U.S. patent application number 16/381257 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-15 for two-way clipboard exchange in virtual console.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dell Products L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is Dell Products L.P.. Invention is credited to Babu CHANDRASEKHAR, Rajib SAHA.
Application Number | 20200326998 16/381257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004052864 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-15 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200326998 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHANDRASEKHAR; Babu ; et
al. |
October 15, 2020 |
TWO-WAY CLIPBOARD EXCHANGE IN VIRTUAL CONSOLE
Abstract
An information handling system may include a host system
including a host system processor and a host system memory coupled
to the host system processor; and a management controller
configured to provide out-of-band management of the host system.
The management controller may be configured to establish a virtual
console session between the host system and a remote terminal. The
management controller may further be configured to, in response to
a command from the remote terminal to send data from the remote
terminal to the host system, mount a partition of the management
controller such that the partition is accessible to the host
system, wherein the partition includes the data. The management
controller may be further configured to transmit a notification to
the host system indicating the command and the partition, wherein
the host system is configured to receive the data from the
partition in accordance with the command.
Inventors: |
CHANDRASEKHAR; Babu; (Round
Rock, TX) ; SAHA; Rajib; (Bangalore, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dell Products L.P. |
Round Rock |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dell Products L.P.
Round Rock
TX
|
Family ID: |
1000004052864 |
Appl. No.: |
16/381257 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 2009/45595
20130101; G06F 9/45558 20130101; G06F 2009/45579 20130101; G06F
9/543 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 9/54 20060101
G06F009/54; G06F 9/455 20060101 G06F009/455 |
Claims
1. An information handling system comprising: a host system
including a host system processor and a host system memory coupled
to the host system processor; and a management controller including
a management processor configured to provide out-of-band management
of the host system, wherein the management controller is configured
to: establish a virtual console session between the host system and
a remote terminal; in response to a command from the remote
terminal to send data from the remote terminal to the host system,
store the data on a partition of a storage device of the management
controller and mount the partition such that the partition is
accessible to the host system, wherein the partition is local to
the management controller and includes the data; and transmit a
notification to the host system indicating the command and the
partition, wherein the host system is configured to receive the
data from the partition in accordance with the command.
2. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the command
includes a clipboard paste command, and wherein the host system is
configured to set a host system clipboard buffer associated with
the virtual console session to include the data.
3. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the
partition is further usable to transfer second data from the host
system to the remote terminal.
4. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the command
includes a file transfer command.
5. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the
partition is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) partition.
6. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the data is
text data.
7. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the command
includes a clipboard paste command, and wherein the data is
multimedia data.
8. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the
management controller is further configured to unmount the
partition after the host system has received the data from the
partition in accordance with the command.
9. A method comprising: a management controller including a
management processor that is configured to provide out-of-band
management of a host system of an information handling system
establishing a virtual console session between the host system and
a remote terminal; in response to a command from the remote
terminal to send data from the remote terminal to the host system,
store the data on a partition of a storage device of the management
controller and mount the partition such that the partition is
accessible to the host system, wherein the partition is local to
the management controller and includes the data; and the management
controller transmitting a notification to the host system
indicating the command and the partition, wherein the host system
is configured to receive the data from the partition in accordance
with the command.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the management
controller receiving a command from the remote terminal to send
second data from the host system to the remote terminal.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the management
controller transferring the second data from the host system to the
partition.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the management
controller transferring the second data from the partition to the
remote terminal.
13. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory,
computer-readable medium having computer-executable code thereon
that is executable by a processor of a management controller of an
information handling system for: establishing a virtual console
session between a host system of the information handling system
and a remote terminal; in response to a command from the remote
terminal to send data from the remote terminal to the host system,
storing the data on a partition of a storage device of the
management controller and mounting the partition such that the
partition is accessible to the host system, wherein the partition
is local to the management controller and includes the data; and
transmitting a notification to the host system indicating the
command and the partition, wherein the host system is configured to
receive the data from the partition in accordance with the
command.
