Patent ID: 6119146
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A computer network, comprising:a processor subsystem;a plurality of nodes, each one of said plurality of nodes coupled to said processor subsystem and having a remotely located human interface comprised of a video monitor and an input/output (""I/O"") device coupled thereto;a transmission line;each one of said plurality of nodes including a first interface device coupled to said processor subsystem and to said transmission line and each one of said human interfaces including a second interface device coupled to said video monitor, said I/O device and said transmission line;a memory subsystem coupled to said processor subsystem, said memory subsystem including a plurality of memory areas, each corresponding to one of said plurality of nodes;said processor subsystem using information stored in each one of said plurality of memory areas to appear, to said corresponding one of said plurality of nodes, as a dedicated processor for said human interface coupled to said node;said first interface device comprising:a video encoder coupled to said processor subsystem and said transmission line, said video encoder placing a stream of video information received from said processor subsystem onto said transmission line;a first transceiver coupled to said processor subsystem and said transmission line, said first transceiver injecting a first set of data signals received from said processor subsystem into said stream of video information;said second interface comprising:a video decoder coupled to said transmission line to receive said stream of video information and to said video monitor; anda second transceiver coupled to said transmission line and said I/O device, said second transceiver receiving said stream of video information in which said first set of data signals were injected and removing said first set of data signals from said stream of video information;said second transceiver receiving a second set of data signals from said I/O device and injecting said second set of data signals into said stream of video information;said first transceiver receiving said stream of video information in which said second set of data signals were injected and removing said second set of data signals from said stream of video.