Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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KEYBOARD-VIDEO-MOUSE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING AND
USING THE SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to keyboard-video-mouse systems,
and relates more
particularly to such systems having virtual ports to configure user interfaces
of the systems and
methods of providing and using the same.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 61/482,850,
filed May 5, 2011. U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/482,850 is incorporated
herein by
reference in its entirety.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND
[0003] Keyboard-video-mouse systems (i.e., systems employing a keyboard-
video-mouse
(KVM) switching device) represent a class of switching systems designed to
provide user(s)
centralized control and monitoring of one or more host computers from a
control terminal (e.g.,
keyboard, monitor and mouse). The control terminal is frequently located
remotely from the
host computers. Through the KVM switching device, the user(s) can select and
switch between
the one or more host computers to operate the one or more host computers with
the control
terminal. The KVM switching device routes audio-visual data of the selected
host computer to
the control terminal so that the user(s) may view and/or listen to the audio-
visual data at the
control terminal. The KVM switching device also routes the signals from
peripheral input
devices of the control terminal (e.g., a keyboard and/or a mouse of the
control terminal) to the
respective peripheral input device ports of the selected host computer. From
the host computer's
perspective, it appears as if the control terminal's peripheral input devices
are directly coupled to
the host computer. The user(s) may select which host computer to operate from
the control
terminal with a user interface of the KVM system that is configured to control
the KVM
switching device.
[0004] Accordingly, a need or potential for benefit exists for an apparatus
or system that can
permit a user to pair a user interface with a KVM switching device and/or to
configure the user
interface to permit the user interface to control the KVM switching device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] To facilitate further description of the embodiments, the following
drawings are
provided in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a system, according to one embodiment;
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[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the embodiment of the system
of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary switching device audio-visual data
instructing one or
more user(s) to couple a user interface to a KVM switching device, according
to the embodiment
of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary switching device audio-visual data
instructing the user(s)
to provide a code presented at the user interface, according to the embodiment
of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary user interface audio-visual data
comprising the code
presented at the user interface, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates the user(s) providing the code to a control
terminal via one or more
user interface input(s), according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary switching device audio-visual data
notifying the user(s)
that the code has been incorrectly entered and needs to be entered again,
according to the
embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 8 illustrates exemplary user interface audio-visual data
notifying the user(s) that
the user interface is nearly ready for use and to configure the user interface
at the control
terminal, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary configuration module, which can be a
type of
switching device audio-visual data, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 10 illustrates the exemplary configuration module of FIG. 9
where a physical
port has been disabled;
[0016] FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary drop down list of the configuration
module of FIG.
9 where the user(s) can select to customize the name of a physical port;
[0017] FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary customization window of the
configuration module
of FIG. 9 whereby the user(s) can customize the name of a physical port;
[0018] FIG. 13 illustrates exemplary user interface audio-visual data
notifying the user(s) to
contact the administrator and/or the manufacturer, according to the embodiment
of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary user interface audio-visual data
and/or exemplary
user interface input(s) of the user interface, according to the embodiment of
FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 15 illustrates the exemplary system of FIG. 1 being used by the
user(s);
[0021] FIG. 16 illustrates a flow chart for an embodiment of a method;
[0022] FIG. 17 illustrates a computer that is suitable for implementing an
embodiment of a
computer system of FIG. 1 and/or of the virtual port of FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 18 illustrates a representative block diagram of an example of
elements included
in circuit boards inside a chassis of the computer system or virtual port of
FIG. 17;
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[0024] FIG. 19 illustrates a flow chart for an embodiment of another
method;
[0025] FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary procedure of coupling a user
interface to a
keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switching device;
[0026] FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary procedure of pairing the user
interface to the KVM
switching device using a virtual port of the KVM switching device, according
to the
embodiment of FIG. 16;
[0027] FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary procedure of configuring the user
interface to permit
the user interface to control the KVM switching device using the virtual port,
according to the
embodiment of FIG. 16;
[0028] FIG. 23 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary a user input
implemented as a
mechanical button, according to an embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 24 shows a front, right, top isometric view of the user input
of the embodiment
of FIG. 23;
[0030] FIG. 25 shows a rear, right, top isometric view of the user input of
the embodiment
of FIG. 23;
[0031] FIG. 26 shows a front, bottom isometric view of the user input of
the embodiment of
FIG. 23;
[0032] FIG. 27 shows a front, top isometric view of the user input of the
embodiment of
FIG. 23;
[0033] FIG. 28 shows a front view of the user input of the embodiment of
FIG. 23;
[0034] FIG. 29 illustrates a flow chart for an embodiment of a method;
[0035] FIG. 30 illustrates an exemplary activity of manufacturing a user
interface, according
to the embodiment of FIG. 29; and
[0036] FIG. 31 illustrates a flow chart for an embodiment of a method.
[0037] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures
illustrate the general
manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features
and techniques may
be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally,
elements in the
drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the
dimensions of some of the
elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help
improve
understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference
numerals in
different figures denote the same elements.
[0038] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like in the
description and in
the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and
not necessarily for
describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be
understood that the terms so
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used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the
embodiments described
herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those
illustrated or
otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms "include," and "have," and
any variations
thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process,
method, system,
article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not
necessarily limited to those
elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to
such process,
method, system, article, device, or apparatus.
[0039] The terms "left," "right," "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "over,"
"under," and the
like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive
purposes and not
necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be
understood that the terms so
used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the
embodiments of the
invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other
orientations than those
illustrated or otherwise described herein.
[0040] The terms "couple," "coupled," "couples," "coupling," and the like
should be broadly
understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals,
electrically, mechanically
and/or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled
together, but not
be mechanically or otherwise coupled together; two or more mechanical elements
may be
mechanically coupled together, but not be electrically or otherwise coupled
together; two or
more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled together, but not be
electrically or
otherwise coupled together. Coupling may be for any length of time, e.g.,
permanent or
semi-permanent or only for an instant.
[0041] "Electrical coupling" and the like should be broadly understood and
include coupling
involving any electrical signal, whether a power signal, a data signal, and/or
other types or
combinations of electrical signals. "Mechanical coupling" and the like should
be broadly
understood and include mechanical coupling of all types.
[0042] The absence of the word "removably," "removable," and the like near
the word
"coupled," and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is
or is not removable.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS
[0043] Some embodiment include a system. The system comprises a keyboard-
video-mouse
switching device. The keyboard-video-mouse switching device is configured to
communicate
with one or more host computer systems, a control terminal, and a user
interface. The keyboard-
video-mouse switching device can comprise a virtual port through which the
user interface
communicates with the keyboard-video-mouse switching device and one or more
physical ports
through which the one or more host computer systems communicate with the
keyboard-video-
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mouse switching device. Further, the user interface can be configured to
permit selection of at
least one selected host computer system of the one or more host computer
systems after the user
interface is paired with the keyboard-video-mouse switching device. However,
the user
interface can be unable to select the at least one selected host computer
system of the one or
more host computer systems until the user interface is paired with the
keyboard-video-mouse
switching device.
Meanwhile, when the keyboard-video-mouse switching device is
communicating with the one or more host computer systems and the control
terminal and when
the user interface is paired with the keyboard-video-mouse switching device,
the keyboard-
video-mouse switching device is configured to route host computer audio-visual
data from the at
least one selected host computer system of the one or more host computer
systems to the control
terminal.
[0044]
Various embodiments include a method. The method can comprise: manufacturing a
keyboard-video-mouse switching device comprising a virtual port and one or
more physical
ports; configuring the keyboard-video-mouse switching device to communicate
with one or
more host computer systems, a control terminal, and a user interface, the
keyboard-video-mouse
switching device being configured to communicate with the user interface
through the virtual
port and to communicate with the one or more host computer systems through the
one or more
physical ports; configuring the user interface to permit selection of at least
one selected host
computer system of the one or more host computer systems after the user
interface is paired with
the keyboard-video-mouse switching device; configuring the user interface to
be unable to select
the at least one selected host computer system of the one or more host
computer systems until
the user interface is paired with the keyboard-video-mouse switching device;
and configuring
the keyboard-video-mouse switching device such that when (a) the keyboard-
video-mouse
switching device is communicating with the one or more host computer systems
and the control
terminal and (b) the user interface is paired with the keyboard-video-mouse
switching device,
the keyboard-video-mouse switching device is configured to route host computer
audio-visual
data from the at least one selected host computer system of the one or more
host computer
systems to the control terminal.
[0045]
Further embodiments include a method. The method can comprise: detecting a
user
interface at a virtual port of a keyboard-video-mouse switching device when
the user interface is
coupled with the keyboard-video-mouse switching device, the keyboard-video-
mouse switching
device being configured to communicate with one or more host computer systems,
a control
terminal, and the user interface; pairing the user interface to the keyboard-
video-mouse
switching device; and receiving a selection of at least one selected host
computer system of the
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one or more host computer systems at the keyboard-video-mouse switching device
via one or
more user interface inputs of the user interface when the user interface is
paired with the
keyboard-video-mouse switching device.
