An interactive control method and system for an office extension device

By generating port ownership records and pausing keyboard and mouse input events, the problem of inconsistency between the displayed screen and the input point in multi-host shared office expansion equipment was solved, thereby improving the interactive reliability of the host switching process.

CN123030145APending Publication Date: 2026-11-03SHENZHEN RONGTUO E-COMMERCE CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202611150115.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2026-07-31
Publication Date
2026-11-03

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

When multiple hosts share office expansion equipment, the display screen after switching hosts may not match the keyboard and mouse input points, making it difficult for users to accurately identify the currently controlled object and causing misoperation.

Method used

By acquiring the access status of each host port connected to the office expansion device, the ownership status of the display channel and input control channel, a port ownership record is generated to determine the unique currently controlled port. Before switching, the back-off port is saved, keyboard and mouse input events are paused, the display channel is first switched to the target controlled port, and the input control channel is switched after the display signal is locked. After obtaining input control confirmation, the port ownership record is updated and keyboard and mouse input event sending is resumed.

Benefits of technology

This ensures that the displayed screen and the keyboard and mouse input objects are consistent after switching, reducing accidental operations and improving the interactive reliability of multi-host shared office expansion devices.

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Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of computer peripheral device interactive control, and discloses an interactive control method and system of office extension equipment, which comprises the following steps: acquiring the access state of each host port, the display channel attribution state and the input control channel attribution state, and generating a port attribution record; determining a unique current controlled port based on the port attribution record; determining a target controlled port and saving a fallback port after receiving a host switching instruction; pausing the sending of keyboard and mouse input events, switching the display channel first, and switching the input control channel after the display signal is locked; updating the port attribution record and resuming the sending of keyboard and mouse input events after input control confirmation is obtained. The application confirms the binding state of the display channel and the input control channel before switching, and executes the switching in the order of display locking, input confirmation and record updating, so that the problem that the display picture attribution and the actual controlled object of the keyboard and mouse are easily inconsistent is solved.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of computer peripheral interactive control technology, and more specifically, to an interactive control method and system for office expansion devices. Background Technology

[0002] Existing office expansion devices typically have uplink interfaces for connecting host devices, and downlink interfaces for connecting monitors, keyboards, mice, cameras, microphones, storage devices, network cables, and power adapters. Some office expansion devices also incorporate KVM switching functionality, allowing two or more host devices to share a single monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other office peripherals, reducing repetitive plugging and unplugging and improving centralized management of desktop devices. In such devices, the objects displayed on the screen and the input objects of the keyboard and mouse directly affect the user's perception of the currently controlled host. Therefore, the reliability of interactive control when multiple hosts share an office expansion device has become a crucial factor affecting the user experience.

[0003] In the prior art, Chinese patent application CN113660450A discloses a method and apparatus for automatically switching video conferencing peripherals among multiple hosts. This method monitors the access parameters of each host's access module and, based on these parameters, controls all video conferencing peripherals to switch connections to one of the host's access modules according to a switching strategy, thereby achieving automatic switching of video conferencing peripherals among multiple hosts. However, in office extension equipment, the monitor, keyboard, and mouse respectively handle screen display and input control functions. When switching hosts, users are more concerned with whether the "currently seen screen" and the "host actually being used by the keyboard and mouse" are consistent. If the existing switching process only changes the peripheral connection object based on access conditions or switching strategies, there are problems such as brief asynchrony during the switching process, uncertain status after a failed switch, and user input potentially falling into an unexpected host, causing inconsistencies between the displayed screen location and the actual input location, affecting the interactive security and operational reliability in multi-host office scenarios.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to design an interactive control method and system for office expansion equipment to solve the problems existing in the current technology. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention proposes an interactive control method and system for office expansion equipment, which aims to solve the problem that when multiple hosts share office expansion equipment, the display screen ownership, keyboard and mouse input points, and the occupancy status of key peripherals are easily inconsistent after the host is switched, making it difficult for users to accurately identify the currently controlled object and causing misoperation.

