Information processing apparatus and video signal output control method

• US 7,649,735 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwaki, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Hung V
• Application Number:
  US11/485,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.64, 370/465, 370/539, 429/13, 429/22, 361681-683, 361724-727, 455/411, 455/575.3, 712/217, 710/303, 250/370.09, 250/492.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A video signal output control method in an information processing apparatus which being to be locked to an external unit by a lock mechanism, the video signal output control method includes detecting the state of the lock mechanism, and stopping the output of the video signal to the external unit, when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body configured to be locked to an external unit by a lock mechanism;

a port provided on the body and configured to output a video signal to the external unit;

a display controller, provided in the body, that generates the video signal, and is configured to output the video signal to the port; and

a control section configured to stop outputting the video signal generated by the display controller from the port to the external unit, when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display controller is to output an encrypted video signal.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the encrypted video signal is a video signal encrypted according to the HDCP standard.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control section performs control in such a manner that a state where the video signal is output to the external unit is shifted to a state where the output of the video signal to the external unit is stopped, when the lock mechanism state is shifted from the locked state to the unlocked state.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video signal is supplied according to the DVI standard or HDMI standard.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body configured to be locked by a lock mechanism to an external unit that is configured to output a video signal to an external display unit with a decoder to decode based on an encryption key;

a display controller which is provided in the body and configured to generate a video signal encrypted based on the encryption key; and

a control section configured to output the video signal generated by the display controller to the external unit, when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the video signal is a video signal encrypted according to the HDCP standard.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control section controls in such a manner that a state where the video signal is output to the external unit is changed to a state where the output of the video signal to the external unit is stopped, when the lock mechanism state is shifted from the locked state to the unlocked state.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the video signal is supplied according to the DVI standard or HDMI standard.

10. A video signal output control method in an information processing apparatus configured to be locked to an external unit by a lock mechanism, the video signal output control method comprising:

detecting the state of the lock mechanism; and

stopping the output of the video signal to the external unit, when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state.

11. The video signal output control method according to claim 10, wherein the video signal is encrypted.

12. The video signal output control method according to claim 11, wherein the encrypted video signal is a video signal encrypted according to the HDCP standard.

13. The video signal output control method according to claim 10, wherein the video signal is supplied according to the DVI standard or HDMI standard.

14. The video signal output control method according to claim 10;

wherein a state where the video signal is output to the external unit is shifted to a state where the output of the video signal to the external unit is stopped, when the lock mechanism state is shifted from the locked state to the unlocked state.