JP2012113565A - Network device, network system, and control method of network device - Google Patents

Abstract

A client computer as a connection destination is easily switched.
A USB device server is connected to a network including a plurality of PCs, and a USB device is connected to a USB port, and a connection destination connected to the USB device is a connection destination of the plurality of PCs. In response to the received operation signal, the connection destination information storage unit for storing the connection destination information indicating which one is received and the operation signal from the USB device are received, and the PC that is the connection destination by the connection destination information is received. When a hot key by an operator is received by a signal transmission unit that transmits a received signal, a disconnection request for disconnecting the connection is issued to a PC that is a connection destination according to the connection destination information, and the plurality of PCs A control unit that issues a connection request to connect a device to the next-ranked PC and updates the connection-destination information to the content that the connection-destination is changed to the next-ranked PC Equipped with a.
[Selection] Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for connecting an input device and a plurality of client computers.

  Conventionally, a USB device server that can share a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device from a plurality of client computers in a TCP / IP network is known (see Patent Document 1). A USB device server is also used when a USB device as an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, that is, a USB input device is shared from a plurality of client computers.

JP 2007-317067 A

  However, in the conventional technique, when switching the client computer connected to the USB input device, the operator performs the device removal operation (software operation) on the currently connected client computer, and then the switching destination computer. There is a problem that it is necessary to perform a device connection operation (software operation) on the client computer, and the switching operation is complicated. Such a problem is not limited to the case where the input device is connected by USB, but is a problem common to device servers connected by an interface other than USB.

  In consideration of such problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable easy switching of a connection destination client computer.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

Application Example 1 An interface in which an input device that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer is provided in the network apparatus, which is connected to a network including a plurality of client computers. A network device that is connected to a port and that connects only a part of the plurality of client computers to the input device as a client computer that should operate in response to the operation signal;
A connection destination information storage unit for storing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A signal transmission unit that receives an operation signal from the input device and transmits a signal corresponding to the received operation signal to a client computer indicated by the connection destination information;
An update command receiving unit for receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to be operated in response to the operation signal;
When the predetermined update command is received by the update command receiving unit, a disconnection request for disconnecting the device connection is issued to the client computer represented by the connection destination information, and specified based on the predetermined update command A client that issues a connection request for device connection to a client computer that should operate in response to the operation signal, and that identifies the client computer that connects to the input device in the connection destination information based on the predetermined update command A network device comprising: a control unit that updates the computer.

  In the network device according to Application Example 1, when a predetermined update command from the operator is received by the update command receiving unit, the control unit issues a disconnection request for disconnecting the device connection to the client computer indicated by the connection destination information The client computer is issued based on the predetermined update command, and a connection request is issued to the client computer specified based on the predetermined update command, and the client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information is specified based on the predetermined update command. Updated to To this end, the operator simply issues a predetermined update command, and the device removal operation is performed at the client computer that is the current connection destination, and the device connection operation is performed at the update destination client computer. Therefore, the network device according to the application example 1 has an effect that the connection destination client computer can be easily updated.

[Application Example 2] The network device according to Application Example 1,
A network device including at least a USB keyboard as the input device.

  According to this configuration, the USB keyboard can be shared from a plurality of client computers.

[Application Example 3] The network device according to Application Example 2,
The network device, wherein the predetermined update command is a hot key that can be input from the USB keyboard.

  According to this configuration, the operator can update the connection destination client computer simply by inputting a hot key from the USB keyboard.

[Application Example 4] The network device according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3,
The controller is
A network device configured to send at least a difference due to the update of the connection destination information as the connection request.

  With this configuration, it is possible to make the update destination client computer recognize that it is a connection destination simply by sending the difference as a connection request. Therefore, even with this configuration, it is possible to easily update the connection destination client computer.

Application Example 5 An interface in which an input device that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer is provided in the network device, which is connected to a network including a plurality of client computers. A network device that is connected to a port and that connects only a part of the plurality of client computers to the input device as a client computer that should operate in response to the operation signal;
A device connection unit for connecting the input device to each of the plurality of client computers;
A plurality of virtual devices corresponding 1: 1 with each of the plurality of client computers;
A connection destination information storage unit for storing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A selection unit that selects, from among the plurality of virtual devices, a virtual device corresponding to the client computer indicated by the connection destination information as a selection virtual device;
A signal transmission unit that receives an operation signal from the input device and transmits a signal according to the operation signal to the client computer represented by the connection destination information via the selected virtual device;
An update command receiving unit for receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to be operated in response to the operation signal;
Control for updating a client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information to a client computer specified based on the predetermined update command when the predetermined update command is received by the update command receiving unit And a network device.

  In the network device according to the application example 5, when a predetermined update command from the operator is received by the update command receiving unit, the control unit causes the client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information to perform the predetermined update. The client computer specified based on the command is updated, and the virtual device is switched based on the connection destination information. For this reason, the operator can change the connection destination of the input device without performing device removal and connection operations on the client computer. Therefore, the network device according to the application example 5 has an effect that the connection destination client computer can be easily updated.

