Enumeration, manageability, and security of a KVM extension device

Abstract

A computer interface extension configuration that includes a host having a motherboard, an extension transmitter card, and an extension receiver. The motherboard includes a first connector that allows motherboard signals to be shared internal to the host, and a second connector separate from the first connector that supports communications with the host. The extension transmitter card is positioned within the host and is electrically connected to the motherboard of the host via at least the first connector and the second connector. The extension transmitter card includes an extension transmitter device having endpoint circuitry that provides the host with information for enumeration, manageability, and security. The extension receiver is connected to a plurality of user interface devices and is extensibly connected to the extension transmitter card. The extension receiver, among other things, receives data transmissions from the extension transmitter card of the host to thereby provide the data transmissions to one or more of the plurality of user interface devices.

I/we claim:  
     
         1 . A computer interface extension configuration comprising: 
 a host having a motherboard with a first connector that allows motherboard signals to be shared internal to the host, the motherboard also having at least a second connector separate from the first connector that supports communications with the host;    an extension transmitter card disposed within the host and being electrically coupled to the motherboard of the host via at least the first connector and the second connector, the extension transmitter card including an extension transmitter device having endpoint circuitry that provides the host with information for enumeration, manageability, and security; and    an extension receiver coupled to a plurality of user interface devices, the extension receiver being extensibly connected to the extension transmitter card and that at least receives data transmissions from the extension transmitter card of the host to thereby provide the data transmissions to one or more of the plurality of user interface devices.    
     
     
         2 . The computer interface extension configuration of  claim 1  wherein the extension transmitter card comprises a peripheral connection interface graphics controller that communicates with the motherboard independent of communications on the first connector.  
     
     
         3 . The computer interface extension configuration of  claim 1  wherein the extension transmitter card comprises an accelerated graphics port controller that communicates with the motherboard independent of communications on the first connector.  
     
     
         4 . The computer interface extension configuration of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of user interface devices comprise a keyboard, a mouse, a video monitor, a speaker, a serial link, a USB link, a power button, and a microphone.  
     
     
         5 . The computer interface extension configuration of  claim 1  wherein the extension receiver is extensibly connected to the extension transmitter via a fiber optic cable.  
     
     
         6 . The computer interface extension configuration of  claim 1  wherein the extension receiver is extensibly connected to the extension transmitter via a cable compatible with any version of category five or above type cables.  
     
     
         7 . The computer interface extension configuration of  claim 1  wherein the extension transmitter card disposed within the host is electrically coupled to the first connector of the motherboard of the host via a ribbon cable disposed between the motherboard and the extension transmitter card.  
     
     
         8 . The computer interface extension configuration of  claim 1  wherein the extension transmitter card disposed within the host is electrically coupled to the second connector of the motherboard of the host via one of a PCI, PCI-X, or AGP interface with the extension transmitter card.  
     
     
         9 . A computer interface extension transmitter comprising: 
 a host computer system having a motherboard with at least a first connector and a second connector that is separate from the first connector;    an extension transmitter card electrically coupled to the second connector of the motherboard, the extension transmitter card including an extension transmitter device having endpoint circuitry and a motherboard header, the motherboard header being electrically coupled to the first connector of the host computer system, the endpoint circuitry providing the host with information for enumeration, manageability, and security; and    an extension receiver connected to the extension transmitter card and coupled to at least one user interface device.    
     
     
         10 . The computer interface extension transmitter of  claim 9  wherein the second connector disposed on the motherboard for electrically coupling the extension transmitter card to the motherboard operates according to a graphics communication standard taken from the group consisting of a PCI interface, a PCI-X interface, and an AGP interface.  
     
     
         11 . The computer interface extension transmitter of  claim 9  wherein the first connector disposed on the motherboard separately from the second connector comprises audio communications with the extension receiver that pass through the extension transmitter card.  
     
     
         12 . The computer interface extension transmitter of  claim 9  wherein the first connector disposed on the motherboard separately from the second connector comprises analog video communications with the extension receiver that pass through the extension transmitter card.  
     
     
         13 . The computer interface extension transmitter of  claim 9  wherein the first connector disposed on the motherboard separately from the second connector comprises digital video communications with the extension receiver that pass through the extension transmitter card.  
     
     
         14 . A method for extending computer interface communications between a host computer and a plurality of computer interface devices comprising: 
 electrically connecting an extension transmitter card to a slot in the host computer system, the extension transmitter card including an extension transmitter device having endpoint circuitry;    enumerating the extension transmitter device with the host computer system such that the extension transmitter device is recognized by the host;    electrically connecting a motherboard header of the extension transmitter card to a connector on the host that is separate from the slot in the host with which the extension transmitter card is electrically connected; and    transmitting communications from the extension transmitter card to an extension receiver to complete operations with at least one of the plurality of computer interface devices.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said transmitting communications from the extension transmitter card comprises transmitting PCI compatible graphics communications.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said transmitting communications from the extension transmitter card comprises transmitting AGP compatible graphics communications.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the extension transmitter device is enumerated by the host as a PCI device.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the extension transmitter device is enumerated by the host as a USB device.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the extension transmitter device is enumerated by the host as a SMBus device.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said enumerating the extension transmitter device further comprises enumerating other devices that are electrically connected between the host computer and the plurality of computer interface devices such that the extension transmitter acts as a communication bridge to the other devices.