Patent ID: 7139861
Filing Date: 2006-11-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An input/output (I/O) unit access switching system, comprising: a plurality of servers each comprising a control module and an intelligent platform management interface (IPMI) having a baseboard management controller (BMC); at least one input device; at least one output device; and a switching device comprising a microprocessor unit, an input function switching unit connected to the microprocessor unit and each of the BMCs, an output function switching unit connected to the microprocessor unit and each of the servers, an interrupt unit connected to the microprocessor unit and each of the BMCs, at least one set of input connection ports connected to the microprocessor unit and the input device, and at least one set of output connection ports connected to the microprocessor unit and the output device; wherein when the control module of one of the servers is activated, the BMC of the corresponding server outputs an interrupt request signal to the interrupt unit of the switching device, so as to allow the interrupt unit to determine if the interrupt request signal is transmitted from the server whose control module is activated, and to forward the determination result to the microprocessor unit, whereby the microprocessor unit generates an input switch request signal that is transmitted to the input function switching unit, and generates an output switch request signal that is transmitted to the output function switching unit, such that according to the input and output switch request signals respectively, the input function switching unit and the output function switching unit each generates and transmits a corresponding switch driving signal to the BMC of the server whose control module is activated, and such that this server who receives the switch driving signals is allowed to receive an input signal from the input device through the corresponding BMC, the input function switching unit and the input connection ports, and to consequently execute operations according to the input signal, as well as to output the operational result to the output device through the output function switching unit and the output connection ports.