Patent ID: 8443037
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for connecting a workstation including a keyboard, a cursor control device and a video monitor and a plurality of computers including first and second computers, the system comprising: a programmable switch for routing keyboard and cursor control signals from the workstation to the first computer and for routing video signals from the first computer to the video monitor of the workstation; a first interface circuit for receiving keyboard and cursor control device signals from the workstation; said first interface circuit transmitting the keyboard and cursor control device signals to the programmable switch; a second interface circuit disposed between the programmable switch and the first computer for supplying the keyboard and cursor control device signals routed through the programmable switch to the first computer; an on-screen programming circuit, disposed between the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit, that produces video signals for display on the video monitor; wherein the video signals generated by the on-screen programming circuit cause the video monitor to display a menu of switching system control options; a programmable logic circuit, disposed between the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit, the programmable logic circuit operating to detect keyboard or cursor control device signals received while the on-screen programming circuit is producing the menu of switching system control options and to control the programmable switch in response to the keyboard or cursor control device signals detected; and wherein a first set of keyboard signals is received at the first interface circuit from the keyboard, and information corresponding to the first set of keyboard signals is propagated to the first computer through the second interface circuit; wherein a second set of keyboard signals is received at the first interface circuit from the keyboard, is further received by the programmable logic circuit that prevents the second set of keyboard signals from being propagated to any of the plurality of computers, and causes the on-screen programming circuit to produce the menu of switching system control options for display on the video monitor; wherein a third set of keyboard signals is received at the first interface circuit from the keyboard, corresponds to a selection of at least one of the switching system control options, and is further received by the programmable logic circuit that prevents the third set of keyboard signals from being propagated to any of the plurality of computers; and wherein a fourth set of keyboard signals is received at the first interface circuit from the keyboard, and information corresponding to the fourth set of keyboard signals is propagated to the second computer through the programmable switch in response to the selection of at least one of the switching system control options using the keyboard.