Application Example 6 A network including a plurality of client computers;
A network device connected to the network and provided with an interface port for connecting a device;
An input device that is connected to the interface port and that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer, and only a part of the plurality of client computers is used as the operation signal. A network system for device connection with the input device as a client computer to operate in response,
The network device is:
A connection destination information storage unit for storing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A signal transmission unit that receives an operation signal from the input device and transmits a signal corresponding to the received operation signal to a client computer indicated by the connection destination information;
An update command receiving unit for receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to be operated in response to the operation signal;
When the predetermined update command is received by the update command receiving unit, a disconnection request for disconnecting the device connection is issued to the client computer represented by the connection destination information, and specified based on the predetermined update command A client that issues a connection request for device connection to a client computer that should operate in response to the operation signal, and that identifies the client computer that connects to the input device in the connection destination information based on the predetermined update command A network system comprising a control unit for updating to a computer.

Application Example 7 A network including a plurality of client computers;
A network device connected to the network and provided with an interface port for connecting a device;
An input device that is connected to the interface port and that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer, and only a part of the plurality of client computers is used as the operation signal. A network system for device connection with the input device as a client computer to operate in response,
The network device is:
A device connection unit for connecting the input device to each of the plurality of client computers;
A plurality of virtual devices corresponding 1: 1 with each of the plurality of client computers;
A connection destination information storage unit for storing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A selection unit that selects, from among the plurality of virtual devices, a virtual device corresponding to the client computer indicated by the connection destination information as a selection virtual device;
A signal transmission unit that receives an operation signal from the input device and transmits a signal according to the operation signal to the client computer represented by the connection destination information via the selected virtual device;
An update command receiving unit for receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to be operated in response to the operation signal;
Control for updating a client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information to a client computer specified based on the predetermined update command when the predetermined update command is received by the update command receiving unit And a network system.

Application Example 8 An interface in which an input device that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer is provided in the network apparatus, which is connected to a network including a plurality of client computers. A control method in a network device connected to a port, wherein only a part of the plurality of client computers is connected to the input device as a client computer to operate in response to the operation signal,
Preparing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
Receiving an operation signal from the input device, and transmitting a signal corresponding to the received operation signal to a client computer indicated by the connection destination information;
Receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to operate in response to the operation signal;
When receiving the predetermined update command, issue a disconnection request to disconnect the device connection to the client computer represented by the connection destination information, and according to the operation signal specified based on the predetermined update command A network that issues a connection request for connecting a device to a client computer to be operated, and updates the client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information to a client computer specified based on the predetermined update command Control method of the device.

Application Example 9 An interface in which an input device that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer is provided in the network apparatus, which is connected to a network including a plurality of client computers. A control method in a network device connected to a port, wherein only a part of the plurality of client computers is connected to the input device as a client computer to operate in response to the operation signal,
The input device is connected to each of the plurality of client computers,
Preparing a plurality of virtual devices corresponding to each of the plurality of client computers in a 1: 1 ratio;
Preparing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A virtual device corresponding to the client computer indicated by the connection destination information is selected as a selected virtual device from the plurality of virtual devices,
Receiving an operation signal from the input device, and transmitting a signal according to the operation signal to the client computer represented by the connection destination information via the selected virtual device;
Receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to operate in response to the operation signal;
A method for controlling a network device, comprising: when receiving the predetermined update instruction, updating a client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information to a client computer specified based on the predetermined update instruction.

  The network system according to Application Example 6 and the network device control method according to Application Example 8 can easily update the connection destination client computer as in the case of the network device according to Application Example 1. The network system according to Application Example 7 and the network device control method according to Application Example 9 can easily update the connection destination client computer in the same manner as the network device according to Application Example 5.

  The present invention can be configured as a computer program for causing a computer to execute the steps of the network device control method, in addition to the configuration as the network device, network system, and network device control method described above. The computer program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. As the recording medium, for example, various media such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a memory card, and a hard disk can be used.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the network system 1000 provided with the USB device server 60 as 1st Example of this invention. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a USB device server 60. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connection relation table TBL1. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a first personal computer 10. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of dialog box DBX displayed by the application program for device server settings. It is a flowchart which shows the connection destination switching routine performed by CPU of a USB device server. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connection relation table TBL1 after switching. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the USB device server 360 of 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the USB device server 460 of 3rd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the connection destination switching routine performed by CPU of a USB device server.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples.
A. First embodiment:
A-1. Overall network configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network system including a USB device server as a first embodiment of the present invention. A network system 1000 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality (three in the figure) of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) 10, 20, and 30 and PCs 10 to 30 connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) cable 40. And a hub 50 serving as a line concentrator connected via the cable. Further, the USB device server 60 is connected to the hub 50 via the LAN cable 42. In the network system 1000, a communication network 100 that employs Ethernet (registered trademark) and TCP / IP is constructed. Each of the PCs 10 to 30 is connected to a display 12, 22, and 32, and further connected to a keyboard or mouse (not shown) as necessary. The USB device server 60 constitutes a “network device” of the present invention.

