Computer network architecture and method of providing display data
First Claim
1. A display system comprising:
- a plurality of ultra-thin client devices, each of which is coupled to at least one display device; and
a data processing device coupled to the ultra-thin client devices over a general purpose data network, the data processing device being operable to transmit image data directly representing at least a portion of the image displayed on one or more of the display devices over the general purpose data network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display system in which one or more display devices are arranged to be addressed by a data processing device (e.g. a laptop computer) coupled to the display devices over a general purposes data network, thereby providing an ultra-thin network-connected display. The image data transmitted the display devices directly represents an image to be displayed on the display devices. In one embodiment the system includes an adaptor which couples a conventional display device to the network, thereby delivering the display data directly to the display device over the network. In an alternative configuration, the system includes a network-enabled monitor, which incorporates ultra-thin client componentry. Both embodiments dispense with the limitations imposed by dedicated VGA cables. Display devices addressed by the data processing device can thus be placed at great distances from the data processing device, and from one another. Wireless networks are also contemplated.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A display system comprising:
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a plurality of ultra-thin client devices, each of which is coupled to at least one display device; and
a data processing device coupled to the ultra-thin client devices over a general purpose data network, the data processing device being operable to transmit image data directly representing at least a portion of the image displayed on one or more of the display devices over the general purpose data network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for generating display data for presentation on a plurality of display devices over a general purpose data network, the method comprising:
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generating graphical data for display on a display device; and
converting the graphical data into an image data format suitable for transmission over the general purpose data network, wherein the conversion of the graphical data includes;
passing the graphical data to a kernel-mode graphics card driver emulator module, which maintains a framebuffer for at least one of the display devices; and
passing data from the framebuffer to a user-mode helper application, which formats the image data in a the framebuffer into a format suitable for delivery directly across the general purpose data network.
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Specification