Apparatus for providing I/O support to a computer system and...

Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Intrasystem connection – Bus interface architecture

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C710S038000, C710S037000, C709S226000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06697905

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to computer systems and more particularly to an apparatus for providing input/output support to a computer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional computer system
10
. Computer system
10
typically includes the main computer system
12
, a keyboard
14
, a mouse
16
, a display device or monitor
18
, a diskette or floppy drive
20
and a compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD) drive
22
. It is understood that computer system
10
is for illustrative purposes and includes numerous components not shown.
Large installation computer networks typically incorporate racks of server computers (servers) to provide services to the other computers within the networks. The functions performed by each of these servers vary depending on the network and the server's place within the particular network. For example, at least one server typically functions as “file server” for the network. A computer functioning as a file server will usually have significantly more data storage capacity than the other computers connected to the network. The networked computers utilize this data storage capacity to store files and databases. Software executed by the file server controls access to these files and databases.
Typically, each server within each rack would incorporate certain peripheral input/output (I/O) devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a display device, a floppy disk drive and a CD/DVD drive. However, these I/O devices are not used, except at certain critical installation points or for routine computer maintenance. Therefore, within the context of a large computer network environment, they are characterized as low-use devices.
When setting up these large installation computer networks it is desirable to minimize cost as well as the amount of space used. Consequently, to minimize the space used by the low-use devices, a keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) switch is sometimes incorporated.
Through the use of a KVM switch, only one set of keyboard, mouse and display devices are utilized by the rack of servers.
FIG. 2
illustrates a conventional KVM system
50
comprising a rack
52
populated with a number of server computers
54
-
68
, switch
70
, keyboard
14
, mouse
16
and display device
18
. The KVM switch
70
is cabled to each of the server computers
54
-
68
and to keyboard
14
, mouse
16
and display device
18
. If a computer operator or technician subsequently needs to access one of the server computers
54
-
68
in rack
52
, KVM switch
70
is utilized to associate keyboard
14
, mouse
16
and display device
18
with the appropriate server computer
54
-
68
. The computer operator or technician is then able to use the keyboard
14
, mouse
16
, and display device
18
to interact with the appropriate server computer
54
-
68
. However, due to the high cost of KVM switches and associated extensive cabling and the valuable rack space occupied, their utilization is less than desirable. Also note that the KVM system
50
does not address a solution for additional I/O such as the floppy drive
20
and CD/DVD drive
22
which is typically duplicated within each server
54
-
68
in rack
52
.
Accordingly, what is needed is a low cost, space saving method and apparatus for providing I/O support for these and other types of systems. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for providing I/O support to a computer system. The apparatus comprises an I/O device and an internal control element coupled to the I/O device for relinquishing ownership of the I/O device from the apparatus to the computer system.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for providing I/O support to a computer system. The method comprises the steps of providing an apparatus wherein the apparatus includes an I/O device and an internal control element coupled to the I/O device and utilizing the internal control element to allow ownership of the I/O device to be relinquished from the apparatus to the computer system.
The use of the method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention saves space and money since expensive KVM switches, along with the accompanying I/O devices, are no longer needed to provide I/O support for computer networks.


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