[0006] This invention proposes an interactive control method for office expansion devices, comprising: Obtain the access status, display channel, and input control channel ownership status of each host port connected to the office expansion equipment, and generate port ownership records with the host port as the index; Among the host ports with valid access status, the host port that is simultaneously pointed to by both the display channel and the input control channel is searched based on the port attribution record, and the host port with the unique search result is determined as the current controlled port. After receiving the host switching instruction, a target controlled port different from the currently controlled port is determined from the host ports with valid access status, and the currently controlled port is saved as a fallback port before the switching process starts; Pause sending keyboard and mouse input events to each host port, and switch the control display channel to the target controlled port; After the display signal is locked to the target controlled port, the control input channel switches to the target controlled port and obtains input control confirmation; When the target controlled port receives input control confirmation, the display channel ownership status and input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record are updated to the target controlled port, the target controlled port is recorded as the current controlled port, and the sending of keyboard and mouse input events is resumed.

[0007] Furthermore, when generating port ownership records, the following are included: Establish a valid port entry for the host port with a valid access status; read the host port currently connected to the display channel and write the display channel's ownership status; read the host port currently sending keyboard and mouse input events to the input control channel and write the input control channel's ownership status.

[0008] Furthermore, when determining the currently controlled port, the following are included: Search for the host port that is simultaneously pointed to by both the displayed channel ownership status and the input control channel ownership status among the host ports with valid access status; if the search result is one, the found host port is determined as the current controlled port; if the search result is zero or more, output a binding error message and do not respond to the host switching command.

[0009] Furthermore, when determining the target controlled port, the following are included: When the host switching command carries a target port identifier, among the host ports with valid access status, the host port that matches the target port identifier but is different from the currently controlled port is determined as the target controlled port; when the host switching command does not carry a target port identifier, among the host ports with valid access status, the target controlled port that is different from the currently controlled port is determined according to the set polling order; if no target controlled port is determined, the current switching process is terminated and a target abnormality prompt is output.

[0010] Furthermore, pausing the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events to each host port includes: Before switching the control display channel, disable the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events, but retain the detection events used for input control confirmation; continue to disable the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events until input control confirmation is obtained at the target controlled port or recovery is completed according to the fallback port.

[0011] Furthermore, the methods for determining signal lock include: After the control display channel is switched to the target controlled port, the display synchronization signal of the target controlled port is read; the display synchronization signal is continuously sampled within the set locking time. When a valid display synchronization flag is obtained in each sampling and no display disconnection flag appears, it is determined that the display signal is locked to the target controlled port; otherwise, it is determined that the display signal is not locked.

[0012] Furthermore, when obtaining input control confirmation, it includes: After the display signal is locked to the target controlled port, the input control channel is switched to the target controlled port, and the input channel readiness feedback of the target controlled port is read. When the input channel readiness feedback is read within the set confirmation time, and the current connected port of the input control channel is the target controlled port, it is determined that the target controlled port has obtained input control confirmation; otherwise, it is determined that the target controlled port has not obtained input control confirmation.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes recovery procedures after a switchover failure: When the display signal is not locked to the target controlled port, the input control channel switching is stopped, and the display channel is restored to the fallback port; when the display signal is locked to the target controlled port and the target controlled port does not receive input control confirmation, both the input control channel and the display channel are restored to the fallback port; after restoration, it is verified that both the display channel and the input control channel point to the fallback port, and the display channel ownership status and the input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record are updated to the fallback port, and the sending of keyboard and mouse input events is resumed.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes output status prompts: When the switch is successful, the target controlled port is displayed; when no unique current controlled port is formed, the binding error is displayed; when the target controlled port is not determined, the target error is displayed; when the display signal is not locked or no input control confirmation is obtained, the switch failure is displayed, and the fallback port is recorded as the current controlled port.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: By acquiring the access status of each host port, the display channel ownership status, and the input control channel ownership status, and generating a port ownership record with the host port as an index, it is possible to confirm whether the display channel and the input control channel point to the same valid host port before host switching, thereby determining a unique currently controlled port; by determining the target controlled port and saving the fallback port after receiving the host switching command, the switching process has a recoverable pre-switching state basis; by pausing the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events, first controlling the display channel to switch to the target controlled port, and then controlling the input control channel to switch after the display signal is locked, and updating the port ownership record and resuming the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events after obtaining input control confirmation, the display screen ownership and the keyboard and mouse input target are consistent after the switching is completed, reducing misoperations caused by inconsistencies between the display object and the controlled object when multiple hosts share office expansion equipment, and improving the interactive reliability of the host switching process.

