Abstract: A network system in a building complex linking different locations together and facilitating information and data exchange and access, includes ‘N’ number of autonomous nodes for receiving, processing, and storing sensory data collected by one or more sensors relating to an environment in ‘N’ number of regions within the building complex. The nodes are configured to communicate and share sensory data among the ‘N’ number of nodes and to generate a dynamic virtual map of the building complex environment that is accessible by users having access to the network.

Abstract: A network system in a building complex linking different locations together and facilitating information and data exchange and access, includes ‘N’ number of autonomous nodes for receiving, processing, and storing sensory data collected by one or more sensors relating to an environment in ‘N’ number of regions within the building complex. The nodes are configured to communicate and share sensory data among the ‘N’ number of nodes and to generate a dynamic virtual map of the building complex environment that is accessible by users having access to the network.

Abstract: A network system in a building complex linking different locations together and facilitating information and data exchange and access, includes ‘N’ number of autonomous nodes for receiving, processing, and storing sensory data collected by one or more sensors relating to an environment in ‘N’ number of regions within the building complex. The nodes are configured to communicate and share sensory data among the ‘N’ number of nodes and to generate a dynamic virtual map of the building complex environment that is accessible by users having access to the network.

Abstract: A network system in a building complex linking different locations together and facilitating information and data exchange and access, includes ‘N’ number of autonomous nodes for receiving, processing, and storing sensory data collected by one or more sensors relating to an environment in ‘N’ number of regions within the building complex. The nodes are configured to communicate and share sensory data among the ‘N’ number of nodes and to generate a dynamic virtual map of the building complex environment that is accessible by users having access to the network.

Abstract: System and method for managing data fail-over for a computing system comprising a plurality of computers, e.g., computer blades, coupled through a network. A fail-over condition may indicate a component failure, an imminent failure, and/or a need to modify or replace some aspect of a computer. Computers in the system may back up their information to other computers in the system. If a fail-over condition is detected on a first computer, a replacement computer may be loaded with the information from the first computer, optionally from a backup copy stored on another computer (or distributed across multiple computers), and the first computer's peripheral devices (human interface) switched over to the replacement computer. The method may be used to replace a single computer, swap two computers, and/or perform a cascade move among multiple computers, and may be performed automatically in response to the fail-over condition, or initiated by a system administrator.

Abstract: System and method for providing computer resources to users. A first device is coupled to multiple human interface devices (HIDs), and a second device is coupled to multiple computing resources. The first device establishes a connection with the second device over a network, and in response to user input specifying a task, provides first user interface signals generated by the HIDs specifying the task to the second device. The second device receives the task specification from the first device, determines one or more of the resources operable to perform the task, invokes performance of the task by at least one of the resources, and/or the second device, and provides second user interface signals to the first device, including results of the task. The first device receives the second user interface signals from the second device, and provides them to one or more of the HIDs for presentation to the user.

Abstract: System and method for providing computer resources to users. The system includes a plurality of co-located computing systems, e.g., blade computers, comprising a hierarchy of computer resources based on performance, and located at a first location, each computing system including a processor, a memory medium coupled to the processor, and a plurality of human interface systems, each located at a second location remote from the first location, and each including an interface device, and one or more human interface devices coupled to the interface device, where each human interface system is coupled to the co-located computing systems over a network, such as a LAN or a WAN, via the interface device. Computer resources are provided to users of the plurality of remote human interface systems over the network in accordance with the computer resource performance needs of the users. Charges may be assessed for usage of the computer resources.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for using free storage capacity on a plurality of storage media as a virtual storage device on a computer network comprising a plurality of computers. A first portion of each storage medium stores data. To implement Virtual Network Attached Storage (VNAS), the respective “free” second portions of each storage medium are aggregated into a shared storage volume. Computers on the network may mount the shared storage volume at one of a plurality of mount points and may store data on the shared storage volume. VNAS may be implemented in a peer-to-peer manner whereby each computer acts as a server for the data stored on its part of the shared storage volume (i.e., the second portion of its storage media). VNAS may be used to implement a system and method for managing data fail-over.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a system in which one or more centrally located computers are coupled to one or more human interfaces (HIs), and in which removable function modules are used to provide additional functionality to the computers. Each computer includes all the elements that make up a standard personal computer, such as a PC motherboard with a microprocessor CPU, memory, and network and interface logic, configured on a single card, and is called a computer card. The system includes a cabinet, or cage, with slots for accepting a plurality of computer cards, and a cage connector which couples to each inserted computer card. A removable function module engages the cage connector via a module connector.

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 video transmitting system may be configured to transmit, over extended length twisted-pair cables, video signals encoded in the Y/C video space. The system may comprise a source of RGB computer video signals. A video transmitter may be operable to convert the RGB video signals into a balanced luminance signal and a respective pair of balanced color difference signals. The video transmitting system may be further configured to transmit the balanced luminance signal and the pair of balanced color difference signals over respective extended length twisted-pair cables. The luminance signal may be transmitted over a non time-corrected cable in order to retain bandwidth, while the color difference signals may be transmitted over time-corrected cables, thereby reducing the visual degradation of the signals.