[0046] Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates system 100, according to
one
embodiment. System 100 is merely exemplary and is not limited to the
embodiments presented
herein. System 100 can be employed in many different embodiments or examples
not
specifically depicted or described herein.
[0047] System 100 comprises keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switching device
101. KVM
switching device 101 is configured to route host computer audio-visual data
(e.g., audio data
and/or video data) from one or more host computer systems 102 to control
terminal 113. For
example, KVM switching device 101 can be configured to route the host computer
audio-visual
data from one or more presently selected host computer systems (e.g., host
computer system
103) of host computer system(s) 102 to control terminal 113. Generally
speaking, the presently
selected host computer system(s) only comprises one host computer system of
host computer
system(s) 102 although the presently selected host computer system(s) could
comprise multiple
ones of host computer system(s) 102 in some embodiments. Accordingly, one or
more users of
system 100 and/or KVM switching device 101 can select from which of host
computer
system(s) 102 (e.g., host computer system 103) to receive the host computer
audio-visual data at
control terminal 113 by using user interface 111, as described in further
detail below. As a
result, KVM switching device 101 is configured to provide control (e.g.,
centralized control) of
host computer system(s) 102 (e.g., to the user(s) of system 100 and/or KVM
switching device
101) via user interface 111. FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary system 100 being
used by the
user(s).
[0048] Control terminal 113 can comprise audio-visual display device 114
(e.g., an
electronic visual display such as a computer monitor and/or the like), one or
more peripheral
input devices 117 (e.g., computer keyboard 115, computer mouse 116, and/or the
like), and/or at
least one speaker (not shown). Audio-visual device 114 can be similar or
identical to refreshing
monitor 1706 (FIGs. 17 & 18). Computer keyboard 115 can be similar or
identical to keyboard
1704 (FIGs. 17 & 18). Computer mouse 116 can be similar or identical to mouse
1710 (FIGs.
17 & 18). The speaker(s) can be integrated with and/or separate from audio-
visual display
device 114. Audio-visual display device 114 and/or the speaker(s) can be
configured to present
the host computer audio-visual data to the user(s) of control terminal 113.
Peripheral input
device(s) 117 can be configured to permit the user(s) to provide command data
(e.g., one or
more user input(s)) to host computer system(s) 102 and/or KVM switching device
101 in order
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to communicate with and/or to operate host computer system(s) 102 and/or KVM
switching
device 101. Accordingly, when the user(s) are operating peripheral input
device(s) 117 of
control terminal 113, KVM switching device 100 can also be configured to route
the command
data from peripheral input device(s) 117 of control terminal 113 to host
computer system(s) 102.
In some embodiments, system 100 can comprise one or more of control terminal
113, one or
more of audio-visual display device 114, and one or more of peripheral input
device(s) 117 such
as keyboard 115, mouse 116, and/or the speaker(s). The interactions of control
terminal 113,
audio-visual display device 114, peripheral input device(s) 117, keyboard 115,
mouse 116,
and/or the speaker(s), with respect to routing the audio-visual data and/or
the command data, are
described in further detail below with respect to FIG. 2.
[0049] In many embodiments, host computer system(s) 102 can comprise four
computer
system (e.g., host computer system 103, host computer system 104, host
computer system 105,
and/or host computer system 106). In other embodiments, host computer
system(s) 102 can
comprise more or less than four computer systems. Each host computer system of
host
computer system(s) 102 (e.g., host computer system 103, host computer system
104, host
computer system 105, and/or host computer system 106) can be similar or
identical to computer
system 1700 (FIG. 17), as described below. In another embodiment, each host
computer system
of host computer system(s) 102 (e.g., host computer system 103, host computer
system 104, host
computer system 105, and/or host computer system 106) can be similar or
identical to chassis
1702 (FIG. 17) of computer system 1700 (FIG. 17) and the circuit board(s)
and/or other
component(s) contained in chassis 1702 (FIG. 17), as described below. In some
embodiments,
system 100 can comprise two or more of host computer system(s) 102 (e.g., host
computer
system 103, host computer system 104, host computer system 105, and/or host
computer system
106). In various embodiments, any host computer system of host computer
system(s) 102 can
be configured to require a common access card (CAC) (e.g., authentication
and/or validation of
the CAC) in order to be secured and/or operated, as described in further
detail below.
[0050] System 100 and/or KVM switching device 101 can comprise one or more
switching
device peripheral device(s) 120 configured to communicate with KVM switching
device 101. In
many embodiments, switching device peripheral device(s) 120 can comprise CAC
reader 121.
CAC reader 121 can be configured to receive the CAC and permit the user(s) to
access one or
more of host computer system(s) 102 when any of those host computer systems
require CAC
access. In the same or different embodiments, switching device peripheral
device(s) 120 can
comprise any suitable other slave device 122 (e.g., a printer, an external
hard drive, a modem,
one or more speakers, etc.). In some embodiments, any of switching device
peripheral device(s)
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120 can be part of and/or can be located at control terminal 113 (e.g., for
ease of access to the
user(s) of system 100). In other embodiments, one or more of switching device
peripheral
device(s) 120 can be located remotely from terminal 113. KVM switching device
101 can
permit communication between the switching device peripheral device(s) 120 and
the
appropriate host computer system(s) 102. In many embodiments, switching device
peripheral
device(s) 120 can be coupled to KVM switching device 101 via different
connectors (although
the connectors may be the same type of connectors) than peripheral input
device(s) 117.
[0051] Further, system 100 can comprise user interface 111. As mentioned
briefly above,
user interface 111 can be configured to control KVM switching device 101,
thereby facilitating
control (e.g., central control) of host computer system(s) 102. Accordingly,
KVM switching
device 101 can be configured to communicate with user interface 111. In many
embodiments,
user interface 111 can be coupled (e.g., mechanically and/or electrically)
with KVM switching
device 101. Coupling user interface 111 to KVM switching device 101 can
facilitate
communication between user interface 111 and KVM switching device 101 and also
can
facilitate communication between KVM switching device 101 and host computer
system(s) 102.
[0052] User interface 111 can be integrated with or separate from KVM
switching device
101. Further, user interface 111 can be configured to communicate with KVM
switching device
101 through wired and/or wireless communication. For example, user interface
111 can be
configured to communicate with KMC switching device 101 via (a) one or more
components
configured to provide wired communication (e.g., one or more data buses, such
as, for example,
universal serial bus(es); one or more networking cables, such as, for example,
coaxial cable(s),
optical fiber cable(s), twisted pair cable(s); any other suitable data cable,
etc.) and/or (b) one or
more components configured to provide wireless communication (e.g., one or
more radio
transceivers, one or more infrared transceivers, etc.). Further, the wired
and/or wireless
communication can be implemented using any one or any combination of wired
and/or wireless
communication network topologies (e.g., ring, line, tree, bus, mesh, star,
daisy chain, hybrid,
etc.) and/or protocols (e.g., personal area network (PAN) protocol(s), local
area network (LAN)
protocol(s), wide area network (WAN) protocol(s), cellular network
protocol(s), Powerline
network protocol(s), etc.). Exemplary PAN protocol(s) can comprise Bluetooth,
Zigbee,
Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB), Z-Wave, etc.; exemplary LAN and/or WAN
protocol(s)
can comprise Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.3,
IEEE 802.11, etc.;
and exemplary wireless cellular network protocol(s) can comprise Global System
for Mobile
Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Code Division
Multiple
Access (CDMA), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-D0), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM
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Evolution (EDGE), 3GSM, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT),
Digital
AMPS (IS-136/Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)), Integrated Digital
Enhanced Network
(iDEN), etc. The components implementing the wired and/or wireless
communication can be
dependent on the network topologies and/or protocols in use, and vice versa.
[0053] Accordingly, in many embodiments, when user interface 111 is
separate from KVM
switching device 101, user interface 111 can operate as a remote user
interface. For example,
user interface 111 could communicate with KVM switching device 101 using a
mesh wireless
communication network such as a BluetoothTM mesh computer network connection.
However,
in many examples, using wired communication between user interface 111 and KVM
switching
device 101 can provide increased security of the host computer audio-visual
data where
heightened security is an issue. When user interface 111 is configured to
communicate with
KVM switching device 101 through a wired coupling, user interface 111 can
comprise the cable
and/or bus connector (e.g., the cable and/or bus connector can be integral
with user interface
111). The cable and/or bus connector can be approximately 3.05 meters (10
feet) in length. In
some embodiments, the cable and/or bus connector can be coupled to KVM
switching device
101 via a latching connector. In many embodiments, user interface 111 is not
an onscreen
display (OSD) (i.e., user interface 111 is not provided (e.g., displayed) via
control terminal 113
and/or audio-visual display device 114), but rather is a separate electronic
device.
