Abstract:
An equipment for controlling a plurality of computers and the operating method thereof are provided. The equipment electrically connects to a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module and a touch LCD module and a plurality of computer respectively, where the LCD module receives and displays an image of one of the plurality of computers, the touch LCD module displays an imaging inputting interface and at least one of the images corresponding to the plurality of computers, and the imaging inputting interface receives a command to control the specific computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a dual-screen multi-computer control system and its management methods, and in particular, it relates to a multi-computer management device having a regular display screen and a touch-control display screen, and through the touch-control display screen controlling the computers connected to the multi-computer management system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switches currently on the market are often equipped with a user interface that typically includes a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen combined with a fixed keyboard. When it is necessary for operations that need two independent LCD display screens, there are two approaches as follows: 
     (1) Dividing the original one LCD screen into two smaller independent LCD screens; or 
     (2) Connecting another LCD screen on the side of the original LCD screen such that the other LCD screen can be flipped to use in addition to the original LCD screen. 
     However there are drawbacks for the either of these approaches described above. For the first approach, the original one LCD screen is divided into two smaller independent LCD screens, which makes the operation window of each of the independently divided LCD screens much smaller, and is more likely to cause visual confusion to the user in operation. For the second approach, the other LCD screen has its own thickness, such that after the interface of the KVM switch having two LCD monitors is received in a rack, it will make the already small rack space more crowded. In addition, this interface arrangement also requires much wider space for flipping the LCD screens and it is not easy to use because the flipped width is much wider than the rack width. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To increase the efficiency of management and possibility of expansion of the user interface operation device of the KVM switch, the inventor after repeated deliberation has introduced the present invention dual-screen multi-computer management system and management method. The present invention provides a touch control display screen as a secondary screen, and displaying on the touch control display screen a simulated input interface to replace conventional fixed keyboard, to provide users with greater viewing area without requiring extra hardware space. 
     In addition, not only the simulated input interface but also other subjects such as the monitoring and control images of multiple computers, user interface or shortcut bar of the KVM switch, etc., can be displayed on the touch control display screen. Moreover, if more input interfaces are needed to operate more advanced functions of KVM switches in the future, the added input interface can be directly displayed/simulated on the touch control display screen, thereby reduces the design complicity of arranging corresponding hardware buttons and the rack space needed and the costs incurred. Therefore, the touch control display screen provides great expansion flexibility and can be easily adapted to more powerful KVM switches. 
     To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a multi-computer management system. The multi-computer management system includes a multi-computer management device, a display module and a touch-control display module, wherein the multi-computer management device is electrically coupled with a plurality of computers. The plurality of computers include a first computer and a second computer, the first computer and the second computer having a first image and a second image respectively. The multi-computer management device receives the first image and the second image. The display module is electrically coupled to the multi-computer management device to receive the first image from the multi-computers management device and display the first image. The touch control display module is electrically coupled to the multi-computer management device to receive the second image from the multi-computers management device and display the second image. The touch control display module also displays a simulated input interface which is used to receive a first external instruction to operate the first computer through the multi-computer management device. 
     Again to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides a multi-computer management device. The multi-computer management device includes multiple computer interfaces, a first display interface, a second display interface and a processing unit, wherein the multiple computer interfaces are electrically coupled to a plurality of computers respectively. The plurality of computers include a first computer and a second computer, the first computer and the second computer having a first image and a second image respectively. A first computer interface and a second computer interface of the multiple computer interfaces are used to receive the first image and the second image respectively. The first computer interface is used to output a first external instruction to the first computer. The first display interface is electrically coupled to a display module to display the first image. The second display interface is electrically coupled to a touch control display module to display a simulated input interface, which simulated input interface is used to receive the first external instruction. The processing unit is electrically coupled to the computer interfaces, the first display interface, the second display interface, to cause the first external instruction, the first image and the second image to be transmitted between the first computer, the second computer, the display module and the touch control display module. The processing unit is also provided to execute the first external instruction to operate the first computer. 