[0016] On the other hand, this application also provides an interactive control system for office expansion equipment, used to apply the above-mentioned interactive control method for office expansion equipment, including: The port recording unit is used to obtain the access status, display channel and input control channel ownership status of each host port connected to the office expansion equipment, and generate port ownership records with the host port as the index. The current determination unit is used to search for a host port that is simultaneously pointed to by the display channel and the input control channel among the host ports with valid access status, based on the port attribution record, and determine the host port with the unique search result as the currently controlled port. The target determination unit is used to, after receiving the host switching instruction, determine a target controlled port that is different from the currently controlled port from the host ports with valid access status, and save the currently controlled port as a fallback port before the switching process starts; The display switching unit is used to pause sending keyboard and mouse input events to each host port and control the display channel to switch to the target controlled port. An input confirmation unit is used to control the input control channel to switch to the target controlled port and obtain input control confirmation after the display signal is locked to the target controlled port; The binding update unit is used to update the display channel ownership status and input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record to the target controlled port when the target controlled port receives input control confirmation, record the target controlled port as the current controlled port, and resume the sending of keyboard and mouse input events.

[0017] It is understandable that the interactive control methods and systems of the aforementioned office expansion equipment have the same beneficial effects, and will not be elaborated further here. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating the interactive control method for office extension devices provided in this embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 This is a flowchart of host switching confirmation and failure rollback provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 A functional block diagram of the interactive control system for an office extension device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0020] In some embodiments of this application, see Figure 1-2 As shown, this application proposes an interactive control method for office expansion equipment, including: S100: Obtain the access status of each host port connected to the office expansion equipment, the ownership status of the display channel and the input control channel, and generate port ownership records with the host port as the index; S200: Among the host ports with valid access status, search for the host port that is simultaneously pointed to by the display channel and the input control channel based on the port ownership record, and determine the host port with the unique search result as the current controlled port. S300: After receiving the host switching instruction, it determines the target controlled port that is different from the currently controlled port from the host ports with valid access status, and saves the current controlled port as the fallback port before the switching process starts. S400: Pause sending keyboard and mouse input events to each host port and switch the display channel to the target controlled port; S500: After the display signal is locked to the target controlled port, the control input control channel is switched to the target controlled port and input control confirmation is obtained; S600: When the target controlled port receives input control confirmation, update the display channel ownership status and input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record to the target controlled port, record the target controlled port as the current controlled port, and resume sending keyboard and mouse input events.

[0021] Specifically, in one embodiment, this method is applied to an office expansion device. The office expansion device can be a docking station, a KVM expansion device, or a stand-up office expansion device. The office expansion device has at least two host ports, each used to connect to one host device; the office expansion device also has a display channel and an input control channel. The display channel is used to output the video signal from one of the host ports to an external monitor, and the input control channel is used to send keyboard and mouse input events generated by the keyboard and mouse to one of the host ports. The display channel can use a video switching chip, an HDMI switcher, a DisplayPort switcher, a Type-C video channel switching circuit, or a USB-C Alt Mode switching circuit; the input control channel can use a USB switching chip, a USB Hub controller, an HID forwarding controller, or an embedded control circuit. This embodiment does not limit the specific chip model, but focuses on explaining the binding confirmation, switching confirmation, and failure rollback handling of the display channel and input control channel during multi-host switching.

[0022] The access status of the host port indicates whether the host port is in a connection state ready for switching. For Type-C host ports, the following can be read: CC connection detection result, power handshake result, uplink data link readiness result, and video source valid result. For HDMI, DP, or USB uplink combination ports, the following can be read: port connection detection signal, display hot-plug signal, USB uplink connection status, and port online status recorded by the office expansion device. If the physical connection detection signal of the host port is valid, and the office expansion device can read at least one of the display source valid status or input channel connectivity status, the access status of the host port is recorded as valid. If the physical connection detection signal is invalid, or if the display source valid status and input channel connectivity status are not read within the port identification time, the access status of the host port is recorded as invalid. The port identification time can be obtained through access testing, for example, by repeatedly plugging and unplugging the host port under different host and cable conditions, recording the time taken from the physical connection detection signal being valid to the reading of the display source valid status or input channel connectivity status, taking the time satisfied by 95% of the samples as the basic identification time, and then adding one to three polling cycles as a margin.

