Patent Publication Number: US-2010115160-A1

Title: System for transferring a file between associated computers

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from a co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/109,566 filed Oct. 30, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a keyboard/mouse (KM) device for transferring a file between a plurality of computers, more particularly to a system for transferring a file between associated computers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There exist devices for interconnecting a single computer to multiple computers. For example, a keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) switch is a device that is generally connected to multiple computers in order to enable a single keyboard, video monitor and mouse to control each of the connected computers. In this way, a user may have access to multiple computers without having to invest in corresponding keyboards, monitors, and mice for each of the computers. When the user accesses a computer connected to the KVM switch, video signals are routed from the computer, processed, and displayed on the single video monitor. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates function blocks of a conventional KVM device. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the KVM device comprises a KVM switch for connecting a set of monitor, keyboard and mouse to control the PCs (computers) coupled to the KVM switch. The KVM device also comprises a plurality of hubs connecting between associated computer and the KVM switch. For transferring a file from first computer to second computer, the KVM device further comprises data transfer units connected between the adjacent hubs. The file from the first computer can be transferred to the second computer through the data transfer unit connected between the hubs associated to the first computer and the second computer. 
     For the KVM device speaking, if the KVM device controls five computers by one set of monitor, keyboard and mouse to control, there should be four data transfer units built in the KVM device for transferring files between associated computers. The more computers controlled by the KVM device, the more data transfer units should be added. Thus, the cost and the size of the KVM device must be increased. 
     It is desirable, therefore, to provide a low cost and small sized KVM or KM device to allow for transferring files between computers associated to the KVM or KM device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the resent invention is to provide a low cost system for transferring a file between associated computers. The system comprises a micro control unit; a first USB interface coupled between the micro control unit and a set of keyboard and mouse; a second USB interface coupled between the micro control unit and a plurality computers with associated monitors; and a switching mechanism for switching the set of keyboard and mouse coupled to one of the computers to another; wherein the micro control unit including a buffer for registering a file from one of the computers and then transferred to other one of the computers. 
     The other embodiment of the present invention is to provide a system for transferring a file between associated computers. The system comprises a micro control unit; a first USB interface coupled between the micro control unit and a set of keyboard, monitor and mouse; a second USB interface coupled between the micro control unit and a plurality computers; and a switching mechanism for switching the set of keyboard, monitor and mouse coupled to on of the computers to another; wherein the micro control unit including a buffer for registering a file from one of the computers and then transferred to other one of the computers. 
     Other and further features, advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the following drawings. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not to be restrictive of the invention. The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention in general terms. Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects, spirits, and advantages of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be readily understood by the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptions, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates function blocks of a conventional KVM device. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates function blocks of the system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another function blocks of the system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates further function blocks of the system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates function blocks of the system of the present invention. The system  10  is used as a KM (keyboard/mouse) system which comprises a micro control unit  11 ; a first USB interface  12  coupled between the micro control unit  11  and a set of keyboard  13  and mouse  14 ; a second USB interface  15  coupled between the micro control unit  11  and a plurality of computers, for example, PC 1  and PC 2 , with associated monitors; and a switching mechanism (not shown) for switching the set of keyboard  13  and mouse  14  coupled to one of the computers from another. Wherein the micro control unit  11  including a buffer (not shown) for registering a file from one of the computers (PC 1 ) and then transferred to other one (PC 2 ) of the computers. Generally speaking, the computers (PC 1 , PC 2  . . . ) are coupled to the micro control unit  11  through the corresponding USB serial interface engines (SIE) ( 151 ,  152  . . . ) of the second USB interface  15 . The system  10  can be coupled to two or more computers and transmitting the file between the computers through the buffer of the micro control unit  11 . 
     The system  10  further comprises a video switch  16  coupled to the micro control unit  11 . The video switch  16  is a DVI or a HDMI interface for outputting high resolution video signal from the computers controlled by the set of keyboard  13  and mouse  14 . 
