Multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces

The present invention relates to a multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces, comprising: an ethernet physical unit, a media accessing and controlling unit, a flow control unit, a plug-and-play interface transforming module, and a plurality of plug-and-play interfaces. In the multi-computers network sharing system of the present invention, when one of the external electronic devices is connected to any one of the plug-and-play interfaces, the flow control unit transmits the ethernet signal accessed by the first media accessing and controlling unit to the plug-and-play interface transforming module, therefore the plug-and-play interface transforming module transforms the ethernet signal to a plug-and-play interface signal and next transmits the plug-and-play interface signal to the electronic device connected with the plug-and-play interface, such that the electronic device can connect to the Internet without using any network cables or wi-fi devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a network communication system, and more particularly, to a multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces.

2. Description of Related Art

Ethernet interfaces are widely used in network communication system, PC and notebook for facilitating those devices capable of connecting to an ethernet network, i.e., the Internet. However, for a specific network communication system, it needs to further include some USB interfaces besides the ethernet interface, so that the external electronic devices, such as network communication system notebook, can be connected to the network communication system via the USB interface or the ethernet interface.

Accordingly, network communication system manufactures propose a network communication system with an ethernet interface and an USB interface. Please refer toFIG. 1, which illustrates a framework view of a network communication system with an ethernet interface and an USB interface. As shown inFIG. 1, the network communication system includes: a network micro-controlee600′, an USB-to-Ethernet controller500′ and an ethernet physical layer400′, wherein the network micro-controlee600′, the USB-to-Ethernet controller500′, the an ethernet physical layer400′ communicate to each other through a media independent interface (MII)300′.

In the aforesaid network communication system, the network micro-controlee600′ has a media access controller (MAC)601′, used for access an ethernet network4′ via the ethernet physical layer400′; Similarly, the USB-to-Ethernet controller500′ also includes a media access controller (MAC)503′ for controlling the ethernet physical layer400′, so as to access the ethernet network4′ via a network cable41′. Therefore, through an USB-to-Ethernet bridge502′ and an USB physical layer501′ of the USB-to-Ethernet controller500′, an external electronic device5′ can connects to the ethernet network4′ (i.e., the Internet) via an USB cable51′.

The aforesaid network communication system with ethernet interface and USB interface provides the electronic device to connect to the ethernet network through the USB interface, that make the connection way between the electronic device and the network communication system become convenient. However, the network communication system can merely provide only one electronic device to connect to the ethernet network through the USB interface; in fact, that is not a smart framework and causes user's inconveniences.

Besides, please refer toFIG. 8, there is shown a framework view of a KVM device having network-communication function. The KVM device shown in FIG. 8 is introduced by an U.S. Pat. No. 8,078,917. As shown inFIG. 8, KVM switch20is connected to computer70, and the computer70includes a keyboard70a, a mouse70band a display70c. The KVM switch20also includes a keyboard20a, a mouse20band a display20cand connects with a plurality of servers (1-1,1-2, . . . ,1-N). The KVM switch20inFIG. 8gets power from a power regulator30. In this KVM framework, computer70is a command center and user can control the KVM switch20via the computer70to switch the connection between the servers (1-1,1-2, . . . ,1-N) and KVM switch20; This KVM device and framework is so-called KVMoIP. The similar KVMoIP framework are also introduced in other U.S. patents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,478,182, 7,428,606 and 6,378,009.

However, whatever the KVM devices and the KVM frameworks proposed by the U.S. Pat. No. 8,078,917, the U.S. Pat. No. 7,478,182, the U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,606, or the U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,009, all the (host) computers in the KVM frameworks are connected to the KVM switches by using “network”, and it means that the computers could not connect to the KVM switch if the computers lack the ethernet connectors (i.e., RJ45 connectors). So that, if the connection way between the computer and the KVM switch can be modified from network interface to plug-and-play interface, that may be a friendly connection interface.

Accordingly, in view of the conventional network communication system and KVMoIP still have shortcomings and drawbacks, the inventor of the present application has made great efforts to make inventive research thereon and eventually provided a multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces for transforming the ethernet signal of an ethernet network to a plug-and-play interface signal, so as to facilitate the electronic devices connected to the multi-computers network sharing system capable of connecting to the Internet, without using any network cables or wi-fi devices.