[0054] Operating user interface 111 remotely from KVM switching device 101
can provide
various advantages to the user(s) employing system 100. For example, the
user(s) of system 100
can operate user interface 111 at a location proximate to control terminal 113
(e.g., on a desktop
surface supporting control terminal 113) while the remaining elements of
system 100 (e.g.,
KVM switching device 101, host computer system(s) 102, etc.) can be located
elsewhere (e.g.,
under the desk having the desktop surface and/or in another room, building,
etc.), thereby
reducing the spatial volume of system 100 located proximate to control
terminal 113 (e.g.,
saving space on the desktop surface) and/or the user(s). In the same example,
user interface 111
could be located near peripheral input device(s) 117 (e.g., mouse 116) of
control terminal 113.
Meanwhile, operating user interface 111 also can provide ease of switching
between host
computer system(s) 102 by bringing user interface 111 to the user(s) as
opposed to requiring the
user(s) to go to KVM switching device 101, which may be inconveniently located
away from
control terminal 113 and/or the user(s) (e.g., under the desktop surface
supporting control
terminal 113 mentioned above), thereby minimizing switching errors (e.g., by
switching to an
incorrect host computer system) and/or providing clear, unambiguous indication
of which host
computer system is presently selected, as explained in greater detail below.
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[0055] Operating user interface 111 remotely from KVM switching device 101
can also
provide various advantages to technicians tasked with installing and
maintaining system 100.
For example, operating user interface 111 remotely from KVM switching device
101 can permit
quicker deployment and/or easier replacement of system 100, KVM switching
device 101,
and/or user interface 111. Likewise, operating user interface 111 remotely
from KVM switching
device 101 can further improve reliability and durability of system 100, KVM
switching device
101, and/or user interface 111, reducing the need for technical support of
system 100, KVM
switching device 101, and/or user interface 111.
[0056] User interface 111 can comprise one or more user interface inputs
(e.g., capacitive
buttons, resistive buttons, and/or mechanical buttons) permitting the user(s)
of system 100 to
select from which host computer system(s) of host computer system(s) 102 to
route the host
computer audio-visual data to control terminal 113, where each user interface
input is associated
with one physical port of KVM switching device 101, as described in further
detail below.
Meanwhile, user interface 111 can be configured (e.g., by the user(s), as
described below) to
associate a number, name, symbol, and/or a color with each respective host
computer system of
host computer system(s) 102 by assigning that number, name, symbol, and/or
color that is
associated with the respective host computer system of host computer system(s)
102 to the user
interface input associated with that physical port to which the respective
host computer system is
coupled. The user(s) of system 100 can customize the association of a number,
name, symbol,
and/or color established by user interface 111 during configuration of user
interface 111, as
described below. In some embodiments, the number associated with each user
interface input is
static and not subject to customization but the name, symbol, and/or color
remain subject to
customization. In various embodiments, the user interface input(s) can be
recessed into the front
surface of user interface 111 to prevent accidental activation by the user(s)
of system 100.
[0057] In some embodiments, user interface 111 can comprise an electronic
display (e.g., a
liquid crystal display such as a monochrome liquid crystal display, an organic
light emitting
diode display, etc.). The electronic display can comprise a touch screen
electronic display (e.g.,
a capacitive or a resistive touch screen electronic display). The electronic
display can comprise
the user interface input(s), and/or the user interface input(s) can be
separate from the electronic
display, as shown in FIG. 1. In the same or different embodiments, the user
interface input(s)
can comprise one or more light emitting diodes (e.g., red-green-blue (RGB)
light emitting
diodes) configured to emit one or more colors (e.g., whichever color is
selected for association
with that particular user interface input and/or that host computer system
coupled to the physical
port with which that particular user interface input is associated). In other
embodiments, when
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the user interface input(s) are implemented as mechanical buttons as opposed
to capacitive
and/or resistive buttons operating as part of an electronic display of user
interface 111, the user
interface input(s) can comprise the light emitting diodes (i.e., because the
color coding could
otherwise be implemented at the electronic display as opposed to the separate
light emitting
diodes).
[0058] For example, user interface 111 can comprise an organic light
emitting diode
(OLED) capacitive electronic display (e.g., an OLED touch screen display). In
some
embodiments, the user interface input(s) can comprise capacitive buttons
displayed on the
OLED capacitive display. Each user interface input can display the name,
symbol, and/or color
associated with the respective host computer system coupled to the physical
port with which that
user interface input is associated.
[0059] In another example, user interface 111 can comprise a monochrome
liquid crystal
display and the user interface input(s) can comprise one or more mechanical
buttons positioned
adjacent to the liquid crystal display. Accordingly, each user interface input
can comprise one
or more light emitting diodes configured to emit one or more colors, as
determined upon
configuration of user interface 111 by the user(s). A number can be pre-
assigned to each user
interface input, and the liquid crystal display can be configured to display a
name associated
with each of the user interface input(s) (e.g., at least for those user
interface input(s) that are
coupled to a host computer system of host computer system(s) 102) next to that
respective user
interface input of the user interface input(s).
[0060] Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 23 illustrates an exploded view
of an exemplary
user input 2300 implemented as a mechanical button, according to an
embodiment. User input
2300 can be similar or identical to one of the user input(s) described above
with respect to
system 100 (FIG. 1). Accordingly, multiple of user input 2300, as described
below, can be
implemented to provide the user input(s) of system 100 (FIG. 1).
[0061] User input 2300 can comprise face portion 2301 and connector portion
2302. Face
portion 2301 can comprise opening 2304 and can be configured to couple with
connector
portion 2302. When face portion 2301 is coupled with connector portion 2302,
user input 2300
can comprise recess 2305. In some embodiments, face portion 2301 can also
comprise opening
2306. Further, user input 2300 can comprise color chip 2303. Meanwhile,
connector portion
2302 can comprise coupling mechanism 2307.
[0062] Connector portion 2302 can be coupled to a user interface via
coupling mechanism
2307. For example, the user interface can be similar or identical to user
interface 111.
Accordingly, user input 2300 can be coupled to the user interface via
connector portion 2302.
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An electronic display of the user interface can be positioned proximate to
user input 2300 so as
to display a relevant number, name, symbol, and/or color associated with user
input 2300 next to
user input 2300. The electronic display can be similar or identical to the
electronic display of
user interface 111.
[0063] Color chip 2303 can be coupled with user input 2300, thereby
permitting association
of a color of color chip 2303 with user input 2300, such as, for example, to
permit distinction of
user input 2300 from another user input. Further, color chip 2303 can be
interchangeable with
one or more other color chips similar or identical to color chip 2303 so that
user input 2300 can
be customized by the user(s) of user input 2300. For example, color chip 2303
and the other
color chips each can comprise different colors configured to permit
differentiation of each of
color chip 2303 and the other color chips from each other. User input 2300
and/or recess 2305
can be configured to receive color chip 2303, and recess 2305 can be shaped to
match a shape of
color chip 2303. For example, color chip 2303 and recess 2305 can be
approximately semi-
circular in shape although other suitable shapes can also be used.
Accordingly, recess 2305 can
be configured to receive color chip 2303 via opening 2304. That is, color chip
2303 can be
inserted into recess 2303 through opening 2304 and where applicable, around to
opening 2306
on an opposite side of recess 2305 from opening 2304. Color chip 2303 can be
removable from
user input 2300 and/or recess 2305, such as, for example, when face portion
2301 comprises
opening 2306. For example, by application of force (e.g., via a pin or a
similarly pointed object,
such as, for example, an unfolded paper clip) to color chip 2303 through
opening 2306, color
chip 2303 can be partially pressed out of recess 2305 via opening 2304 and
extracted from
recess 2305 via opening 2304. Accordingly, color chip 2303 can be replaced
with another color
chip, as desired. In some embodiments, one or more of the color chips (e.g.,
color chip 2303)
can comprise the same color, as desirable. Color chip 2303 can comprise a
marker (e.g., an
arrow) to indicate how to insert color chip 2303 into opening 2304 and/or
recess 2305.
[0064] FIGs. 24-28 illustrate user input 2300 from various different views
when user input
has received color chip 2303, according to the embodiment of FIG. 23. For
example, FIG. 24
shows a front, right, top isometric view of user input 2300. FIG. 25, shows a
rear, right, top
isometric view of user input 2300. FIG. 26, shows a front, bottom isometric
view of user input
2300. FIG. 27 shows a front, top isometric view of user input 2300. Finally,
FIG. 28, shows a
front view of user input 2300.
[0065] Returning now to FIG. 1, by implementing the user interface input(s)
as part of an
electronic display of user interface 111, user interface 111 can be smaller
and therefore occupy
less space. This approach can also remove redundancy where a number, name,
symbol, and/or
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color of the port might otherwise be displayed both on the electronic display
and separate user
interface input(s). Likewise, this approach can offer a singular point of
feedback as well as
higher visibility than alternative approaches for implementing the user
interface input(s) as a
result of higher contrast and/or resolution provided by the electronic
display.