[0023] After obtaining the access status of each host port, a port ownership record is generated using the host port as an index. The port ownership record can be stored in table entries, with each entry corresponding to a host port and recording the host port number, access status, display channel pointing flag, and input control channel pointing flag. When a display channel is currently connected to a host port, the display channel pointing flag in the corresponding entry is set to valid, and the display channel pointing flags in the corresponding entries for other host ports are set to invalid. When an input control channel is currently configured to send keyboard and mouse input events to a host port, the input control channel pointing flag in the corresponding entry is set to valid, and the input control channel pointing flags in the corresponding entries for other host ports are set to invalid. The host port currently connected to the display channel can be read from the selection register of the video switching chip, the selection pin feedback, or the most recently valid display switching record saved by the office expansion device; the keyboard and mouse input event sending target currently configured for the input control channel can be read from the channel selection feedback of the USB switching chip, the sending port record of the HID forwarding controller, or the input control channel connection feedback.

[0024] After generating the port attribution record, the system searches for host ports with valid access status that are simultaneously pointed to by both the displayed channel attribution status and the input control channel attribution status. Specifically, it reads each valid port entry in the port attribution record and checks whether both the displayed channel pointing flag and the input control channel pointing flag in the valid port entry are valid. If only one valid port entry meets the above condition, the host port corresponding to that valid port entry is determined as the currently controlled port; if no valid port entry meets the above condition, or if two or more valid port entries meet the above condition, a currently controlled port is not formed, and a binding error message is output. The binding error message indicates that the currently displayed object and the keyboard and mouse input object have not formed a unique binding relationship.

[0025] For example, an office expansion device has a first host port and a second host port. If both the first and second host ports are active, and both the display channel pointer and the input control channel pointer are located on the first host port, then the first host port is the currently controlled port. If the display channel pointer is on the first host port, but the input control channel pointer is on the second host port, then the display channel and the input control channel are not pointing to the same host port, resulting in an output binding error message and no response to host switching commands. This avoids performing a new switching action when the display and input are already misaligned.

[0026] After identifying the currently controlled port, the system receives a host switching command. This command can originate from the switching button on the office expansion device, keyboard shortcuts, the control software interface, or external control commands. When the host switching command carries a target port identifier, the host port with the same identifier, valid access status, and different from the currently controlled port is identified as the target controlled port. If the host port corresponding to the target port identifier has an invalid access status, or if the host port corresponding to the target port identifier is the same as the currently controlled port, it is determined that no target controlled port has been identified, and the display channel switching step is not initiated. When the host switching command does not carry a target port identifier, the target controlled port is identified from host ports with valid access status and different from the currently controlled port, according to the set polling order. The polling order can be determined by the host port's physical number, the most recent access time, or the port order set by the user in the control software. If there are no other host ports with valid access status besides the currently controlled port, the current switching process is terminated, and a target error message is output.

[0027] After identifying the target controlled port, save the current controlled port as a fallback port before initiating the switching process. The fallback port is used to restore the state before the switch if the display channel or input control channel switch fails. The fallback port should be saved before the actual switching action, because the display channel and input control channel may undergo some changes after the switching process starts; if the original controlled port is not saved in advance, it will be difficult to accurately restore the display and input binding state before the switch fails.

[0028] When initiating the switchover process, the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events to each host port is first paused. Keyboard and mouse input events refer to input events generated by the user's operation of the keyboard or mouse and used for normal host interaction, including key presses, mouse movements, mouse clicks, and scroll wheel inputs. Pausing the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events means stopping the transmission of the above user input events to each host port. Detection events used for input control confirmation are not considered user keyboard and mouse input events. Detection events can be query actions to read the connectivity status of the input control channel or handshake actions within the input control channel. Detection events do not enter the host application input queue and do not generate character input, mouse clicks, mouse movements, or scroll wheel inputs; they are only used to determine whether the input control channel is connected to the target controlled port.

