This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 110143821, filed Nov. 24, 2021, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
This disclosure relates to an operating method of a computer system, and in particular to a cursor marking method of the computer system which includes a switching device.
KM (Keyboard and Mouse) switcher is an electronic device which allows the user to operate multiple computers through one group of keyboard and mouse. Generally speaking, the user can switch from operating a computer to operating another computer by the KM switcher. Each of the computers is usually connected to one monitor, and a cursor is only displayed on the monitor connected to the computer which is currently operated by the user.
In the structure of the aforementioned system, when the number of the monitors is over and/or multiple monitors display too much information simultaneously, the user often cannot find the display position of the cursor and thereby affecting operation. For solving the problem of being unable to find the cursor, the prior art helps the user to find the display positon of the cursor by external software or hardware, but also leads to increased cost and the incompatible software.
An aspect of present disclosure relates to a cursor marking method. The cursor marking method includes: by a switching device, detecting an operation of at least one input device to at least one computer device via the switching device, wherein the at least one input device is configured to perform at least one trigger operation, to trigger at least one operating system of the at least one computer device to execute a cursor position marking function; and when the switching device detects the at least one trigger operation, by the switching device, driving the at least one operating system of the at least one computer device to execute the cursor position marking function, to display cursor position marking effect on at least one display device electrically coupled to the at least one computer device.
Another aspect of present disclosure relates to a switching device. The switching device includes at least one input interface, a plurality of output interfaces and a processor. The at least one input interface is configured to electrically couple to at least one input device. The plurality of output interfaces is configured to electrically couple to a plurality of computer devices. The processor is electrically coupled to the at least one input interface and the plurality of output interfaces, is configured to receive at least one input signal generated by the at least one input device via the at least one input interface, and is configured to output the at least one input signal via one of the plurality of output interfaces to operate one of the plurality of computer devices. The processor is further configured to generate at least one driving signal in response to at least one trigger signal that the at least one input device generates through a trigger operation, to drive a corresponding operating system of one of the plurality of computer devices to execute a cursor position marking function via a corresponding output interface of the plurality of output interfaces.
Another aspect of present disclosure relates to a computer system. The computer system includes a plurality of display devices, a plurality of computer devices, at least one input device and a switching device. The plurality of computer devices is electrically coupled to the plurality of display devices respectively. The at least one input device is configured to perform at least one trigger operation to generate at least one trigger signal. The switching device is electrically coupled between the at least one input device and the plurality of computer devices and is configured to drive a corresponding operating system of one of the plurality of computer devices to execute a cursor position marking function in response to the at least one trigger signal generated by the at least one input device, to display cursor position marking effect on a corresponding display device electrically coupled to one of the plurality of computer devices.
In sum, the computer system of the present disclosure processes the input signal generated by the input device through the switching device to analyze whether the user desires to know the display position of the cursor on the display devices. When determining that the user desires to know the display position of the cursor, the switching device simulates the driving signal capable of driving the operating system to execute the original cursor position marking function according to the operating system of the computer device currently operated by the input device, to inform the user the display position of the cursor by the cursor position marking effect. In such way, the computer system of the present disclosure can inform the user the display position of the cursor without the external software or hardware, so as to reduce cost and to avoid incompatible problem.
The embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the appended drawings to better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. However, the provided embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, and the description of the structural operation is not intended to limit the order in which they are performed. Any device that has been recombined by components and produces an equivalent function is within the scope covered by the disclosure.
The terms used in the entire specification and the scope of the patent application, unless otherwise specified, generally have the ordinary meaning of each term used in the field, the content disclosed herein, and the particular content.