[0066] In an operational example of user interface 111, illumination and/or
color of the
number associated with each of the user interface input(s) can indicate
whether or not there is a
host computer system of host computer system(s) 102 coupled to the physical
port with which
that user interface input is associated (i.e., whether or not the user
interface input and/or the
related physical port are presently active) and/or whether or not the host
computer coupled to
the physical port with which each of the respective user interface input(s) is
associated is
presently selected for use by the user(s). For example, the number of any user
interface input
that is presently active, but not presently selected, can be illuminated
and/or colored to appear
light grey whereas the number of inactive user inputs can appear dark grey.
Meanwhile, the
number of any presently selected and active user interface input (i.e., host
computer system) can
be illuminated and/or colored white. Further, the user interface input(s) can
indicate whether or
not CAC access is required to login to the host computer system related to
that particular user
interface input, such as, for example, by displaying a symbol (e.g., an icon
of a card) at each of
the user interface input(s) indicative of whether or not CAC access is
required to login to the
host computer system related to that particular user interface input.
[0067] User interface 111 can comprise a housing (e.g., a plastic housing).
For increased
security, the housing can be sealed with tamper-evident labels to indicate if
the housing has been
compromised. FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary user interface 111 (FIG. 1)
and/or exemplary
user interface input(s) of user interface 111 (FIG. 1).
[0068] Meanwhile, user interface 111 can also be configured to be paired
with (e.g.,
authenticated by) KVM switching device 101. In various embodiments, only one
user interface
111 can be paired with KVM switching device 101 at any given time. In many
embodiments,
user interface 111 can be configured not to communicate with KVM switching
device 101, or
vice versa, until user interface 111 is paired with KVM switching device 101.
In the same or
different embodiments, KVM switching device 101 can be configured such that
user interface
111 cannot communicate with and/or control KVM switching device 101 until the
user interface
111 has been configured by the user(s). FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating
system 100,
according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 helps to illustrate system 100,
KVM switching
device 101, and/or user interface 111 in operation generally and also helps to
illustrate pairing
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user interface 111 with KVM switching device 101 as well as configuring user
interface 111 to
permit user interface 111 to control KVM switching device 101.
[0069] Referring now to FIG. 2, KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) comprises
KVM
circuitry 201. KVM circuitry 201 can be configured to permit KVM switching
device 101 (FIG.
1) to route the host computer audio-visual data from host computer system(s)
102 (FIG. 1) to
control terminal 113 (FIG. 1). KVM circuitry 201 can comprise one or more
physical port(s)
207 (e.g., physical port 202, physical port 203, physical port 204, and/or
physical port 205).
Each physical port of physical port(s) 207 can be configured to couple with
one host computer
system of host computer system(s) 102 (FIG. 1). Each physical port of physical
port(s) 207 can
comprise at least one audio-visual input connector and at least one peripheral
input device
connector. For example, the audio-visual input connector(s) can comprise any
suitable audio-
visual device connector(s) (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) connector, a
high-definition
multimedia interface (HDMI) connector, a digital visual interface (DVI)
connector, a display
port (DP) connector, a video graphics array (VGA) connector, composite cable
connectors, an S-
Video connector, an optical audio connector, Radio Corporation of America
(RCA) connectors,
a tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) connector such as a 3.5 millimeter TRS connector,
etc.) and can be
configured to receive a corresponding data cable and/or bus configured to
couple to any
appropriate corresponding audio-visual input connector(s) of the corresponding
host computer
system of host computer system(s) 102 (FIG. 1). Further, the peripheral input
device
connector(s) can comprise any suitable peripheral input device connectors
(e.g., a USB
connector, a keyboard/mouse connector, etc.) and can be configured to receive
a corresponding
data cable and/or bus configured to couple to any appropriate corresponding
peripheral input
device connector(s) of the corresponding host computer system of host computer
system(s) 102
(FIG. 1). Meanwhile, KVM circuitry 201 can also comprise separate audio-visual
input
connector(s) and peripheral input device connector(s) configured to couple
control terminal 113
(FIG. 1) (e.g., audio-visual display device 114 (FIG. 1), the speaker(s) of
control terminal 113
(FIG. 1), peripheral input device(s) 117 (FIG. 1), computer keyboard 115 (FIG.
1), computer
mouse 116 (FIG. 1), etc.) to KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1). Accordingly,
KVM circuitry
201 can comprise any suitable electrical networks configured to route host
computer audio-
visual data from any appropriate host computer system(s) (e.g., the presently
selected host
computer system(s)) of host computer system(s) 102 (FIG. 1)) through the
corresponding
physical port of physical port(s) 107 (FIG. 1) to control terminal 113 (FIG.
1) via the
corresponding data cable(s) and/or bus(es) and data cable and/or bus
connector(s), as
appropriate. Likewise, KVM circuitry 102 (FIG. 1) can comprise any suitable
electrical
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networks configured to route command data from control terminal 113 (FIG. 1)
to the
appropriate host computer system(s) (e.g., the presently selected host
computer system(s)) of
host computer system(s) 102 (FIG. 1)) and/or virtual port 206, as described
below, via the
corresponding data cable(s) and/or bus(es) and data cable and/or bus
connector(s), as
appropriate. Further, KVM circuitry 201 and/or its electrical networks can
comprise any
suitable electrical switches for implementing the KVM functionality of KVM
switching device
101 (FIG. 1), as is well known to those having ordinary skill in the art such
that it will not
receive a detailed description herein. Further still, KVM circuitry 201 can
comprise any suitable
electrical networks configured to permit host computer(s) 102 (FIG. 1) and/or
control terminal
113 (FIG. 1) to communicate with switching device peripheral device(s) 120
(FIG. 1), as
applicable. Although communication between host computer system(s) 102 (FIG.
1), switching
device peripheral device(s) 120 (FIG. 1), control terminal 113 (FIG. 1), and
KVM switching
device 101 (FIG. 1), is generally described here with respect to wired
communication, wireless
communication similar to that described above with respect to the
communication between
KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) and user interface 111 (FIG. 1) could
alternatively and/or
additionally be implemented here.
[0070] KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) also can comprise virtual port
206. In some
embodiments, virtual port 206, KVM system 100 (FIG. 1), and/or KVM switching
device 101
(FIG. 1) can comprise a virtual port computer system. In the same or different
embodiments,
virtual port 206 can be configured to communicate with the virtual port
computer system. The
virtual port computer system can be similar or identical to computer system
1700 (FIG. 17), as
described below. In another embodiment, the virtual port computer system can
be similar or
identical to chassis 1702 (FIG. 17) of computer system 1700 (FIG. 17) and the
circuit board(s)
and/or other component(s) contained in chassis 1702 (FIG. 17), as described
below. In many
respects, virtual port 206 can be similar to any physical port of physical
port(s) 107 but for that
virtual port 206 and/or the virtual port computer system can be part of (e.g.,
internal to and/or
integral with) KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1).
[0071] In many embodiments, one or more of the audio-visual input
connector(s) and/or
peripheral input device connector(s) of virtual port 206 and/or one or more of
physical port(s)
207 can be implemented as electrical networks of KVM circuitry 201 (i.e., the
audio-visual input
connector(s) and/or peripheral input device connector(s) would not be
externally accessible to
the user(s)). Still, in many embodiments, virtual port 206 comprises another
physical port
similar or identical to physical port(s) 107 (FIG. 1) and can be physically
located at the exterior
of KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) (i.e., making virtual port 206 externally
accessible to the
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user(s)). Regardless of the manner of implementation, virtual port 206 and/or
the virtual port
computer system (a) can be configured to route switching device audio-visual
data from virtual
port 206 and/or the visual port computer system to control terminal 113 and/or
(b) can be
configured to receive command data from control terminal 113 (FIG. 1) (e.g.,
from peripheral
input device(s) 117 (FIG. 1)) through any of the various data cable(s) and/or
bus(es) and data
cable and/or bus connector(s) coupling KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) and
control terminal
113 (FIG. 1), as appropriate. Still, in many embodiments, the virtual port
computer system may
not have the level of sophistication and/or complexity of host computer
system(s) 102 (FIG. 1).
For example, the virtual port computer system may only have those processing
capabilities
and/or memory storage capabilities as are reasonably necessary to pair user
interface 111 (FIG.
1) with KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) and/or to configure KVM switching
device 101
(FIG. 1), as is described in further detail below. In these examples, the
virtual port computer
system could simply be implemented as a microcontroller comprising flash
memory, or the like.
Reducing the sophistication and/or complexity of the virtual computer system
can reduce the
size and/or cost of implementing system 100 (FIG. 1). Nonetheless, in other
embodiments, the
virtual port computer system may need additional sophistication and/or
complexity to operate as
desired.
[0072] Virtual port 206, KVM switching device 101 (FIG . 1), and/or the
virtual computer
system can comprise one or more memory storage modules (e.g., the storage
modules of
computer system 1700 (FIG. 17) and/or flash memory, as described above). The
memory
storage module(s) can be configured to store a code indicating the pairing of
user interface 111
(FIG. 1) with KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1), an indicator (e.g. a flag) of
whether user
interface 111 (FIG. 1) is presently configured, and/or configuration settings
(e.g., numbers,
names, symbols, and/or colors associated with the user interface input(s), the
physical port(s) of
the user interface, and/or the host computer system(s) as described above with
respect to system
100 (FIG. 1)).
