TWI654540B - Virtual input management device and management method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A virtual input management device and a management method thereof. The virtual input management device includes a switching module, a virtual input module, and an arbiter. The switching module receives the first command from the host and switches to the first mode or the second mode according to the instruction of the arbiter. When the physical input device is not coupled to the switching module, the switching module switches to the first mode and sends a first instruction to the virtual input module. The virtual input module outputs a first response signal and returns it to the host via the switching module. When the physical input device is coupled to the switching module, the switching module switches to the second mode and transmits the first instruction to the physical input device. The physical input device outputs a second response signal and sends it back to the host through the switching module.

Description

Virtual input management device and management method thereof

The invention relates to an electronic device, in particular to a virtual input management device and a management method thereof.

Generally speaking, during the startup process of a computer, an operating system (OS) can determine whether an external device is connected to the computer through a self-test procedure in order to install a driver corresponding to the external device. However, for a PS / 2 input device connected to a computer using a PS / 2 interface, if the PS / 2 input device is connected after the self-test procedure, the computer will not install the driver for the PS / 2 input device, so use Users will not be able to use PS / 2 input devices.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a virtual input management device to solve the problem that the PS / 2 input device cannot be plugged and used.

The invention provides a virtual input management device and a management method thereof. A driver of a physical input device can be installed in advance when a computer is turned on, so that the physical input device supports a plug and play function.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a virtual input management apparatus. The virtual input management device includes a switching module, a virtual input module, and an arbiter. The switching module is coupled to the host so as to receive a first command sent by the host. The switching module can switch to the first mode or the second mode. The virtual input module is coupled to the switching module. The arbiter is coupled to the switching module in order to continuously detect whether the physical input device is coupled to the switching module. When the arbiter detects that the physical input device is not coupled to the switching module, the arbiter instructs the switching module to switch to the first mode in order to transmit the first instruction received by the switching module to the virtual input module. The virtual input module outputs a first response signal according to the received first command, and transmits the first response signal to the host via the switching module switched to the first mode. When the arbiter detects that the physical input device is coupled to the switching module, the arbiter instructs the switching module to switch to the second mode in order to transmit the first instruction received by the switching module to the physical input device. The physical input device outputs a second response signal according to the received first command, and sends the second response signal to the host via the switching module switched to the second mode.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a virtual input management method. The virtual input management method includes: the arbiter continuously detects whether the physical input device is coupled to the switching module; when the arbiter detects that the physical input device is not coupled to the switching module, the arbiter instructs the switching module to switch To the first mode, so as to transmit the first command sent by the host to the virtual input module, the virtual input module outputs a first response signal according to the received first command, and switches to the first mode switching module Send a first response signal to the host; when the arbiter detects that the physical input device is coupled to the switching module, the arbiter instructs the switching module to switch to the second mode in order to send the first command sent by the host to the physical input Device, the physical input device outputs a second response signal according to the received first command, and sends the second response signal to the host via a switching module that switches to the second mode.

Based on the above, the virtual input management device and the management method thereof according to the embodiments of the present invention can simulate the behavior of a physical input device through a virtual input module. When the physical input device is not yet coupled to the switching module, the virtual input module can communicate with the host to pre-install a driver corresponding to the physical input device. When the physical input device is coupled to the switching module, the function of the virtual input module is automatically turned off to enable the physical input device. Therefore, the virtual input management device and the management method thereof can provide a hot plugging (plug and play) function that was not originally supported by the PS / 2 input device.

In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, embodiments are hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a virtual input management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the virtual input management device 10 includes a switching module 101, a virtual input module 102, and an arbitrator 102. The switching module 101 is coupled to the host 11 so as to receive a first command CM1 transmitted by the host 11. The host 11 may be a computer, a server, or other mobile devices. The host 11 may also be a processor of a computer, server, or other mobile device. The virtual input module 102 is coupled to the switching module 101. The arbiter 103 is coupled to the switching module 101 so as to monitor whether the physical input device 12 is coupled to the switching module 101.