     Still to achieve the above object, the present invention further provides a multi-computer management method, which includes the following steps: providing a multi-computer management device which is electrically coupled to a plurality of computers including a first computer and a second computer, the first computer and the second computer have a first image and a second image respectively, where the multi-computer management device is used to receive the first image and the second image respectively; providing a display module and a touch control display module, which display module and touch control display module are electrically coupled to the multi-computer management device, where the touch control display module displays a simulated input interface; receiving the first image from the multi-computer management device through the display module and displaying the first image on the display module; receiving the second image from the multi-computer management device through the touch control display module and displaying the second image on the touch control display module; receiving a first external instruction through the simulated input interface to operate the first computer through the multi-computer management device. 
     To make the above described invention easier to understand, a preferred embodiment is described below in detail, in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the descriptions that follow and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the rack structure of a multi-computer management device having a dual-screen user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the extension mechanism of the rack structure of the multi-computer management device having a dual-screen user interface shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the supporting mechanism of the rack structure of the multi-computer management device having a dual-screen user interface shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating another positioning configuration of the multi-computer management device having a dual-screen user interface shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a diagram illustrating the rack structure of a multi-computer management device having a dual-screen user interface according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a diagram illustrating the extension mechanism of the rack structure of the multi-computer management device having a dual-screen user interface shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  is a diagram illustrating the supporting mechanism of the rack structure of the multi-computer management device having a dual-screen user interface shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5D  is a diagram illustrating another positioning configuration of the multi-computer management device having a dual-screen user interface shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6A  is a diagram illustrating one control operation mode of the user interface of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6B  is a flow chart illustrating the process of the control operation shown in  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating another control operation mode of the user interface of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating the control module of the present invention multi-computer management device. 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating the connection of the present invention multi-computer management device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. However, techniques, systems and operating structures in accordance with the present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein, which define the scope of the present invention. The following presents a detailed description of the preferred embodiment (as well as some alternative embodiments) of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a diagram illustrating the rack structure of a multi-computer management device having a dual-screen user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the multi-computer management system  10  includes a rack  11 , an extension mechanism  12 , a user interface operation module  13 , and a multi-computer management device  14 . By way of present embodiment, the multi-computer management device  14  may be a KVM switch. The multi-computer management device  14  is electrically coupled to a plurality of computers and the user interface operation module  13 , such that any one of the plurality of computers can be controlled by the user interface operation module  13  through the multi-computer management device  14 , just as the user interface operation module  13  is directly electrically coupled to and controls any one of the plurality of computers. 
     Also as shown in  FIG. 1 , the extension mechanism  12  is mounted on rack  11  which has a front end and a back end. The user interface operation module  13  is positioned at the front end and the multi-computer management device  14  is positioned at the back end. The extension mechanism  12  is connected with the user interface operation module  13  and the multi-computer management device  14  to move the user interface operation module  13  and the multi-computer management device  14  back and forth, whereby the user interface operation module  13  and the multi-computer management device  14  can be in and out of the rack  11 . In addition, depending on the need, the extension mechanism  12  may utilize slide rails, telescopic rods and/or other extendable mechanisms, where the sliding members of the slide rails may be arranged horizontally or vertically depending on the needs. The slide rails may also be a two-segment or triple-segment design. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a diagram illustrating the extension mechanism of the rack structure shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , it is clearly shown that the user interface operation module  13  and the multi-computer management device  14  are laterally moved by the extension mechanism  12  along a direction of movement to the outside of the rack  11 , such that the user interface operation module  13  and the multi-computer management device  14  located at an extended position. Nonetheless, depending on the user&#39;s needs, the multi-computer management device  14  of the present invention may also be fixed at the back end of the rack  11  and not connected with the extension mechanism  12 , such that when the user interface operation module  13  is laterally moved by the extension mechanism  12  to the outside of the rack  11 , the multi-computer management device  14  is still fixed on the rack  11  at the back-end without being moved at the same time to outside of the rack  11 , where the user interface operation module  13  can be electrically coupled to the multi-computer management device  14  by flexible wires or cables. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a diagram illustrating one position of the user interface operation module  13  at its extended position as shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 3 , the user interface operation module  13  is in a flipped open position. More particularly, the user interface operation module  13  includes a display module  131  and a touch control display module  132 . In  FIG. 1 , when the user interface operation module  13  is located inside the rack  11 , the display module  131  is flipped down/closed on top of the touch control display module  132 , while in  FIG. 3 , the display module  131  is flipped up/open from the touch control display module  132  with an angle of display, which can be adjusted depending on the user&#39;s needs, but normally is not less than 90 degrees and not more than 180 degrees. In addition, display module  131  may be replaced by another touch control display module based on the user&#39;s needs. In the embodiment of the present invention, the rotational axis of the display module  131  and touch control display module  132  are parallel or aligned to each other. The rotation axis is perpendicular to the laterally moving direction and parallel to the front end or back end of the rack. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a diagram illustrating another position of the user interface operation module  13  at its extended position as shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 4 , there is shown a positioning where the display module  131  is flipped up/open from the touch control display module  132  with an angle of 180 degrees. In particular, after the display module  131  is flipped up/open from the touch control display module  132  with an angle as shown in  FIG. 3 , the touch control display module  132  can be further flipped down in an opposite direction away from the display module  131 , such that the display module  131  and the touch control display module  132  are positioned as shown in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, from  FIGS. 3 and 4 , it is shown that the angle between the present invention display module  131  and touch control display module  132  can be freely adjusted depending on the user&#39;s needs to accommodate different situations. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A , there is shown a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the present invention user interface operation module  13 . In  FIG. 5A , the multi-computer management system  10  includes rack  11 , a first extension mechanism  121 , a second extension mechanism  122 , multi-computer management device  14 , display module  131  and touch control display module  132 , where the first and second extension mechanisms  121  and  122  are respectively connected to display module  131  and touch control display module  132  separately to move display module  131  and the touch control display module  132  independently back and forth in and out of rack  11 . In addition, the first extension mechanism  121  and the second extension mechanism  122  may be arranged in parallel or perpendicular to each other. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5B ,  5 C and  5 D, there are illustrated the various positions of the user interface operation module  13  as shown in  FIG. 5A . As shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , display module  131  can be moved by the first extension mechanism  121  to the outside of the rack  11 , independent of the touch control display module  132 , and then flipped up/open into a working position, whereas shown in  FIG. 5D , the touch control display module  132  may then be moved by the second extension mechanism  122  to the outside of the rack  11  so that it can be used by a user to input instructions, where the touch control display module  132  can also be further flipped down into a position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6A , there is shown a diagram illustrating one operation mode of the display module  131  and the touch control display module  132  of the user interface operation module  13 . In  FIG. 6A , the user interface operation module  13  is electrically coupled to the multi-computer management device  14  (not shown) and the plurality of computers (not shown), where the display module  131  receives a first image A of a first computer of the plurality of computers through the multi-computer management device  14  and displays the first image A on its display screen. The display screen of the touch control display module  132  is divided into a first display area  133  and a second display area  134 . The touch control display module  132  is capable of displaying image representing at least one of the plurality computers. It is noted that the image displayed on the touch control display module  132  can be the outputted image such as desktop image of the corresponding computer, or simply a represented icon image. In the present embodiment, the touch control display module  132  receives the first image A of the first computer and a second image B of a second computer of the multiple of computers through the multi-computer management device  14 , and displays the first image A and the second image B in the first display area  133 . The touch control display module  132  also displays a graphical keyboard  611  and a graphical touch panel  612  in the second display area  134 . In addition to the graphical keyboard  611  and graphical touch panels  612 , the touch control display module  132  may also display a graphical touch pad, a graphical control bar, a simulated hand-writing input pad, or any combination thereof. 
     In  FIG. 6A , through the graphical keyboard  611  and/or the graphical touch panel  612 , a user can enter a first external instruction to control the first computer, where the actual operation image of the first computer (i.e., the first image A) is displayed in the first display area  131 . Moreover, since the touch control display module  132  simultaneously displays both the first image A and second image B, the user can monitor the second computer while control the first computer, such that the user may switch to the second computer as the operation computer at any time through the multi-computer management device  14 . 