The terms “coupled” or “connected” as used herein may mean that two or more elements are directly in physical or electrical contact, or are indirectly in physical or electrical contact with each other. It can also mean that two or more elements interact with each other.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the terms “cursor position marking effect” as used herein represents any effect capable of enabling the user of the computer system 100 to notice the position of the cursor 50, where would be described in detail later. When one of the display devices 40[1]-40[2] displays the cursor position marking effect, the user of the computer system 100 would thereby be aware of the display position of the cursor 50 (as shown in
It can be appreciated that the amount of the computer devices 30[1]-30[2] and the display devices 40[1]-40[2] can be any number greater than or equal to 2 and be not limited to those of
Referring to
As shown in
In some embodiments, the computer devices 30[1]-30[n] each store an operating system for executing their own computer operating programs. For example, the computer device 30[1] has a first operating system, and the computer device 30[2] has a second operating system. It can be appreciated that the computer device 30[n] also has a corresponding operating system. In some embodiments, the first operating system is same as the second operating system. For example, the first operating system and the second operating system are both Windows, Mac, Linux or other operating systems. In some embodiments, the first operating system is different from the second operating system. For example, the first operating system is Windows, and the second operating system is Mac, Linux or other operating systems. In other words, the operating systems of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n] can be all same or all different, or can be part same, part different.
The operating systems of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n] each further has a cursor position marking function. For example, the first operating system of the computer device 30[1] provides a first cursor position marking function, and the second operating system of the computer device 30[2] provides a second cursor position marking function. The terms “cursor position marking function” as used herein is an original function of the operating system for informing the user the position of the cursor. Descriptions would be made by taking Windows operating system as an example, if the user clicks or presses “Ctrl” key on the keyboard, the computer device would control the display device to display a dynamic image (e.g., a ripple shrinking from a predetermined radius and finally disappearing) at the position of the cursor, to inform the user the position of the cursor. Descriptions would be made by taking Mac operating system as an example, if the user rapidly moves the mouse back and forth, the computer device would control the display device to display an enlarged cursor, to inform the user the position of the cursor.
In some embodiments, as the embodiment of
In some embodiments, the driving signal Sd is related to an operation of at least one predetermined key of the keyboard 11 being pressed, a second predetermined movement operation of the mouse 12, or a combination thereof. For example, the first operating system of the computer device 30[1] currently operated by the mouse 12 is Windows operating system. Accordingly, the processor 200 generates the driving signal Sd (i.e., the first driving signal) related to the operation of “Ctrl” key of the keyboard 11 being pressed and outputs the driving signal Sd to the computer device 30[1] through the output interface 204[1], so that the first operating system of the computer device 30[1] executes the first cursor position marking function. For another example, the second operating system of the computer device 30[2] currently operated by the mouse 12 is Mac operating system. Accordingly, the processor 200 generates the driving signal Sd (i.e., the second driving signal) related to the rapid back-and-forth movement of the mouse 12 (i.e., the second predetermined movement operation) and outputs the driving signal Sd to the computer device 30[2] through the output interface 204[2], so that the second operating system of the computer device 30[2] executes the second cursor position marking function. In other words, the processor 200 of the switching device 20 would correspondingly generate different driving signal Sd according to different operating system, thereby driving different operating system to execute original cursor position marking function. In addition, the cursor position marking effects displayed by the display devices may also be different due to different operating systems. Therefore, when the computer devices with different operating systems are operated by the user, the driving signal can be generated to execute the cursor position marking function as long as the specific predetermined movement operation is performed, so as to help the user find the position of the cursor rapidly. That is to say, the user is not required to remember corresponding operating system of the computer device being operated currently and corresponding cursor marking activation manner thereof to activate the cursor position marking function.
Furthermore, the driving signal Sd is the signal that the processor 200 of the switching device 20 generates by simulating the operation of the keyboard 11 and/or the mouse 12 according to the operating system of the computer device. Accordingly, when the computer device receives the driving signal Sd, the processor (not shown) of the computer device would consider that the user performs related operation on the keyboard 11 and/or the mouse 12, so as to execute the cursor position marking function. However, the user does not really perform the related operation (e.g., pressing “Ctrl” key on the keyboard 11, rapidly moving the mouse 12 back and forth) on the keyboard 11 and/or the mouse 12.
