Displayport CE system control functionality

• US 20080205519A1
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Douglas, David W., Goodart, Joseph Edgar
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus is disclosed for communicating control information between components of an audio/video system. Processing and control logic is implemented to transfer a plurality of data streams on predetermined channels of a digital video interface. A first data stream contains video data received by a video interface receiver, where it is used to generate an image on a digital display. A second data stream contains control data, which is similarly received by the video interface receiver, and is used to control source devices coupled to the digital display.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

data processing logic operable to process a first data stream of video data for a video display and a second data stream of control data for a plurality of peripheral devices;

a data transfer interface comprising a plurality of data channels, said interface operably coupled to a video display and a plurality of source devices; and

control logic operable to use a first subset of said plurality of data channels to transfer said first data stream and to use a second subset of said data channels to transfer said second data stream.

2. The information handling system according to claim 1, wherein said data interface comprises a DisplayPort interface.

3. The information handling system according to claim 2, wherein said control logic is operable to transfer said second data stream in accordance with the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) DisplayPort standard.

4. The information handling system according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of data channels comprises a DisplayPort auxiliary channel.

5. The information handling system according to claim 4, wherein said auxiliary channel is used to transfer said second data stream of control data.

6. The information handling system of claim 5, wherein said second data channel is operable to transfer said second data stream of control data in accordance with Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) monitor command control set (MCCS) parameters.

7. The information handling system of claim 6, wherein said control data is used to control the plurality of source devices.

8. A method of managing data transfer between an information handling system and a source device, comprising:

using data processing logic to process a first data stream of video data for a video display and a second data stream of control data for a plurality of source devices;

coupling a data transfer interface to said information handling system, said plurality of source devices and a video display, said interface comprising a plurality of data channels; and

using control logic to control a first subset of said plurality of data channels to transfer said first data stream and to control a second subset of said data channels to transfer said second data stream.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said data interface comprises a DisplayPort interface.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said control logic is operable to transfer said second data stream in accordance with the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) DisplayPort standard.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of data channels comprise a DisplayPort auxiliary channel.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said auxiliary channel is used to transfer said second data stream of control data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said second data channel is operable to transfer said second data stream of control data in accordance with Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) monitor command control set (MCCS) parameters.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said control data is used to control the plurality of source devices.

15. A system for managing data transfer between an information handling system and a source device, comprising:

a data transfer interface operable to be coupled to said information handling system, said plurality of source devices and a video display, said data transfer interface comprising a plurality of data channels; and

control logic operable to control a first subset of said plurality of data channels to transfer a first data stream and to control a second subset of said data channels to transfer a second data stream.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said data interface comprises a DisplayPort interface.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said control logic is operable to transfer said second data stream in accordance with the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) DisplayPort standard.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of data channels comprises a DisplayPort auxiliary channel.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said second data channel is operable to transfer said second data stream of control data in accordance with Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) monitor command control set (MCCS) parameters.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said control data is used to control the plurality of source devices.