     For example, switching the operation computer to the second computer may be accomplished by inputting a second external instruction, which may be inputted through the graphical keyboard  611  such as defined hot key, and/or the graphical touch panel  612 , or simply by touching the second image B displayed. Depending on the user&#39;s needs, the touch control display module  132  may simultaneously display the second image B and a third image C of a third computer of the multiple of computers, a fourth image D of a fourth computer of the multiple of computers, a fifth image E of a fifth computer of the multiple of computers, . . . , or through the switching instruction switch the second image B displayed on the touch control display module  132  to any one of the third image C, the fourth image D, the fifth image E . . . or any combination thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6B , there is shown a flow chart illustrating the process of the control operation shown in  FIG. 6A . As shown in  FIG. 6B , when the touch control display module  132  receives an external instruction, first the input position of the external instruction is determined and confirmed (Step  62 ). When the external instruction is recognized to be input from the graphical keyboard  611  (Result  63 ), the external instruction will be converted into the corresponding key codes (Step  631 ). The corresponding key codes are input to the first computer of the plurality of computers through the multi-computer management device  14 , in order to control/operate the first computer (Step  632 ). If the external instruction is recognized to be input from the graphical mouse (Result  64 ), the external instruction will be converted to simulate the corresponding movement of a mouse (Step  641 ). The corresponding movements of the mouse are input to the first computer of the plurality of computers through the multi-computer management device  14 , in order to control/operate the first computer (Step  632 ). 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 6B , if the external instruction is recognized as to be input at an image of a computer displayed on the touch control display module  132  (not the image of the computer currently being controlled displayed on the display module  131 ) (Result  65 ), the multi-computer management device  14  will switch the computer currently being controlled to the computer corresponding to the computer image displayed at the input position, and then display the image of the switched-to computer on the display module  131 . For example, when the input position of an external instruction is recognized and confirmed to be at the second image B, the multi-computer management device  14  will switch the operation computer from the first computer to the second computer, and cause the second image B to be displayed on the display module  131 , to complete the switching action (Step  652 ). 
     Still referring to  FIG. 6B , in another practical embodiment, when a user wants to switch operation computer, the user may also input an external instruction through the graphical keyboard  611  or graphical mouse  612 , such that after steps  631  or  641  the external instruction is executed by the multi-computer management device  14  to switch the current operation computer from the first computer to the second computer and cause the second image B to be displayed on the display module  131 , to complete the switching action (i.e., to perform the actions of Step  652 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a diagram illustrating another operation mode of the display module  131  and the touch control display module  132  of the user interface operation module  13 . In  FIG. 7 , user interface operation module  13  is still electrically coupled to the multi-computer management device  14  (not shown) and the plurality of computers (not shown). Through the multi-computer management device  14 , the display module  131  receives and displays a first image A of a first computer of the plurality of computers, and touch control display module  132  and displays a second icon image B, a third icon image C, a fourth icon image D, a fifth icon image E, and sixth icon image F and a seventh icon image E of the corresponding second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh computers of the plurality of computers, and the touch control display module  132  further displays a graphical control bar  613 , to control the multi-computer management device  14 . It is noted that the icon image displayed on the touch control display module can be the outputted image such as desktop image from the corresponding computer, or simply a represented pattern or picture image representing the corresponding computer. 