14. The article of claim 13, wherein the command includes a
clipboard paste command, and wherein the host system is configured
to set a host system clipboard buffer associated with the virtual
console session to include the data.
15. The article of claim 13, wherein the partition is further
usable to transfer second data from the host system to the remote
terminal.
16. The article of claim 13, wherein the command includes a file
transfer command.
17. The article of claim 13, wherein the partition is a partition
of a physical storage resource integral to the management
controller, and wherein the mounting is made via a Universal Serial
Bus (USB) interface of the host system.
18. The article of claim 13, wherein the data is text data.
19. The article of claim 13, wherein the command includes a
clipboard paste command, and wherein the data is multimedia
data.
20. The article of claim 13, wherein the management controller is
further configured to unmount the partition after the host system
has received the data from the partition in accordance with the
command.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates in general to information
handling systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for
exchanging information (e.g., clipboard information) in a virtual
console environment.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As the value and use of information continues to increase,
individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and
store information. One option available to users is information
handling systems. An information handling system generally
processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or
data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing
users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because
technology and information handling needs and requirements vary
between different users or applications, information handling
systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how
the information is handled, how much information is processed,
stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the
information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The
variations in information handling systems allow for information
handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or
specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline
reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In
addition, information handling systems may include a variety of
hardware and software components that may be configured to process,
store, and communicate information and may include one or more
computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
[0003] As described in further detail below, management controllers
may be used to provide management facilities for information
handling systems. In particular, a management controller may
provide management facilities to allow a user/administrator to
control a host system of an information handling system via a
virtual console interface.
[0004] It may be advantageous for such a user to be able to
exchange clipboard data (e.g., by cutting, copying, and pasting
data) as well as other data (e.g., by transferring files) with the
host system that is under management. Although some existing
management solutions such as Virtual Network Computing (VNC) may
allow for clipboard data exchange in some circumstances, such
existing systems must generally be run on the host system itself to
allow for such exchange. For a virtual console that is enabled via
a management controller of a host system, rather than the host
system itself, existing solutions have thus far been lacking.
[0005] It should be noted that the discussion of a technique in the
Background section of this disclosure does not constitute an
admission of prior-art status. No such admissions are made herein,
unless clearly and unambiguously identified as such.
SUMMARY
[0006] In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure,
the disadvantages and problems associated with remote management of
information handling systems may be reduced or eliminated.
[0007] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an
information handling system may include a host system including a
host system processor and a host system memory coupled to the host
system processor; and a management controller configured to provide
out-of-band management of the host system. The management
controller may be configured to establish a virtual console session
between the host system and a remote terminal. The management
controller may further be configured to, in response to a command
from the remote terminal to send data from the remote terminal to
the host system, mount a partition of the management controller
such that the partition is accessible to the host system, wherein
the partition includes the data. The management controller may be
further configured to transmit a notification to the host system
indicating the command and the partition, wherein the host system
is configured to receive the data from the partition in accordance
with the command.
[0008] In accordance with these and other embodiments of the
present disclosure, a method may include a management controller
that is configured to provide out-of-band management of a host
system of an information handling system establishing a virtual
console session between the host system and a remote terminal. The
method may further include, in response to a command from the
remote terminal to send data from the remote terminal to the host
system, the management controller mounting a partition of the
management controller such that the partition is accessible to the
host system, wherein the partition includes the data. The method
may yet further include the management controller transmitting a
notification to the host system indicating the command and the
partition, wherein the host system is configured to receive the
data from the partition in accordance with the command.
[0009] In accordance with these and other embodiments of the
present disclosure, an article of manufacture may include a
non-transitory, computer-readable medium having instructions
thereon that are executable by a processor of a management
controller of an information handling system for: establishing a
virtual console session between a host system of the information
handling system and a remote terminal; in response to a command
from the remote terminal to send data from the remote terminal to
the host system, mounting a partition of the management controller
such that the partition is accessible to the host system, wherein
the partition includes the data; and transmitting a notification to
the host system indicating the command and the partition, wherein
the host system is configured to receive the data from the
partition in accordance with the command.
