Integrated control system with keyboard video mouse (kvm)

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for efficiently controlling source computers connected to a display system. A control computer, source computers, and a video processor are connected over a control network. Input signals such as keyboard and mouse input signals are provided to the video processor and the source computers through the control network. The source computers are also connected to the video processor through a video interface, such as multiple Digital Video Interface (DVI) lines. The use of a hybrid system allows flexibility in configuring and using the control network while providing high throughput and low latency for video sent to the video processor.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of source computers;   a video processor connected to the plurality of source computer systems through a video interface, the video processor operable to process video input from the plurality of source computers;   a control computer connected to the plurality of source computers and the video processor through a control network, wherein the video processor and the plurality of source computers are operable to receive keyboard and mouse input from the control computer over the control network;   a display system connected to the video processor, wherein the video processor transmits processed video data to the display system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control computer is integrated with the video processor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control computer is also a source computer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control network is an Ethernet network. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control network is a wireless network. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of source computers, the control computer, and the video processor are assigned unique IP addresses. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a remote desktop agent is installed on each of the plurality of source computers. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote desktop agent provides encryption. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the video interface is a Digital Video Interface (DVI). 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein communication between the control computer and the plurality of source computers is encrypted. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the video processor is operable to show a plurality of windows associated with the plurality of source computers on the display system. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the video processor is operable to show a plurality of windows associated with the plurality of source computers on the control computer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the control computer sends keyboard and mouse commands to the video processor to manipulate user controls of the video processor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control computer sends keyboard and mouse commands to the video processor to manipulate user controls of the video processor to add, move delete, and resize windows corresponding to video data from each of the plurality of source computers. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control computer sends keyboard and mouse commands to each of the plurality of source computers to manipulate the operable programs and video output data from each source computer. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control computer sends keyboard and mouse commands to each of the plurality of source computers to send commands and control to user applications. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the control computer sends keyboard and mouse commands to each of the plurality of source computers to control the computer hardware and operating system. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the video processor is a switcher that selects input sources without other processing. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , where the source computers include pan tilt zoom (PTZ) devices, cameras, and recorders. 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of source computers;   a video processor connected to the plurality of source computer systems through a video interface, the video processor operable to process video input from the plurality of source computers;   a control computer connected to the plurality of source computers and the video processor through a control network, wherein the video processor and the plurality of source computers are operable to receive keyboard and mouse input from the control computer over the control network;   a display system connected to the video processor, wherein the video processor transmits processed video data to the display system.   
     
     
         22 . A device, comprising:
 a video interface connected to a plurality of source computer systems, the device operable to process video input from the plurality of source computers;   a control interface connected to a control computer through a control network, wherein the device and the plurality of source computers are operable to receive keyboard and mouse input from the control computer over the control network;   an output interface operable to transmit processed video data to a display system.   
     
     
         23 . A method, comprising:
 receiving video input from a plurality of source computers through a video interface connected to the plurality of source computer systems;   receiving keyboard and mouse input from a control computer through a control network;   processing video input from the plurality of source computers at a video processor;   sending processed video data to a display system.   
     
     
         24 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for receiving video input from a plurality of source computers through a video interface connected to the plurality of source computer systems;   means for receiving keyboard and mouse input from a control computer through a control network;   means for processing video input from the plurality of source computers at a video processor;   means for sending processed video data to a display system.