Accordingly, to achieve the above objectives of the present invention, the inventor proposes a multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces, comprising:

a first ethernet physical unit, used for communicating with an ethernet network;

a first media accessing and controlling unit, coupled to the first ethernet physical unit in order to control the first ethernet physical unit for accessing an ethernet signal of the ethernet network;

a flow control unit, coupled to the first media accessing and controlling unit;

a plug-and-play interface transforming module, coupled to the flow control unit; and

a plurality of plug-and-play interfaces, coupled to the plug-and-play interface transforming module and used for respectively connecting a plurality of external electronic devices;

wherein when one of the external electronic devices is connected to any one of the plug-and-play interfaces, the flow control unit transmitting the ethernet signal accessed by the first media accessing and controlling unit to the plug-and-play interface transforming module, therefore the plug-and-play interface transforming module transforms the ethernet signal to a plug-and-play interface signal and next transmits the plug-and-play interface signal to the electronic device connected with the plug-and-play interface, such that the electronic device can connect to the Internet.

Moreover, in order to achieve the above objectives of the present invention, the inventor proposes a second embodiment for the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces, comprising:

an ethernet physical unit, used for communicating with an ethernet network;

a media accessing and controlling unit, coupled to the ethernet physical unit in order to control the ethernet physical unit for accessing an ethernet signal of the ethernet network;

a flow control unit, coupled to the media accessing and controlling unit;

a plurality of plug-and-play interface core units, coupled to the flow control unit; and

a plurality of plug-and-play interfaces, coupled to the plug-and-play interface core units and used for connecting a plurality of external electronic devices, respectively;

wherein when one of the external electronic devices is connected to any one of the plug-and-play interfaces, the related plug-and-play interface core unit would drive the plug-and-play interface; therefore the flow control unit transmits the ethernet signal accessed by the media accessing and controlling unit to the plug-and-play interface core unit; and then the plug-and-play interface core unit transforms the ethernet signal to a plug-and-play interface signal and next transmits the plug-and-play interface signal to the electronic device connected with the plug-and-play interface, such that the electronic device can connect to the Internet.

Furthermore, for achieving the above objectives of the present invention, the inventor proposes a third embodiment for the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces, comprising:

a first ethernet physical unit, used for communicating with an ethernet network;

a first media accessing and controlling unit, coupled to the first ethernet physical unit in order to control the first ethernet physical unit for accessing an ethernet signal of the ethernet network;

a flow control unit, coupled to the first media accessing and controlling unit;

a plurality of second media accessing and controlling units, coupled to the flow control unit;

a plurality of third media accessing and controlling units, coupled to the second media accessing and controlling units, respectively;

a plurality of plug-and-play interface core units, coupled to the third media accessing and controlling units, respectively; and

a plurality of plug-and-play interfaces, coupled to the plug-and-play interface core units and used for connecting a plurality of external electronic devices, respectively;

wherein when one of the external electronic devices is connected to any one of the plug-and-play interfaces, the related plug-and-play interface core unit would drive the plug-and-play interface; therefore the flow control unit transmits the ethernet signal accessed by the first media accessing and controlling unit to the plug-and-play interface core unit through the third media accessing and controlling unit and the second media accessing and controlling unit; and then the plug-and-play interface core unit transforms the ethernet signal to a plug-and-play interface signal and next transmits the plug-and-play interface signal to the electronic device connected with the plurality of plug-and-play interface, such that the electronic device can connect to the Internet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To more clearly describe a multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces according to the present invention, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings hereinafter.

Please refer toFIG. 2, which illustrates a framework view of a multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces according to the present invention, and please simultaneously refer toFIG. 3, which illustrates a schematic application diagram of the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces. As shown inFIG. 2, the multi-computers network sharing system1having plug-and-play interfaces mainly includes: a first ethernet physical unit11, a first media accessing and controlling unit12, a flow control unit13, a plug-and-play interface transforming module14, and a plurality of plug-and-play interfaces15(FIG. 2merely shows two plug-and-play interfaces15). The first ethernet physical unit11is used for communicating with an ethernet network4, and the first media accessing and controlling unit12is coupled to the first ethernet physical unit11in order to control the first ethernet physical unit11for accessing an ethernet signal of the ethernet network4.

