Abstract: A method and apparatus of discovering and installing managed appliances remotely using a protocol for communication on the network is described. The protocol permits a client workstation to issue a broadcast message on the network. The managed appliances will send a reply message to the workstation which includes their current IP configuration. If a managed appliance has not been properly configured, the workstation can remotely instruct the managed appliance to set its IP configuration as desired. In the event that the managed appliance is a KVM switch, the managed appliance can store information about the servers connected to it. This information can be requested by and reported to the workstation using the protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to allow personal computer users to virtualize a local smart card so that they can remotely connect to a server and interact with the server as if the local smart card was physically connected to the server. They connect a remote smart card target hardware device to the target system through a physical connection, such as a USB connection, and the device interacts with the local user's computer and smart card reader over a network. The target system is unaware that the smart card reader is not connected directly to the system through a physical connection, and the target system does not need special software to implement the remote smart card reader. The smart card target device connected to the target computer may be physically connected and disconnected.

Abstract: A video compression system is disclosed that is optimized to take advantage of the types of redundancies typically occurring on computer screens and the types of video loss acceptable to real time interactive computer users. It automatically adapts to a wide variety of changing network bandwidth conditions and can accommodate any video resolution and an unlimited number of colors. The disclosed video compression encoder can be implemented with either hardware or software and it compresses the source video into a series of data packets that are a fixed length of 8 bits or more. Sequences of one or more of these packets create unique encoding “commands” that can be sent over any network and easily decoded (decompressed) with either software or hardware. The commands include 3 dimensional copying (horizontal, vertical and time) and unique efficiencies for screen segments that are comprised of only two colors (such as text).

Abstract: A video compression system compresses video frames comprising pixels defined by n-bit color values. Encoder of video compression system determines the difference between a current pixel value and a plurality reference pixel values. Encoder sends difference value to decoder. Decoder determines current pixel value by adjusting a reference pixel color value by delta value.

Abstract: A network interface is described in which a single computer bus is split over a long distance into two or more intercommunicating buses. On one bus, processing and applications are provided and on the other remote bus, peripheral and local controllers are provided. The buses communicate through a series of: bridge, a first communications controller, a second communications controller, and bridge. Between the communications controllers, a communication path provides long distance communication via a packet-switched network.

Abstract: A video compression system is disclosed that is optimized to take advantage of the types of redundancies typically occurring on computer screens and the types of video loss acceptable to real time interactive computer users. It automatically adapts to a wide variety of changing network bandwidth conditions and can accommodate any video resolution and an unlimited number of colors. The disclosed video compression encoder can be implemented with either hardware or software and it compresses the source video into a series of data packets that are a fixed length of 8 bits or more. Sequences of one or more of these packets create unique encoding “commands” that can be sent over any network and easily decoded (decompressed) with either software or hardware. The commands include 3 dimensional copying (horizontal, vertical and time) and unique efficiencies for screen segments that are comprised of only two colors (such as text).

Abstract: A KVM switch system with external control functionality is described. A KVM switch is able to be controlled from an external device. The external device can either include a single button dedicated to controlling the desktop KVM switch or indicate a state of the KVM switch. The external device can be connected to the desktop KVM switch through a plurality of communication media. The external device can be small in size and attached to an object on a user's desktop.

Abstract: A video compression system is disclosed that is optimized to take advantage of the types of redundancies typically occurring on computer screens and the types of video loss acceptable to real time interactive computer users. It automatically adapts to a wide variety of changing network bandwidth conditions and can accommodate any video resolution and an unlimited number of colors. The disclosed video compression encoder can be implemented with either hardware or software and it compresses the source video into a series of data packets that are a fixed length of 8 bits or more. Sequences of one or more of these packets create unique encoding “commands” that can be sent over any network and easily decoded (decompressed) with either software or hardware. The commands include 3 dimensional copying (horizontal, vertical and time) and unique efficiencies for screen segments that are comprised of only two colors (such as text).

Abstract: A transmission system for transmitting analog color video signals wherein a cable comprising multiple twisted pairs is employed, and certain of these pairs are coupled to carry selected color signals as a function of the delay provided by particular twist rates. In certain instances, selected signal delay devices are connected in circuit with certain twisted pairs. By such an arrangement, it has been found that relatively long distances between a computer and a monitor may be spanned by relatively low-cost, twisted pair cable commonly used for telephone communications.

Abstract: A transmission system for transmitting analog color video signals wherein a cable comprising multiple twisted pairs is employed, and certain of these pairs are coupled to carry selected color signals as a function of the delay provided by particular twist rates. In certain instances, selected signal delay devices are connected in circuit with certain twisted pairs. By such an arrangement, it has been found that relatively long distances between a computer and a monitor may be spanned by relatively low-cost, twisted pair cable commonly used for telephone communications.

