AAA contains the files A1.txt, A2.exe, and A3.iso, where A1.txt is the text file, A2.exe is the executable file, and A3.iso is the image file. Then, the user can click (or select by keyboard) the file A1.txt, A2.exe, A3.iso in the control interface provided by the client program AP.

Taking the file A2.exe as an example, when the user clicks on the file A2.exe in the control interface, the client computer device 26 sends a mouse signal to the controlled device via the network 28 and the computer interface 222 of the remote management device 22. The computer device 24, by controlling the controlled computer device 24, sends a request to the remote management device 22 to access the file A2.exe via the network 29 in FIG. 2A or the router 285 in FIG. 2B, and the remote management device 22, the request is forwarded to the client computer device 26, and the client computer device 26 responds to the request by transmitting the file A2.exe to the client computer device 26 via the network 28, and then via the network in FIG. 2A. 29 or router 285 in FIG. 2B, transmitted to controlled computer device 24, whereby controlled computer device 24 completes the "download" of file A2.exe. In this way, the file A1.txt or A3.iso can also be downloaded from the client computer device 26. In addition, the user can also control the controlled computer device 24 to execute the files A1.txt, A2.exe, and A3.iso by using the control interface provided by the client program AP.

In one embodiment, A2.exe is a patch for updating the operating system or application of the controlled computer device 24. Similarly, in one embodiment, the user utilizes the control interface to control the controlled computer device 24 to launch a file transfer (FTP) application (eg, Filezilla (http://filezilla-project.org/), and according to the remote end The management device 22 logs into the remote management device 22 at the IP address (10.0.0.122) in the network 29 (or the regional network provided by the router 285 in Fig. 2B). Correspondingly, the remote management device 22 executes The software is provided as a file server to the controlled computer device 24. The user can further utilize the file transfer (FTP) application of the controlled computer device 24, relayed via the remote management device 22, from the client computer device 26 Download the files A1.txt, A2.exe, A3.iso in the directory AAA to the controlled computer device 24. In addition, the controlled computer device 24 can also be controlled by the file transfer (FTP) application of the controlled computer device 24. The file held is uploaded to the remote management device 22 via the network 29 (or router 285), and the remote management device 22 transmits the file provided by the controlled computer device 24 to the client computer device 26 via the network 28. Directory folder AAA.

3 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention, and the present invention is illustrated in conjunction with the remote management system 20 shown in FIG. 2A or 2B. First, in step 300, the remote management device 22 connects the controlled computer device 24 with the computer interface 221; in step 302, the remote management device 22 shown in FIG. 2A connects the network 29 with the first network interface 223 (for example, the regional network) And the controlled computer device 24 on the network 29; in step 304, the remote management device 22 connects the network 28 (e.g., the Internet) with the second network interface 225 and the client computer device on the network 28. 26.

In contrast, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, the network interface 225 can also replace the network interface 223, that is, the remote management device 22 only needs one network interface 225, and the router/bandwidth sharer 285 The managed computer device 24 and the client computer device 26 are respectively connected to establish a local area network (network 29). Therefore, in step 332, the remote management device 22 is coupled to the network bandwidth sharer via the network interface 225. 285, the network bandwidth sharer 285 is coupled to the control computer device 24; in step 334, the remote management device connects the client computer device 26 on the network 28 via the network bandwidth sharer 285 via the network interface 225. .

Proceed to step 306 after step 304 or 334. At step 306, the client program AP is executed on the client computer device 26 to enable the client computer device 26 to communicate with the remote management device 22 via the network 28, whereby the client computer device 26 can be remotely located. The management device 22 issues mouse and keyboard signals to the controlled computer device 24 to control the controlled computer device 24.

In an embodiment, after step 306, step 308 downloads the file (A1.txt, A2.exe, or A3.iso) from the client computer device 26 to the controlled computer device 24, wherein the file is from the client computer device. 26, transmitted to the controlled computer device 24 via the network 28, the remote management device 22, and the network 29 (or router 285 in Figure 2B). If the file A2.exe is downloaded as an update file, in a subsequent step 310, the controlled computer device 24 updates the application by itself using A2.exe; or, via step 308 and step 358, the controlled computer device File exchange can be performed between the 24 and the client computer device 26.

In another embodiment, after step 306, step 358 uploads the file from the controlled computer device 24 to the client computer device 26, wherein the file is from the controlled computer device 24 via the network 29 (or the router in Figure 2B). 285), remote management device 22, and network 28 are transmitted to client computer device 26.

