Gateway-Assisted Out-of-Band KVM Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current out-of-band remote management techniques for client computing devices, such as KVM sessions, face issues with bandwidth consumption and latency, leading to distorted video quality and premature session termination, especially when devices are down and require diagnosis or repair, which can be aesthetically unappealing and disruptive in public settings.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a gateway-assisted remote management system that uses an edge or Fog network device to establish an out-of-band connection between the remote management console and the client device through a local area network, allowing for efficient data encoding and secure key exchanges to maintain a functional user interface during diagnosis and repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an uncompressed video stream is sent through a WAN network for remote management, then the video quality is maintained, but the bandwidth consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the video compression function from the network transmission path and places it at the source (managed device) and destination (remote management device). Only compressed video data is transmitted through the WAN network, significantly reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining acceptable video quality for remote management purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of video data from uncompressed to compressed format during transmission. By applying compression algorithms, the same video information is transmitted using fewer bits, reducing bandwidth consumption while preserving sufficient visual quality for remote management operations
2Ease of operation
If video data is transmitted through a WAN with multiple network hops, then remote management is enabled, but latency increases and session stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a direct peer-to-peer connection between the managed device and remote management device before video transmission begins. This preliminary connection setup allows subsequent video data to be transmitted directly without requiring routing through multiple WAN hops, reducing latency and improving session stability
3Ease of repair
If a client computing device displays a blank screen during diagnostic and repair, then remote management can be performed, but the user interface becomes non-functional and aesthetically unappealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual machine as an intermediary that runs alongside the managed operating system. The virtual machine captures and redirects display output to the remote management device, allowing the physical display to remain functional for local users while simultaneously enabling remote visual access for diagnostic and repair operations
4Ease of operation
If KVM sessions are established through WAN with multiple network hops, then remote management is achieved, but video quality distorts and sessions terminate prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the video compression function from the network transmission path and places it at the source (managed device) and destination (remote management device). Only compressed video data is transmitted through the WAN network, significantly reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining acceptable video quality for remote management purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a direct peer-to-peer connection between the managed device and remote management device before video transmission begins. This preliminary connection setup allows subsequent video data to be transmitted directly without requiring routing through multiple WAN hops, reducing latency and improving session stability
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to out-of-band connections for remote diagnosis and repair of client devices. In various embodiments, a server for remote management of a client device may receive, a network packet including a request for a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) remote management session that includes an identifier of a gateway device coupled to a local area network (LAN) of the client device to be remotely managed by the server. The server may use the identifier of the gateway device to assist in invoking an out-of-band (OOB) connection between the client device and the gateway device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.