The switching module 101 can switch between the first mode (EN = 1) and the second mode (EN = 0) according to an instruction of the arbiter 103. When the arbiter 103 detects that the physical input device 12 is not coupled to the switching module 101, the arbiter 103 may instruct the switching module to switch to the first mode (EN = 1) so as to switch the first received by the switching module 101. A command CM1 is transmitted to the virtual input module 102. The virtual input module 102 can output a first response signal RS1 according to the received first command CM1, and transmit the first response signal RS1 to the host 11 via the switching module 101 switched to the first mode (EN = 1). When the host 11 receives the first response signal RS1, the host 11 will install a driver corresponding to the physical input device 12.

When the arbiter 103 detects that the physical input device 12 is coupled to the switching module 101, the arbiter 103 may instruct the switching module 101 to switch to the second mode (EN = 0), so that the first A command CM1 is transmitted to the physical input device 12. The physical input device 12 may output a second response signal RS2 according to the received first command CM1, and transmit the second response signal RS2 to the host 11 via the switching module 101 switched to the second mode (EN = 0).

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the virtual input module 102 may be a virtual keyboard or a virtual mouse, and the physical input device 12 may be a physical keyboard or a mouse using a PS / 2 or RS-485 connection interface. The switching module 101 includes a controller 1011 and a switch 1012. The controller 1011 is coupled to the switch 1012. The controller 1011 is, for example, an Intel 8042 chip. The Intel 8042 has a status register for the outside world to detect the status of the virtual input module 102 or the physical input device 12. An output port and an input port are used as control signals with the outside world. An input buffer and An output buffer is used to store interface information with the outside world, including commands and information. The first mode (EN = 1) indicates that the physical input device 12 is not coupled to the switching module 101, and the second mode (EN = 0) indicates that the physical input device 12 is coupled to the switching module 101. The switching module 101 can switch the first mode (EN = 1) and the second mode (EN = 0) by the switch 1012, and the controller 1011 returns the switching state of the switch 1012 to the host 11. In one embodiment, the virtual input management device 10 has a register to store information used to indicate that the switching state of the switch 1012 is the first mode (EN = 1) or the second mode (EN = 0). When the switch 1012 is in the first mode, the first command CM1 transmitted by the host 11 can be transmitted to the virtual input module 102 through the controller 1011 and the switch 1012, and the first response signal RS1 can be transmitted to the controller 1011 and the switch 1012 to Host 11; when the switch 1012 is in the second mode, the first command CM1 transmitted by the host 11 can be transmitted to the physical input device 12 through the controller 1011 and the switch 1012, and the second response signal RS2 can be transmitted through the controller 1011 and the switch 1012 Transfer to host 11.

For example, FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a virtual input management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In step S300, the arbiter 103 monitors whether the physical input device 12 is coupled to the switching module 101. When the arbiter 103 detects that the physical input device 12 is not coupled to the switching module 101, it executes step S311, and the arbiter 103 instructs the switching module 101 to switch to the first mode (EN = 1), and the switching module 101 Then, the switch 1012 is switched to the first mode (EN = 1), and the first command CM1 transmitted by the host 11 is transmitted to the virtual input module 102. Next, the virtual input module 102 executes step S312 to output a first response signal RS1 according to the received first command CM1, and transmits the first response signal RS1 to the host 11 via the controller 1011 of the switching module 101. When step S312 is completed, the host 11 will install a driver corresponding to the physical input device 12.