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: Systems and methods are disclosed for a distributed computing infrastructure on a computer network comprising a plurality of computers. The distributed computing infrastructure (DCI) provides a software platform for creating, running, and managing distributed applications. DCI may include XML-capable software applications on a peer-to-peer network. DCI may include small, network-unaware applications called peerlets. DCI may include a system and method for creating complex distributed applications using pre-complied binaries. DCI may include a capability for multiple, independent collaborative sessions for distributed collaborative applications (e.g., chat, instant messaging, shared whiteboard, etc.). DCI may include systems and methods for reducing interactions between users and applications to archivable form and then playing back the interactions. DCI may include a system and method for automatic software retrieval on a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a system in which one or more centrally located computers are coupled to one or more human interfaces (HIs), and in which removable function modules are used to provide additional functionality to the computers. Each computer includes all the elements that make up a standard personal computer, such as a PC motherboard with a microprocessor CPU, memory, and network and interface logic, configured on a single card, and is called a computer card. The system includes a cabinet, or cage, with slots for accepting a plurality of computer cards, and a cage connector which couples to each inserted computer card. A removable function module engages the cage connector via a module connector.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a display device and one or more USB peripherals remotely from a host computer. The system may include a host computer, a display device, one or more USB compliant peripherals, a local extender operable to couple to the host computer system and a remote extender coupled to the local extender and to the display device and one or more USB peripherals. The local extender may be coupled to the remote extender through four twisted wire pairs which in one embodiment comprises a category 5 cable. The cable may be longer than the maximum length allowed by the USB specification. The host computer system may generate a video signal intended for the display device, as well as one or more peripheral signals intended for the one or more USB peripherals.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring digital visual interface (DVI) signals to a remote location. In one embodiment, a computer in a first location is coupled to a digital display device (e.g. a digital flat panel display) in a remote second location. The computer system generates DVI signals. The DVI signals may be converted into analog video signals by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and transmitted to the second location. An analog to digital converter (ADC) at the second location may reconvert the analog video signals into DVI signals. The DVI signals may then be sent to the display device to generate images presented on the display device. Control, clock, and/or human interface device (HID) (e.g., mouse, keyboard, etc.) signals may be transmitted with the DVI signals to the second location. HID signals may also be transmitted from the second location to the computer over the same transmission medium.

Abstract: A computing system and a human interface for the computing system. A first cable couples the computing system to a video monitor of the human interface, a second cable couples the video monitor to a keyboard of the human interface, a third cable couples the video monitor to a mouse of the human interface, a fourth cable couples the video monitor to a printer of the human interface, a fifth cable couples the video monitor to speakers of the human interface, a sixth cable couples the video monitor to a telephone of the human interface and a seventh cable couples the video monitor to a USB device of the human interface. The computing system propagates data for the various I/O device to the video monitor over the first cable and the video monitor propagates the data for the various I/O devices over respective ones of the second through seventh cables.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting video images from a computer system to multiple monitors over a single cable. In one embodiment, a computing system includes a video processor operable to store a plurality of video images. The video processor is further configured to transmit a sequence of video frames, each video frame including a video image and a frame identifier. The video frames are transmitted across a serial cable to a plurality of frame grabbers, each of which couples the serial cable to one of a plurality of monitors. Each frame grabber is configured to examine the sequence of video frames. The frame grabber is further configured to select a video frame from the sequence based on the frame identifier, which designates the monitor upon which the video frame is to be displayed.

Abstract: A system and method operating a computer system in which one or more centrally located computers are coupled to one or more respective human interfaces (HIs) located remotely from the computers. Each computing system includes a CPU, a memory coupled to the CPU, a first I/O bus coupled to the CPU, and a first extender coupled to the first I/O bus. Each HI includes one or more HI devices, a second extender coupled to the HI devices, a second I/O bus coupled to the second extender, and HI circuitry coupled to the second I/O bus and the one or more HI devices. A transmission medium couples the first and second extenders, where the one or more HI devices are useable by a user to interface with the computing system. The second extender, second I/O bus, and HI circuitry may be included in an HI device, e.g., a monitor or keyboard.

Abstract: A bi-directional signal coupler is incorporated into a transmission/reception communication system and is used for the transmission and reception of signals over a single transmission medium. The bi-directional signal coupler includes a primary nulling device for removing a signal to be transmitted through the bi-directional signal coupler from a signal to be received into the bi-directional signal coupler. The primary removing device provides an output signal representative of the signal to be received plus the signal to be transmitted wherein a level of the signal to be transmitted is removed to a first extent relative to a level of the signal to be received. At least one additional secondary device is provided for removing the signal to be transmitted from the signal to be received in a successive manner.