Inheriting to above instruction for this multi-computers network sharing system1, the flow control unit13is coupled to the first media accessing and controlling unit12, and plug-and-play interface transforming module14is coupled to the flow control unit13. Moreover, the plug-and-play interfaces15are coupled to the plug-and-play interface transforming module14and used for respectively connecting a plurality of external electronic devices. In the multi-computers network sharing system1of the present invention, when one of the external electronic devices is connected to any one of the plug-and-play interfaces15, the flow control unit13would transmit the ethernet signal accessed by the first media accessing and controlling unit12to the plug-and-play interface transforming module14, therefore the plug-and-play interface transforming module14transforms the ethernet signal to a plug-and-play interface signal and next transmits the plug-and-play interface signal to the electronic device connected with the plug-and-play interface15, such that the electronic device can connect to the Internet (i.e., the ethernet network4).

So that, the basic framework and the elementary units of the multi-computers network sharing system1having plug-and-play interfaces has been introduced through aforesaid descriptions. Next, the detailed constituting units of the multi-computers network sharing system1will be further introduced in follows. As shown inFIG. 2, the plug-and-play interface transforming module14of the multi-computers network sharing system1includes: a plurality of second media accessing and controlling units141, a plurality of second ethernet physical units142, a plurality of third ethernet physical units143, a plurality of third media accessing and controlling units144, and a plurality of plug-and-play interface core units145. InFIG. 2, it merely shows two second media accessing and controlling units141, two second ethernet physical units142, two third ethernet physical units143, two third media accessing and controlling units144, and two plug-and-play interface core units145.

Inheriting to above instruction for the plug-and-play interface transforming module14of the multi-computers network sharing system1, the second media accessing and controlling units141are coupled to the flow control unit13for receiving the ethernet signal, and the second ethernet physical units142are coupled to the second media accessing and controlling units141, respectively. As shown inFIG. 2, the third ethernet physical units143are respectively coupled to the second ethernet physical units142, and the third media accessing and controlling units144are coupled to third ethernet physical units143, respectively. Moreover, the plug-and-play interface core units145are coupled to the third media accessing and controlling units144for transmitting the ethernet signal to the external electronic device connected to the plug-and-play interface15through the format of the plug-and-play interface signal.

Through theFIG. 3, it should further understand the functions provided by the multi-computers network sharing system1having plug-and-play interfaces of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3, an Apple® smart phone21, a notebook22, an Apple® tablet PC23, and an HTC® smart phone24are simultaneously connected to the multi-computers network sharing system1having plug-and-play interfaces, wherein the first ethernet physical unit11of the multi-computers network sharing system1is connected to an ethernet network4. So that, the Apple® smart phone21, the notebook22, the Apple® tablet PC23, and the HTC® smart phone24can connect to the Internet (i.e., the ethernet network4) via the multi-computers network sharing system1.

Continuously referring toFIG. 3, the plug-and-play interface15of the multi-computers network sharing system1connected to the Apple® smart phone21is a thunderbolt interface because the new Apple® smart phone21uses thunderbolt connector as the signal-transmitting interface thereof; of course, the signal transmitted between the thunderbolt connector of the Apple® smart phone21and the plug-and-play interface15of the multi-computers network sharing system1is thunderbolt signal. On the other hand, since the notebook22usually adopts USB connector as the signal-transmitting interface thereof, it is able to know that the plug-and-play interface15of the multi-computers network sharing system1connected to the notebook22is an USB interface, and the signal transmitted between the thunderbolt connector of the notebook22and the plug-and-play interface15of the multi-computers network sharing system1is USB signal.

Inheriting to above description, the plug-and-play interface15of the multi-computers network sharing system1connected to the Apple® tablet PC23is a dock connector interface because the Apple® tablet PC23uses dock connector as the signal-transmitting interface thereof; of course, the signal transmitted between the dock connector of the Apple® tablet PC23and the plug-and-play interface15of the multi-computers network sharing system1is dock connector signal. Moreover, for the HTC® smart phone24usually adopts mini USB connector as the signal-transmitting interface thereof, it is able to know that the plug-and-play interface15of the multi-computers network sharing system1connected to the HTC® smart phone24is a mini USB interface, and the signal transmitted between the thunderbolt connector of the HTC® smart phone24and the plug-and-play interface15of the multi-computers network sharing system1is mini USB signal. Herein it needs to especially explain that, in spite of 1394 interface is rarely used in conventional3C electronic devices, the plug-and-play interface15can also be the 1394 interface.