[0029] During the pause in sending keyboard and mouse input events to various host ports, the keyboard and mouse input events generated during the pause can be directly discarded. Using this method, user input during the switching process will not be sent to either the currently controlled port or the target controlled port, thus avoiding erroneous input during the switching process. In another implementation, keyboard and mouse input events can be temporarily stored for a set buffer duration; when the switch is successful and the buffered events are still within the set buffer duration, the buffered events are sent to the target controlled port; when the switch fails or the buffered events exceed the set buffer duration, the buffered events are discarded. The set buffer duration can be obtained through continuous user input testing, for example, recording the acceptable short pause time when a user continuously types on the keyboard or moves the mouse, and using 100ms to 300ms as the buffer duration range. To simplify the control flow, a method can also be adopted where all keyboard and mouse input events generated during the pause are not sent and are directly discarded.

[0030] After disabling keyboard and mouse input events, the control display channel switches to the target controlled port. Once the display channel switch is complete, the display synchronization signal of the target controlled port is read. The display synchronization signal can be provided by a video switching chip, video receiver, DP / HDMI conversion chip, or display channel controller. A valid display synchronization flag can be generated based on a hot-plug valid signal, a link training completion signal, a video clock valid signal, or a video timing valid signal. A display disconnection flag can be generated based on a hot-plug disconnection signal, a link training failure signal, or a video clock loss signal.

[0031] The display synchronization signal is continuously sampled within the set lock duration. If a continuous valid sampling segment is formed within the set lock duration, and the number of samples within the continuous valid sampling segment reaches the set number, each sample obtains a valid display synchronization flag, and no display disconnection flag appears, the display signal is determined to be locked to the target controlled port. If no continuous valid sampling segment meeting the above conditions is formed before the set lock duration expires, the display signal is determined not to be locked. The set lock duration and the number of continuous samples can be obtained through prototype testing. Specifically, this can be done by selecting host combinations with different interface types, resolutions, and refresh rates to conduct multiple display channel switching tests, recording the time elapsed from the issuance of the display channel switching command to the continuous validity of the display synchronization signal; after removing abnormal samples caused by manual plugging and unplugging, the time elapsed for 95% of the samples is taken as the base lock duration, and then one to three polling cycles are added as a margin. If the polling cycle is 20ms, and the test shows that 95% of the samples meet the continuous valid display synchronization within 600ms, then the set lock duration can be set to 640ms to 660ms. The number of consecutive samplings can be determined based on the polling cycle and anti-jitter requirements. For example, if a valid display synchronization flag is obtained in 3 to 10 consecutive samplings and no display disconnection flag appears, the display signal is determined to be locked.

[0032] The input control channel is switched to the target controlled port only after the display signal locks onto it. After the input control channel switches, the currently connected port of the input control channel is read, and the input channel readiness feedback of the target controlled port is also read. Input channel readiness feedback can be obtained as follows: first, read the feedback from the currently connected port of the input control channel; if the currently connected port is the target controlled port, read the readiness flag of the input control channel; if the input control channel does not provide a readiness flag, confirm that the input control channel can reach the target controlled port through a detection event. When the currently connected port is the target controlled port, and the readiness flag is valid or the detection event confirms successful reading, it is determined that input channel readiness feedback has been read.

[0033] The confirmation duration can be determined through input channel switching tests. Specifically, this can be done by repeatedly switching input control channels under different host systems and keyboard / mouse combinations, recording the time elapsed from issuing the input control channel switching command to receiving input channel readiness feedback. The time elapsed in 95% of the samples is taken as the base confirmation duration, with an additional one to three polling cycles added as a margin. For example, if testing under multiple Windows host systems and common USB keyboards and mice shows that 95% of the samples receive input channel readiness feedback within 350ms, with a polling cycle of 20ms, then the set confirmation duration can be set to 400ms to 420ms. When input channel readiness feedback is received within the set confirmation duration, and the currently connected port of the input control channel is the target controlled port, it is determined that the target controlled port has received input control confirmation; otherwise, it is determined that the target controlled port has not received input control confirmation.

[0034] During the input control confirmation phase, confirmation is not based on whether the port ownership record has been updated, but rather on reading the currently connected ports and the input channel readiness feedback of the input control channel. Only after input control confirmation is successful is the input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record updated to the target controlled port. This avoids inconsistencies between the recorded status and the actual channel status caused by updating the record before confirming the channel.

