Method of connecting to a KVM transmitter using internal cables

[0001] The present application is related to the following U.S. applications filed concurrently herewith: U.S. application Ser. No. ______ entitled Solution For Integrating A KVM Extension Transmitter With A Graphics Controller On An Add-In Card by Ferguson et al. (Attorney Docket No. P01-3860); U.S. application Ser. No. ______ entitled Method of Supporting Audio For KVM Extension In A Server Platform by Ferguson et al. (Attorney Docket No. P01-3862); and U.S. application Ser. No. ______ entitled Defining A PCI Function Or USB Endpoint For A KVM Extension Device For Enumeration, Manageability, And Security by Ferguson (Attorney Docket No. P01-3863).

[0002] Standard computer interfaces such as keyboard, mouse, video, and audio are often referred to as KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) products. KVM extension can be defined as extending the access points for computer user interfaces such as keyboards, mice, monitors, etc., i.e., user interfaces may operate with a host processor although positioned outside the standard operating range for the user interface products. KVM extension products are particularly useful when dealing with rack mounted computer solutions where the computers of the rack are positioned away from the user interface products. However, among other things, today's rack mounted solutions suffer from excessive cabling issues when KVM extension products are introduced.

[0003] Fundamental components of computer interface extension solutions include KVM products, an extension receiver, an extension transmitter, and a host system. The extension solutions are commonly known as KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) extensions. A typical example for use of KVM extension solutions are remote trading solutions, i.e., when stock traders desire to perform remote trading without being required to accommodate a large number of host computer systems under their desk on the trading floor. The three major components used in remote trading solutions are a manageability switch, a transmitter/receiver pair, and a multi system switch. Each of these components are modular and can be used alone or in any combination. The KVM extension mode of operation typically supports user I/O protocols, sometimes referred to as legacy protocols, such as PS/2, analog video, and serial.

[0004] Many other problems and disadvantages of the prior art will become apparent to one skilled in the art after comparing such prior art with the present invention as described herein.

[0005] Various aspects of the present invention may be realized through a computer interface extension configuration that includes a host, an extension transmitter, an extension receiver, and user interface devices such as a keyboard, mouse, and video devices. The host has a motherboard with a first connector that allows motherboard signals to be shared internal to the host. The motherboard also has a second connector separate from the first connector that supports communications with the host. An extension transmitter card is inserted within the host and is connected to the motherboard of the host via at least the first connector. The extension transmitter card has an extension controller or transmitter core that adapts to the functionality distribution of the extension transmitter. An extension receiver is also included in the computer interface extension configuration as an interface to a plurality of user interface devices. The extension receiver is extensibly connected to the extension transmitter card and receives and transmits data transmissions from and to the extension transmitter card of the host to thereby provide the data transmissions to one or more of the plurality of user interface devices.

[0006] The plurality of user interface devices of the computer interface extension configuration may include, among other things, a keyboard, a mouse, a video monitor, a speaker, a serial link, a USB link, a power button, and a microphone. In one embodiment, the extension receiver is extensibly connected to the extension transmitter via a fiber optic cable while in other embodiments the extension receiver is extensibly connected to the extension transmitter via a cable compatible with any version of category five or above type cables. It should be noted that the plurality of user interface devices may be compatible with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. The extension transmitter card is often connected to the first connector of the motherboard of the host via a ribbon cable connector between the motherboard and the extension transmitter card and connected to the second connector of the motherboard of the host via one of a PCI, PCI-X (enhanced synchronous protocol), or AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) interface with the extension transmitter card.

[0007] Other aspects of the present invention may be realized with a computer interface extension transmitter that includes a host computer system having a motherboard, a second connector on the motherboard for inserting an add-in card to the motherboard, and a first connector positioned on the motherboard separately from the first connector. The first connector is for transmitting signals to be shared between the add-in card and the motherboard, the signals being shared internal to the host. The computer interface extension transmitter also includes an extension transmitter card inserted within the host and being connected to the second connector of the motherboard. The extension transmitter card has a motherboard header that is accessible separately from the connection between the extension transmitter card and the second connector of the host. An internal cable (internal to the host) is connected between the motherboard header of the extension transmitter card and the first connector of the motherboard while an external cable connects the extension transmitter card to an extension receiver. The extension receiver is connected to a plurality of user interface devices and receives data transmissions from the extension transmitter card of the host to thereby provide data transmissions to one or more of the plurality of user interface devices.