  The USB device server 60 has a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) USB ports 61 and 62 in addition to the Ethernet port (not shown) to which the LAN cable 42 is connected. Each USB device is connected. Here, as a USB device, a USB keyboard 70 and a USB mouse 80 are connected by a USB cable 64. Note that the number of USB ports may be other than two. With this configuration, the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 can be shared from a plurality of PCs 10 to 30. When a USB device is directly connected to the PCs 10 to 30, the restriction on the length of the USB cable is restricted. However, according to the network system 1000, the PCs 10 to 30 are located from a distant place because they are connected via a LAN. In contrast, the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 can be connected.

A-2. Configuration of PC 10 and USB device server 60:
The configuration of the first PC 10 and the USB device server 60 will be described next assuming that the first PC 10 among the plurality of PCs 10 to 30 is in a device connection state with the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80. . Here, “device connection” means that the connection is made recognizable from the PC system.

USB device server 60
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal configuration of the USB device server 60. The USB device server 60 includes a CPU (not shown) 110 that performs various processes and controls by executing programs, a memory 150 that stores programs, data, and information, and peripheral devices connected to the outside. And an input / output interface unit for exchanging data and information. The input / output interface unit includes the above-described USB port 1 (61), USB port 2 (62), and USB host controller 164, and Ethernet port 172 and Ethernet controller 174.

  Various firmware and device drivers are incorporated in the USB device server 60. These firmware and device drivers are executed by the CPU 110. In FIG. 2, various processes executed by the firmware and the device driver are shown by function blocks realized in the CPU 110.

  As illustrated, the CPU 110 includes a USB host controller driver 112, a keyboard driver 114, a hot key input determination module 116, a virtual keyboard device software module 118, an encapsulation module 120, a mouse driver 122, a virtual mouse device software module 124, a TCP / The IP protocol stack 130, the Ethernet controller driver 132, and the connection management module 140 are functionally realized.

  When the key input by the operator is from the USB keyboard 70, the USB host controller 164 receives the key input, and transmits the data D 1 corresponding to the USB signal indicating the key input via the USB host controller driver 112. 114. The keyboard driver 114 converts the data D1 corresponding to the USB signal into key input data D2, and sends the data to the virtual keyboard device software module 118.

  A hot key input determination module 116 is provided between the keyboard driver 114 and the virtual keyboard device software module 118, and key input data D2 sent from the keyboard driver 114 is a predetermined hot data to be described later. It is determined whether or not the key is input. When the hot key input determination module 116 determines that the key input data is other than the hot key, the key input data D2 ′ other than the hot key is sent to the virtual keyboard device software module 118.

  The virtual keyboard device software module 118 is a module that functions as a virtual keyboard of a PC (here, the first PC 10) in a device-connected relationship with the USB device server 60. The virtual keyboard device software module 118 generates key input data based on key input data D2 ′ other than the hot key, and sends the generated key input data to the encapsulation module 120 as data D3 corresponding to a USB signal. The encapsulation module 120 encapsulates the data D3 corresponding to the USB signal into an IP packet (USB over IP), and sends the encapsulated data D4 to the TCP / IP protocol stack 130.

  When encapsulating in the encapsulation module 120, it is necessary to set an IP address indicating a transfer destination. The transfer destination receives a notification from the connection management module 140. A connection relationship table TBL1 is prepared in advance in the memory 150 of the USB device server 60, and the connection management module 140 searches the connection relationship table TBL1 for a PC that is connected to the USB keyboard 70 in a device connection, and the search result is as follows. Is notified to the encapsulation module 120.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the connection relationship table TBL1. The connection relation table TBL1 is tabular data having three items “USB device”, “PC”, and “state”, and shows the connection state of each PC 10, 20, 30 to the USB keyboard 70, and a USB mouse. The connection state of each PC 10, 20, 30 to 80 is shown. The “status” item is indicated as “connected” when the device is connected, and “disconnected” when the device is not connected. The connection management module 140 searches the connection relationship table TBL1 having this configuration to obtain a PC that is in a device-connected relationship with the USB keyboard 70. The connection relationship table TBL1 corresponds to “connection destination information” in the claims, and the memory 150 corresponds to “connection destination information storage unit” in the claims.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the TCP / IP protocol stack 130 converts the encapsulated data D 4 into a TCP / IP packet D 5 and sends it to the Ethernet controller driver 132. The Ethernet controller driver 132 converts the TCP / IP packet D5 into an Ethernet packet D6 and sends it to the Ethernet controller 174.

  The Ethernet controller 174 transmits the Ethernet packet D6 to the communication network 100 as an Ethernet signal S1. As a result, an Ethernet signal S1 indicating a key input (operation signal) from the USB keyboard 70 is transmitted to the first PC 10 connected to the device. The configuration of each function from the USB host controller 164 excluding the connection management module 140 to the Ethernet controller 174 via the keyboard driver D2 corresponds to a “signal transmission unit” in the claims.