Referring to
In step S302, when the switching device 20 detects the at least one trigger operation of the at least one input device (e.g., the aforementioned first predetermined movement operation of the mouse 12), the switching device 20 drives a corresponding operating system of one of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n] to execute the cursor position marking function to display the cursor position marking effect on a corresponding display device electrically coupled to the one of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n]. For example, the switching device 20 can determine whether the input signal Sin generated by the mouse 12 is related to the aforementioned first predetermined movement operation by analyzing the input signal Sin generated by the mouse 12. If the determination result of the switching device 20 is “yes”, it represents that the trigger operation is detected. If the determination result of the switching device 20 is “no”, it represents that the trigger operation is not detected. The operation that the switching device 20 drives one of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n] is same or similar to those of the above embodiments, and therefore the description thereof is omitted herein.
Referring to
In some embodiments corresponding to step S401, the user manually operates the keyboard 11 and/or the mouse 12 to sequentially enable the cursor position marking functions of the operating systems of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n]. Descriptions would be made by taking the computer device 30[1] as an example, the switching device 20 transmits a first enable signal (not shown), which is generated by the keyboard 11 and/or the mouse 12 in response to the user operation, to the computer device 30[1], so as to enable the first cursor position marking function of the first operating system of the computer device 30[1]. In a practical application, the first enable signal transmitted by the switching device 20 is a series of input signal Sin generated by the mouse 12, and the series of input signal Sin is generated in response to an operation that the user control the mouse 12 to open a “Pointer Options” window of Windows operating system and to check a box of “Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key”. The arrangements of other computer devices 30[2]-30[n] can be deduced by analogy, and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted herein. It can be appreciated that the first enable signal transmitted by the switching device 20 may be different for different operating system.
In some embodiments corresponding to step S401, the user controls the switching device 20 to enter a first setting mode through an external device (e.g., a mobile device of the user) or by pressing a button (not shown) arranged on the switching device 20, so that the switching device 20 automatically enables the cursor position marking functions of the operating systems of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n]. In the first setting mode, the switching device 20 would not transmit the input signal Sin generated by the keyboard 11 and/or the mouse 12 to the computer devices 30[1]-30[n]. When entering the first setting mode, the switching device 20 automatically executes a setting program (not shown) stored in the memory 206 to enable the cursor position marking functions of the operating systems of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n]. Descriptions would be made by taking the computer device 30[1] with Windows operating system as an example, the switching device 20 executes the setting program to generate a second enable signal (not shown), which is related to an operation of the keyboard 11 and/or the mouse 12 (for example, opening Command Prompt in Windows and entering related commands), to the computer device 30[1], so as to enable the first cursor position marking function of the first operating system of the computer device 30[1]. That is to say, the computer device 30[1] automatically enable the first cursor position marking function of the first operating system in response to an operation that the switching device 20 generates the second enable signal. The arrangements of other computer devices 30[2]-30[n] can be deduced by analogy, and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted herein. It can be appreciated that the second enable signal transmitted by the switching device 20 may be different for different operating system.
Furthermore, when the switching device 20 enters the first setting mode, the user can operate the switching device 20 to switch the keyboard 11 and the mouse 12 from operating the computer device 30[1] to operating one of other computer devices 30[2]-30[n]. After switching, the switching device 20 would automatically execute the setting program to set the computer device which is currently operated by the keyboard 11 and the mouse 12 (i.e., to enable the cursor position marking function of the operating system). After the computer devices 30[1]-30[n] are all set, the switching device 20 can leave the first setting mode automatically or by the control of user.
