Configuration goals via video presenting network

• US 7,679,612 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Milirud, Michael, Andrews, Marcus J., Langley, Bryan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia; Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US10/925,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 345 11- 13, 345 31- 33, 345/5, 345/100, 345/204, 345/474, 345/501, 345/520, 345/545, 345/581, 345/589, 345/735, 345/690, 709/204, 709/250, 709/231, 709/233, 709/220, 709/222, 709/241, 709/244, 709/238, 382/241, 715/700, 715/848, 715/839, 726/2, 726/24, 726/29, 725/118, 725/119, 725/96, 725/126, 725/109, 370/254, 710/1, 710/63, 710/19
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

Resources of a video presenting network having plural outputs can be configured. A provisional configuration can be supported. Configuration of inputs can be performed separately from configuration of outputs. Interdependencies between network resources can be considered to restrict provided options to those co-functional with a provisional configuration. Responsibility for considering interdependencies can be delegated to a video driver, such as a video miniport. A client can use a variety of approaches to find a desired configuration. A variety of configuration goals (e.g., optimal configurations) can be achieved in light of the interdependencies.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of determining a topology for a video presenting network, the method comprising:

starting with an initial topology;

selecting a first video resource;

determining if one or more other video resources are unavailable as a result of selecting the first video resource;

as a result of determining that the one or more other video resources are unavailable as a result of selecting the first video resource, determining that the first video resource has a higher priority than the initial topology; and

as a result of determining that the first video resource has the higher priority and based on a goal stated in terms of video modes supported by monitors, modifying the initial topology to better meet the goal.

2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises generating a provisional functional configuration better meeting the goal.

3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the modifying accounts for interdependencies among resources of the video presenting network.

4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the goal comprises a best way to route video present targets to video present sources in the video presenting network through available video output codecs to maximize supported graphics video present source mode sets on video present sources, given that video mode sets on the video present targets must support preferred modes on video display devices connected to them.

5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the goal comprises a best way to route video present targets to video present sources in the video presenting network through available video output codecs to maximize supported graphics video present source mode sets on video present sources, given that video mode sets on the video present targets must support preferred modes on video display devices connected to them in a specified prioritization ordering.

6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the goal comprises a best way to route video present targets to video present sources in the video presenting network through available video output codecs to maximize supported graphics video present source mode sets on video present sources, given that video mode sets on the video present targets must support at least one video mode supported by video display devices connected to them.

7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein modifying the initial topology comprises enumerating a plurality of video modes available to a plurality of video outputs.

8. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein modifying the initial topology comprises pinning at least one of a plurality of video modes on at least one of a plurality of video outputs.

9. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein modifying the initial topology comprises enumerating a plurality of rendering modes available to a plurality of render targets.

10. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein modifying the initial topology comprises pinning at least one of a plurality of rendering modes on one of a plurality of render targets.

11. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein modifying the initial topology comprises unpinning at least one of a plurality of rendering modes pinned on one of a plurality of render targets.

12. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein modifying the initial topology further comprises pinning an other of the plurality of rendering modes on the one of the plurality of render targets.

13. A method of determining a video configuration satisfying a prioritized list of desired video configuration options, the method comprising:

based on the prioritized list, submitting a partial video configuration for at least a first resource associated with a first video path for a first display device coupled to a computer system;

receiving a list of configuration options co-functional with the partial video configuration and co-functional with at least a second video path for a second display device coupled to the computer system, wherein the configuration options are co-functional with the partial video configuration and co-functional with at least the second video path based on interdependencies between video system components used by the first video path and video system components used by at least the second video path;

determining whether a desired option in the prioritized list is present in the list of configuration options co-functional with the partial video configuration and co-functional with at least the second video path; and

responsive to determining the desired option is not present, storing a modified partial configuration for the first resource in one or more computer-readable storage media.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the video configuration indicates configuration of a video presenting network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the list indicates desired configuration options for the video presenting network.

16. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 13.

17. In one or more computer-readable media, a video rendering device driver comprising:

instructions configurable to cause a computer to obtain a first provisional configuration for a video presenting network configuration, the first provisional configuration describing a plurality of video outputs, a plurality of render targets, and at least a first video output to render target association; and

instructions configurable to cause the computer to replace the first provisional configuration for the video presenting network configuration with a second provisional configuration for the video presenting network configuration, the second provisional configuration describing second and third video output to render target associations, wherein the second video output to render target association was selected at least in part for its co-functionality with at least the third video output to render target association.

18. The video rendering device driver of claim 17, further comprising instructions configurable to cause the computer to dispose of the first provisional configuration for the video presenting network configuration.

19. The video rendering device driver of claim 17, wherein the instructions configurable to cause the computer to replace the first provisional configuration for the video presenting network configuration comprise instructions configurable to cause the computer to set video mode constraints on each of a plurality of enumerated video outputs.

20. The video rendering device driver of claim 17, wherein the instructions configurable to cause the computer to replace the first provisional configuration for the video presenting network configuration comprise instructions configurable to cause the computer to create the second provisional configuration for the video presenting network configuration.

21. One or more computer-readable media comprising instructions configured to cause a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a configuration for a first display device, wherein the configuration comprises a first video input indicated as being routed to a first video output of the computer through a first codec, the first display device being connected to the first video output;

receiving a configuration for a second display device, wherein the configuration comprises a second video input indicated as being routed to a second video output of the computer through a second codec, the second display device being connected to the second video output;

determining whether the configuration for the second display device is co-functional with the configuration for the first display device based on possible video modes that the first codec and the second codec can drive and possible video mode set distributions across the first and second video outputs; and

as a result of determining that the configuration for the second display device is not co-functional with the configuration for the first display device, modifying the request for the configuration of the second display device such that the configuration for the first display device is compatible with the configuration for the second display device.