  On the other hand, the input from the USB mouse 80 is the USB port 2 (62), the USB host controller 164, the USB host controller driver 112, the mouse driver 122, the virtual mouse device software module 124, the encapsulation module 120, and the TCP / IP protocol stack 130. The data is transmitted to the communication network 100 via the Ethernet controller driver 132, the Ethernet controller 174, and the Ethernet port 172. As a result, an Ethernet signal indicating an input from the USB mouse 80 is transmitted to the first PC 10 connected to the device.

・ First PC 10
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal configuration of the first PC 10. The first PC 10 includes a CPU (not shown) 210 that performs various processes and controls by executing programs, a memory 250 that stores programs, data, and information, and peripheral devices connected to the outside. And an input / output interface unit for exchanging data and information. As shown in the figure, the input / output interface unit includes an Ethernet port 260 and an Ethernet controller 262.

  Application programs, device drivers, and the like are installed in the first PC 10. These application programs and device drivers are executed by the CPU 210 under a predetermined operating system (not shown). In FIG. 4, these application programs, device drivers, and various types of processing executed by the CPU 210 are indicated by functional blocks implemented in the CPU 210.

  As illustrated, the CPU 210 includes an Ethernet controller driver 212, a TCP / IP protocol stack 214, a data extraction module 216, a virtual USB host controller driver 218, a USB keyboard driver 220, and a USB mouse driver 222.

  The Ethernet signal S1 sent from the USB device server 60 to the first PC 10 via the communication network 100 is input to the Ethernet controller 262 via the Ethernet port 260. The Ethernet controller 262 converts the Ethernet signal S1 into an Ethernet packet D7 and sends it to the Ethernet controller driver 212 functionally realized by the CPU 210.

  The Ethernet controller driver 212 converts the Ethernet packet D 7 into a TCP / IP packet D 8 and sends it to the TCP / IP protocol stack 214. The TCP / IP protocol stack 214 restores the TCP / IP packet D8 to the encapsulated data D9 and sends it to the data extraction module 216. The data extraction module 216 extracts data D10 corresponding to the USB signal from the encapsulated data D9 and sends it to the virtual USB host controller driver 218. The virtual USB host controller driver 218 sends it to the OS (operating system) standard USB keyboard driver 220.

  With the above configuration, general data excluding a predetermined hot key among data input from the USB keyboard 70 is transmitted from the USB device server 60 to the first PC 10. Thus, the operator can operate the first PC 10 that is farther away from the communication network 100 by operating the USB keyboard 70.

  The Ethernet signal S1 indicating the input from the USB mouse 80 passes through the Ethernet port 260, the Ethernet controller 262, the Ethernet controller driver 212, the TCP / IP protocol stack 214, and the data extraction module 216, and then the virtual USB host controller driver 218. And sent to the OS standard USB mouse driver 222. As a result, similarly to the USB keyboard 70, the operator can operate the first PC 10 farther away from the communication network 100 by operating the USB mouse 80.

A-3. Switching the connection destination:
The device connection destination of the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 is the first PC 10 in the example of FIG. 2, but can be switched to the other PCs 20 and 30. In this embodiment, connection destinations can be switched by two methods.

First connection destination switching method:
The first method is to perform the device removal operation described below on the first PC 10 that is the device connection destination, and then to perform the device connection operation on the switching destination PC. Each of the PCs 10 to 30 that want to use the USB device server 60 needs to install the device server setting application program 230 in advance. The operator uses the device server setting application program 230 to perform the device removal operation.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a dialog box DBX displayed by the device server setting application program 230. As illustrated, the dialog box DBX includes a list DLST, an operation button BT1 for “connect”, and an operation button BT2 for “disconnect”. The list DLST shows each USB device connected to the USB device server 60 line by line. Each row is indicated by items of “name”, “type”, and “state”. The “name” item indicates the name of the USB device, and the “type” item indicates the type of the USB device. The “status” item indicates whether the USB device is in a device connection status with the PC displaying the list DLST. When the device is connected, “connected” is displayed. When the device is not connected, “not connected” is displayed.

  In the memory 250 of each PC in which the device server setting application program 230 is installed, a connection relationship table TBL2 having the same contents as the connection relationship table TBL1 stored in the memory 150 of the USB device server 60 is stored. The device server setting application program 230 displays the list DLST using the connection relation table TBL2.

  The operator of the first PC 10 looks at the list DLST displayed on the display 12 and selects a row in which the desired USB device is indicated from the list DLST, and then operates the “disconnect” operation button BT2. By clicking with the mouse, the USB device corresponding to the selected row can be switched from the device connection state to the disconnection state. This is a device removal operation. Upon receiving this operation, the device server setting application program 230 issues a device removal instruction to the OS. Note that the device server setting application program 230 transmits a disconnection command to the USB device server 60 together with issuance to the OS.

