Intelligent modular server management system for selectively operating a plurality of computers
An intelligent, modular server management system for coupling a series of remotely located computers to one or more user stations allowing for selective access of the remotely located computers. A centralized computer matrix switching system is provided to enable a computer user station to access and operate a remotely located computer in a stable environment and transmit analog signals through the switching system over an extended range. The centralized computer matrix switching system receives the input from the computer user station or the remotely located computer, including the keyboard, video monitor and mouse signals, and transmits the signals as though the computer user station was directly coupled to the remotely located computer.
1. A computer switching system comprising:
a user interface device for multiplexing signals output from a connected keyboard and cursor control device and for providing an interface to a video display;
a switch unit for enabling communication between said user interface device and a plurality of remotely located computers, said switch unit coupled to said user interface device by a single first connection; and
a plurality of computer interface modules each coupled to said switch unit by a single second connection, each of said computer interface modules coupled to at least one of said remotely located computers;
wherein video signals output from said remotely located computers are transmitted to said video display via said switch unit;
wherein said user interface device comprises an amplification circuit for automatically amplifying said transmitted video signals based on analyzing at least an encoded synchronization signal having a predetermined signal characteristic transmitted with a component of said video signal and comparing said encoded synchronization signals to a signal of known shape to determine a degradation of said encoded synchronization signal;
wherein said user interface device receives keyboard and cursor control device signals, packetizes at least one of said keyboard or cursor control signals and transmits said packetized signal with command data to said switch unit; and
wherein said switch unit interprets said command data which identifies at least one of said remotely located computers, generates an emulated keyboard or cursor control device signal based on said packetized signal and transmits said emulated signal to said identified remotely located computer.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second connections comprise a series of twisted pair conducting wires.
3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein each said component of said video signals is transmitted on one of said twisted pair conducting wires and wherein said keyboard and cursor control device signals are transmitted on a separate one of said twisted pair conducting wires.
4. A system according to claim 2 , wherein said encoded synchronization signal is transmitted with one of said components of said video signals on one of said twisted pair conducting wires.
5. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said encoded synchronization signal is decoded by said user interface device.
6. A system according to claim 2 , wherein said command data is transmitted with said keyboard and cursor control signals on a separate one of said twisted pair conducting wires.
7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of computer interface modules receives power from one of said remote computers.
8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said amplification circuit amplifies amplitude and frequency components of said video signals by analyzing said encoded synchronization signal.
9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said encoded synchronization signal is horizontal or vertical synchronization signal.
10. A computer switching system comprising:
a user station including a keyboard, cursor control device and video display;
a switch for enabling communication between said user station and a plurality of remotely located computers, wherein said switch is coupled to said user station by a first connection; and
a plurality of computer interface modules each coupled to a communication circuit of one of said plurality of remote computers and each of said computer interface modules coupled to said switch by a second connection;
wherein said user station receives keyboard and cursor control device signals, packetizes at least one of said keyboard or cursor control device signals, and transmits said packet with command data to said switch;
wherein said switch interprets said command data in said packet to determine a destination of said packet, emulates keyboard or cursor control device signals, and transmits said emulated keyboard or cursor control device signal to said destination;
wherein one of said computer interface modules receives video signals having red, green, and blue components from one of said remote computers and encodes synchronization signals onto at least one of said components for transmission to said user station through said switch; and
wherein said user station analyzes said encoded synchronization signals having a predetermined signal characteristic to automatically amplify one or more frequency components of said video signals and compares said encoded synchronization signals to a signal of known shape to determine a degradation of said encoded synchronization signals.
11. A system according to claim 10 , wherein each of said computer interface modules receives power from one of said remotely located computers.
12. A system according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first and second connections comprise a series of twisted pair conducting wires.
13. A system according to claim 12 , wherein each said component of said video signals is transmitted on one of said twisted pair conducting wires and wherein said keyboard and cursor control device signals are transmitted on a separate one of said twisting pair conducting wires.
14. A system according to claim 10 , wherein said encoded synchronization signals are encoded as negative signals.
15. A system according to claim 10 , wherein said encoded synchronization signals comprise horizontal or vertical synchronization signals.
16. A system according to claim 10 , wherein said user station amplifies said one or more frequency components of said video signals to compensate for said degradation.
17. A method for remotely operating a remote computer, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving keyboard signals from a local keyboard at a user station;
receiving cursor control device signals from a local cursor control device at said user station;
transmitting said keyboard and cursor control device signals with command data to a central switch;
interpreting said command data and said keyboard and cursor control device signals, said central switch including a circuit for producing emulated keyboard and cursor control device signals at said central switch;
transmitting said emulated keyboard and cursor control device signals to said remote computer;
receiving video signals at said central switch from said remote computer in response to said emulated keyboard and cursor control device signals;
amplifying at least one frequency component of said video signals based on analyzing encoded synchronization signals having a predetermined characteristic signal transmitted with said video signals to produce tuned video signals for display at said user station; and
comparing said encoded synchronization signals to a signal of known shape to determine a degradation of said encoded synchronization signals.
18. A method according to claim 17 , said method further comprising the step of:
encoding said synchronization signals onto said video signals from said remote computer.
19. A method according to claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
analyzing said encoded synchronization signals to determine a level of amplification for said at least one frequency component of said video signals.
20. A method according to claim 17 , wherein said encoded synchronization signals comprise horizontal or vertical synchronization signals.