Abstract: A computer network comprising a plurality of nodes, each coupled to a DTE device comprising a computing system and a remotely located human interface, which includes a display and at least one I/O device. The DTE device computing systems are commonly located. Each DTE device includes an encoder coupled to the computing system, a decoder coupled to the display and the at least one I/O device, and a transmission line coupling the encoder and the decoder. The encoder receives, from the computing system, a video signal for transmission to the display and a non-video signal for transmission to the at least one I/O device, encodes the video and the non-video signals, and transmits the encoded signals to the decoder via the transmission line. The decoder receives the encoded signals, and decodes the video and non-video signals therefrom for respective propagation to the display and the at least one I/O device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a unique method of retailing electronic multimedia in a controlled environment, and to a system which enables such a retailing method. Such an environment is generated by requiring the creation of portable and/or hard copies of such multimedia files to be generated only in specific retail locations. Such retail locations would physically contain no pre-recorded media files. Rather, they would comprise one or more local servers located in the retail locations and connected via a network to one or more remote sources. Such remote sources may comprise servers, libraries, databases, and the like. While no pre-recorded electronic media is stored on the local server, it can be downloaded and held in a cache on the local server. From the local server, the media can be saved onto a portable storage medium. Eliminating local storage of the electronic media files increases control over their distribution and maximizes distribution efficiency.

Abstract: A computing system in which a human interface (HI) is located remotely from a computer. The HI includes a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. The computer includes a motherboard with CPU, memory, network and interface logic, disk drives, and a power supply, configured on a single card, and communicates with the HI by sending and receiving encoded HI signals. The computer card includes an interfacing edge connector for communicating with the HI and networks. The HI logic receives HI signals from the interface logic and encodes the signals into a format suitable for transmission to the HI. The HI logic receives and decodes incoming encoded HI signals from the HI, and transmits the decoded HI signals to the interface logic for use in the computing system. The network logic encodes network signals into a format suitable for transmission to the network, and receives and decodes encoded network signals from the network.

Abstract: System and method for communicating data over a remote Universal Serial Bus (USB) which may be used in systems wherein a host computer communicates with one or more remote USB devices. A host computer system may be coupled to a USB Remote Root Hub through a USB Extension (USBX) bus, providing the capability to control peripheral USB devices beyond the typical range of USB as specified in the USB specification. The USB Remote Root Hub may be coupled to the USB peripheral devices through the USB and may be located in the vicinity of the peripherals subject to standard USB distance limitations, and may thus be located remotely from the host.

Abstract: A computer network comprising a plurality of nodes, each coupled to a DTE device comprising a computing system and a remotely located human interface, which includes a display and at least one I/O device. The DTE device computing systems are commonly located. Each DTE device includes an encoder coupled to the computing system, a decoder coupled to the display and the at least one I/O device, and a transmission line coupling the encoder and the decoder. The encoder receives, from the computing system, a video signal for transmission to the display and a non-video signal for transmission to the at least one I/O device, encodes the video and the non-video signals, and transmits the encoded signals to the decoder via the transmission line. The decoder receives the encoded signals, and decodes the video and non-video signals therefrom for respective propagation to the display and the at least one I/O device.

Abstract: A system comprise a computing system and a human interface located remotely from the computing system. The human interface may comprise a display device and an input/output (“I/O”) device. The system may include a first interface device coupled to the computing system and a second interface device coupled to the display device and the I/O device of the human interface. The system may also include at least one transmission line coupling the first and second interface devices. The first interface device is operable to receive, from the computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to the display device and a non-video signal to be transmitted to the I/O device, and is operable to convert each of the video signal and the non-video signal into a format suitable for transmission to the second interface device. The converted video signal and the converted non-video signal may then be transmitted to the second interface device via the at least one transmission line.

Abstract: A computing system in which a human interface (HI) is located remotely from a computer. The HI includes a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. The computer includes a motherboard with CPU, memory, network and interface logic, disk drives, and a power supply, configured on a single card, and communicates with the HI by sending and receiving encoded HI signals. The computer card includes an interfacing edge connector for communicating with the HI and networks. The HI logic receives HI signals from the interface logic and encodes the signals into a format suitable for transmission to the HI. The HI logic receives and decodes incoming encoded HI signals from the HI, and transmits the decoded HI signals to the interface logic for use in the computing system. The network logic encodes network signals into a format suitable for transmission to the network, and receives and decodes encoded network signals from the network.

Abstract: A computer network having multiple remotely located human interfaces which share a common computing system which appears, to each of the human interfaces, as a virtual computer dedicated to that human interface. The computer network includes a processor subsystem and a plurality of nodes, each coupled to the processor subsystem and having a remotely located human interface comprised of a video monitor and an I/O device coupled thereto. Each one of the nodes further incudes a first interface device coupled to the processor subsystem and to a transmission line while each of the human interfaces further includes a second interface device coupled to the video monitor, the I/O device and the transmission line. The computer network further includes a memory subsystem coupled to the processor subsystem and having a plurality of memory areas, each corresponding to one of the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: A computer comprised of a computing system positioned at a first location and a human interface, which includes a video monitor, and plural I/O devices, specifically, a keyboard, mouse and printer, positioned at a second location remotely located relative to the first location. The computer further includes a first encoder coupled to the computer system, a first decoder coupled to the video monitor and the at least one I/O device and a transmission line which couples the encoder to the decoder. The first encoder receives, from the computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to the video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to the at least one I/O device. The first encoder combines the video and the non-video signals into a combined signal and transmits the combined signal to the first decoder via the transmission line.

Abstract: A computer network comprised of a plurality of interconnected nodes, each having a DTE device coupled thereto. Plural ones of the DTE devices are each further comprised of a computing system positioned at a first location and a human interface, which includes a video monitor, and plural I/O devices, specifically, a keyboard, mouse and printer, positioned at a second location remotely located relative to the first location. The first locations at which the computing systems of the DTE devices are positioned are commonly located. The DTE devices further include a first encoder coupled to the computing system, a first decoder coupled to the video monitor and the at least one I/O device and a transmission line which couples the encoder to the decoder. The first encoder receives, from the computing system, a video signal to be transmitted to the video monitor and a non-video signal to be transmitted to the at least one I/O device.