  Receiving the disconnection command, the USB device server 60 operates the connection management module 140 to rewrite the “state” item of the corresponding USB device in the connection relation table TBL1 stored in the memory 150 to “disconnected”. Each time the connection management module 140 updates the connection relation table TBL1, the connection management module 140 transmits the difference before and after the update to all the PCs 10 to 30 connected to the network. On each PC side that receives this, the connection management module 232 performs a process of updating the connection relation table TBL2 stored in the memory 250 based on the difference. As a result, the connection relationship table TBL2 on the PC side can be synchronized with the connection relationship table TBL2 stored in the USB device server 60. In this embodiment, the difference is transmitted as described above, but instead, the entire connection relation table TBL1 may be transmitted. In addition, the difference is transmitted every time the connection relation table TBL1 is updated. Instead, the difference may be repeatedly transmitted at a predetermined interval of about several seconds to several tens of seconds.

  Thereafter, the operator performs a connection operation using the switching destination PC (herein, the second PC) 20. Specifically, the device server setting application program 230 is activated on the second PC 20 to display the list DLST, and the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 are selected from the list DLST, and the operation of “connect” is performed. An operation of clicking the button BT1 is performed. Upon receiving this operation, the device server setting application program 230 in the second PC 20 transmits a connection command to the USB device server 60.

  The USB device server 60 that has received the connection command operates the connection management module 140 to rewrite the “state” item of the corresponding USB device in the connection relation table TBL 1 stored in the memory 150 to “connected”. Thereafter, as described above, every time the connection relationship table TBL1 is updated, the difference is transmitted to all the PCs 10 to 30 connected to the network, and the connection relationship table TBL2 in each PC is updated to the latest state. With the above configuration, the device connection destinations of the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 are switched from the first PC 10 to the second PC 20.

Second connection destination switching method:
The second method is to input a predetermined hot key from the USB keyboard 70 connected to the USB device server 60. The predetermined hot key is, for example, that the [Print Screen] key is pressed, the [Print Screen] key is pressed, and the [↓] key is pressed. When the predetermined hot key is input from the USB keyboard 70, the hot key input determination module 116 determines whether or not the key input data is the predetermined hot key. When the hot key input determination module 116 determines that the hot key is a predetermined hot key, the hot key input determination module 116 transmits a notification F indicating that the hot key has been input to the connection management module 140.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a connection destination switching routine executed by the CPU 110 of the USB device server 60. The connection destination switching routine constitutes a part of the connection management module 140 and is repeatedly executed by the CPU 110 every predetermined time. As shown in FIG. 6, when the process is started, the CPU 110 determines whether or not there is a notification F indicating that the predetermined hot key has been input (step S110). Here, if it is determined that there is a notification F of a predetermined hot key input, the CPU 110 refers to the connection relation table TBL1 and identifies the PC that is currently connected to the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 in a device connection state. Then, a removal command is transmitted to the PC (step S120). This removal command corresponds to a “disconnect request” in the claims.

  The PC that has received the removal command, for example, the first PC 10, functionally operates the connection management module 232 and issues a device removal instruction to remove the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 to the OS of the PC.

  After execution of step S120, the CPU 110 of the USB device server 60 performs a process of changing the connection destination of the device connection in the connection relation table TBL1 from the currently connected PC to the switching destination PC (step S130). In this embodiment, the PC to be switched to is the first PC with the next rank (predetermined rank, for example, connection order) with respect to the currently connected PC, that is, the currently connected PC is the first. When it is PC10, it was set as 2nd PC20. When the PC with the final rank (third PC 30) is the currently connected PC, the PC with the first rank (first PC 10) is the connection destination PC. When the connection relationship table TBL1 before execution of step S130 is in the state shown in FIG. 3, the connection relationship table TBL1 is switched to the state shown in FIG. 7 by executing step S130. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the contents of the first and fourth lines of the “state” item are changed to “disconnected”, and the second and fifth lines of the “state” item are changed. The content is changed to "Connect".

  After executing step S130, the process returns to “return” and the connection destination switching routine is temporarily terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that there is no notification F of the input of a predetermined hot key, the CPU 110 exits to “RETURN” and ends the connection destination switching routine once.

  In the connection management module 140 shown in FIG. 2, as described above, every time the connection relation table TBL1 is updated, the difference before and after the update is transmitted to all the PCs 10 to 30 connected to the network. Since the connection relationship table TBL2 on each of the PCs 10 to 30 is synchronized with the connection relationship table TBL1 on the USB device server 60 side, the connection relationship table TBL1 is updated in the connection destination switching routine. The connection relationship table TBL2 on each PC 10-30 side is also synchronized. In the present embodiment, updating the connection relation table TBL1 and sending the difference due to the update to each of the PCs 10 to 30 corresponds to the “connection request” in the claims. With the above configuration, the device connection destinations of the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 are switched from the first PC 10 to the second PC 20.

  The connection destination switching routine having the above-described configuration and the CPU 110 that executes the connection destination switching routine correspond to a “control unit” in the claims.