Abstract: In a KVM system, a system provides for USB devices to be accessed by target computers. A KVM switch connects a client with a target server via a network, the client computer having at least one device attached thereto. A second mechanism connects to a USB port of the target and communicates with the target using a USB protocol. A client mechanism communicates with the second mechanism via the network. A virtual media mechanism enables the target server to access the USB device attached to the client.

Abstract: A video compression system compresses video frames comprising pixels defined by n-bit color values. Encoder of video compression system determines the difference between a current pixel value and a plurality reference pixel values. Encoder sends difference value to decoder. Decoder determines current pixel value by adjusting a reference pixel color value by delta value.

Abstract: Platform software is installed onto a native hardware platform (NHWP) containing a hard disk drive. That hard disk drive is formatted and structured as the NHWP would expect to use it to boot and run. However, the structure of that hard disk is converted to a drive image file (compressed or uncompressed) that can be loaded into a Virtual Machine Environment (VME). By mounting the drive image (or a partition of a drive image), the VME can use the partition as if it were a device rather than a file.

Abstract: A computer interface device includes circuitry enclosed in a housing; a first cable electrically connected to the circuitry and integral with the housing; a video port connection plug electrically connected to the circuitry via the first cable; a mouse port connection plug electrically connected to the circuitry via a path through the housing of the video port connection plug; and a keyboard connection plug electrically connected to the circuitry via a path through the housing of the video port connection plug.

Abstract: A keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) switching protocol is disclosed in which KVM information is applied to a network of workstations. At least one data converter communicates on the workstation network and retrieves KVM information from the workstation network that is addressed to a server assigned to the converter. The converter places the KVM information in a format suitable to the assigned server and applies the converted KVM information to the appropriate standard device ports of the server. The system provides motherboard access to the servers that is characteristics of KVM switches but provides essentially unlimited scalability not known in traditional KVM switches.

Abstract: A video compensation system for analog video transmission is described. The compensation system is employed in an analog video switching circuit such that each time a conductive path is switched, the system automatically tests the new switch path for a new compensation value. The compensation value is determined by measuring the response of the new path to a set of tones that are applied to the conductive path, the response to which is measured against a table of responses previously recorded. The measured responses are compared to the recorded responses to determine an appropriate compensation control voltage, which is applied to an equalizer system. In an alternative embodiment, the skew compensations also provided between red, green, and blue twisted pair lines in the cables by performing comparative analysis between corresponding pairs of the red, green, and blue signals.

Abstract: A method for reducing the erroneous display of multiple keystrokes on a target computer, that occur when depressing a key a single time on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) based keyboard from a remote computer. The invention eliminates the time lapse between the key press and key released events to produce single keystrokes on the target computer, instead of erroneous multiple keystrokes.

Abstract: A video compression system is disclosed that is optimized to take advantage of the types of redundancies typically occurring on computer screens and the types of video loss acceptable to real time interactive computer users. It automatically adapts to a wide variety of changing network bandwidth conditions and can accommodate any video resolution and an unlimited number of colors. The disclosed video compression encoder can be implemented with either hardware or software and it compresses the source video into a series of data packets that are a fixed length of 8 bits or more. Sequences of one or more of these packets create unique encoding “commands” that can be sent over any network and easily decoded (decompressed) with either software or hardware. The commands include 3 dimensional copying (horizontal, vertical and time) and unique efficiencies for screen segments that are comprised of only two colors (such as text).

Abstract: A video compression system is disclosed that is optimized to take advantage of the types of redundancies typically occurring on computer screens and the types of video loss acceptable to real time interactive computer users. It automatically adapts to a wide variety of changing network bandwidth conditions and can accommodate any video resolution and an unlimited number of colors. The disclosed video compression encoder can be implemented with either hardware or software and it compresses the source video into a series of data packets that are a fixed length of 8 bits or more. Sequences of one or more of these packets create unique encoding “commands” that can be sent over any network and easily decoded (decompressed) with either software or hardware. The commands include 3 dimensional copying (horizontal, vertical and time) and unique efficiencies for screen segments that are comprised of only two colors (such as text).

Abstract: A video compression system is disclosed that is optimized to take advantage of the types of redundancies typically occurring on computer screens and the types of video loss acceptable to real time interactive computer users. It automatically adapts to a wide variety of changing network bandwidth conditions and can accommodate any video resolution and an unlimited number of colors. The disclosed video compression encoder can be implemented with either hardware or software and it compresses the source video into a series of data packets that are a fixed length of 8 bits or more. Sequences of one or more of these packets create unique encoding “commands” that can be sent over any network and easily decoded (decompressed) with either software or hardware. The commands include 3 dimensional copying (horizontal, vertical and time) and unique efficiencies for screen segments that are comprised of only two colors (such as text).