Patent ID: 8533600

Claim:
A device for controlling the switching of a user interface to a plurality of computers, said user interface including a display and at least one input peripheral, and being configured to interconnect with inputs and outputs, including video inputs and outputs, of one of the computers via a keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) switch, said KVM switch being connected to the inputs and outputs, including video input and outputs, of each of the computers, said device being configured to be connected to the KVM switch, the device comprising: a memory to store a list of identifiers, each identifier identifying an application available on one of said plurality of computers; a graphical interface to supply a video signal to the display to generate a window to be displayed on the display and including a menu, said menu containing the list of applications the identifiers of which are stored in said memory; a controller to receive a selection command identifying an application selected from said menu by at least said input peripheral and to transmit to said KVM switch an order for switching said interface to corresponding inputs/outputs of a computer hosting said selected application, wherein the controller is configured to transmit and receive messages over a first bus, configured to be connected to said KVM switch, said messages including orders for switching the inputs/outputs of said computers to said interface, and corresponding switching acknowledgements, and the controller is configured to transmit and receive messages over a second CAN-type bus to be interconnected with at least one computer of said plurality of computer, said messages including orders for start-up, foreground display, closing an application available on the at least one computer, and corresponding acknowledgements of successful execution.