A-4. Example effect:
In the network system 1000 including the USB device server 60 of the first embodiment described above, when a predetermined hot key is input from the USB keyboard 70 connected to the USB device server 60 by the operator, the USB device server 60 As a result, the removal command is transmitted to the first PC 10 that is the current connection destination, and the connection relation table TBL1 is updated to the contents in which the connection destination has been changed. To this end, the operator simply issues a predetermined command (hot key) to perform the device removal operation on the first PC 10 that is the connection destination, and the device connection operation on the client computer that is the switching destination. It is. Therefore, the USB device server 60 has an effect that the connection destination PC can be easily switched. In particular, in this embodiment, the connection destination can be switched by a simple operation called a hot key from the USB keyboard 70 in the hand of the USB device server 60.

B. Second embodiment:
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the hot key input determination module 116 provided in the USB device server 60 determines that a predetermined hot key has been input from the USB keyboard 70. In the second embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which it is determined by the currently connected PC that the predetermined hot key has been input. Hereinafter, the configuration of the second embodiment will be described in detail.

  The connection destination PC has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and resident software for determining input of a predetermined hot key is further installed. According to this resident software, it is determined whether or not a hot key is included in key input data sent from the USB keyboard 70 via the USB device server 60. Then, a process of sending a notification packet indicating that the predetermined hot key has been input to the USB device server via the TCP / IP protocol stack is executed.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal configuration of the USB device server 360 of the second embodiment. Compared with the USB device server 60 of the first embodiment, the USB device server 360 is i) a hot key input determination module 116 (see FIG. 2) provided between the keyboard driver 114 and the virtual keyboard device software module 118. ) Is omitted, and ii) the hot key input notification determination module 316 is provided at the output destination of the TCP / IP protocol stack 130, and the other configurations are the same. When the hot key input notification determination module 316 receives a notification packet indicating that a hot key is input from the TCP / IP protocol stack 130, the connection management module 140 notifies that the hot key has been input. Send to.

  The connection management module 140 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and executes the connection destination switching routine (FIG. 6) described above. In FIG. 8, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment.

  In the network system including the USB device server 360 of the second embodiment described above, when a predetermined hot key is input from the USB keyboard 70 by the operator, the USB device server 360 causes the removal command to be sent to the connected PC. Is transmitted, and the connection relation table TBL1 is updated to the contents of the change of the connection destination. For this reason, as in the first embodiment, there is an effect that the connection destination PC can be easily switched.

C. Third embodiment:
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the virtual keyboard device software module 118 and the virtual mouse device software module 124 are PCs that are alternatively selected from the first to third PCs 10, 20, 30 connected to the network. However, instead of this, in the third embodiment, the device is connected to all the PCs 10, 20, and 30 connected to the network.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, each of the virtual keyboard device software module 118 and the virtual mouse device software module 124 is provided, but in the third embodiment, the virtual keyboard device software module and the virtual mouse device software are provided. Each module is provided as many as the number of communicable PCs. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the USB device server 460 includes three virtual keyboard device software modules 118a, 118b, and 118c and three virtual mouse device software modules 124a, 124b, and 124c. The first to third virtual keyboard device software modules 118a, 118b, and 118c correspond to the first to third PCs 10, 20, and 30 on a 1: 1 basis. The first to third virtual mouse device software modules 124a, 124b, and 124c correspond to the first to third PCs 10, 20, and 30 on a 1: 1 basis.

  With the above configuration, the first virtual keyboard device software module 118a and the first virtual mouse device software module 124a are recognized by the first PC 10, and the second virtual keyboard device software module 118b and the second virtual mouse device software are recognized. The module 124b is recognized by the second PC 20, and the third virtual keyboard device software module 118c and the third virtual mouse device software module 124c are recognized by the third PC 30.

  A selection command signal is sent from the connection management module 440 to each of the virtual keyboard device software modules 118a to 118c and each of the virtual mouse device software modules 124a to 124c. Note that the connection management module 440 is denoted by “440”, which is different from that of the first embodiment, because the processing contents to be executed are partially different from those of the first embodiment. In FIG. 9, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment.

  The connection management module 440 refers to the contents of the connection relation table TBL1, searches for a PC whose “state” item is “connected”, and stores it in the virtual keyboard device software modules 118a, 118b, and 118c corresponding to the PC. In response, a selection command signal is transmitted. Similarly, the connection management module 440 refers to the contents of the connection relationship table TBL1, searches for a PC whose “state” item is “connected”, and performs a virtual mouse device software module corresponding to the PC. A selection command signal is transmitted.

  The virtual keyboard device software module (for example, 118a) that has received the selection command signal executes the same processing as that of the virtual keyboard device software module 118 in the first embodiment, so that the data D3 corresponding to the USB signal is sent to the encapsulation module 120. Send. Modules that have not received the selection command signal (for example, 118b and 118c) do not output data D3 corresponding to the USB signal without performing processing. The same applies to the virtual mouse device software module side.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a connection destination switching routine executed by the CPU 110 of the USB device server 460. The connection destination switching routine constitutes a part of the connection management module 440 and is repeatedly executed by the CPU 110 every predetermined time. The processes in steps S310 and S330 in the figure are the same as steps S110 and S130 in the connection destination switching routine (FIG. 6) in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, it is necessary to send a removal command to a PC in a device connection state. On the other hand, in this embodiment, as described above, all PCs connected to the network are connected. Since the device is connected, it is not necessary to send a removal command to the PC.

