Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Remote data accessing – Accessing a remote server
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2003-10-14
Powell, Mark R. (Department: 2142)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Remote data accessing
Accessing a remote server
C709S224000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06633905
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to remote computer access, and more particularly to hardware and software for coordinating video, keyboard and mouse information transfers and control to/from a remote PC and one or more host PCs.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Since the introduction of the PC there has been a need to access PCs from remote locations. Initial remote access approaches software based systems, such as pcAnywhere, Reach Out, etc., Such remote access systems are operating system dependent, meaning that the software would only function in association with a particular operating system (i.e. DOS, Windows, Unix, etc) and software upgrades were normally required each time that operating system was enhanced.
Software-only based systems were also intrusive (i.e. the software had to be installed on the Host PC). As a result, the software took resources away from the Host PC and often caused the Host PC to lock up due to incompatibilities between the remote access software and application software running on the Host PC. Moreover, many critical PC applications, such as network file servers, where simply incompatible with all remote access software products. Finally, remote access software failed when the Host PC failed, meaning that maintenance personnel could not remotely access a PC that had failed or locked up to determine why the failure occurred and to take corrective action.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,212, which is incorporated herein by reference, disclosed a prior art remote access product that was marketed as so-called KEY-VIEW. Keyview was a custom designed hardware unit externally connected to a Host PC that had a proprietary internal software operating system which serviced a remote user. Proprietary software operating on a Remote User's PC was used to remotely access the KEY-VIEW unit at the Host site. A Remote user running this proprietary software required only a standard modem and PC to access any Host site.
Using the present invention (sometimes referred to herein by an example embodiment called “KEY-VIEW II”), a single KEY-VIEW PC permits remote control of a plurality of Host PCs alone or in combination with third party switch boxes and allows help desk and maintenance personnel to be highly centralized, but still respond to support calls, as if they were on-site. This means KEY-VIEW dramatically cuts down-time as well as costs for maintenance and technical support.
Under KEY-VIEW II, a standard remote access engine such as pcAnywhere is used to remotely access a KEY-VIEW PC. pcAnywhere in combination with the KEY-VIEW PC permit access via a LAN, modem, the Internet and/or direct serial or parallel port access. pcAnywhere supports TCIP access, so customers may access the KEY-VIEW II PC over the Internet and launch, monitor and control applications running any Host computer connected to the Host PC even in distant international locations, as if they were actually on site.
The example embodiment described herein uses the remote access package, pcAnywhere, using the latest 32 bit technology. But, other remote access engines can be substituted.
KEY-VIEW II improves control of “Host” PCs from a remote location on virtually a real time basis without any remote access hardware or software running on the Host PC. Any PC running any operating system may be accessed remotely, as long as the Host PC has a standard video card and compatible keyboard. The present invention eliminates operating system dependent, software only based remote access solutions that involve costly software upgrades and complexities each time the Host or Remote PCs operating system changes.
KEY-VIEW II is a independent hardware unit that is installed between the Host PC and it's video monitor, keyboard, mouse and power source. In other words, the Host PC's video monitor output signal passes through KEY-VIEW II before reaching the VGA monitor, the keyboard and mouse input signal passes through KEY-VIEW II before reaching the PC. Accordingly, KEY-VIEW II intercepts all of the critical input and output functions of a PC necessary to totally remotely control any PC running any operating system or application.
The KEY-VIEW II thus provides platform-independent remote access. KEY-VIEW II permits remote access to any version of any operating system, even versions that have not yet been released. Moreover, since KEY-VIEW II converts the analog video (VGA or SVGA) output signal of a Host PC to digital form, KEY-VIEW II permits a remote user to view on virtually a real-time basis whatever is on the video output display, even in those cases where the Host PC is totally locked up.
Using KEY-VIEW II, remote support technicians can be instantly transported to a site that has failed as if they were on-site. KEY-VIEW II eliminates resulting downtime, technician travel time and permits scarce technical experts to be centralized and utilized efficiently.
Under the KEY-VIEW II remote control concept, a remote user simply calls the KEY-VIEW PC, using pcAnywhere, to take control of one or more Host PCs as if they are on site, non-intrusively, without any software or hardware installed in the Host PC(s). No special hardware other than a PC or laptop with a standard modem or LAN interface card is required by a remote user to access KEY-VIEW PC.
KEY-VIEW II has the necessary tools to remotely restore normal Host PC processing in most cases. For example, KEY-VIEW II could be used to remotely view or change the CMOS setting on a Host PC. In cases where remote repair may not be possible (e.g. a hard drive is defective), KEY-VIEW II provides the necessary unrestricted access required to remotely determine what repairs (e.g. replace hard drive) will be necessary to restore normal Host PC operations.
Many network operating systems do not permit remote access software applications to co-exist with the network server's operating system. Even in cases where a server operating system may support remote access, many administrators don't permit remote access simply because the remote access software application degrades server performance. Moreover, because such application are always running in the background constantly testing for incoming calls, such applications increase the probability of causing server failures. If the server's operating system fails, the server's processor locks up for any reason, or the network cabling systems fail, the network administrator will not be able to determine the reason for the failure and effect repairs without having direct, on-site access to the server. However, if a KEY-VIEW II system had been installed, the network administrator would have been able to remotely access the Host unit, view what appears on the server's screen, physically take over the server's keyboard, control operations and/or cold boot the server, as required. KEY-VIEW II thus provides network administrators with unconditional access to any network server (Host PC) without requiring either CPU or Local Area Network (LAN) communications support from the Host PC or the network.
As an example of other uses for KEY-VIEW II, consider a company where each employee depends on a multi-port network communications server for remote access to their reference files. If one or more ports on the communications server should fail, remote access to the company's files and network would not be possible or would be haphazard. In such cases, simply rebooting the communications server remotely is not desirable because there may be other remote users on ports that are still operating properly, so “blindly” rebooting the communications server would immediately cut off their connection(s). Obviously, a network administrator must be in a position to take immediate corrective action, but may not be on-site. KEY-VIEW II permits administrators to remotely access and control the communications server immediately, as if they are physically sitting in front of the server.
KEY-VIEW II may also be used for more efficient remote maintenance of PCs. When a failure occurs, a remote maintena
Anderson Robin L.
Hawkins Dennis
Perholtz Ronald J.
Avocent Huntsville Corporation
Davidson Berquist Klima & Jackson LLP
Powell Mark R.
Vu Thong
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