Video input selection for information handling system

• US 6,591,314 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Colbath, Mark Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Rijue
• Application Number:
  US09/385,979
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/5, 710/8, 710/15, 710/20, 710/36, 710/38, 710/62, 710/64, 710/73, 710/131, 710/2, 710/11, 710/12, 710/17, 710/18, 710/41, 381/85, 712/225, 348/705, 348/706
• US Class Current: 710/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for automatically selecting an input device from a plurality of input devices coupled to an information handling system via a plurality of inputs, each corresponding to one of the plurality of inputs are disclosed. The plurality of inputs are scanned by a signal detector for the presence of a signal provided by one of the input devices to determine whether a signal is present on one of the inputs provided by the corresponding input device. When a signal is detected, the automatic video multiplexer selects the input on which a signal is detected according to a predefined hierarchy such that the information handling system receives the input signal provided by the corresponding input device. If a signal from a new input device is detected, the input corresponding to the new input device is selected, and the input device is configured to operate in conjunction with the information handling system.

Claims

1. A method for automatically selecting an input device from a plurality of input devices coupled to an information handling system via a plurality of inputs, each corresponding to one of the plurality of input devices, comprising:

scaning the plurality of inputs for the presence of a signal provided by one of the plurality of input devices;

determining whether a signal is present on one of the plurality of inputs provided by a corresponding one of the plurality of input devices by detecting the signal;

in the event a signal is detected on one of the plurality of inputs, selecting the one of the plurality of inputs on which a signal is present such that the information handling system processes the input signal provided by the corresponding one of the plurality of input devices for presentation; and

determining whether the input device corresponding to the one of the plurality of inputs on which a signal is detected is a new device, and, in the event the input device is determined to be a new device, selecting the one of the plurality of inputs such that the information handling system processes the signal provided by the new device and setting up the new device to operate in conjunction with the information handling system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of determining whether all of the inputs have been scanned, and in the event all of the inputs have not been scanned, repeating said scanning step.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of, in the event a signal is detected on multiple ones of the plurality of inputs, noting each one of the multiple ones of the plurality of inputs on which a signal is detected, and selecting one of the noted inputs such that the information handling system processes the input signal from the input device corresponding to the noted input.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of assigning a hierarchy to the plurality of input devices, and scanning the plurality of inputs in an order corresponding to the hierarchy of the input devices.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of, assigning a hierarchy to the plurality of input devices, and, in the event a signal is detected on multiple ones of the plurality of inputs, noting each one of the multiple ones of the plurality of inputs on which a signal is detected, and selecting one of the noted inputs such that the information handling system processes the input signal from the input device corresponding to the noted input, said selecting being based upon the hierarchy of the plurality of input devices.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, at least one of said plurality of input devices being a video device providing a video signal to the information handling system.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, at least one of said plurality of input devices being a video device providing a video signal to the information handling system, said information handing system driving a display coupled to the information handing system such that information representative of the video signal is displayed via the display.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, at least one of said plurality of input devices being an audio device providing an audio signal to the information handling system.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, at least one of said plurality of input devices being an audio device providing an audio signal to the information handling system, said information handing system driving an audio system coupled to the information handing system such that information representative of the audio signal is produced by the audio system.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, at least one of said plurality of input devices being a data device providing a data signal to the information handling system.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, at least one of said plurality of input devices being a data device providing a data signal to the information handling system, said information handing system driving a data processing system coupled to the information handing system such that information representative of the data signal is processed by the data processing system.

12. A program of instruction storable on a medium readable by an information handling system for causing an information handling system to execute steps for automatically selecting an input device from a plurality of input devices coupled to an information handling system via a plurality of inputs, each corresponding to one of the plurality of input devices, comprising:

scanning the plurality of inputs for the presence of a signal provided by one of the plurality of input devices;

determining whether a signal is present on one of the plurality of inputs provided by a corresponding one of the plurality of input devices by detecting the signal;

in the event a signal is detected on one of the plurality of inputs, selecting the one of the plurality of inputs on which a signal is present such that the information handling system processes the input signal provided by the corresponding one of the plurality of input devices for presentation; and

determining whether the input device corresponding to the one of the plurality of inputs on which a signal is detected is a new device, and, in the event the input device is determined to be a new device, selecting the one of the plurality of inputs such that the information handling system processes the signal provided by the new device and setting up the new device to operate in conjunction with the information handling system.

13. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claim 12, the steps further comprising the steps of determining whether all of the inputs have been scanned, and in the event all of the inputs have not been scanned, repeating said scanning step.

14. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claim 12, the steps further comprising the steps of, in the event a signal is detected on multiple ones of the plurality of inputs, noting each one of the multiple ones of the plurality of inputs on which a signal is detected, and selecting one of the noted inputs such that the information handling system processes the input signal from the input device corresponding to the noted input.

15. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claim 12, the steps further comprising the steps of assigning a hierarchy to the plurality of input devices, and scanning the plurality of inputs in an order corresponding to the hierarchy of the input devices.

16. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claim 12, the steps further comprising the steps of, assigning a hierarchy to the plurality of input devices, and, in the event a signal is detected on multiple ones of the plurality of inputs, noting each one of the multiple ones of the plurality of inputs on which a signal is detected, and selecting one of the noted inputs such that the information handling system processes the input signal from the input device corresponding to the noted input, said selecting being based upon the hierarchy of the plurality of input devices.

17. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claim 12, at least one of said plurality of input devices being a video device providing a video signal to the information handling system.

18. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claim 12, at least one of said plurality of input devices being a video device providing a video signal to the information handling system, said information handing system driving a display coupled to the information handing system such that information representative of the video signal is displayed via the display.

19. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claim 12, at least one of said plurality of input devices being an audio device providing an audio signal to the information handling system.

20. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claim 12, at least one of said plurality of input devices being an audio device providing an audio signal to the information handling system, said information handing system driving an audio system coupled to the information handing system such that information representative of the audio signal is produced by the audio system.

21. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claim 12, at least one of said plurality of input devices being a data device providing a data signal to the information handling system.

22. The program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system as claimed in claims 12, at least one of said plurality of input devices being a data device providing a data signal to the information handling system, said information handing system driving a data processing system coupled to the information handing system such that information representative of the data signal is processed by the data processing system.

23. In an information handling system, an apparatus for automatically selecting an input device from a plurality of input devices coupled to an information handling system via a plurality of inputs, each corresponding to one of the plurality of input devices, comprising:

means for executing a program of instructions on the information handling system;

means, coupled to said executing means, for storing the program of instructions executed by said executing means;

means coupled to the information handling system for selectively coupling any one of the plurality of input devices to the information handling system by selecting any one of the corresponding plurality of inputs;

means, coupled to said selectively coupling means, for detecting a signal present on the selected one of the corresponding plurality of inputs such that said selectively coupling means is capable of selecting the selected one of the corresponding plurality of inputs on which the detected signal is present; and

means for determining whether the input device corresponding to the one of the plurality of inputs on which a signal is detected is a new device, and, based on the input device being determined to be a new device, instructing said selectively coupling means to selectively couple the new device such that the information handling system processes the signal provided by the new device and sets up the new device to operate in conjunction with the information handling system.