  In the USB device server 460 of the third embodiment configured as described above, the connection destination PC is determined in the connection relationship table TBL1, and when a hot key is input, the PC determined as the connection destination in the connection relationship table TBL1 is set. The corresponding virtual keyboard device software modules 118a to 118c and the virtual mouse device software modules 124a to 124c are alternatively selected to output data. For this reason, the operator can change the connection destination of the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 without performing device removal and connection operations on the PC. For this reason, as in the first embodiment, there is an effect that the connection destination PC can be easily switched.

D. Variations:
Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, a function realized by software may be realized by hardware. In addition, the following modifications are possible.

・ Modification 1:
In the first to third embodiments and the modified examples, the USB keyboard 70 and the USB mouse 80 are used as a set, and the connection destination of this set is switched. Instead, only the connection destination of the USB keyboard 70 is used. It can also be set as the structure which switches. Alternatively, only the connection destination of the USB mouse 80 may be switched.

Modification 2
In the first to third embodiments and the modifications, the predetermined update command for switching is a hot key, but it may be a switching switch provided on the keyboard instead. Further, it is not always necessary to provide the keyboard, and another USB device such as a USB mouse may be provided with a switch for switching. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which provides the switch for switching in a USB device server.

・ Modification 3:
In the first to third embodiments and each of the modified examples, when the hot key is pressed, the connection destination is switched to the next PC with respect to the currently connected PC. Alternatively, the connection destination may be switched to the PC with the previous rank with respect to the currently connected PC. In short, any PC may be used as long as it is specified by a predetermined rule. There are two types of hot keys: those that press the [Print Screen], [Print Screen], and [↓] keys in sequence, and those that press the [Print Screen], [Print Screen], and [↑] keys in sequence. As an alternative, it is possible to switch to the next PC when the former is operated, and to switch to the previous PC when the latter is operated. Furthermore, when a specific hot key is operated, it may be configured to reconnect to the currently connected computer. In other words, the computer to be operated that is specified based on the update command from the hot key may be configured as the same computer as the currently connected computer and reconnected to the same computer.

-Modification 4:
In the first to third embodiments and the modifications, the USB mouse is provided as one of the USB devices connected to the USB device server by USB. The USB mouse is a track pad, a track ball, or the like. It can be replaced with another USB pointing device. The USB keyboard can be replaced with another USB input device such as a touch panel.

-Modification 5:
In the first to third embodiments and each modification, the network device of the present invention is applied to the USB device server. However, instead of this, the configuration may be applied to a device server having an interface port other than USB. Good. As interface ports other than USB, for example, IEEE 1394 (I-Triple Ic Sankyuyon), SATA, PCI, PCI Express, Light peak, and the like are applicable. Furthermore, it is not necessary to limit to a device server, and if it is a network device having a network interface for connecting to a network including a plurality of client computers and an interface port for connecting an input device, a wired / wireless router, The configuration of the present invention can also be applied to other network devices such as NAS and IP-STB.

Modification 6:
In the first to third embodiments and the modifications, in the embodiment, the LAN is constructed by wire, but it can be replaced with a network constituted by a wireless LAN. In the case of a wireless LAN, in FIG. 4, 212 is a wireless LAN driver, 262 is equivalent to a wireless LAN controller, 60 is replaced with a wireless LAN front end unit, and hub 50 is replaced with a wireless LAN access point. In addition, the LAN is configured to employ Ethernet and TCP / IP, but a network employing another standard may be used instead.

10, 20, 30 ... Personal computer (PC)
12, 22, 32 ... display 40, 42 ... cable 50 ... hub 60 ... USB device server 70 ... USB keyboard 80 ... USB mouse 100 ... communication network 110 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 114 ... Keyboard driver 116 ... Hot key input determination module 118 ... Virtual keyboard device software module 118a, 118b, 118c ... Virtual keyboard device software module 120 ... Encapsulation module 122 ... Mouse driver 124 ... Virtual mouse device software module 124a, 124b, 124c ... Virtual mouse device software module 132 ... Ethernet controller driver 140 ... Connection management module 150 ... Memory 172 ... Ethernet port 174 ... Ethernet controller 210 ... CPU
212 ... Ethernet controller driver 216 ... Data extraction module 230 ... Device server setting application program 232 ... Connection management module 250 ... Memory 260 ... Ethernet port 262 ... Ethernet controller 316 ... Hot key input notification determination module 440 ... Connection management module 1000 ... Network System TBL1 ... Connection relation table DLST ... List TBL2 ... Connection relation table DBX ... Dialog box

Claims (9)