[0073] Skipping ahead now in the drawings, FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary
embodiment
of computer system 1700 and chassis 1702 (and its internal components) that
can be suitable for
implementing an embodiment of host computer system(s) 102 (FIGs. 1 & 2), the
virtual port
computer system, and/or a user interface computer system and/or another part
of system 100
(FIGs. 1 & 2) as well as methods 1600 (FIG. 16) and 3100 (FIG. 31) and/or any
of the various
procedures, processes, and/or activities of methods 1600 (FIG. 16) and/or 3100
(FIG. 31). One
or more parts of computer system 1700 (e.g., refreshing monitor 1706, keyboard
1704, and/or
mouse 1710, etc.) may also be appropriate for implementing control terminal
113 (FIG. 1).
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Computer system 1700 includes chassis 1702 containing one or more circuit
boards (not shown),
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 1712, Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) and/or
Digital
Video Disc (DVD) drive 1716, and hard drive 1714. A representative block
diagram of the
elements included on the circuit boards inside chassis 1702 is shown in FIG.
17. Central
processing unit (CPU) 1810 in FIG. 18 is coupled to system bus 1814 in FIG.
18. In various
embodiments, the architecture of CPU 1810 can be compliant with any of a
variety of
commercially distributed architecture families.
[0074] System bus 1814 also is coupled to memory 1808, where memory 1808
includes both
read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). Non-volatile portions
of
memory 1808 or the ROM can be encoded with a boot code sequence suitable for
restoring
computer system 1700 (FIG. 17) to a functional state after a system reset. In
addition, memory
1808 can include microcode such as a Basic Input-Output System (BIOS). In some
examples,
the one or more storage modules of the various embodiments disclosed herein
can include
memory 1808, USB 1712 (FIGs. 17-18), hard drive 1714 (FIGs. 17-18), and/or CD-
ROM or
DVD drive 1716 (FIGs. 17-18). In the same or different examples, the one or
more storage
modules of the various embodiments disclosed herein can comprise an operating
system, which
can be a software program that manages the hardware and software resources of
a computer
and/or a computer network. The operating system can perform basic tasks such
as, for example,
controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing the processing of
instructions, controlling input
and output devices, facilitating networking, and managing files. Examples of
common operating
systems can include Microsoft Windows, Mac operating system (OS), UNIX OS,
and
Linux OS. Common operating systems for a mobile electronic device include the
iPhone0
operating system by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, CA, the Blackberry operating
system by
Research In Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, the Palm operating
system by Palm,
Inc. of Sunnyvale, CA, the Android operating system developed by the Open
Handset Alliance,
the Windows Mobile operating system by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, WA, or the
Symbian
operating system by Nokia Corp. of Espoo, Finland.
[0075] As used herein, "processor" and/or "processing module" means any
type of
computational circuit, such as but not limited to a microprocessor, a
microcontroller, a
controller, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a
reduced instruction set
computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW)
microprocessor, a
graphics processor, a digital signal processor, or any other type of processor
or processing
circuit capable of performing the desired functions.
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[0076] In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 18, various I/O devices such as
disk controller
1804, graphics adapter 1824, video controller 1802, keyboard adapter 1826,
mouse adapter
1806, network adapter 1820, and other I/O devices 1822 can be coupled to
system bus 1814.
Keyboard adapter 1826 and mouse adapter 1806 are coupled to keyboard 1704
(FIGs. 17-18)
and mouse 1710 (FIGs. 17-18), respectively, of computer system 1700 (FIG. 17).
While
graphics adapter 1824 and video controller 1802 are indicated as distinct
units in FIG. 18, video
controller 1802 can be integrated into graphics adapter 1824, or vice versa in
other
embodiments. Video controller 1802 is suitable for refreshing monitor 1706
(FIGs. 17-18) to
display images on a screen 1708 (FIG. 17) of computer system 1700 (FIG. 17).
Disk controller
1804 can control hard drive 1714 (FIGs. 17-18), USB 1712 (FIGs. 17-18), and CD-
ROM drive
1716 (FIGs. 17-18). In other embodiments, distinct units can be used to
control each of these
devices separately.
[0077] In some embodiments, network adapter 1820 can be part of a WNIC
(wireless
network interface controller) card (not shown) plugged or coupled to an
expansion port (not
shown) in computer system 1700. In other embodiments, the WNIC card can be a
wireless
network card built into computer system 1700. A wireless network adapter can
be built into
computer system 1700 by having wireless Ethernet capabilities integrated into
the motherboard
chipset (not shown), or implemented via a dedicated wireless Ethernet chip
(not shown),
connected through the PCI (peripheral component interconnector) or a PCI
express bus. In other
embodiments, network adapter 1820 can be a wired network adapter.
[0078] Although many other components of computer system 1700 (FIG. 17) are
not shown,
such components and their interconnection are well known to those of ordinary
skill in the art.
Accordingly, further details concerning the construction and composition of
computer system
1700 and the circuit boards inside chassis 1702 (FIG. 17) are not discussed
herein.
[0079] When computer system 1700 in FIG. 17 is running, program
instructions stored on a
USB-equipped electronic device connected to USB 1712, on a CD-ROM or DVD in CD-
ROM
and/or DVD drive 1716, on hard drive 1714, or in memory 1808 (FIG. 18) are
executed by CPU
1810 (FIG. 18). A portion of the program instructions, stored on these
devices, can be suitable
for carrying out at least part of system 100 (FIGs. 1 & 2), method 1600 (FIG.
16), and/or method
3100 (FIG. 31).
[0080] Although computer system 1700 is illustrated as a desktop computer
in FIG. 17, there
can be examples where computer system 1700 may take a different form factor
(e.g., a mobile
electronic device, a laptop computer) while still having functional elements
similar to those
described for computer system 1700. In some embodiments, computer system 1700
may
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comprise a single computer, a single server, or a cluster or collection of
computers or servers, or
a cloud of computers or servers. Typically, a cluster or collection of servers
can be used when
the demand on computer system 1700 exceeds the reasonable capability of a
single server or
computer.
[0081] Returning again to FIG. 2, virtual port 206 and/or the virtual port
computer system
can be configured to permit the user(s) to pair user interface 111 (FIG. 1)
with KVM switching
device 101 (FIG. 1) and to configure the manner in which user interface 111
(FIG. 1) controls
KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) and the respective host computer system(s)
102 (FIG. 1), as
a result.
[0082] To begin with, upon turning on KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1),
KVM
switching device 101 (FIG. 1) can be configured to detect whether user
interface 111 (FIG. 1) is
presently coupled with KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1). If KVM switching
device 101
(FIG. 1) detects user interface 111 (FIG. 1) is not presently coupled with it,
KVM switching
device 101 (FIG. 1) can be configured to switch to virtual port 206 and
virtual port 206 can be
configured to route switching device audio-visual data from virtual port 206
(e.g., from the
virtual port computer system) to control terminal 113 (FIG. 1). The switching
device audio-
visual data can instruct the user(s) to couple user interface 111 (FIG. 1) to
KVM switching
device 101 (FIG. 1) and can be presented by control terminal 113 (FIG. 1)
(e.g., via audio-visual
display device 114 and/or the speaker(s) of control terminal 113). FIG. 3
illustrates exemplary
switching device audio-visual data instructing the user(s) to couple user
interface 111 (FIG. 1) to
KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1). As an example, this switching device audio-
visual data
can be presented to the user(s) on audio-visual display device 114. When KVM
switching
device 101 (FIG. 1) detects user interface 111 (FIG. 1), KVM switching device
101 (FIG. 1) can
proceed to pairing with user interface 111 (FIG. 1).
[0083] After coupling with user interface 111 (FIG. 1), KVM switching
device 101 (FIG. 1)
can be configured to detect whether user interface 111 (FIG. 1) is presently
paired with KVM
switching device 101 (FIG. 1). If KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) detects
user interface 111
(FIG. 1) is not presently paired with it, KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1)
can be configured to
switch to virtual port 206, and virtual port 206 can be configured to route
switching device
audio-visual data from virtual port 206 (e.g., from the virtual port computer
system) to control
terminal 113 (FIG. 1). The switching device audio-visual data can instruct the
user(s) to enter a
code presented at user interface 111 (FIG. 1) to pair KVM switching device 101
(FIG. 1) and
user interface 111 (FIG. 1). This switching device audio-visual data can be
presented by control
terminal 113 (FIG. 1). FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary switching device audio-
visual data presented
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or displayed at audio-visual device 114 and instructing the user(s) to provide
the code presented
at user interface 111 (FIG. 1). Meanwhile, user interface 111 (FIG. 1) can
present user interface
audio-visual data at user interface 111 (FIG. 1) where the user interface
audio-visual data can
comprise the code for pairing user interface 111 (FIG. 1) with KVM switching
device 101 (FIG.
1). FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary user interface audio-visual data comprising
the code presented
at user interface 111 (FIG. 1).