In some embodiments, the user can control the switching device 20 to enter a second setting mode through an external device (e.g., a mobile device) or by pressing a button (not shown) arranged on the switching device 20. In the second setting mode, the switching device 20 can still transmit the input signal Sin generated by the keyboard 11 and/or the mouse 12 to one of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n]. In addition, only when the switching device 20 enters the second setting mode, the computer devices 30[1]-30[n] can access an application program (not shown) prestored in the memory 206. Descriptions would be made by taking the computer device 30[1] as an example, the user operates the keyboard 11 and/or the mouse 12, so that the computer device 30[1] executes the application program in the memory 206. The computer device 30[1] automatically enables the first cursor position marking function of the first operating system in response to the execution of the application program in the memory 206. In particular, the computer device 30[1] can automatically enable the first cursor position marking function by executing an application program interface (e.g., SystemParametersInfo) or a batch file provided by the first operating system. The arrangements of other computer devices 30[2]-30[n] can be deduced by analogy, and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted herein. After finishing setting all the computer devices 30[1]-30[n], the switching device 20 can leave the second setting mode automatically or by the control of user.
In the embodiment of
Method or steps mentioned in present embodiments can be adjusted in order according to practical requirements unless the order thereof is specifically stated, can even be all or partly executed simultaneously, or can be added with related steps. The embodiments of
Referring to
Referring to
In some embodiments, as the embodiment of
Referring to
During a first switching operation, the switching device 20 detects the first predetermined movement operation of the mouse 12 according to a first displacement of the cursor 50 (e.g., a linear distance between a position C and a position D in
During a second switching operation, the switching device 20 not only detects the first predetermined movement operation of the mouse 12 according to a second displacement of the cursor 50 (e.g., a linear distance between the position D and the position E in
According to the aforementioned embodiments, by detecting whether the input device temporarily stops for the predetermined period after the trigger operation, when the input device performs multiple switching operations, it can be avoided that the switching device 20 is triggered multiple times to drive one of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n] to display the cursor position marking effect multiple times on one of the display devices 40[1]-40[n].
Referring to
In step S501, the switching device 20 receives the input signal Sin generated by the mouse 12 through the input interface 202[2].
In step S502, the switching device 20 determines whether the input signal Sin generated by the mouse 12 is the trigger signal by processing the input signal Sin. For example, the switching device 20 processes the input signal Sin to obtain the movement track (e.g., “T” in
In some embodiments, the switching device 20 determines that the input signal Sin is the trigger signal in step S502 to execute step S503. In step S503, the switching device 20 correspondingly generates the driving signal Sd according to the operating system of the computer device which is currently operated by the mouse 12 (i.e., one of the computer devices 30[1]-30[n]). The descriptions of generating the driving signal Sd according to the operating system are same or similar to those of above embodiments, and therefore are omitted herein.
In step S504, the switching device 20 outputs the input signal Sin and the driving signal Sd to the computer device currently operated by the mouse 12 through corresponding output interface (i.e., one of the output interfaces 204[1]-204[n]), to operate the computer device currently operated by the mouse 12 and to display the cursor position marking effect (e.g., the amplified cursor 60, the ripple 70 which shrinks gradually) on corresponding display device (i.e., one of the display devices 40[1]-40[n]).
In some embodiments, the switching device 20 determines that the input signal Sin is not the trigger signal to execute step S505. In step S505, the switching device 20 does not generate the driving signal Sd and outputs the input signal Sin to the computer device currently operated by the mouse 12 through corresponding output interface to operate the computer device currently operated by the mouse 12.
In sum, the computer system 100 of the present disclosure processes the input signal generated by the input device through the switching device 20 to analyze whether the user desires to know the display position of the cursor 50 on the display devices 40[1]-40[n]. When determining that the user desires to know the display position of the cursor 50, the switching device 20 simulates the driving signal Sd, which can drive the operating system to execute the original cursor position marking function, according to the operating system of the computer device currently operated by the input device, to inform the user the display position of the cursor 50 by the cursor position marking effect. In such way, the computer system 100 of the present disclosure can inform the user the display position of the cursor 50 without the external software or hardware, so as to reduce cost and to avoid incompatible problem.
Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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110143821 | Nov 2021 | TW | national |