Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Interrupt processing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-19
2001-11-20
Auve, Glenn A. (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Interrupt processing
C710S048000, C345S002100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321287
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to computer systems and more specifically to console redirection in computer systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Remote console emulation of a local console of a computer system such as a server allows a system manager at a remote location to monitor, manage, configure, and trouble shoot the server without having to be physically present at the server location. In remote console emulation, video data such as text and graphics that are displayed on a local monitor are provided to and displayed on a remote monitor for viewing by a remote user such as a system manager. Also with remote console emulation, keystrokes and pointer entries made with a remote keyboard and pointer (such as a mouse) are provided to the server and have the same effect on the server as with keystrokes and pointer entries made by a local keyboard and local pointer device, respectively.
In the past, console redirection has been accomplished by placing a remote video controller on the same computer bus (such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus) as a local video controller (such as a VGA controller). The remote video controller receives video data by snooping the writes on the computer bus to the local video controller from the system processor. Data from the local controller (such as from the local keyboard) is obtained by trapping or chaining the interrupts from the local video controller to the system processor.
Another technique of console redirection is disclosed in Farrand et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,699. In Farrand, console redirection is accomplished by a system management board or card accessing the video data in the video memory portion of the system memory by bus mastering and providing that video data to a remote monitor.
The above techniques for console redirection require that the video controller for the local and remote video monitors reside on the same computer bus (as with the first technique), that the video data be accessible in the system memory by both controllers, and/or that the video data writes to the local video controller are detectable by the remote monitor video controller.
With the increase in speed and memory of today's computer systems, new standards for providing video data to monitors are being utilized to increase the speed of video data transfers to enable a monitor to display relatively complex graphics such as moving 3-D images. One such standard for increasing the amount of data that can be provided to a monitor is the Accelerated Graphics Port Interface Standard (AGP standard). A description of an AGP standard can be found in the ACCELERATED GRAPHICS PORT INTERFACE SPECIFICATION, Rev 2.0, May 4, 1998, by the INTEL CORPORATION which is hereby incorporated by reference. In a computer system implementing circuitry conforming to the AGP system, video data is obtained by the local monitor connector circuit as per the AGP standard.
One problem of performing console redirection in computer system utilizing AGP compliant components to provide video data to a local monitor is that it is relatively impractical and/or impossible for a remote monitor connector circuit coupled to the computer system via another computer bus (such as a PCI bus) to snoop the video data being provided to the AGP compliant video controller. Typically, video data transfers to an AGP compliant video controller are not seen on the PCI bus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been discovered that providing a computer system with a remote monitor connector circuit that generates an interrupt to a system processor to obtain video data being provided to another video connector circuit advantageously enables remote console emulation for a system whose local monitor connector circuit is operably coupled to the system processor and/or memory via a different computer bus than the remote monitor connector circuit.
In one aspect of the invention, a computer system includes a system processor and a first monitor connector circuit operably coupled to the system processor. The first monitor connector circuit being provided video data for display on a first display monitor when operably coupled to the first monitor connector circuit. The computer system also includes a second monitor connector circuit operably coupled to the system processor. The second monitor connector circuit provides the video data to a second display monitor for display thereon. The second monitor connector circuit generates an interrupt to the system processor to obtain video data being provided to the first monitor connector circuit.
In another aspect, the invention includes a method for performing remote monitor redirection in a computer system. The method includes providing video data to a local monitor connector circuit, generating an interrupt to a system processor, and providing the video data to a remote monitor connector circuit in response to the interrupt for display on a remote display monitor.
In another aspect, the invention includes a connector circuit for providing video data to a remote monitor for remote monitor redirection. The connector circuit includes a connector for operably coupling the connector circuit to a computer bus and a controller. The controller generating an interrupt to a system processor for the connector circuit to obtain via the computer bus and via the connector video data provided to a local monitor connector circuit.
In another aspect of the invention, a server includes a system processor, a system memory operably coupled to the system processor, and a local monitor connector circuit operably coupled to the system processor. The local monitor connector circuit being provided video data for display on a local display monitor when operably coupled to the local monitor connector circuit. The local monitor connector circuit including circuitry substantially compliant with an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) standard. The server further includes a computer bus and a remote monitor connector circuit operably coupled to the system processor via the computer bus. The remote monitor connector circuit providing video data to a remote monitor for display thereon. Wherein during a startup routine executed by the system processor, the remote monitor connector circuit generates a system management interrupt (SMI) to the system processor to obtain the video data provided to the local monitor connector circuit.
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Bassman Robert G.
Chan Wai-Ming Richard
Rao Anil V.
Vivio Joe A.
Auve Glenn A.
Dell USA L.P.
Dolezal David G.
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
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