A network device connected to a network including a plurality of client computers, wherein an input device that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer is connected to an interface port provided in the network device A network device for connecting only a part of the plurality of client computers to the input device as a client computer to operate in response to the operation signal,
A connection destination information storage unit for storing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A signal transmission unit that receives an operation signal from the input device and transmits a signal corresponding to the received operation signal to a client computer indicated by the connection destination information;
An update command receiving unit for receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to be operated in response to the operation signal;
When the predetermined update command is received by the update command receiving unit, a disconnection request for disconnecting the device connection is issued to the client computer represented by the connection destination information, and specified based on the predetermined update command A client that issues a connection request for device connection to a client computer that should operate in response to the operation signal, and that identifies the client computer that connects to the input device in the connection destination information based on the predetermined update command A network device comprising: a control unit that updates the computer. The network device according to claim 1,
A network device including at least a USB keyboard as the input device. The network device according to claim 2, wherein
The network device, wherein the predetermined update command is a hot key that can be input from the USB keyboard. A network device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The controller is
A network device configured to send at least a difference due to the update of the connection destination information as the connection request. A network device connected to a network including a plurality of client computers, wherein an input device that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer is connected to an interface port provided in the network device A network device for connecting only a part of the plurality of client computers to the input device as a client computer to operate in response to the operation signal,
A device connection unit for connecting the input device to each of the plurality of client computers;
A plurality of virtual devices corresponding 1: 1 with each of the plurality of client computers;
A connection destination information storage unit for storing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A selection unit that selects, from among the plurality of virtual devices, a virtual device corresponding to the client computer indicated by the connection destination information as a selection virtual device;
A signal transmission unit that receives an operation signal from the input device and transmits a signal according to the operation signal to the client computer represented by the connection destination information via the selected virtual device;
An update command receiving unit for receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to be operated in response to the operation signal;
Control for updating a client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information to a client computer specified based on the predetermined update command when the predetermined update command is received by the update command receiving unit And a network device. A network containing multiple client computers;
A network device connected to the network and provided with an interface port for connecting a device;
An input device that is connected to the interface port and that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer, and only a part of the plurality of client computers is used as the operation signal. A network system for device connection with the input device as a client computer to operate in response,
The network device is:
A connection destination information storage unit for storing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A signal transmission unit that receives an operation signal from the input device and transmits a signal corresponding to the received operation signal to a client computer indicated by the connection destination information;
An update command receiving unit for receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to be operated in response to the operation signal;
When the predetermined update command is received by the update command receiving unit, a disconnection request for disconnecting the device connection is issued to the client computer represented by the connection destination information, and specified based on the predetermined update command A client that issues a connection request for device connection to a client computer that should operate in response to the operation signal, and that identifies the client computer that connects to the input device in the connection destination information based on the predetermined update command A network system comprising a control unit for updating to a computer. A network containing multiple client computers;
A network device connected to the network and provided with an interface port for connecting a device;
An input device that is connected to the interface port and that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer, and only a part of the plurality of client computers is used as the operation signal. A network system for device connection with the input device as a client computer to operate in response,
The network device is:
A device connection unit for connecting the input device to each of the plurality of client computers;
A plurality of virtual devices corresponding 1: 1 with each of the plurality of client computers;
A connection destination information storage unit for storing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A selection unit that selects, from among the plurality of virtual devices, a virtual device corresponding to the client computer indicated by the connection destination information as a selection virtual device;
A signal transmission unit that receives an operation signal from the input device and transmits a signal according to the operation signal to the client computer represented by the connection destination information via the selected virtual device;
An update command receiving unit for receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to be operated in response to the operation signal;
Control for updating a client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information to a client computer specified based on the predetermined update command when the predetermined update command is received by the update command receiving unit And a network system. A network device connected to a network including a plurality of client computers, wherein an input device that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer is connected to an interface port provided in the network device And a control method in a network apparatus for connecting only a part of the plurality of client computers to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to the operation signal,
Preparing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
Receiving an operation signal from the input device, and transmitting a signal corresponding to the received operation signal to a client computer indicated by the connection destination information;
Receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to operate in response to the operation signal;
When receiving the predetermined update command, issue a disconnection request to disconnect the device connection to the client computer represented by the connection destination information, and according to the operation signal specified based on the predetermined update command A network that issues a connection request for connecting a device to a client computer to be operated, and updates the client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information to a client computer specified based on the predetermined update command Control method of the device. A network device connected to a network including a plurality of client computers, wherein an input device that is operated by an operator and outputs an operation signal for operating the client computer is connected to an interface port provided in the network device And a control method in a network apparatus for connecting only a part of the plurality of client computers to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to the operation signal,
The input device is connected to each of the plurality of client computers,
Preparing a plurality of virtual devices corresponding to each of the plurality of client computers in a 1: 1 ratio;
Preparing connection destination information indicating a client computer connected to the input device as a client computer to be operated according to an operation signal output from the input device among the plurality of client computers;
A virtual device corresponding to the client computer indicated by the connection destination information is selected as a selected virtual device from the plurality of virtual devices,
Receiving an operation signal from the input device, and transmitting a signal according to the operation signal to the client computer represented by the connection destination information via the selected virtual device;
Receiving a predetermined update command by an operator for updating a client computer to operate in response to the operation signal;
A method for controlling a network device, comprising: when receiving the predetermined update instruction, updating a client computer connected to the input device in the connection destination information to a client computer specified based on the predetermined update instruction.

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