Display source divider

• US 7,098,868 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Love, Michael G., Coffin, Louis F. III, Tardif, John Allen, Scheuer, Jack A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US10/409,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20040201544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/2.1, 345 4- 6, 382/284, 382/294
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay

Abstract

In an implementation of a display source divider, a video generation system generates a video display source that includes display data for multiple display regions on a display device. For example, a gaming system generates a video display source that includes display data for a partitioned display, where each region of the partitioned display corresponds to a different player of the gaming system. A display source divider receives the video display source and generates multiple video streams each corresponding to a different display region of the partitioned display.

Claims

1. A multi-display system, comprising:

a video generation system configured to generate a video display source that includes display data for multiple display regions of a partitioned display;

a multi-display output divider configured to receive the video display source and generate multiple video streams each corresponding to a different one of the multiple display regions;

a display source divider configured to replicate the video display source to generate the multiple video streams; and

display region processors each configured to shift timing synchronization for a different one of the multiple display regions such that a display region is re-positioned for display, the display region processors each further configured to obscure pixel data of all but a designated one of the multiple display regions.

2. A multi-display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the video generation system is a gaming system configured to generate the video display source that includes the display data for multiple players of the gaming system.

3. A multi-display system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the video generation system is a gaming system configured to generate the video display source that includes the display data for multiple players of the gaming system; and

the multi-display output divider is an audio-visual component of the gaming system.

4. A multi-display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-display output divider is further configured to receive the video display source as analog video data, and wherein the multi-display output divider includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the analog video data to digital video data.

5. A multi-display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-display output divider is further configured to receive the video display source as analog video data, and wherein the multi-display output divider includes:

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the analog video data to digital video data; and

multiple digital-to-analog converters each configured to convert a different one of the multiple video streams to analog video data.

6. A multi-display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-display output divider includes the display source divider and the display region processors.

7. A multi-display system as recited in claim 1, wherein a display region processor corresponding to a designated display region is further configured to shift horizontal timing synchronization and vertical timing synchronization for the designated display region such that the designated display region is re-positioned horizontally and vertically for display.

8. A multi-display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display source divider is further configured to:

horizontally resample the video display source to generate display region data that corresponds to at least one of the multiple display regions being re-sized horizontally;

vertically resample the display region data such that the at least one display region is re-sized vertically; and

generate timing synchronization data such that the at least one display region is positioned for full-screen display.

9. A multi-display system as recited in claim 1, further comprising multiple display devices each configured to receive a different one of the multiple video streams and further configured to display a different one of the multiple display regions.

10. A gaming system comprising the multi-display system as recited in claim 1.

11. A multi-display output divider, comprising:

a display source divider configured to receive a video display source that includes display data for a partitioned display, the display source divider further configured to generate multiple video streams each corresponding to a different display region of the partitioned display;

display region processors each configured to shift timing synchronization for a different display region such that each display region is repositioned for display on a respective display device, the display region processors each further configured to obscure pixel data of all but a designated one of the different display regions; and

multiple digital-to-analog converters each configured to convert a different one of the multiple video streams to analog video data such that each display region is configured for display on a separate display device.

12. A multi-display output divider as recited in claim 11, wherein the display source divider is further configured to receive the video display source from a gaming system that generates the display data for the partitioned display for multiple players of the gaming system.

13. A multi-display output divider as recited in claim 11, wherein the display source divider includes a display source replicator configured to replicate the video display source to generate the multiple video streams.

14. A multi-display output divider as recited in claim 11, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert an analog video display source to a digital video display source.

15. A multi-display output divider as recited in claim 11, wherein the display source divider includes the display region processors.

16. A multi-display output divider as recited in claim 11, wherein a display region processor corresponding to the designated display region is further configured to shift horizontal timing synchronization and vertical timing synchronization for the designated display region such that the designated display region is re-positioned for display on a respective display device.

17. A multi-display output divider as recited in claim 11, wherein the display source divider includes:

a horizontal resampler configured to horizontally resample the video display source to generate display region data that corresponds to at least one of the different display regions being re-sized horizontally;

a vertical resampler configured to vertically resample the display region data such that the at least one display region is re-sized vertically; and

multiple display region timing generators each configured to generate liming synchronization data for a different one of the display regions such that a display region is positioned for fall-screen display on a respective display device.

18. A gaming system comprising the multi-display output divider as recited in claim 11.

19. A display source divider, comprising:

a display source replicator configured to receive display data for multiple display regions on a display device, the display source replicator being further configured to replicate the display data to generate multiple video streams each corresponding to a different one of the multiple display regions; and

multiple display region processors each configured to shift timing synchronization for a different display region such that each display region is re-positioned for display on a respective display device, the multiple display region processors each further configured to obscure pixel data of all but a designated one of the multiple display regions.

20. A display source divider as recited in claim 19, wherein the multiple display region processors are each further configured to shift horizontal timing synchronization and vertical timing synchronization for a different display region.