     Through the operation mode shown in  FIG. 7 , a user can simultaneously monitor the second through the seventh computers, and can touch-select any one of the icon images B, C, D, E, F and G to switch the operation computer to the computer corresponding to the selected icon image and cause the display module  131  to display the image output from the switched-to computer. Alternatively, the user may use the graphical control bar  613  to input a switching instruction to switch the operation computer, or replace the second through the seventh images B, C, D, E, F and G to the eighth through the thirteen images H, I, J, K, L and M, in order to monitor the status of the eighth through the thirteen computers, or perform further switching actions. In addition, the graphical control bar  613  may be replaced by a control window if needed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 7  together, the respective operation modes shown in  FIGS. 6A and 7  can be freely switched therebetween. For example, a user may first monitor the plurality of computers through the operation mode shown on  FIG. 7 , and then switches the operation mode to the one shown in  FIG. 6A , to operate the computer whose corresponding image is shown in the display module  131 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a block diagram illustrating the control module of the present invention multi-computer management device. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the control module  80  is electrically coupled with the plurality of computers  81  respectively. The control module  80  includes a microprocessor  801  and multiplexer  802 ,  803  and  804 . The multiplexers  802 ,  803  and  804  are electrically coupled with microprocessor  801  and the plurality of computers  81  respectively, where multiplexer  802  is used to receive data  805  of the plurality of computers  81  and transmit the data to microprocessor  801 . The multiplexer  802  is also used to receive commands from the microprocessor  801  and transmit the commands to the plurality of computers  81 . In addition, the multiplexers  803  and  804  are electrically coupled to display module  131  and touch control display module  132  respectively, and are used to receive image output  806  and  807  from the plurality of computers  81  and transmit image output  806  and  807  to display module  131  and touch control display module  132  respectively for displaying the images on display module  131  and touch control display module  132  respectively. 
     When a user inputs an external instruction through touch control display module  132 , the external instruction is converted into an input signal  808  and transmitted to the microprocessor  801  to be processed by the microprocessor  801 , such that the microprocessor  801  may execute corresponding actions in accordance with the external instruction represented by the input signal  808 , such as the actions described herein, for example switching the operation computer between the plurality of computers  81 , operating on any one of the plurality of computers  81 , or changing the operation mode, etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a block diagram illustrating the connection relationship of the present invention multi-computer management device. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the multi-computer management device  90  has interfaces  901  and  902 , a processing unit  903 , and display interfaces  904  and  905 , where processing unit  903  is electrically coupled to interfaces  901  and  902 , and display interfaces  904  and  905  respectively. The interfaces  901  and  902  may be PS/2, USB, HDMI, HDB, SPHD, HPDB, D-SUB, DVI, network socket (e.g. RJ-45), or wireless interface, etc. Moreover, the interfaces  901  and  902  are electrically coupled to computers  91  and  92  respectively, such that interfaces  901  and  902  can receive images from computers  91  and  92  respectively, and allows the processing unit  903  to control computer  91  and  92  respectively, or any one of them. Display interface  904  is electrically coupled to display module  93  to display the image of computer  91  or  92 . Touch control display interface  905  is electrically coupled to touch control display module  94 , where the touch control display module  94  displays simulated input interface  941  for receiving external instructions. 
     When a user inputs a first instruction through simulated input interface  941 , the processing unit  903  will receive the first instruction and control computer  91  through the interface  901 , while the user can monitor the execution of the first instruction through the image of the computer  91  displayed on the display module  93 . In addition, a user can input a second instruction through simulated input interface  941 , to cause the multi-computer management device  90  to switch the operation computer from computer  91  to computer  92 . After the switching, display module  93  will be switched to display the image of computer  92 , such that the user may input a third instruction through simulated input interface  941 , to control the computer  92  through the processing unit  903  and interface  902  and further monitor the execution of the third instruction through the image of the computer  92  displayed on the display module  93 . 
     From the above description it can be seen that the prevent invention replaces the conventional fixed keyboard with a simulated input interface displayed on the touch control display module, thereby not only reduces the trouble of stocking fixed keyboards and spaces occupied by the hardware of the multi-computer management equipment, but also increases the displaying area of the user interface operation module so that more computers may be monitored without interfering with the main display (i.e., the image displayed by the display module) and system operation. In addition, the simulated input interface may be switched as needed between multiple display interface modes or simultaneously displayed to provide more suitable or intuitive input methods and present a more user-friendly operation interface. Furthermore, new display interface or graphical keys can be freely added to the touch control display module, which makes it easily expandable to perform more advanced functions of multi-computer management devices and reduces complexity in system design. 
     Moreover, when the simulated input interface includes a graphical keyboard, the graphical keyboard can be switched between input methods for languages of different countries, so that when the manufacturer ships its products to a different country, it only needs to switch the input method of the graphical keyboard for the languages of that country through software, thereby completely solving the problems of having to stock or assemble keyboards for different languages. 
     Although examples of the preferred embodiments of the present invention system and method are shown and described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specifics described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modification and variations can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.