Thus, through aforesaid instructions and related descriptions, it is able to clearly know that the main function of the multi-computers network sharing system1having plug-and-play interfaces is to provide those electronic devices connected to the multi-computers network sharing system1to communicate with the Internet (i.e., the ethernet network4) via plug-and-play (PNP) interfaces, without using any network cables or wi-fi devices. Furthermore, not merely being a PNP interface-to-Ethernet switch, the multi-computers network sharing system1having plug-and-play interfaces can be made to a chip for adapting to be embedded into an USB KVM device or a docking station, such that the external electronic devices connected to the USB KVM device or the docking station are capable of connecting to the Internet.

Please refer toFIG. 4, there is shown a stereo view of an USB KVM device embedded with the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces. As shown inFIG. 4, the USB KVM device3embedded with the multi-computers network sharing system1includes a plurality of USB interfaces33, at lease one video interface32and an ethernet connector31, in which two computers34, a keyboard36and a mouse37are connected to the USB KVM device3via the USB interfaces33and a display35is connected to the USB KVM device3through the video interface32. So that, through aforesaid connection way, it is able to dominate any one of two computers34via the switch of the USB KVM device3, and the dominated computer34can connect to the Internet (i.e., the ethernet network4) through the multi-computers network sharing system1embedded within the USB KVM device3.

Please refer toFIG. 5, there is shown a stereo view of a docking station embedded with the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces. As shown inFIG. 5, the docking station4embedded with the multi-computers network sharing system1includes a plurality of USB interfaces41, at least one video interface42, an ethernet connector43, a thunderbolt interface44, and a docking connector interface45, in which the keyboard36and the mouse37are connected to the USB interfaces41. The owner of the Apple® smart phone21and the Apple® tablet PC23would generally purchase a docking station4, and put the docking station4on the table for simultaneously supporting the Apple® smart phone21and the Apple® tablet PC23. As shown inFIG. 5, the Apple® smart phone21and the Apple® tablet PC23are connected to the docking station4via the thunderbolt interface44and dock connector interface, respectively. So that, the Apple® smart phone21and the Apple® tablet PC23disposed on the docking station4can merely be charged, but they can also connect to the Internet (i.e., the ethernet network4) through the multi-computers network sharing system1embedded within the docking station4.

Therefore, the framework, constituting elements and units and the related applications of the multi-computers network sharing system1having plug-and-play interfaces of the present invention have been clearly introduce and describe through the supplementation of various figures and drawings. In addition to the aforesaid embodiment, the present invention further induces a second embodiment for the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces. Please refer toFIG. 6, which illustrates a framework view of a second embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces according to the present invention. As shown inFIG. 6, the second embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system1includes: an ethernet physical unit11a, a media accessing and controlling unit12a, a flow control unit13a, a plurality of plug-and-play interface core units14a, and a plurality of plug-and-play interfaces15a, whereinFIG. 6only schematically shows two plug-and-play interface core units14aand plug-and-play interfaces15a.

In the second embodiment, the ethernet physical unit11ais used for communicating with an ethernet network4, and the media accessing and controlling unit12ais coupled to the ethernet physical unit11ain order to control the ethernet physical unit11afor accessing an ethernet signal of the ethernet network4. Moreover, the flow control unit13ais coupled to the media accessing and controlling unit12a, and the plug-and-play interface core units14aare coupled to the flow control unit13a. And the plug-and-play interfaces15aare coupled to the plug-and-play interface core units14aand used for connecting a plurality of external electronic devices, respectively.

In the second embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system1having plug-and-play interfaces, when one of the external electronic devices is connected to any one of the plug-and-play interfaces15a, the related plug-and-play interface core unit14awould drive the plug-and-play interface15a; therefore the flow control unit13atransmits the ethernet signal accessed by the media accessing and controlling unit12ato the plug-and-play interface core unit14a; and then the plug-and-play interface core unit14atransforms the ethernet signal to a plug-and-play interface signal and next transmits the plug-and-play interface signal to the electronic device connected with the plug-and-play interface15a, such that the electronic device can connect to the Internet.

