Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-24
2001-10-16
Chow, Dennis-Doon (Department: 2775)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
C345S502000, C345S520000, C710S014000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304244
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to the field of information processing systems. In particular, the present invention relates to computer systems which display data via a video controller. More particularly, the present invention relates to computer systems wherein multiple video controllers may be utilized via adapter cards to produce video output. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to video controller support for computer systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Video controllers permit computer users to view data displayed on a computer display unit by generating video signals. Video controllers are typically located on a computer's main system board (i.e., “on-board”) or on an expansion board. Sometimes, however, the video controller may be constructed within the computer itself. Various types of video controllers are commonly utilized in computers, such as personal computers. Early personal computer designs, for example, included PC/AT or Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion slots, which allowed users to install new features or upgrade on-board features with expansion cards. In such standard personal computer designs, if a user upgraded the on-board video graphics array (VGA) controller by adding an expansion card, the expansion card VGA controller by default became the sole source of video output.
In order to utilize the on-board VGA with a particular application, the user was forced to remove the expansion card, and could not dynamically switch VGA controllers in order to utilize a particular controller with a specific application. Also, the user could have only one expansion card VGA controller installed in the system at any one time. Such standard designs are commonly utilized in most personal computers on the market today, and are expected to remain an industry standard in the near future.
More recent personal computer designs include not only ISA expansion slots, but also Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) expansion slots. The “plug-and-play” nature of the PCI specification allows the user to install more than one expansion card of the same type without causing hardware conflicts. In the case of video controllers utilized in association with recent personal computer designs, an on-board PCI-based Super VGA (SVGA) controller is likely included within such computers, and a user may be able to add one or more SVGA controllers via PCI expansion slots. However, users are faced with additional problems when adding one or more video controllers via such expansion slots in PCI configurations. For example, a user may have an on-board 2D video controller for use with his or her primary operating system (e.g., Windows or OS/2), but may prefer to use a PCI adapter card with a 3D video controller for his or her favorite game in association with a different operating system (e.g., DOS). In order to successfully accomplish this task, the user typically is forced to reboot the computer after adding the new video controller via the expansion slot and/or reconfigure computer hardware. Such rebooting and reconfiguring activities are forms of power cycling.
These activities are typically time-consuming, and in the case of reconfiguring computer hardware, complicated and error prone. From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that what is needed to solve this problem is a method and system that would allow users to select between multiple video controllers in a given computer system without any excess hardware reconfiguration or power cycling, such as rebooting the computer. Such a method and system, if implemented, would save users both time and energy in switching between multiple video controllers. The disclosure presented herein solves this problem by presenting a method and system for dynamically switching between multiple video controllers present within a computer system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved information processing system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved computer system which displays data via video controllers.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved computer system in which multiple video controllers may be utilized via adapter cards and expansion slots to provide video output.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide improved video controller support for computer systems.
The above and other objects are achieved as is now described. A method and system are disclosed in a computer system having a primary video controller for dynamically selecting an alternative video controller present within the computer system. Initially, a diagnostic is performed to determine if alternative video controllers are connected to the computer system and a primary video controller is assigned. A user is thereafter able to select an alternative video controller, if at least one alternative video controller is detected. The primary video controller is then temporarily disabled, in response to a selection of an alternative video controller. The alternative video controller is then automatically designated as the primary video controller, in response to the disabling of the primary video controller, such that the alternative video controller may be temporarily utilized as a primary video controller without altering internal computer system hardware settings or power cycling the computer system. The primary video controller may be implemented initially as an on-board video controller, while the alternative video controllers may be connected to the computer via adapter peripheral cards and slots.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4862156 (1989-08-01), Westberg et al.
patent: 5072411 (1991-12-01), Yamaki
patent: 5648795 (1997-07-01), Vouri et al.
patent: 5659715 (1997-08-01), Wu et al.
patent: 5751270 (1998-05-01), Rhodes et al.
patent: 5799204 (1998-08-01), Pesto, Jr.
patent: 5926166 (1999-07-01), Khederzadeh et al.
Hawkins Kelvin Craig
Landry John Matthew
Matthews Michael Thano
Mohre, II Carl Leland
Awad Amr
Bogdon Bernard D.
Chow Dennis-Doon
Dillon Andrew
International Business Machines - Corporation
LandOfFree
Method and system for dynamically selecting video... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and system for dynamically selecting video..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and system for dynamically selecting video... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2580364