[0008] In certain embodiments, the second connector of the computer interface extension transmitter is positioned on the motherboard for connecting the add-in card to the motherboard and operates according to a communication standard such as a PCI interface, a PCI-X interface, or an AGP interface. The first connector of the motherboard may handle audio communications, power control communications, analog video communications, digital video communications, etc., all with the extension receiver and that pass through the extension transmitter card. The computer interface extension transmitter card may also include a graphic controller that is PCI or AGP compatible.

[0009] Still other aspects of the present invention may be realized via a method for extending computer interface communications between a host computer and a plurality of computer interface devices. The method involves the following steps, not necessarily in this order: electrically connecting an extension transmitter card to a slot in the host computer system; enumerating the extension transmitter card with the host computer system such that the extension transmitter card is recognized by the host; electrically connecting a motherboard header of the extension transmitter card to a connector on the host that is separate from the slot in the host with which the extension transmitter card is electrically connected; and transmitting communications from the extension transmitter card to an extension receiver to complete operations with at least one of the plurality of computer interface devices. Graphics communications, serial communications, and other types of communications are supported across the extension.

[0010] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0011] In the drawings:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a basic computer interface extension solution according to principles of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another basic computer interface extension solution wherein a manageability switch is introduced into the solution.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer interface extension solution wherein a manageability switch and multi-system switches are introduced into the solution.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram of a motherboard having an add-in card that allows communications with the motherboard according to principles of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one configuration for the add-in card of FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a second configuration for the add-in card of FIG. 4.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a third configuration for the add-in card of FIG. 4.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a host computer system motherboard configuration according to principles of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a basic computer interface extension solution 100 according to principles of the present invention. The solution 100 is illustrated as having a host computer system 102 with an extension transmitter 104 (herein referred to as transmitter). The transmitter 104 is connected to the extension receiver 106 (herein referred to as receiver) which is connected to a user 108. The user 108 is representative of standard user interface products such as a keyboard, mouse, monitor, serial port, audio devices, USB ports, etc. The solution 100 is commonly implemented as a KVM extension, however, as will be understood when viewing the description of the invention, the solution 100 may include more than KVM extension capabilities. Further, although data travels bi-directionally between the host computer system 102 and the user 108, to delineate the separation, the transmitter 104 and the receiver 106 are labeled as though data transfer occurs only in one direction, i.e., from the host computer system 102 to the user 108.

[0021] The transmitter 104 and receiver 106 are connected with a single cable such as a cable compatible with all versions of category 5, 6, 7, or better cables. The connection could also be made with fiber optic or other type of high speed data transmission cabling. The distance between the transmitter 104 and receiver 106 ranges approximately 300 meters. In this manner are the user interface devices of the user 108 allowed to communicate effectively with the host computer system 102 across long distances, long as compared to user/host communication distances in a system without the transmitter 104/receiver 106 pair. Although illustrated external to the host 102, the transmitter 104 may be positioned internal to the host computer system 102 and use an internal connector with the motherboard of the system 102 (see FIG. 4).

[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another basic computer interface extension solution 200 wherein a manageability switch 202 is introduced into the solution. The solution 200 includes multiple host computer systems 204, multiple transmitters 206, and multiple receivers 208 that support the communication extension for multiple users 210. The manageability switch 202 encompasses technology used to map a specific user to a specific system, to converge a large number of systems to a small number of users for system administration or head trader access, and to share a single system between two or more users.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer interface extension solution 300 wherein a manageability switch 302 and multi-system switches 304 are introduced into the solution 300. An administrative user 306 is also illustrated that provides the capability to monitor the users 304 and make adjustments to the solution 300 configuration if necessary.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram of a motherboard 402 having an add-in card 404 that allows communications with the motherboard 402 according to principles of the present invention. The add-in card 404 is configured to operate as a transmitter in an extension solution such as a KVM extension solution. However, the add-in card 404 is not limited to KVM connections, but allows for power button, USB, and other connection types. Motherboard (MB) header 406, when connected by a cable 408 such as a ribbon cable to MB connector 409, allows the motherboard 402 to communicate directly with the add-in card 404 rather than only through an external connection between the motherboard 402 and the add-in card 404. This configuration eliminates the need for additional cables to be added externally to the host to communicate between the motherboard 402 and the add-in card 404, which is particularly desirable when the motherboard 402 is one of many motherboards in a rack mounted computer system.