Moreover, the same to the aforesaid embodiment, the plug-and-play interface15ain the second embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system1can be USB interface, 1394 interface, thunderbolt interface, or dock connector interface, and the related transmission signals are USB signal, 1394 signal, thunderbolt signal, and dock connector signal, respectively. Moreover, the second embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system1can also be made to a chip for adapting to be embedded into an USB KVM device or a docking station, such that the electronic devices connected to the USB KVM device or the docking station king station are capable of connecting to the Internet.

Besides the aforesaid embodiments, the present invention further induces a third embodiment for the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces. Please refer toFIG. 7, which illustrates a framework view of a third embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces according to the present invention. As shown inFIG. 7, the third embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system1includes: a first ethernet physical unit11b, a first media accessing and controlling unit12b, a flow control unit13b, a plurality of second media accessing and controlling units14b, a plurality of third media accessing and controlling units16b, a plurality of plug-and-play interface core units17b, and a plurality of plug-and-play interfaces15b, in whichFIG. 7merely schematically shows two second media accessing and controlling units14b, two third media accessing and controlling units16b, two plug-and-play interface core units17b, and two plug-and-play interfaces15b.

As shown inFIG. 7, the first ethernet physical unit11bis used for communicating with an ethernet network4, and the first media accessing and controlling unit12bis coupled to the first ethernet physical unit11bin order to control the first ethernet physical unit11bfor accessing an ethernet signal of the ethernet network4. In addition, the flow control unit13bis coupled to the first media accessing and controlling unit12b, and the second media accessing and controlling units14bis coupled to the flow control unit13b. Moreover, the third media accessing and controlling units16bare respectively coupled to the second media accessing and controlling units14b, and the plug-and-play interface core units17bare coupled to the third media accessing and controlling units16b, respectively. And the plug-and-play interfaces15bare coupled to the plug-and-play interface core units17band used for respectively connecting a plurality of external electronic devices.

In the third embodiment of this multi-computers network sharing system1, when one of the external electronic devices is connected to any one of the plug-and-play interfaces15b, the related plug-and-play interface core unit17bwould drive the plug-and-play interface15b; therefore the flow control unit13transmits the ethernet signal accessed by the first media accessing and controlling unit12to the plug-and-play interface core unit17bthrough the third media accessing and controlling unit16band the second media accessing and controlling unit14b; and then the plug-and-play interface core unit17btransforms the ethernet signal to a plug-and-play interface signal and next transmits the plug-and-play interface signal to the electronic device connected with the plurality of plug-and-play interface15b, such that the electronic device can connect to the Internet.

The same to the aforesaid embodiments, the plug-and-play interface15bin the third embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system1can be USB interface, 1394 interface, thunderbolt interface, dock connector interface, or mini USB interface, and the related transmission signals are USB signal, 1394 signal, thunderbolt signal, dock connector signal, and mini USB signal, respectively. Moreover, the third embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system1can also be made to a chip for adapting to be embedded into an USB KVM device or a docking station, such that the electronic devices connected to the USB KVM device or the docking station king station are capable of connecting to the Internet. Furthermore, it needs to especially explain that, for the third embodiment of the multi-computers network sharing system1having plug-and-play interfaces, to integrated the second media accessing and controlling units14b, the third media accessing and controlling units16band the plug-and-play interface core units17bto be a chip is possible.

Therefore, the above descriptions have been clearly and completely introduced the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces of the present invention; in summary, the present invention has the following advantages:1. Comparing to the conventional network communication system with an ethernet interface and an USB interface, the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces proposed by the present invention can not only transform the ethernet signal of the ethernet network to the plug-and-play interface signal, but also provide those electronic devices connected to the multi-computers network sharing system1to communicate with the Internet (i.e., the ethernet network) via plug-and-play (PNP) interfaces, without using any network cables or wi-fi devices.2. Inheriting to above description, moreover, the multi-computers network sharing system having plug-and-play interfaces proposed by the present invention can be made to a chip for adapting to be embedded into an USB KVM device or a docking station, such that the external electronic devices connected to the USB KVM device or the docking station are capable of connecting to the Internet.

The above description is made on embodiments of the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit scope of the present invention, and all equivalent implementations or alterations within the spirit of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.