In practical applications, the default value of the switching module 101 is the first mode (EN = 1), that is, when the host 11 is turned on, the switching module 101 is coupled to the virtual input module 102. The arbiter 103 continuously monitors the coupling state of the physical input device 12 and the switching module 101. When the arbiter 103 detects that the physical input device 12 is coupled to the switching module 101, it executes step S321, the arbiter 103 instructs the switching module 101 to switch to the second mode (EN = 0), and the switching module 101 then The switch 1012 is switched to the second mode (EN = 0), and the first command CM1 transmitted by the host 11 is transmitted to the physical input device 12. Next, the physical input device 12 executes step S322, outputs a second response signal RS2 according to the received first command CM1, and transmits the second response signal RS2 to the host 11 via the controller 1011 of the switching module 101.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram illustrating the virtual input module 102 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the virtual input module 102 includes a decoder 1021, an index table 1022, and an output signal generator 1023. The decoder 1021 is coupled to the index table 1022. The output signal generator 1023 is coupled to the decoder 1021 and the index table 1022. The decoder 1021 may decode the first command CM1 transmitted by the host 11 to generate decoded information 10211. The index table 1022 is constructed with index information 10221 corresponding to the first command CM1. In this embodiment, since a command from the host may require multiple response signals, it is necessary to provide the information of the first command CM1 through the decoder 1021 and the output signal generator 1023 to provide the information of the several responses this time to jointly The value output by the index table 1022 is determined to be the response signal of the several responses. The output signal generator 1023 can generate different output signals according to actual needs. For example, when the virtual input module 102 wants to respond to the first command CM1, the output signal generator 1023 can output the first response signal RS1. When the virtual input module 102 wants to block the arbiter 103 from detecting the coupling state of the physical input device 12 and the switching module 101, the output signal generator 1023 can output an interrupt signal IS. When the virtual input module 102 wants to notify the arbiter 102 to suspend detecting the coupling state of the physical input device 12 and the switching module 101, the output signal generator 1023 can output a notification signal NS. In an embodiment, the decoder 1021 or / and the index table 1022 may be integrated into the output signal generator 1023.

For example, please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, when the output signal generator 1023 transmits the first response signal RS1 to the switching module 101, for example, when the first response signal RS1 is not completely transmitted, the arbiter 103 detects It is detected that the physical input device 12 is coupled to the switching module 101. At this time, the output signal generator 1023 can output the interrupt signal IS to the arbiter 103 to block the detection function of the arbiter 103 and prevent the arbiter 103 from detecting. The physical input device 12 is coupled to the switching module 101. In another embodiment, the virtual input module 102 can also notify the arbiter 102 to suspend detecting the coupling state of the physical input device 12 and the switching module 101 by a notification signal NS.

For example, please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, when the output signal generator 1023 starts to transmit the first response signal RS1 to the switching module 101, the output signal generator 1023 may send a notification signal NS to the arbiter 103 to The arbiter 103 is notified to suspend detecting the coupling state of the physical input device 12 and the switching module 101. After the output signal generator 1023 has transmitted the first response signal RS1, the output signal generator 1023 can send a notification signal NS to the arbiter 103 again to inform the arbiter 103 that it can continue to detect whether the physical input device 12 is coupled to Switch module 101.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating that the virtual input module generates a first response signal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The first response signal RS1 generated by the output signal generator 1013 includes a clock signal Clock and a data signal Data. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the frequency of the clock signal Clock is 12 MHz, and 11 oscillations are included in a single transmission. The data signal Data includes four parts: start, data bits DATA0-DATA7, check bits PARITY, and end. The data bits DATA0-DATA7 are determined by querying the index table 1022. When the switching module 101 receives the first response signal RS1, it can sample the data signal Data at the clock falling edge (as shown by the arrow in Fig. 4) (as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 4). Sampling error. When the sampling is completed, the switching module 101 sends the first response signal RS1 to the host 11 so that the host 11 can install a driver corresponding to the physical input device 12.

In summary, the virtual input management device and its management method according to the embodiments of the present invention can simulate the behavior of a physical input device through a virtual input module. When the physical input device is not yet coupled to the switching module, the virtual input module can communicate with the host to pre-install a driver corresponding to the physical input device. When the physical input device is coupled to the switching module, the function of the virtual input module is automatically turned off to enable the physical input device. Therefore, the virtual input management device and the management method thereof can provide a hot plug (plug and play) function that was not originally supported by a PS / 2 connection device or an RS-485 connection device.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with the examples, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some modifications and retouching without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application.