[0025] As illustrated in the following figures, the add-in card 404 has various configurations for operation as a transmitter card.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one configuration for the add-in card 404. The add-in card 404 is configured with minimal circuitry components such that the motherboard performs most functions of the computer system. A motherboard header 502 acts as the primary interface with the motherboard and the functionality data of the motherboard is passed to a transmitter core 504 via the motherboard header 502 where the data is configured to be transmitted at a connector such as RJ-45 connector 506. Motherboard functionality data that is passed directly to the add-in card 404 commonly includes functions such as PS/2 mouse, PS/2 keyboard, USB 1.1 or 2.0, power button, card power, cable detect, analog video, digital video, analog audio, and RS-232 serial.

[0027] All functions can be included or excluded in the cable 408 definition as needed. For example, when RS-232 serial, digital and analog video, and audio functions are included in the functions, switching should occur on the motherboard to avoid conflicts and select between functional connectors on the motherboard and the add-in card 404. The add-in card 404 of FIG. 5 is considered to be a dumb card because the functionality is realized on the motherboard and passed to the add-in card 404 across the cable 408.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a second configuration for the add-in card 404. This configuration introduces functionality from the motherboard represented by functionality 602. The functionality 602 is flexible in that various degrees of motherboard functionality may be realized on the add-in card 404 itself, rather than on the motherboard and then transferred to the add-in card 404. In addition, a graphic controller 604 is included on the add-in card 404 for at least the reason that a slot may be opened on the motherboard. The graphic controller 604 may be compatible with PCI, AGP, or other protocol. For example, if the graphic controller 604 is PCI compatible, the add-in card 404 would be considered a PCI card and would plug into an available PCI slot while using the motherboard header 504 to communicate with other motherboard functionality that is not included in the functionality 602. Thus, an internal transmitter can be incorporated onto the motherboard without giving up an additional PCI slot on the motherboard. One type of functionality is supported when USB communications are converted to a PS/2-legacy type of protocol that is recognized by the extension receiver as the data is passed from the RJ-45 connector 506 of the transmitter add-in card 404.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a third configuration for the add-in card 404. A USB functionality component 702 is introduced such that the add-in card 404 operates using a USB protocol and transmits data from the RJ-45 connector 506 in a USB format. In one embodiment, the USB communications are extended by adding a USB hub that receives pure USB data and transmits raw data onto the extension where the receiver converts the signals back into USB format.

[0030] Of course, the USB functionality component 702 is exemplary of the different types of functions that may be implemented on the add-in card 404 rather than on the motherboard. For example, the functionality could include audio in/out signals and serial RS-232 protocols. One additional possibility is that the functionality 702 could include the capability to allow the computer system to recognize that the add-in card 404 is present in a computer thereby enabling enumeration of such add-in card 404.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a host computer system motherboard configuration 800 according to principles of the present invention. A processor (CPU) 802, memory 804, and super I/O (SIO) 806 are illustrated to show motherboard communications across a north bridge 808 and a south bridge 810. The north bridge 808 provides an AGP bus 812 for AGP communications with either an AGP graphics controller 814 on the motherboard 800 or an AGP graphics slot 816 with an AGP graphics card (not shown) inserted. The AGP graphics card is a card such as the add-in card 404 with a graphic controller (e.g., graphic controller 604) compatible with AGP graphics communications.

[0032] The south bridge 810 provides a PCI/PCI-X bus 818 for PCI/PCI-X communications with either a PCI graphics controller 820 on the motherboard 800 or a PCI slot 822 with a PCI graphics card (not shown) inserted. The PCI graphics card is a card such as the add-in card 404 with a graphic controller (e.g. graphic controller 604) configured for PCI graphics communications.

[0033] The north bridge 808/south bridge 810 configuration allows one graphic controller to be enabled at a time. For example, if the north bridge 808 supports the AGP graphics controller 814, then there will be no other graphic controller. Alternatively, if the south bridge 810 supports the PCI graphics controller 820, then no other graphic controller is operational on the motherboard 800. Of note, the PCI slot 822 is representative of many slots that support PCI cards in general, not just a PCI graphics controller card. In other words, the add-in card 404 could have a PCI graphics controller and be inserted into the PCI slot 822 while other PCI cards are inserted into other PCI slots to communicate with the south bridge 810. Alternatively, the north bridge 808 may have an AGP graphics controller installed (either directly on the motherboard 800 or inserted in the AGP graphics slot 816) and non-graphic PCI communications may occur on the south bridge 810.

[0034] Significantly, as discussed above, the add-in card 404 has a motherboard header 406 for connecting directly to the motherboard connector 409. A user interface control 824 manages communications among the motherboard 800, the motherboard connector 409, and external user interface connections 826.

[0035] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.