RESOURCE SHARING APPARATUS

US 20090031049A1
Filed: 07/24/2007
Published: 01/29/2009
Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A method for controlling a resource sharing apparatus coupling at least one input device to a first host, the method comprising:

acquiring a first input signal from the input device;

determining whether the first input signal comprises a standby indication of a switch command;

disconnecting the input device from the first host when the first input signal comprises the standby indication; and

emulating the input device to the first host.

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Abstract

A method for controlling a resource sharing apparatus coupling least one input device to a first host is disclosed. A first input signal is acquired from the input device, and whether the first input signal comprises standby indication of a switching command is determined. The input device is disconnected from the first host when the first input signal comprises the standby indication, and the input device is emulated to the first host.

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25 Claims

1. A method for controlling a resource sharing apparatus coupling at least one input device to a first host, the method comprising:
- acquiring a first input signal from the input device;
  
  determining whether the first input signal comprises a standby indication of a switch command;
  
  disconnecting the input device from the first host when the first input signal comprises the standby indication; and
  
  emulating the input device to the first host.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- - 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input device is emulated to the first host by an emulator.
  - 3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the emulator is a universal serial bus (USB) device controller.
  - 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein emulation of the input device to the first host comprises:
    - establishing a connection between the input device and an emulator; and
      
      outputting a responding signal indicating the presence of the input device to the first host when the first host polls the input device.
  - 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
    - acquiring a second input signal from the input device;
      
      determining whether the second input signal comprising an identifier identifying one of the first host and a second host; and
      
      establishing a connection between the identified host and the input device.
  - 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first input signal is generated by a series of keystrokes of a keyboard.
  - 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second input signal is generated by a numeral key of the keyboard.
  - 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
    - acquiring first data comprising a communication address provided to the input device by the first host during an enumeration step; and
      
      storing the first data to the emulator.

9. A resource sharing apparatus suitable for selectively coupling an input device to one of a first host and a second host, comprising:
- an emulator;
  
  a monitor, acquiring a first input signal from the input device and outputting a first signal when the first input signal comprises a standby indication of a switch command; and
  
  a control unit, disconnecting the input device from the first host and employing the emulator to respond to the first host when receiving the first signal.
- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- - 10. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the emulator is a universal serial bus (USB) device controller.
  - 11. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a first multiplexer controlled by the control unit to selectively couple the input device or the emulator to the first host.
  - 12. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the monitor further acquires a second input signal from the input device and outputs a second signal when the second input signal comprises an identifier identifying one of the first and the second hosts, and the control unit further establishes a connection between the identified host and the input device when receiving the second signal.
  - 13. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the monitor acquires first data comprising the communication address provided to the input device by the first host and asserts an interrupt, such that the control unit configures the emulator with the first data.
  - 14. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the emulator outputs a responding signal indicating the presence of the input device to the first host when the first host polls the input device.
  - 15. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the input device comprises a keyboard or a mouse.
  - 16. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a hub coupled between the first host and the first multiplexer.
  - 17. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the hub is compatible with universal serial bus (USB) specification.

18. A resource sharing apparatus suitable for selectively coupling an input device to one of a first host and a second host, comprising:
- a first emulator;
  
  a second emulator;
  
  a first multiplexer coupled between the first emulator and the first host;
  
  a second multiplexer coupled between the second emulator and the second host;
  
  a third multiplexer coupled between the input device, the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer;
  
  a monitor acquiring first and second input signals from the input device, outputting a first signal when the first input signal comprises a standby indication of a switch command, and outputting a second signal when the second input signal comprises an identifier identifying one of the first and the second hosts; and
  
  a control unit disconnecting the input device from the first host, and employing the first emulator to respond to the first host when receiving the first signal and establishing a connection between the identified host and the input device when receiving the second signal.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- - 19. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first host provides a communication address to the input device, the monitor acquires first data comprising the communication address and asserts an interrupt to the control unit, and the control unit configures the emulator with the first data when receiving the interrupt.
  - 20. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the control unit enables the first multiplexer to couple the first emulator to the first host, and disconnect the first host and the third multiplexer, when receiving the first signal.
  - 21. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first emulator outputs a responding signal indicating the presence of the input device to the first host when the first host polls the input device.
  - 22. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the control unit enables the third multiplexer to couple the input device to the second host through second multiplexer according to the second signal when the second input signal comprises an identifier identifying the second host.
  - 23. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a first hub and second hub, wherein the first hub is coupled between the first host and the first multiplexer, and the second hub is coupled between the second host and the host multiplexer.
  - 24. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the resource sharing apparatus is a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switch.
  - 25. The resource sharing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the input device comprises a mouse or a keyboard.

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Current Assignee
ATEN International Company Limited
Original Assignee
ATEN International Company Limited
Inventors
Kuo, Yao-Lung, Lien, Fong

Granted Patent

US 8,589,141 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

710/6
CPC Class Codes

G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting...

G06F 3/038 Control and interface arran...

RESOURCE SHARING APPARATUS

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Abstract

Citations

25 Claims

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RESOURCE SHARING APPARATUS

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Accused Products

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Abstract

Citations

25 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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