While the present invention has been described above by way of example, it is not intended to limit the invention, and the invention may be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Other different embodiments are contemplated, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

10, 20. . . Remote management system

12, 22. . . Remote management device

14, 24. . . Controlled computer equipment

16, 26. . . Client computer equipment

18, 28, 29. . . network

121, 222. . . Computer interface

223, 225. . . Network interface

261. . . mouse

263. . . keyboard

265. . . monitor

267. . . Storage device

285. . . Router/bandwidth sharer

2210. . . Image processing unit

2220. . . Matrix switcher

2225. . . Switcher

2230. . . CPU

2240. . . Busbar

2212. . . Differential single-ended converter

2214. . . Analog digital converter

2216. . . Digital image processor

AP. . . Client program

1 is an architectural diagram of a conventional remote management system;

2A is a block diagram showing a remote management system in a first embodiment of the present invention;

2B is a block diagram showing the architecture of the remote management system in the second embodiment of the present invention;

3 shows a flow chart of a method in an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic block diagram of a remote management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an image processing unit and a matrix switcher in a remote management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

20. . . Remote management system

twenty two. . . Remote management device

twenty four. . . Controlled computer equipment

26. . . Client computer equipment

28, 29. . . network

222. . . Computer interface

223, 225. . . Network interface

261. . . mouse

263. . . keyboard

265. . . monitor

267. . . Storage device

AP. . . Client program

Claims (25)

A remote management system includes: at least one remote management device, the remote management device includes: a computer interface connected to at least one first computer device for receiving an image signal output by the first computer device; The first network interface, the remote management device is coupled to the first computer device via a first network; and the second network interface is configured to couple the remote management device to a second network; a client program executed on a second computer device to enable the second computer device to communicate with the remote management device via the second network for the user to control the first computer device And a control interface for the user to select to download a file from the second computer device to the first computer device, or to enable the user to select a file to upload to the second computer from the first computer device device. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the file is located on the second computer device and the first computer device by the second network, the remote management device, and the first network Transfer between. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the control interface is a webpage browser. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the control interface is an On-Screen Display (OSD). The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the client program transmits the keyboard/mouse signal of the second computer device to the remote management device via the second network. The remote management system of claim 5, wherein the remote management device further transmits the image signal of the first computer device to the second computer via the second network according to the keyboard/mouse signal device. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the first computer device has a web browser and/or a file transfer (FTP) program. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the client program transmits the keyboard/mouse signal of the second computer device to the remote management device via the second network, the remote end The management device further transmits the keyboard/mouse signal to the first computer device via the computer interface. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the file is used to update an application of the first computer device. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the second network is an internet. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the first network is a regional network. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the first network interface is a network chip. The remote management system of claim 1, wherein the second network interface is a network chip. A remote management method includes the following steps: connecting to at least one first computer device by a computer interface of a remote management device to receive an image signal output by the first computer device; The first network interface is coupled to the first computer device via a first network; the second network interface of the remote management device is coupled to a second network; and a client program is executed on the first network The second computer device enables the second computer device to perform network communication with the remote management device via the second network, for a user to control the first computer device; and according to the remote management device Providing one of the browsing pages, selecting to download a file from the second computer device to the first computer device, or selecting to upload a file to the second computer device from the first computer device. The method of claim 14, wherein the downloading the file from the second computer device to the first computer device further comprises the steps of: using the second network, the remote management device, and the The first network routes the file between the second computer device and the first computer device. The method of claim 14, after the second computer device selects to download the file to the first computer device, the method further comprises: the first computer device updating an application with the file. A remote management system includes: at least one remote management device, the remote management device includes: a computer interface connected to at least one first computer device for receiving an image signal output by the first computer device; The network interface enables the remote management device to be coupled to a network bandwidth sharer, the network bandwidth sharer coupling the remote management device to the first computer device to form a first network a client program executed on a second computer device to enable the second computer device to communicate with the remote management device via a second network for a user to control the first computer device And a control interface for the user to select to download a file from the second computer device to the first computer device, or to enable the user to select a file to upload to the second computer from the first computer device device. The remote management system of claim 17, wherein the file is provided by the second network, the remote management device, the network bandwidth sharer, and the first network in the second The computer device is transferred between the first computer device. The remote management system of claim 17, wherein the remote management device and the first computer device form a regional network via the network bandwidth sharer. The remote management system of claim 17, wherein the control interface is a webpage browser. The remote management system of claim 17, wherein the control interface is an On-Screen Display (OSD). The remote management system of claim 17, wherein the first computer device has a web browser and/or a file transfer (FTP) program. The remote management system of claim 17, wherein the client program transmits the keyboard/mouse signal of the second computer device to the remote management device via the second network, the remote end The management device further transmits the keyboard/mouse signal to the first computer device via the computer interface. A remote management method includes the following steps: connecting to at least one first computer device by a computer interface of a remote management device to receive an image signal output by the first computer device; The network interface is coupled to a network bandwidth sharer, and the network bandwidth sharer couples the remote management device to the first computer device to form a first network; The sharer is coupled to a second network; the client program is executed on a second computer device, so that the second computer device can communicate with the remote management device via the second network, Providing a user with the first computer device; and selecting, according to the browsing page provided by the remote management device, downloading a file from the second computer device to the first computer device, or from the first computer device Select to upload a file to the second computer device. The method of claim 24, wherein the downloading the file from the second computer device to the first computer device further comprises the following steps: the second network, the remote management device, the The network bandwidth sharer and the first network transmit the file between the second computer device and the first computer device.