[0084] The user(s) can provide the code (e.g., as command data) to control
terminal 113
(FIG. 1) via peripheral input device(s) 117 (FIG. 1) and/or the user interface
input(s) of user
interface 111 (FIG. 1). For example, the user(s) can enter the code via
computer keyboard 115
(FIG. 1) and/or mouse 116 (FIG. 1), as would be the case where the code
resembles the code in
FIG. 5, or can enter the code as some particular provided sequence of the user
interface input(s)
of user interface 111 (FIG. 1). FIG. 6 illustrates the user(s) providing the
code to control
terminal 113 (FIG. 1) via the user interface input(s).
[0085] When the user(s) incorrectly provide the code presented at user
interface 111 (FIG. 1)
to KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) via control terminal 113 (FIG. 1),
virtual port 206 can
provide updated switching device audio-visual data at control terminal 113
(FIG. 1) notifying
the user(s) that the code has been incorrectly entered and needs to be entered
again. If the
user(s) provide a wrong code multiple times (e.g., ten times), virtual port
206 can again provide
updated switching device audio-visual data notifying the user(s) to contact an
administrator
and/or a manufacturer of KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1). FIG. 7 illustrates
exemplary
switching device audio-visual data notifying the user(s) that the code has
been incorrectly
entered and needs to be entered again. FIG. 13 illustrates exemplary user
interface audio-visual
data notifying the user(s) to contact the administrator and/or the
manufacturer.
[0086] When the user(s) correctly provide the code, KVM switching device
101 (FIG. 1) can
erase its memory storage module(s) of any previously paired user interface
(e.g., previous
configuration settings, codes, flags, etc.). The KVM switching device 101
(FIG. 1) can then be
paired with user interface 111 (FIG. 1).
[0087] After pairing with user interface 111 (FIG. 1), KVM switching device
101 (FIG. 1)
can be configured to detect whether user interface 111 (FIG. 1) is presently
configured. If KVM
switching device 101 (FIG. 1) detects user interface 111 (FIG. 1) is presently
configured, KVM
switching device 101 (FIG. 1) can be configured to switch to a predetermined
physical port of
physical port(s) 102 (e.g., physical port 202 (FIG. 2)). If, instead, KVM
switching device 101
(FIG. 1) detects user interface 111 (FIG. 1) is not presently configured, KVM
switching device
101 (FIG. 1) can disable the user interface input(s) of user interface 111
(FIG. 1) until
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completion of the configuration of user interface 111 (FIG. 1), and virtual
port 206 can present
switching device audio-visual device at control terminal 113 (FIG. 1).
Meanwhile, user
interface 111 (FIG. 1) can present user interface audio-visual data notifying
the user(s) that user
interface 111 (FIG. 1) is nearly ready for use and/or to configure user
interface 111 (FIG. 1) at
control terminal 113 (FIG. 1) (e.g., via peripheral input device(s) 117). FIG.
8 illustrates
exemplary user interface audio-visual data notifying the user(s) that user
interface 111 (FIG. 1)
is nearly ready for use and to configure user interface 111 (FIG. 1) at
control terminal 113 (FIG.
1).
[0088] For purposes of configuring user interface 111 (FIG. 1), the
switching device audio-
visual data present at audio-visual display device 114 can comprise a
configuration module
configured to permit the user(s) to configure the manner in which the user(s)
desire user
interface 111 (FIG. 1) to control KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) and/or
host computer
system(s) 102 (FIG. 1). FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary configuration module
displayed at
audio-visual display device 114 (FIG. 1). The configuration module can
comprise one or more
graphical user interface (GUI) inputs by which the user(s) can configure user
interface 111 (FIG.
1). The configuration module can permit the user(s) to select which physical
port(s) 207 (FIG.
2) are presently, or desired to be, active (e.g., via a check box input). The
configuration module
can also comprise one or more check boxes indicating whether any of the host
computer
system(s) 102 (FIG. 1) coupled to physical port(s) 207 (FIG. 2) require CAC
access. Likewise,
the configuration module can also comprise one or more drop down lists for
selecting names
and/or colors for each of physical port(s) 207 and/or host computer system(s)
102 (FIG. 1).
Finally, the configuration module can also have a GUI input (e.g., a "Done"
button) by which
the user(s) can affirm that he/she/they are done configuring user interface
111 (FIG. 1).
[0089] In some embodiments, the user(s) can deactivate one or more physical
ports of
physical port(s) 207 (FIG. 2). FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary configuration
module displayed
at audio-visual display device 114 where a physical port (e.g., physical port
204) has been
disabled. In many embodiments, the user(s) can customize the name of any
physical port of
physical port(s) 207. The user(s) can selected the customized name of the
physical port by
selecting an appropriate entry from the name drop down list of that physical
port at the
configuration module. FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary drop down list where
the user(s) can
select to customize the name of a physical port. Selecting the appropriate
entry can cause a
customization window to appear at the configuration module whereby the user(s)
can provide
the customized name using peripheral input device(s) 117. FIG. 12 illustrates
an exemplary
customization window whereby the user(s) can customize the name of a physical
port. When
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the user(s) select a new customized name, the new customized name can replace
a previous
customized name.
[0090] In some embodiments, the configuration module can provide another
drop down list
for selecting how much time (e.g., 4 hours, 8 hours, 11, hours, and/or always)
to light up an
electronic display of user interface 111 (FIG. 1), if applicable.
[0091] In further embodiments, KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1) can be
configured to
receive a configuration input from the user(s) prompting KVM switching device
101 (FIG. 1) to
configure and/or re-configure user interface 111 (FIG. 1). In some
embodiments, KVM
switching device 101 (FIG. 1) can be configured to receive the configuration
input upon
completion of pairing with user interface 111 (FIG. 1). In the same or
different embodiments,
the user(s) can provide the configuration input by pressing a configuration
input mechanism
(e.g., a pin-hole mechanical button) of user interface 111 (FIG. 1). In these
embodiments, the
user(s) may have to depress the configuration input mechanism for a specified
amount of time
(e.g., five seconds). The configuration module can be configured to provide
default names
and/or colors for physical port(s) 207 and/or host computer system(s) 102
where the user(s) do
not select otherwise.
[0092] Skipping ahead now in the figures, FIG. 19 illustrates a flow chart
for an
embodiment of method 1900. Method 1900 is merely exemplary and is not limited
to the
embodiments presented herein. Method 1900 can be employed in many different
embodiments
or examples not specifically depicted or described herein. In some
embodiments, the
procedures, the processes, and/or the activities of method 1900 can be
performed in the order
presented. In other embodiments, the procedures, the processes, and/or the
activities of the
method 1900 can be performed in any other suitable order. In still other
embodiments, one or
more of the procedures, the processes, and/or the activities in method 1900
can be combined or
skipped.
[0093] Method 1900 can comprise procedure 1901 of providing a keyboard-
video-mouse
(KVM) switching device. The KVM switching device can be similar or identical
to KVM
switching device 101 (FIG. 1).
[0094] Method 1900 can comprise procedure 1902 of providing one or more
host computer
systems. The host computer system(s) can be similar or identical to host
computer system(s)
102 (FIG. 1).
[0095] Method 1900 can comprise procedure 1903 of providing a control
terminal. The
control terminal can be similar or identical to all or part of control
terminal 113 (FIG. 1).
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[0096] Method 1900 can comprise procedure 1904 of providing a user
interface. The user
interface can be similar or identical to user interface 111 (FIG. 1).
[0097] Method 1900 can comprise procedure 1905 of coupling the KVM
switching device
to the host computer system(s). Method 1900 can also comprise procedure 1906
of coupling the
KVM switching device to the control terminal, and method 1900 can further
comprise
procedure 1907 of coupling the user interface to the KVM switching device.
[0098] Returning again to the figures, FIG. 16 illustrates a flow chart for
an embodiment of
method 1600. In some embodiments, method 1600 can be implemented by executing
one or
more computer instructions configured to be run on one or more processors and
to be stored on
one or more storage modules of a computer system. The computer system can be
similar or
identical to computer system 1700 (FIG. 17) and/or the virtual port computer
system described
above with respect to system 100 (FIG. 1). Method 1600 is merely exemplary and
is not limited
to the embodiments presented herein. Method 1600 can be employed in many
different
embodiments or examples not specifically depicted or described herein. In some
embodiments,
the procedures, the processes, and/or the activities of method 1600 can be
performed in the order
presented. In other embodiments, the procedures, the processes, and/or the
activities of method
1600 can be performed in any other suitable order. In still other embodiments,
one or more of
the procedures, the processes, and/or the activities in method 1600 can be
combined or skipped.
[0099] Method 1600 can comprise procedure 1601 of coupling a user interface
to a
keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switching device. The KVM switching device is
configured to
route host computer audio-visual data from one or more host computer systems
to a control
terminal and the KVM switching device comprises a virtual port. The user
interface can be
similar or identical to user interface 111 (FIG. 1), the KVM switching device
can be similar to
KVM switching device 101 (FIG. 1), the host computer system(s) can be similar
or identical to
host computer system(s) 102, the control terminal can be similar or identical
to all or part of
control terminal 113 (FIG. 1), the virtual port can be similar or identical to
virtual port 206 (FIG.