[0035] Once the target controlled port receives input control confirmation, it indicates that both the display channel and the input control channel have been switched to the target controlled port. The display channel and input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record are updated to the target controlled port, which is then recorded as the new currently controlled port. Keyboard and mouse input event transmission is resumed. After resumption, the display screen seen by the user and the host computer actually controlled by the keyboard and mouse belong to the same host port.

[0036] When the display signal is not locked to the target controlled port, stop the input control channel switching and restore the display channel to the fallback port. Since the input control channel has not yet been switched, only the display channel needs to be restored at this time, and after restoration, verify that both the display channel and the input control channel point to the fallback port. When the display signal has been locked to the target controlled port, but the target controlled port has not received input control confirmation, it means that the display channel has been successfully switched but the input control channel has not been switched. Restore both the input control channel and the display channel to the fallback port. After restoration, verify that both the display channel and the input control channel point to the fallback port; if the verification passes, update the display channel ownership status and the input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record to the fallback port, record the fallback port as the current controlled port, and resume sending keyboard and mouse input events.

[0037] If, after restoring via the fallback port, the verification result shows that neither the display channel nor the input control channel points to the fallback port, then the keyboard and mouse input event transmission will remain disabled, and fallback control will be executed again. If the fallback still fails the verification, a manual reset prompt or a port error prompt will be output, and keyboard and mouse input events will not be resumed to any host port. This prevents keyboard and mouse input events from being sent to an uncertain host port after a fallback failure.

[0038] Status prompts can be output based on different results. When the switch is successful, the target controlled port prompt can be displayed via indicator lights, screen notifications, control software interface, or a buzzer. If no unique currently controlled port is formed, a binding error prompt will be output. If the target controlled port is not determined, a target error prompt will be output. If the signal is not locked or no input control confirmation is received, a switch failure prompt will be output. After recovery is completed and verification is passed using the fallback port, the fallback port will be recorded as the current controlled port. The prompt content can use port number, host name, or user-defined name, such as "Current Control: Host 1", "Target Host Not Connected", or "Switch Failed, Restored to Host 1".

[0039] The lock duration, confirmation duration, number of consecutive samples, and buffer duration can be stored in the storage area of ​​the office expansion device. These parameters are written after the device is factory calibrated and can also be updated during firmware upgrades or user configuration. The office expansion device reads these parameters at the start of each workflow transition and performs display lock checks, input confirmation checks, and keyboard / mouse input event buffering according to the read parameters.

[0040] In one specific embodiment, the office expansion device has a first host port and a second host port. The first host port is connected to a first laptop computer, and the second host port is connected to a second laptop computer. The office expansion device also connects to an external monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. The polling period is 20ms, the lock duration is set to 660ms, the number of consecutive samples of the display synchronization signal is 5, the acknowledgment duration is set to 420ms, and the buffer duration is set to 200ms.

[0041] Initially, the office expansion device detects that both the first and second host ports are active. The display channel is currently connected to the first host port, and the input control channel is configured to send keyboard and mouse input events to the first host port. The office expansion device generates a port ownership record indexed by the first and second host ports. The display channel and input control channel pointers for the first host port are both active, while those for the second host port are inactive. Subsequently, among the active host ports, only the first host port is found to be simultaneously pointed to by both the display channel and the input control channel; therefore, the first host port is designated as the currently controlled port.

[0042] When a user presses the switch button on the office expansion device, the office expansion device receives a host switch command. Since the switch command does not carry a target port identifier, the second host port is determined as the target controlled port from among the host ports that are in a valid access state and are different from the first host port, according to the port number sequence. Before the switch process starts, the first host port is saved as a fallback port.

[0043] Subsequently, keyboard and mouse input event transmission is disabled. During this period, user keyboard and mouse input events are not sent to either the first or second host port. The display channel switches from the first host port to the second host port and begins reading the display synchronization signal from the second host port. If a continuous valid sampling segment is formed within 660ms, and five consecutive samples within the continuous valid sampling segment obtain a valid display synchronization flag without a display disconnection flag, then the display signal is determined to be locked to the second host port.

[0044] After the display signal locks onto the second host port, the input control channel switches to the second host port and reads the currently connected port and input channel readiness feedback. If the currently connected port of the input control channel is the second host port within 420ms, and input channel readiness feedback is received, it is determined that the second host port has obtained input control confirmation. At this time, the display channel pointing flag and input control channel pointing flag of the first host port in the port ownership record are set to invalid, while the display channel pointing flag and input control channel pointing flag of the second host port are set to valid. The second host port is recorded as the currently controlled port, and the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events is resumed. Afterward, the external monitor displays the screen of the second laptop, and keyboard and mouse input events are also sent to the second laptop.

