Methods and apparatus for managing a user interface on a powered network
A system and methods for connecting a graphic user interface to a powered network is disclosed. The network-powered graphic user interface system converts encoded computer user interface signals transmitted over a powered network cable to multiple signal sets, each set associated with a peripheral device interface. Methods for managing the admission of the peripheral devices are also described. Connection criteria include the power budget for the connection, device characteristics, device power requirements and the characteristics of other devices sharing the powered network connection.
1. A method of managing power consumed by a remote graphics user interface system comprising a plurality of peripheral device interfaces, the method comprising:
initializing a system power budget for the remote graphics user interface system, the remote graphics user interface system powered by a powered network connection having a network connection power budget, the system power budget limited by the network connection power budget, the system power budget comprising power allocation for each in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces;
setting power conditions for each in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces in accordance with the system power budget; and
monitoring the plurality of peripheral device interfaces, wherein if at least one requested power requirement for at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces is outside the power allocation for the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces, then:
determining an update to the system power budget; and
updating the power conditions in accordance with the update to the system power budget.
2. The method of claim 1 performed by a remote graphics user interface client module of the remote graphics user interface system, wherein the system power budget further comprises power allocations for the remote graphics user interface client module.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the update to the system power budget comprises evaluating the at least one requested power requirement outside the power allocation and if the system power budget accommodates the at least one requested power requirement as limited by the network connection power budget, then updating the power allocation for the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces in accordance with the at least one requested power requirement.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the update to the system power budget comprises evaluating the at least one requested power requirement outside the power allocation for the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces and if the system power budget cannot accommodate the at least one requested power requirement as limited by the network connection power budget, then leaving the system power budget essentially unchanged.
5. The method in claim 1 wherein the updating the power conditions comprises taking power protection measures if the at least one requested power requirement exceeds a shutdown limit associated with the system power budget.
6. The method in claim 1 wherein the updating the power conditions comprises changing at least one of power, voltage, impedance or current associated with the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces and wherein the at least one requested power requirement is received in advance of the updating the power conditions.
7. The method in claim 1 wherein the updating the power conditions further comprises transmitting information associated with the updated power conditions over the powered network to a host computer.
8. The method in claim 1 wherein the updating the power conditions further comprises notifying a peripheral device connected to the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the updating the power conditions comprises setting the power condition for the one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces if peripheral devices are disconnected.
10. The plurality of peripheral device interfaces of claim 1 comprising at least one display monitor interface and at least one universal serial bus interface.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces is a video signal interface for a display device, a second in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces is a primary power supply interface for the display device and the powered network connection is a Power over Ethernet (PoE) connection.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one requested power requirement is associated with a peripheral device connected to the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one requested power requirement is received from a first one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces, the first one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces separate from a second one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces that is subjected to the updated power conditions.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the update to the system power budget comprises negotiating a change in the network connection power budget.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one requested power requirement is received at the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces as an encoded stream of bits.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one requested power requirement is received at the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces as a change in impedance of a peripheral device.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one requested power requirement is received at the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces as a signal on at least one connection.
18. A remote graphics user interface system comprising:
a power control module enabled to distribute system power to the remote graphics user interface system;
a powered network interface enabled to source the system power from a powered network;
a plurality of peripheral device interfaces; and
a processor coupled between the powered network interface and the plurality of peripheral device interfaces, the processor enabled to decode and transfer graphics user interface data between the powered network and the plurality of peripheral device interfaces;
wherein the system power distribution to at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces is in accordance with peripheral power allocation information provided by the processor.
19. The remote graphics user interface system of claim 18 wherein the processor is enabled to execute a remote desktop protocol client.
20. The remote graphics user interface system of claim 18 wherein the powered network interface is a Power over Ethernet interface.
21. The remote graphics user interface system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of peripheral device interfaces comprises at least one display monitor interface and at least one universal serial bus interface, the at least one display monitor interface enabled to transmit at least part of the graphics user interface data decoded by the processor.
22. The remote graphic user interface system of claim 18 wherein the power control module is enabled to distribute system power to a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the plurality of peripheral device interfaces in compliance with a connection power budget provided by the processor.
23. At least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces of claim 18 comprising a signal interface enabled to receive power requests from a peripheral device, the at least one in the plurality of peripheral device interfaces further comprising a power interface enabled to provide, to the peripheral device, power associated with the system power distribution.
24. The power control module of claim 18 enabled to request a change in power supplied from the powered network.