2), and/or the host computer audio-visual data can be similar or identical to
the host computer
audio-visual data described above with respect to system 100 (FIG. 1). In many
embodiments,
procedure 1601 of coupling the user interface to the KVM switching device can
be performed
similarly to as described above with respect to system 100 (FIGs. 1 & 2). FIG.
20 illustrates an
exemplary procedure 1601.
[00100] Referring to FIG. 20, procedure 1601 can comprise process 2001 of
detecting
whether the user interface is presently coupled to the KVM switching device.
If upon or after
performing process 2001, no user interface is detected, procedure 1601 can
continue with
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process 2002 of switching the KVM switching device to the virtual port. After
performing
process 2002, procedure 1601 can comprise process 2003 of presenting switching
device audio-
visual data (e.g., at the control terminal) to one or more users of the KVM
switching device,
where the switching device audio-visual data instructs the user(s) to couple
the user interface to
the KVM switching device. Process 2001, process 2002, and/or process 2003 can
be repeated
until the user interface is detected upon performing process 2001. Upon
initially performing
process 2001, if the user interface is detected, then process 2002 and/or
process 2003 can be
omitted.
[00101] Referring again to FIG. 16, method 1600 can continue with procedure
1602 of
pairing the user interface to the KVM switching device using the virtual port
of the KVM
switching device. In many embodiments, procedure 1602 of pairing the user
interface to the
KVM switching device can be performed in a manner similar to that described
above with
respect to system 100 (FIGs. 1 & 2). FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary
procedure 1602.
[00102] Referring to FIG. 21, procedure 1602 can comprise process 2101 of
checking
whether the KVM switching device is presently paired with the user interface.
If upon or after
performing process 2101, the KVM switching device and the user interface are
determined to
not be presently paired, procedure 1601 can continue with process 2102 of
automatically or
manually switching the KVM switching device to the virtual port. Procedure
1602 can continue
with process 2103 of presenting switching device audio-visual data (e.g., at
the control terminal)
to the user(s), where the switching device audio-visual data instructs the
user(s) to provide a
code presented by the user interface via the user interface and/or the control
terminal.
Meanwhile, procedure 1602 can also comprise process 2104 of presenting user
interface audio-
visual data (e.g., at the user interface) to the user(s), where the user
interface audio-visual data
comprises the code. In some embodiments, process 2104 can be performed after
or
approximately simultaneously with process 2103. The user interface audio-
visual data can be
stored in a memory module of the user interface.
[00103] Procedure 1602 can comprise process 2105 of unpairing a previously
paired user
interface from the KVM switching device (e.g., erasing previous pairing data
from one or more
memory modules of the KVM switching device). Process 2105 can be performed
after or
approximately simultaneously with process 2101, process 2102, process 2103,
and/or process
2104.
[00104] Procedure 1602 can continue with process 2106 of receiving the code
from the
user(s) at the at least one of the control terminal (e.g., via one or more
peripheral input devices)
or the user interface (e.g., via one or more user interface inputs of the user
interface). The
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peripheral input device(s) can be similar or identical to peripheral input
device(s) 117 (FIG. 1).
The user interface input(s) can be similar or identical to the user interface
input(s) described
above with respect to system 100 (FIG. 1). Procedure 1602 can continue further
with a process
of comparing the code received from the user(s) against the code of the user
interface audio-
visual data. If after or upon performing the process of comparing the code
received from the
user(s) against the code of the user interface audio-visual data, the codes do
not match, then
procedure 1602 can continue with a process of presenting switching device
audio-visual data,
where the switching device audio-visual data instructs the user(s) to re-enter
the code presented
at the user interface via the user interface and/or the control terminal. If
the codes match, the
process of presenting switching device audio-visual data, where the switching
device audio-
visual data instructs the user(s) to re-enter the code presented at the user
interface via the user
interface and/or the control terminal can be omitted from procedure 1602.
[00105] Continuing with FIG. 16, method 1600 can proceed with procedure 1603
of
configuring the user interface to permit the user interface to control the KVM
switching device
using the virtual port, which can occur after the KVM switching device is
paired with the user
interface. In many embodiments, procedure 1603 of configuring the user
interface to permit the
user interface to control the KVM switching device can be performed in a
manner similar to that
described above with respect to system 100 (FIGs. 1 & 2). FIG. 22 illustrates
an exemplary
procedure 1603.
[00106] Procedure 1603 can comprise process 2201 of detecting a configuration
status of the
user interface. If when performing process 2201, the configuration status
indicates that the user
interface is already configured to control the KVM switching device, procedure
1603 can
continue with process 2202 of activating a first physical port of the KVM
switching device.
Performing process 2202 can comprise an activity of routing host computer
audio-visual data of
a first or predetermined host computer system of the host computer system(s)
that is coupled to
the first physical port to the control terminal. The first host computer
system can be similar or
identical to host computer system 103 (FIG. 1). The first physical port can be
similar or
identical to physical port 202 (FIG. 2). In those embodiments where process
2202 is performed,
one or more of processes 2203-2210, as described below, can be omitted from
procedure 1603.
[00107] If, when performing process 2201, the configuration status indicates
that the user
interface is not already configured to control the KVM switching device,
procedure 1603 can
continue with process 2203 of disabling the user interface input(s) of the
user interface until the
user interface is configured. Then, procedure 1603 can continue with process
2204 of presenting
switching device audio-visual data (e.g., at the control terminal) to the
user(s), where the
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switching device audio-visual data comprises a configuration module (e.g., an
on-screen
configuration module) displayed by the control terminal and configured to
accept command data
from the peripheral input device(s)) configured to permit the user(s) to
configure (e.g., using the
peripheral input device(s)) the manner in which the user interface controls
the KVM switching
device with respect to the host computer system(s). In those embodiments where
one or more of
processes 2203-2210 are performed, process 2202 can be omitted from procedure
1603.
[00108] Procedure 1603 can comprise optional process 2205 of presenting user
interface
audio-visual data (e.g., at the user interface) to the user(s), where the user
interface notifies the
user(s) that the user interface is almost configured (e.g., ready for use).
Process 2205 can be
performed after or approximately simultaneously with process 2203 and/or
process 2204.
[00109] Procedure 1603 can comprise a process of receiving command data from
the user(s)
(e.g., via the peripheral input device(s)), where the command data comprises
one or more
configuration settings (e.g., numbers, names, symbols, and/or colors
associated with the user
interface input(s), the physical port(s) of the user interface, and/or the
host computer system(s)
as described above with respect to system 100 (FIGs. 1 & 2)) for the user
interface provided via
the configuration module. This process can be performed after process 2205
and/or before
process 2206, as described below.
[00110] Procedure 1603 can comprise process 2206 of receiving command data
from the
user(s) (e.g., via the peripheral input device(s)), where the command data
comprises affirmation
that the user(s) are finished configuring the user interface. Process 2206 can
be performed after
one or more of processes 2202-2205 are performed.
[00111] Procedure 1603 can comprise process 2207 of updating the user
interface with the
configuration settings provided via the configuration module. Process 2207 can
comprise
receiving command data from the user(s) (e.g., via the peripheral input
device(s)), where (e.g.,
after or approximately simultaneously as provided) the command data comprises
one or more
configuration settings for the user interface provided via the configuration
module.
[00112] Procedure 1603 can comprise process 2208 of presenting the
configuration settings at
the user interface. Procedure 1603 can continue with process 2209 of
indicating at the KVM
switching device that the user interface is configured. Procedure 1603 can
continue with process
2210 of activating the first or predetermined physical port of the user
interface. Process 2210
can be similar or identical to process 2202, as described above.
[00113] Referring again to FIG. 16, method 1600 can comprise procedure 1604 of
turning on
the KVM switching device. Procedure 1604 can be performed before performing
one or more of
procedures 1601-1603.
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[00114] Skipping ahead again in the drawings, FIG. 29 illustrates a flow chart
for an
embodiment of method 2900. Method 2900 is merely exemplary and is not limited
to the
embodiments presented herein. Method 2900 can be employed in many different
embodiments
or examples not specifically depicted or described herein. In some
embodiments, the
procedures, the processes, and/or the activities of method 2900 can be
performed in the order
presented. In other embodiments, the procedures, the processes, and/or the
activities of the
method 2900 can be performed in any other suitable order. In still other
embodiments, one or
more of the procedures, the processes, and/or the activities in method 2900
can be combined or
skipped.
[00115] Method 2900 can comprise activity 2901 of manufacturing a keyboard-
video-mouse
(KVM) switching device. The KVM switching device can be similar or identical
to KVM
switching device 101 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, performing activity 2901
can comprise
configuring one or more physical ports of the KVM switching device to be
disabled until a user
interface is paired with the KVM switching device. The physical port(s) can be
similar or
identical to physical port(s) 207 (FIG. 2), and the user interface can be
similar or identical to
user interface 111 (FIG. 1).
