Polychromatic KVM Switch Host Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In KVM switching systems, users often lack awareness of the active host they are working on, leading to potential errors and data leakage between connected computers and networks, as existing systems do not effectively indicate which host is currently active.
Innovation Solution
A KVM switching system that assigns a color to each host and uses polychromatic light sources, such as RGB LEDs, to illuminate the active host, providing visual feedback through the KVM switch, remote control, keyboard, and other peripherals to clearly indicate the active host.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no visual indication system is implemented, then the system remains simple and cost-effective, but user awareness of the active host is insufficient leading to errors and data leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by assigning distinct colors to different hosts and using polychromatic light sources (such as RGB LEDs) to illuminate the active host. This allows users to immediately identify which host is currently active through visual color indication, thereby improving user awareness and preventing errors or data leakage between hosts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical or manual indication methods with optical signaling using polychromatic light sources. Instead of relying on physical switches or manual identification, the system uses light emission to indicate the active host, providing a more reliable and automated indication mechanism.
2Reliability
If polychromatic light sources are added to indicate active host, then user awareness and security are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates polychromatic light sources into existing peripheral devices such as keyboards, mice, and monitors, allowing these devices to serve both their original functions and the additional function of indicating the active host. This multi-functionality approach reduces the need for separate indication devices and minimizes overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the indication function with existing peripheral devices by incorporating light sources into components that users already interact with. This combining of functions reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining data security through reliable active host indication.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user awareness of the active host, reducing errors and data leakage by providing a clear visual indication of the currently active host, thus improving security and operational accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
one or more polychromatic light sources that are being included in the peripheral devices switch, the at least one of the peripheral devices of the sets of peripheral devices or both. In some embodiments, the peripheral devices switch indicates the active host computer by illuminating at least one of the polychromatic light sources by the color that is assigned to the active host computer
Implementation Method 2
In some embodiments, the one or more polychromatic light source includes Red-Green-Blue (RGB) LEDs
Data Source
AI summary
A peripheral devices switch, a peripheral device, and a keyboard configured to be connected to a plurality of host computers. The peripheral devices switch configured to be coupled to at least one set of peripheral devices and to a plurality of host computers. A color is assigned to each host computer and the at least one set of peripheral devices illuminates at least one polychromatic light source with the color that is assigned to an active host computer. A peripheral device interface to interface between the peripheral device and the peripheral devices switch may be a composite interface comprises two independent interface protocols either by sharing a single connector and cable but having separate pins in the connector and corresponding wires in the cable, or by having a separate cable and separate connector to each one of said interface protocol. The composite interface comprises a primary standard peripheral device interface for the standard peripheral device functionalities, and secondary dedicated peripheral device interface configured to instructs the illumination of the polychromatic indication.