[0045] If, after the display channel switches to the second host port, no continuous valid sampling segment meeting the conditions is formed within 660ms, or a display disconnection flag appears during sampling, it is determined that the display signal is not locked to the second host port, the input control channel switching is not performed, and the display channel is restored to the first host port. If the display signal is locked to the second host port, but no input channel readiness feedback is read within 420ms, or the current connected port of the input control channel is not the second host port, it is determined that the second host port has not received input control confirmation, and both the display channel and the input control channel are restored to the first host port. After restoration, it is verified that both the display channel and the input control channel point to the first host port; after successful verification, the display channel pointing flag and the input control channel pointing flag of the first host port in the port ownership record are set to valid, the display channel pointing flag and the input control channel pointing flag of the second host port are set to invalid, the first host port is recorded as the currently controlled port, the sending of keyboard and mouse input events is resumed, and a switching failure prompt is output.

[0046] In summary, by acquiring the access status of each host port, the display channel ownership status, and the input control channel ownership status, and generating port ownership records indexed by the host port, it is possible to confirm whether the display channel and input control channel point to the same valid host port before host switching, thereby determining a unique currently controlled port. By determining the target controlled port and saving the fallback port after receiving the host switching command, the switching process has a recoverable basis for the pre-switching state. By pausing the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events, first controlling the display channel to switch to the target controlled port, and then controlling the input control channel to switch after the display signal is locked, and updating the port ownership record and resuming the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events after obtaining input control confirmation, the display screen ownership and the keyboard and mouse input target are consistent after the switching is completed. This reduces misoperations caused by inconsistencies between the display object and the controlled object when multiple hosts share office expansion equipment, and improves the interactive reliability of the host switching process.

[0047] Based on another preferred embodiment described above, see [link to preferred embodiment]. Figure 3 As shown, this embodiment provides an interactive control system for an office expansion device, used to apply the above-mentioned interactive control method for the office expansion device, including: The port recording unit is used to obtain the access status, display channel and input control channel ownership status of each host port connected to the office expansion equipment, and generate port ownership records with the host port as the index. The current determination unit is used to search for the host port that is simultaneously pointed to by the display channel and the input control channel among the host ports with valid access status, based on the port ownership record, and determine the host port with the unique search result as the current controlled port. The target determination unit is used to determine a target controlled port that is different from the currently controlled port from the host ports with valid access status after receiving the host switching instruction, and save the currently controlled port as the fallback port before the switching process starts; The display switching unit is used to pause sending keyboard and mouse input events to each host port and control the display channel to switch to the target controlled port. The input confirmation unit is used to control the input control channel to switch to the target controlled port and obtain input control confirmation after the display signal is locked to the target controlled port; The binding update unit is used to update the display channel ownership status and input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record to the target controlled port when the target controlled port receives input control confirmation, record the target controlled port as the current controlled port, and resume the sending of keyboard and mouse input events.

[0048] It is understandable that the interactive control method and system of the aforementioned office expansion equipment have the same beneficial effects, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0049] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the specific implementation of the present invention. Any modifications or equivalent substitutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An interactive control method for an office expansion device, characterized in that, include: Obtain the access status, display channel, and input control channel ownership status of each host port connected to the office expansion equipment, and generate port ownership records with the host port as the index; Among the host ports with valid access status, the host port that is simultaneously pointed to by both the display channel and the input control channel is searched based on the port attribution record, and the host port with the unique search result is determined as the current controlled port. After receiving the host switching instruction, a target controlled port different from the currently controlled port is determined from the host ports with valid access status, and the currently controlled port is saved as a fallback port before the switching process starts; Pause sending keyboard and mouse input events to each host port, and switch the control display channel to the target controlled port; After the display signal is locked to the target controlled port, the control input channel switches to the target controlled port and obtains input control confirmation; When the target controlled port receives input control confirmation, the display channel ownership status and input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record are updated to the target controlled port, the target controlled port is recorded as the current controlled port, and the sending of keyboard and mouse input events is resumed.