[00116] Method 2900 can comprise activity 2902 of configuring the keyboard-
video-mouse
switching device to communicate with one or more host computer systems, a
control terminal,
and the user interface. The host computer system(s) can be similar or
identical to host computer
system(s) 102 (FIG. 1), and the control terminal can be similar or identical
to control terminal
113 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, activity 2902 can comprise configuring the
user interface
to communicate with the KVM switching device through at least one of wired or
wireless
communication.
[00117] Method 2900 can comprise activity 2903 of configuring the user
interface to permit
selection of at least one selected host computer system of the host computer
system(s) after the
user interface is paired with the KVM switching device.
[00118] Method 2900 can comprise activity 2904 of configuring the user
interface to select
the selected host computer system(s) of the host computer system(s) until the
user interface is
paired with the KVM switching device.
[00119] Method 2900 can comprise activity 2905 of configuring the KVM
switching device
such that when (a) the KVM switching device is communicating with the host
computer
system(s) and the control terminal and (b) the user interface is paired with
the KVM switching
device, the KVM switching device is configured to route host computer audio-
visual data from
the selected host computer system(s) of the host computer system(s) to the
control terminal. In
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many embodiments, one or more of activities 2903 through 2905 can be performed
as part of
activity 2901.
[00120] Method 2900 can comprise activity 2906 of configuring the KVM
switching device
to communicate with a common access card reader. The common access card reader
can be
similar or identical to common access card reader 121 (FIG. 1).
[00121] Method 2900 can comprise activity 2907 of manufacturing the user
interface. In
some embodiments, activity 2907 can be omitted. In other embodiments, one or
more activities
2901 through 2906 and/or activity 2908 can be omitted. FIG. 30 illustrates an
exemplary
activity 2907.
[00122] Referring to FIG. 30, activity 2907 can comprise activity 3001 of
providing at the
user interface one or more user interface inputs configured to control
selection of the selected
host computer system(s) of the host computer system(s) while the user
interface is paired with
the KVM switching device. The user interface input(s) can be similar or
identical to the user
interface input(s) described above with respect to system 100 (FIG. 1). In
some embodiments,
performing activity 3101 can comprise manufacturing one or more mechanical
buttons
comprising one or more color chips.
[00123] Further, activity 2907 can comprise activity 3002 of configuring the
user interface to
control the common access card reader in order to establish at least one of
the one or more host
computer systems being secured by the common access card reader.
[00124] Activity 2907 can comprise activity 3003 of providing a touch screen
electronic
display at the user interface. The touch screen electronic display can be
similar to the touch
screen electronic display described above with respect to user interface 111
(FIG. 1).
[00125] Activity 2907 can comprise activity 3004 of configuring the user
interface to be
paired with the KVM switching device upon entry of a code.
[00126] Activity 2907 can comprise activity 3005 of configuring the user
interface to disable
at least one of the physical port(s).
[00127] Returning now to FIG. 29, method 2900 can comprise activity 2908 of
configuring
the KVM switching device to communicate with at least one other slave device.
The other slave
device(s) can be similar or identical to the other slave device(s) described
above with respect to
system 100 (FIG. 1).
[00128] In many embodiments, one or more of activities 2901 through 2908 can
be
performed simultaneously with one or more other of activities 2901 through
2908. Further, one
or more of activities 3001 (FIG. 30) through 3005 (FIG. 30) can be performed
simultaneously
with one or more other of activities 3001 through 3005.
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[00129] Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 31 illustrates a flow chart for an
embodiment of
method 3100. In some embodiments, at least part of method 3100 can be
implemented by
executing one or more computer instructions configured to be run on one or
more processors and
to be stored on one or more storage modules of at least one computer system.
The computer
system(s) can be similar or identical to computer system 1700 (FIG. 17) and/or
the virtual port
computer system described above with respect to system 100 (FIG. 1). Method
3100 is merely
exemplary and is not limited to the embodiments presented herein. Method 3100
can be
employed in many different embodiments or examples not specifically depicted
or described
herein. In some embodiments, the procedures, the processes, and/or the
activities of method
3100 can be performed in the order presented. In other embodiments, the
procedures, the
processes, and/or the activities of method 3100 can be performed in any other
suitable order. In
still other embodiments, one or more of the procedures, the processes, and/or
the activities in
method 3100 can be combined or skipped.
[00130] Method 3100 can comprise activity 3101 of detecting a user interface
at a virtual port
of a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switching device when the user interface is
coupled with the
KVM switching device. The virtual port can be similar or identical to virtual
port 207 (FIG. 2);
the KVM switching device can be similar or identical to KVM switching device
101 (FIG. 1);
and the user interface can be similar or identical to user interface 111 (FIG.
1).
[00131] Method 3100 can comprise activity 3102 of pairing the user interface
to the KVM
switching device. In some embodiments, performing activity 3102 can comprise
receiving a
code at one of the user interface or a control terminal. The control terminal
can be similar or
identical to control terminal 113 (FIG. 1). In many embodiments, activity 3102
can occur after
activity 3101.
[00132] Method 3100 can comprise activity 3103 of receiving a selection of at
least one
selected host computer system of one or more host computer systems at the KVM
switching
device via one or more user interface inputs of the user interface when the
user interface is
paired with the KVM switching device. In many embodiments, activity 3103
occurs after
activity 3101 and/or 3102. The host computer system(s) can be similar or
identical to host
computer system(s) 102 (FIG. 1), and the user interface input(s) can be
similar or identical to the
user interface input(s) described above with respect to system 100 (FIG. 1).
[00133] Method 3100 can comprise activity 3104 of disabling communication of
the KVM
switching device with the host computer system(s). In many embodiments,
activity 3104 can
occur before and/or after one or more of activities 3101 through 3103. In
further embodiments,
activity 3104 can be repeated one or more times.
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[00134] Method 3100 can comprise activity 3105 of receiving a configuration of
the user
interface input(s) associating the user interface input(s) with the host
computer system(s). In
many embodiments, activity 3105 can be performed prior to activity 3103 and/or
after activities
3101 and/or 3102.
[00135] Method 3100 can comprise activity 3106 of receiving a configuration of
one or more
physical ports of the KVM switching device at the user interface establishing
that at least one of
the physical port(s) is to be secured by a common access card reader. The
physical port(s) can
be similar or identical to physical port(s) 206 (FIG. 2), and the common
access card reader can
be similar or identical to common access card reader 121 (FIG. 1). In many
embodiments,
activity 3106 can be performed as part of activity 3105, and vice versa.
Further, in some
embodiments, activities 3105 and 3106 can be performed approximately
simultaneously.
[00136] Method 3100 can comprise activity 3107 of providing first instructions
at the user
interface regarding pairing the user interface with the KVM switching device.
In some
embodiments, performing activity 3107 can comprise providing the first
instructions at an
electronic display of the user interface. The electronic display can be
similar or identical to the
electronic display described above with respect to user interface 111 (FIG.
1). In many
embodiments, activity 3107 can occur after activity 3101 and/or before
activity 3102.
[00137] Method 3100 can comprise activity 3108 of providing second
instructions at the user
interface regarding configuring the one or more user interface inputs of the
user interface. In
some embodiments, performing activity 3108 can comprise providing the second
instructions at
the electronic display of the user interface. In many embodiments, activity
3107 can occur after
activity 3102 and/or before activity 3103.
[00138] Method 3100 can comprise activity 3109 of receiving a second selection
of at least
one other selected host computer system of the host computer system(s) at the
KVM switching
device via the user interface inputs of the user interface when the user
interface is paired with
the KVM switching device. In many embodiments, activity 3109 can occur after
one or more of
activities 3101 through 3108.
[00139] For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, it can be appreciated
that any of the
audio-visual data can comprise video data and/or audio data, as appropriate.
For example,
although many of the examples above are discussed with respect to presenting
audio-visual data
visually, many embodiments could also be implemented with audible audio-visual
data instead
or as well.
[00140] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific
embodiments, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be
made without
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departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
disclosure of embodiments
of the invention is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the invention
and is not intended to
be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited
only to the extent
required by the appended claims. For example, to one of ordinary skill in the
art, it will be
readily apparent that methods 1600 (FIG. 16), 1900 (FIG. 19), 2900 (FIG. 29),
and/or 3100
(FIG. 31), and the related procedures, process, and/or activities of each, may
be comprised of
many different procedures, processes, and activities and be performed by many
different
modules, in many different orders, that any element of FIGs. 1-31 may be
modified, and that the
foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily
represent a complete
description of all possible embodiments.
[00141] All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the
embodiment claimed
in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed
elements constitutes
reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and
solutions to
problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The
benefits, advantages,
solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit,
advantage, or
solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed
as critical,
required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims,
unless such benefits,
advantages, solutions, or elements are expressly stated in such claim.
[00142] Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not
dedicated to the
public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations:
(1) are not
expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of
express elements
and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
31