[0010] Technical advantages of the present disclosure may be
readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures,
description and claims included herein. The objects and advantages
of the embodiments will be realized and achieved at least by the
elements, features, and combinations particularly pointed out in
the claims.
[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are examples and
explanatory and are not restrictive of the claims set forth in this
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and
advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference numbers indicate like features, and
wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example information
handling system, in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of example information
handling systems, in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure; and
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates an example flow diagram, in accordance
with embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best
understood by reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, wherein like numbers
are used to indicate like and corresponding parts.
[0017] For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "information
handling system" may include any instrumentality or aggregate of
instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit,
receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest,
detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of
information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific,
control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an
information handling system may be a personal computer, a personal
digital assistant (PDA), a consumer electronic device, a network
storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size,
shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information
handling system may include memory, one or more processing
resources such as a central processing unit ("CPU") or hardware or
software control logic. Additional components of the information
handling system may include one or more storage devices, one or
more communications ports for communicating with external devices
as well as various input/output ("I/O") devices, such as a
keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling
system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit
communication between the various hardware components.
[0018] For purposes of this disclosure, when two or more elements
are referred to as "coupled" to one another, such term indicates
that such two or more elements are in electronic communication or
mechanical communication, as applicable, whether connected directly
or indirectly, with or without intervening elements.
[0019] When two or more elements are referred to as "coupleable" to
one another, such term indicates that they are capable of being
coupled together.
[0020] For the purposes of this disclosure, the term
"computer-readable medium" (e.g., transitory or non-transitory
computer-readable medium) may include any instrumentality or
aggregation of instrumentalities that may retain data and/or
instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable media may
include, without limitation, storage media such as a direct access
storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk), a
sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact
disk, CD-ROM, DVD, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory
(ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
(EEPROM), and/or flash memory; communications media such as wires,
optical fibers, microwaves, radio waves, and other electromagnetic
and/or optical carriers; and/or any combination of the
foregoing.
[0021] For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "information
handling resource" may broadly refer to any component system,
device, or apparatus of an information handling system, including
without limitation processors, service processors, basic
input/output systems, buses, memories, I/O devices and/or
interfaces, storage resources, network interfaces, motherboards,
and/or any other components and/or elements of an information
handling system.
[0022] For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "management
controller" may broadly refer to an information handling system
that provides management functionality (typically out-of-band
management functionality) to one or more other information handling
systems. In some embodiments, a management controller may be (or
may be an integral part of) a service processor, a baseboard
management controller (BMC), a chassis management controller (CMC),
or a remote access controller (e.g., a Dell Remote Access
Controller (DRAC) or Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller
(iDRAC)).
[0023] For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "remote
terminal" may be used to refer broadly to an information handling
system that is configured to couple to a management controller and
issue management instructions for an information handling system
(e.g., a host system) that is being managed by the management
controller. In various embodiments, remote terminals may be
implemented via specialized hardware and/or via software running on
a standard information handling system.
[0024] For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "virtual
console" may be used to refer broadly to any program of executable
instructions (or aggregation of programs of executable
instructions) configured to allow a remote terminal to couple to a
management controller of a host system and provide management of
that host system. For example, a virtual console may enable remote
access to a serial console of the host system via the management
controller.
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example information
handling system 102, in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure. In some embodiments, information handling system 102
may comprise a server chassis configured to house a plurality of
servers or "blades." In other embodiments, information handling
system 102 may comprise a personal computer (e.g., a desktop
computer, laptop computer, mobile computer, and/or notebook
computer). In yet other embodiments, information handling system
102 may comprise a storage enclosure configured to house a
plurality of physical disk drives and/or other computer-readable
media for storing data (which may generally be referred to as
"physical storage resources"). As shown in FIG. 1, information
handling system 102 may comprise a processor 103, a memory 104
communicatively coupled to processor 103, a BIOS 105 (e.g., a UEFI
BIOS) communicatively coupled to processor 103, a network interface
108 communicatively coupled to processor 103, and a management
controller 112 communicatively coupled to processor 103.