10‧‧‧Virtual Input Management Device

11‧‧‧Host

12‧‧‧ physical input device

101‧‧‧Switch Module

102‧‧‧Virtual Input Module

103‧‧‧Arbiter

1011‧‧‧ Controller

1012‧‧‧Switch

1021‧‧‧ Decoder

1022‧‧‧ Index Table

1023‧‧‧ Output Signal Generator

10211‧‧‧ Decoding Information

10221‧‧‧ Index Information

Clock‧‧‧

CM1‧‧‧First instruction

Data‧‧‧ Data Signal

DATA0 ～ DATA7‧‧‧Data bits

EN = 0‧‧‧Second mode

EN = 1‧‧‧First mode

IS‧‧‧ interrupt signal

NS‧‧‧Notification signal

PARITY‧‧‧Check bits

RS1‧‧‧First response signal

RS2‧‧‧Second response signal

S300, S311 ～ S312, S321 ～ S322‧‧‧Method steps

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a virtual input management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a virtual input management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram illustrating the virtual input module of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating that the virtual input module generates a first response signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A virtual input management device includes: a switching module coupled to a host to receive a first command transmitted by the host and to switch to a first mode or a second mode; a virtual input module Is coupled to the switching module; and an arbiter is coupled to the switching module for continuously detecting whether a physical input device is coupled to the switching module, wherein when the arbiter detects the physical input device When not coupled to the switching module, the arbiter instructs the switching module to switch to the first mode to transmit the received first instruction to the virtual input module, and the virtual input module is based on the received The first command to output a first response signal and send the first response signal to the host via the switching module switched to the first mode, wherein when the arbiter detects that the physical input device is coupled When the switching module is reached, the arbiter instructs the switching module to switch to the second mode to transmit the received first instruction to the physical input device, and the physical input device is based on the received first So as to output a second response signal, and transmits the second response signal to the host via the switch to the second mode of the switching module. The virtual input management device according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the virtual input module includes: a decoder for decoding the first instruction to generate a decoding information; an index table for providing the first An index information of a command; and an output signal generator for generating an output signal. According to the virtual input management device described in item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the output signal generator outputs the first response signal according to the decoded information and the index information, and the host receives the first response signal to install a response corresponding to the first response signal. The driver for this physical input device. The virtual input management device according to item 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein during the period when the output signal generator sends the first response signal to the switching module, the output signal generator outputs an interrupt signal to the arbiter, The arbiter is interrupted to detect whether the physical input device is coupled to the switching module. The virtual input management device according to item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein when the output signal generator starts to send the first response signal to the switching module, the output signal generator outputs a first notification signal to the arbitration To cause the arbiter to suspend the operation of continuously detecting whether the physical input device is coupled to the switching module, wherein when the output signal generator has transmitted the first response signal, the output signal is generated The arbiter outputs a second notification signal to the arbiter, so that the arbiter resumes the operation of continuously detecting whether the physical input device is coupled to the switching module. A virtual input management method includes: an arbiter continuously detects whether a physical input device is coupled to a switching module; when the arbiter detects that the physical input device is not coupled to the switching module, the arbiter The arbiter instructs the switching module to switch to a first mode to transmit a first instruction sent by a host to the virtual input module, and the virtual input module outputs a first according to the received first instruction. A response signal, and transmitting the first response signal to the host via the switching module switched to the first mode; when the arbiter detects that the physical input device is coupled to the switching module, the arbiter instructs The switching module switches to a second mode to transmit the first command sent by a host to the physical input device, and the physical input device outputs a second response signal according to the received first command, and Sending the second response signal to the host via the switching module switched to the second mode. The virtual input management method according to item 6 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: when the arbiter detects that the physical input device is not coupled to the switching module, the virtual input module responds to the first instruction Decode to obtain a decoding information; the virtual input module finds an index information of the first instruction in an index table according to the first instruction; the virtual input module outputs according to the decoding information and the index information The first response signal. The virtual input management method according to item 7 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: when the host receives the first response signal, the host installs a driver corresponding to the physical input device. The virtual input management method according to item 6 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: during the period when the virtual input module sends the first response signal to the switching module, the virtual input module outputs an interrupt signal to the arbitration To interrupt the arbiter to detect whether the physical input device is coupled to the switching module. The virtual input management method according to item 6 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: when the virtual input module starts transmitting the first response signal to the switching module, the virtual input module outputs a first notification signal to The arbiter, so that the arbiter suspends the operation of continuously detecting whether the physical input device is coupled to the switching module, wherein when the virtual input module has transmitted the first response signal, the virtual The input module outputs a second notification signal to the arbiter, so that the arbiter resumes the operation of continuously detecting whether the physical input device is coupled to the switching module.