21. A display source divider as recited in claim 19, wherein the multiple display region processors are each further configured to shift horizontal timing synchronization and vertical timing synchronization for the designated display region such that the designated display region is re-positioned for display.

22. A display source divider as recited in claim 19, wherein the multiple display region processors are each further configured to receive a selection control input that designates which of the multiple display regions is associated with a particular display region processor.

23. A gaming system comprising the display source divider as recited in claim 19.

24. A display source divider, comprising:

a horizontal resampler configured to receive display data in a high definition format for multiple display regions on a display device, the horizontal resampler further configured to horizontally resample the display data to generate display region data for a standard definition format and that corresponds to at least one of the multiple display regions being re-sized horizontally;

a vertical resampler configured to vertically resample the display region data for the standard definition format and such that the at least one display region is re-sized vertically; and

multiple display region timing generators each configured to generate timing synchronization data for a different one of the display regions such that a display region is positioned for frill-screen display on a respective display device.

25. A display source divider as recited in claim 24, wherein:

the horizontal resampler is further configured to generate additional display region data corresponding to a second display region for a high definition format; and

the vertical resampler is further configured to resample the additional display region data for the high definition format.

26. A display source divider as recited in claim 24, wherein the multiple display region timing generators are each further configured to receive a selection control input that designates which of the multiple display regions is associated with a particular display region timing generator.

27. A gaming system comprising the display source divider as recited in claim 24.

28. A method, comprising:

receiving a video display source that includes display data for multiple display regions of a partitioned display;

extracting timing synchronization data from the video display source for each of the multiple display regions;

generating multiple video streams each corresponding to a different one of the multiple display regions such that each display region is configured for display on a separate display device;

obscuring pixel data of all but a designated one of the multiple display regions; and

shifting timing synchronization for the designated display region such that the designated display region is re-positioned for display.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein receiving includes receiving the video display source from a gaming system that generates the display data for multiple players of the gaming system.

30. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising converting the video display source to digital video data in an event that the video display source is received as analog video data.

31. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising converting each of the multiple video streams to analog video data such that each of the multiple display regions is configured for display on a separate display device.

32. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein generating the multiple video streams includes replicating the video display source.

33. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising shifting timing synchronization for each of the multiple display regions such that a display region is re-positioned for display.

34. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising shifting horizontal timing synchronization and vertical timing synchronization for the designated display region such that the designated display region is re-positioned horizontally and vertically for display.

35. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein generating the multiple video streams includes:

horizontally resampling the video display source to generate display region data that corresponds to at least one of the multiple display regions being re-sized horizontally; and

vertically resampling the display region data such that the at least one display region is re-sized vertically.

36. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein generating the multiple video streams includes:

horizontally resampling the video display source to generate display region data that corresponds to at least one of the multiple display regions being re-sized horizontally;

vertically resampling the display region data such that the at least one display region is re-sized vertically; and

generating timing synchronization data such that the at least one display region is positioned for full-screen display.

37. A method, comprising:

receiving a video display source that includes display data for multiple display regions on a display device;

extracting timing synchronization data from the video display source for each of the multiple display regions;

replicating the video display source to generate multiple video streams each corresponding to a different one of the multiple display regions;

obscuring pixel data of all but a designated one of the multiple display regions; and

shifting timing synchronization for the designated display region such that the designated display region is re-positioned for display.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising shifting timing synchronization for each of the multiple display regions such that a display region is re-positioned for display.

39. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising shifting horizontal timing synchronization and vertical timing synchronization for the designated display region such that the designated display region is re-positioned horizontally and vertically for display.

40. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a display source divider to perform the method of claim 37.

41. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a display source divider to:

receive a video display source that includes display data for multiple display regions of a partitioned display;

extract timing synchronization data from the video display source for each of the multiple display regions;

generate multiple video streams each corresponding to a different one of the multiple display regions such that each display region is configured for display on a separate display device;

obscure pixel data of all but a designated one of the multiple display regions; and

shift timing synchronization for the designated display region such that the designated display region is re-positioned for display.

42. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 41, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the display source divider to convert the video display source to digital video data in an event that the video display source is received as analog video data.

43. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 41, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the display source divider to convert each of the multiple video streams to analog video data such that each of the multiple display regions is configured for display on a separate display device.

44. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 41, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the display source divider to replicate the video display source to generate the multiple video streams.

45. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 41, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the display source divider to shift horizontal timing synchronization and vertical timing synchronization for the designated display region such that the designated display region is re-positioned horizontally and vertically for display.

46. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 41, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the display source divider to:

horizontally resample the video display source to generate display region data that corresponds to one or more of the multiple display regions being re-sized horizontally; and

vertically resample the display region data such that the one or more display regions are re-sized vertically.

47. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 41, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the display source divider to:

horizontally resample the video display source to generate display region data that corresponds to one or more of the multiple display regions being re-sized horizontally;

vertically resample the display region data such that the one or more display regions are re-sized vertically; and

generate liming synchronization data such that the one or more display regions are positioned for full-screen display.