[0026] In operation, processor 103, memory 104, BIOS 105, and
network interface 108 may comprise at least a portion of a host
system 98 of information handling system 102. In addition to the
elements explicitly shown and described, information handling
system 102 may include one or more other information handling
resources.
[0027] Processor 103 may include any system, device, or apparatus
configured to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or
process data, and may include, without limitation, a
microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP),
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other
digital or analog circuitry configured to interpret and/or execute
program instructions and/or process data. In some embodiments,
processor 103 may interpret and/or execute program instructions
and/or process data stored in memory 104 and/or another component
of information handling system 102.
[0028] Memory 104 may be communicatively coupled to processor 103
and may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to
retain program instructions and/or data for a period of time (e.g.,
computer-readable media). Memory 104 may include RAM, EEPROM, a
PCMCIA card, flash memory, magnetic storage, opto-magnetic storage,
or any suitable selection and/or array of volatile or non-volatile
memory that retains data after power to information handling system
102 is turned off.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, memory 104 may have stored thereon an
operating system 106. Operating system 106 may comprise any program
of executable instructions (or aggregation of programs of
executable instructions) configured to manage and/or control the
allocation and usage of hardware resources such as memory,
processor time, disk space, and input and output devices, and
provide an interface between such hardware resources and
application programs hosted by operating system 106. In addition,
operating system 106 may include all or a portion of a network
stack for network communication via a network interface (e.g.,
network interface 108 for communication over a data network).
Although operating system 106 is shown in FIG. 1 as stored in
memory 104, in some embodiments operating system 106 may be stored
in storage media accessible to processor 103, and active portions
of operating system 106 may be transferred from such storage media
to memory 104 for execution by processor 103.
[0030] Network interface 108 may comprise one or more suitable
systems, apparatuses, or devices operable to serve as an interface
between information handling system 102 and one or more other
information handling systems via an in-band network. Network
interface 108 may enable information handling system 102 to
communicate using any suitable transmission protocol and/or
standard. In these and other embodiments, network interface 108 may
comprise a network interface card, or "NIC." In these and other
embodiments, network interface 108 may be enabled as a local area
network (LAN)-on-motherboard (LOM) card.
[0031] Management controller 112 may be configured to provide
management functionality for the management of information handling
system 102. Such management may be made by management controller
112 even if information handling system 102 and/or host system 98
are powered off or powered to a standby state. Management
controller 112 may include a processor 113, memory, and a network
interface 118 separate from and physically isolated from network
interface 108.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, processor 113 of management controller
112 may be communicatively coupled to processor 103. Such coupling
may be via a Universal Serial Bus (USB), System Management Bus
(SMBus), and/or one or more other communications channels.
[0033] Network interface 118 may be coupled to a management
network, which may be separate from and physically isolated from
the data network as shown. Network interface 118 of management
controller 112 may comprise any suitable system, apparatus, or
device operable to serve as an interface between management
controller 112 and one or more other information handling systems
via an out-of-band management network. Network interface 118 may
enable management controller 112 to communicate using any suitable
transmission protocol and/or standard. In these and other
embodiments, network interface 118 may comprise a network interface
card, or "NIC." Network interface 118 may be the same type of
device as network interface 108, or in other embodiments it may be
a device of a different type.
[0034] As noted above, management controller 112 may be used to
provide remote management access to host system 98 (e.g., via
access to operating system 106). FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment
in which virtual consoles 204a and 204b execute on remote terminals
202a and 202b, respectively. (These components are sometimes
referred to herein collectively as virtual consoles 204 and remote
terminals 202.)
[0035] Virtual consoles 204 provide access to a host system (e.g.,
host operating system 206) via management controller 212. In some
embodiments, management controller 212 may comprise an iDRAC. As
one of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this
disclosure will readily understand, various other types of
management controller may also be used in particular
implementations.
[0036] As shown, management controller 212 includes as a component
thereof a clipboard agent. The management controller clipboard
agent may include any program of executable instructions (or
aggregation of programs of executable instructions) configured to
manage clipboard operations, as discussed in further detail
below.