2. The interactive control method for office expansion equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, When generating port ownership records, the following is included: Establish a valid port entry for the host port with a valid access status; read the host port currently connected to the display channel and write the display channel's ownership status; read the host port currently sending keyboard and mouse input events to the input control channel and write the input control channel's ownership status.

3. The interactive control method for office expansion equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, When determining the currently controlled port, the following are included: Search for the host port that is simultaneously pointed to by both the displayed channel ownership status and the input control channel ownership status among the host ports with valid access status; if the search result is one, the found host port is determined as the current controlled port; if the search result is zero or more, output a binding error message and do not respond to the host switching command.

4. The interactive control method for office expansion equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, When determining the target controlled port, the following are included: When the host switching command carries a target port identifier, among the host ports with valid access status, the host port that matches the target port identifier but is different from the currently controlled port is determined as the target controlled port; when the host switching command does not carry a target port identifier, among the host ports with valid access status, the target controlled port that is different from the currently controlled port is determined according to the set polling order; if no target controlled port is determined, the current switching process is terminated and a target abnormality prompt is output.

5. The interactive control method for office expansion equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, When pausing the sending of keyboard and mouse input events to host ports, including: Before switching the control display channel, disable the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events, but retain the detection events used for input control confirmation; continue to disable the transmission of keyboard and mouse input events until input control confirmation is obtained at the target controlled port or recovery is completed according to the fallback port.

6. The interactive control method for office expansion equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, The methods for determining signal lock include: After the control display channel is switched to the target controlled port, the display synchronization signal of the target controlled port is read; the display synchronization signal is continuously sampled within the set locking time. When a valid display synchronization flag is obtained in each sampling and no display disconnection flag appears, it is determined that the display signal is locked to the target controlled port; otherwise, it is determined that the display signal is not locked.

7. The interactive control method for office expansion equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, When obtaining input control confirmation, the following are included: After the display signal is locked to the target controlled port, the input control channel is switched to the target controlled port, and the input channel readiness feedback of the target controlled port is read. When the input channel readiness feedback is read within the set confirmation time, and the current connected port of the input control channel is the target controlled port, it is determined that the target controlled port has obtained input control confirmation; otherwise, it is determined that the target controlled port has not obtained input control confirmation.

8. The interactive control method for office expansion equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes recovery procedures after a switchover failure: When the display signal is not locked to the target controlled port, the input control channel switching is stopped, and the display channel is restored to the fallback port; when the display signal is locked to the target controlled port and the target controlled port does not receive input control confirmation, both the input control channel and the display channel are restored to the fallback port; after restoration, it is verified that both the display channel and the input control channel point to the fallback port, and the display channel ownership status and the input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record are updated to the fallback port, and the sending of keyboard and mouse input events is resumed.

9. The interactive control method for office expansion equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes output status prompts: Upon successful switching, a target controlled port notification is output; if no unique currently controlled port is established, a binding error notification is output; if the target controlled port is not determined, a target error notification is output. If the display signal is not locked or no input control confirmation is obtained, an output switching failure message will be displayed, and the back-off port will be recorded as the currently controlled port.

10. An interactive control system for an office expansion device, used to apply the interactive control method for the office expansion device as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, include: The port recording unit is used to obtain the access status, display channel and input control channel ownership status of each host port connected to the office expansion equipment, and generate port ownership records with the host port as the index. The current determination unit is used to search for a host port that is simultaneously pointed to by the display channel and the input control channel among the host ports with valid access status, based on the port attribution record, and determine the host port with the unique search result as the currently controlled port. The target determination unit is used to, after receiving the host switching instruction, determine a target controlled port that is different from the currently controlled port from the host ports with valid access status, and save the currently controlled port as a fallback port before the switching process starts; The display switching unit is used to pause sending keyboard and mouse input events to each host port and control the display channel to switch to the target controlled port. An input confirmation unit is used to control the input control channel to switch to the target controlled port and obtain input control confirmation after the display signal is locked to the target controlled port; The binding update unit is used to update the display channel ownership status and input control channel ownership status in the port ownership record to the target controlled port when the target controlled port receives input control confirmation, record the target controlled port as the current controlled port, and resume the sending of keyboard and mouse input events.

Citation Information

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    CN113660450A