     Moreover, the first USB interface  12  is consisted of an USB host  121  coupled to the micro control unit  11  and a USB hub  122  coupled between the USB host  121  and the set of keyboard  13  and mouse  14 . The switching mechanism is built in the micro control unit  11  for calculating boundaries of each monitors associated to the computers (PC 1 , PC 2  . . . ) for switching the set of keyboard  13  and mouse  14  coupled to one of the computers from another. The switching mechanism further comprises a button or a switch that disposes on the system  10  for switching the set of keyboard  13  and mouse  14  coupled to one of the computers from another manually. Furthermore, the buffer is a memory with FIFO (first in first out) function. 
     If we remove all monitors associated to the computers and connect a monitor to the first USB interface  12 , the system  10  can be used as a KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) system. 
     If an user wants to transfer a file from PC 1  to PC 2 , the file will be registered in the buffer of the micro control unit  11  controlled by the user through the first USB interface  12 , micro control unit  11  and the second USB interface  15  at first, after the switching mechanism switches the set of keyboard  13  and mouse  14  coupled from PC 1  to PC 2 , the file registered in the buffer of the micro control unit  11  is transferred to PC 2 . If the user wants to transfer other files from PC 1  to PC 2 , most files will be registered in the buffer (according to the capacity of the buffer) then transferred to PC 2  in turn with FIFO. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another function blocks of the system of the present invention. The system  20  is similar to the system  10  shown in  FIG. 2 . The first USB interface  12  comprises two USB hosts  123 ,  124  for connecting to the set of keyboard  13  and mouse  14  for used as a KM system. Also, the first USB interface  12  comprises three USB hosts for connecting to the set of keyboard  13 , monitor (not shown) and mouse  14  for used as a KVM system. 
     The system  20  can also comprise a video switch  16  coupled to the micro control unit  11 . The video switch  16  is a DVI or a HDMI interface for outputting high resolution video signal from the computers controlled by the set of keyboard  13  and mouse  14 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates further function blocks of the system of the present invention. The system  30  is used as a KM (keyboard/mouse) system which comprises a micro control unit  31 ; a first USB interface  32  coupled between the micro control unit  31  and a set of keyboard  33  and mouse  34 ; a second USB interface  35  coupled between the micro control unit  31  and a plurality of computers, for example, PC 1  and PC 2 , with associated monitors; and a switching mechanism (not shown) for switching the set of keyboard  33  and mouse  34  coupled to one of the computers from another. The micro control unit  31  comprises a plurality of MCU cells  311 ,  312 . Each of the MCU cells  311 ,  312  is connected to one of the USB serial interface engines (SIE)  351 ,  352  of the second USB interface  35 . Therefore, the speed of data transfer rate from each of the computer and the system can be increased. 
     The micro control unit  11  including a buffer  310  coupled between the MCU cells  311 ,  312  for registering a file from one of the computers (PC 1 ) and then transferred to other one (PC 2 ) of the computers. Generally speaking, the computers (PC 1 , PC 2  . . . ) are coupled to the micro control unit  11  through the corresponding USB serial interface engines (SIE) ( 351 ,  352  . . . ) of the second USB interface  35 . If there are three or more computers (PC 1 , PC 2  . . . ), the micro control unit  11  includes three or more corresponding MCU cells ( 311 ,  312  . . . ). Thus, the buffer  310  should be coupled to the MCU cells ( 311 ,  312  . . . ) for registering and transmitting the file between the computers (PC 1 , PC 2  . . . ). 
     According to the present invention, there is no need to add data transfer units of the conventional KVM device. Files or datum can be transferred through MCU with buffer without increasing the cost and the size of the present system. 
     Moreover, the system  30  further comprises a network interface (not shown). The network interface includes at least three connection ports. The first connection port is coupled to PC 1  by a first cable; the second connection port is coupled to PC 2  by a second cable and a third connection port coupled to internet by a third port. Therefore, the system can be used as a network router for the PC 1  and PC 2  connecting to internet. The network interface can be also disposed in the system in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  for connecting to internet. 
     Furthermore, the system in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  further comprises a card reading interface for reading contents of memory cards. The system can be used as a card reader by the card reading interface. 
     Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments that will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. This invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.