[0037] Management controller 212 further includes both a vConsole
backend and a VNC server, which may interface with the management
controller clipboard agent through the use of inter-process
communication (IPC). Virtual console 204a provides a Java or HTMLS
interface (e.g., through the use of a web browser) to management
controller 212 via its vConsole backend, and virtual console 204b
provides a VNC interface to management controller 212 via its VNC
server. In some embodiments, other types of virtual console (e.g.,
ActiveX, etc.) may also be enabled.
[0038] As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
with the benefit of this disclosure, management controller 212 may
be exposed to host operating system 206 (in whole or in part) via a
USB NIC. Host operating system 206 may have executing thereon an OS
BMC agent (e.g., an iDRAC service module (iSM) in embodiments in
which management controller 212 comprises an iDRAC) for interfacing
with management controller 212 via such USB NIC.
[0039] As discussed in further detail with regard to FIG. 3,
virtual consoles 204a and 204b may interact with clipboard
functionality of the respective remote terminals 202. For example,
functions 208a and 208b may be operable to get the clipboard data
from the respective remote terminal 202. Likewise, functions 210a
and 210b may be operable to set the clipboard buffer of the
respective remote terminal 202.
[0040] In this embodiment, a host operating system clipboard agent
may execute on host operating system 206. The host operating system
clipboard agent may include any program of executable instructions
(or aggregation of programs of executable instructions) configured
to manage clipboard operations on the host system, as discussed in
further detail below.
[0041] For example, such a host system clipboard agent may execute
as a component of an OS BMC agent. This clipboard agent may provide
functions for interacting with the clipboard of the host
information handling system. For example, function 212 may be
operable to get the clipboard data from host operating system 206.
Likewise, function 214 may be operable to set the clipboard buffer
of host operating system 206.
[0042] As discussed in further detail below, these various
clipboard functions that are respectively implemented at host
operating system 206 and virtual consoles 204a and 204b may be
combined to allow seamless two-way clipboard functionality.
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of an example method 300 for
clipboard exchange in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, user 302 may use virtual console
306 (which may execute on a remote terminal) to interact with
management controller 304 to manage host operating system 308. In
some embodiments, user 302 may use a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM)
over IP connection for such interactions. In this example, user 302
desires to copy local data at the remote terminal and paste that
data to the host system that is under management.
[0044] According to certain embodiments, method 300 may begin at
step 310. As noted above, teachings of the present disclosure may
be implemented in a variety of configurations of information
handling system 102. As such, the preferred initialization point
for method 300 and the order of the steps comprising method 300 may
depend on the implementation chosen. In these and other
embodiments, method 300 may be implemented as hardware, firmware,
software, applications, functions, libraries, or other
instructions.
[0045] At step 310, user 302 establishes a KVM connection to
management controller 304. For example, this connection may be
implemented as a KVM over IP connection. In some embodiments, all
of the interactions described below with respect to virtual console
306 may take place over this KVM over IP connection, with no
additional connections being needed.
[0046] At step 312, if necessary, user 302 downloads a virtual
console applet from management controller 304. For example, user
302 may download a Java or HTMLS virtual console applet (or
application) for execution on the user's remote terminal. In other
embodiments, a VNC viewer/VNC server arrangement may be used. In
yet other embodiments, user 302 may already have the necessary
applet/application installed.
[0047] At steps 314 and 316, user 302 starts the virtual console
306 and uses it to establish a session with management controller
316. At step 318, management controller 304 may then redirect
communications as necessary between virtual console 306 and a KVM
port of the host system. This may enable user 302 to access a
serial terminal/tty of host operating system 308.
[0048] At step 320, user 302 copies a file to the local clipboard
of the remote terminal. In various embodiments, any suitable type
of data may be copied (or cut) to the local clipboard. For example,
a file, a string of plain text, image data, audio data, multimedia
data, or any other data stream may be placed in the local
clipboard.
[0049] At step 322, user 302 selects the paste option within the
management session of virtual console 306. In response, virtual
console 306 reads from the local clipboard at step 324.
[0050] At step 326, virtual console 306 sends a buffer containing
the clipboard data to management controller 304. In various
embodiments, any suitable data structure may be used to encapsulate
the clipboard data for transmission.
[0051] At step 328, management controller 304 creates a mass
storage partition (e.g., a USB partition) containing the clipboard
data and mounts the partition so that it is accessible to host
operating system 308. Management controller 304 may also include
metadata indicating the file type of the clipboard data at this
step.
[0052] At step 330, management controller 304 transmits a
notification to host operating system 308 indicating the name of
the mounted USB partition. For example, this notification may be
transmitted to a host operating system clipboard agent executing
under host operating system 308.
[0053] At step 332, the host operating system clipboard agent
locates the USB partition, determines the current process ID (e.g.,
of a tty process in use by user 302), and determines the path of
the highlighted window in use by user 302. The process ID and
highlighted window path may be used at step 334 below when
determining how and where to dispatch the clipboard data.
[0054] At step 334, the host operating system clipboard agent
dispatches the clipboard data as necessary. For example, in the
case of a file transfer, the requested file may be created. In the
case of a clipboard paste operation, the clipboard data may be
placed into the clipboard buffer of a tty process in use by user
302. In some embodiments, a paste command may also be transmitted
via the host operating system clipboard agent, so that the data
placed into the clipboard buffer of the tty process is
automatically pasted (e.g., at the current cursor location).
[0055] At step 336, the host operating system clipboard agent
notifies management controller 304 that it has completed the
transfer.
[0056] At step 338, in response, management controller 304
detaches/unmounts the USB partition. In various embodiments, the
USB partition may be completely destructed, or it may remain for
purposes of future clipboard operations or the like.
[0057] At step 340, management controller 304 notifies virtual
console 306 that it has completed the transfer.
[0058] At step 342, virtual console 306 notifies user 302 that it
has completed the transfer, and method 300 ends.
[0059] Although FIG. 3 discloses a particular number of steps to be
taken with respect to method 300, method 300 may be executed with
greater or fewer steps than those depicted in FIG. 3. In addition,
although FIG. 3 discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with
respect to method 300, the steps comprising method 300 may be
completed in any suitable order.
[0060] Method 300 may be implemented using any of the various
components disclosed herein (such as the components of FIG. 1),
and/or any other system operable to implement method 300. In
certain embodiments, method 300 may be implemented partially or
fully in software and/or firmware embodied in computer-readable
media.
[0061] It should be noted that while method 300 describes in detail
a process for allowing a user to copy data locally and paste that
data into the host operating system under management, a similar
process may be used to accomplish the reverse.
[0062] For example, the host operating system clipboard agent may
receive a command to copy data from host operating system 308. The
host operating system clipboard agent may then create a USB
partition (or instruct management controller 304 to create such a
USB partition) that is accessible to both host operating system 308
and management controller 304. The host operating system clipboard
agent may then transmit a buffer including the copied data to such
a USB partition. Finally, management controller 304 may then
coordinate with virtual console 306 to allow user 302 to receive
that data locally at the remote terminal.
[0063] This disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions,
variations, alterations, and modifications to the exemplary
embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art
would comprehend. Similarly, where appropriate, the appended claims
encompass all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and
modifications to the exemplary embodiments herein that a person
having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Moreover,
reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or a
component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to,
capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to
perform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system,
or component, whether or not it or that particular function is
activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus,
system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured,
enabled, operable, or operative.
[0064] Further, reciting in the appended claims that a structure is
"configured to" or "operable to" perform one or more tasks is
expressly intended not to invoke 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112(f) for that
claim element. Accordingly, none of the claims in this application
as filed are intended to be interpreted as having
means-plus-function elements. Should Applicant wish to invoke
.sctn. 112(f) during prosecution, Applicant will recite claim
elements using the "means for [performing a function]"
construct.
[0065] All examples and conditional language recited herein are
intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding
the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to
furthering the art, and are construed as being without limitation
to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although
embodiments of the present inventions have been described in
detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *