Video presenting network supporting separately-configurable resources

• US 7,903,045 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• 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): Nguyen; Chanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALTHALL, ALLISON N
• Application Number:
  US10/925,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20050246329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,387 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/204, 345/3.4, 345/5, 345/520, 345/699, 710/8, 710/62, 710/14, 719/323, 719/327, 725/34, 725/53, 725/100, 725/131, 725/159, 725/151, 375/240.1
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• 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: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423

Abstract

Resources of a video presenting network having plural outputs can be configured. Provisional configuration functionality supports a transactional configuration approach. 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.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a provisional configuration for a first video resource in a video output configuration;

transmitting a description of the provisional configuration for the first video resource to a video driver;

receiving, in response to the transmitted description of the provisional configuration for the first video resource, an indication of one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configuration for the first video resource;

determining, based on the received indication of the one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configuration for the first video resource, a provisional configuration for a second video resource in the video output configuration;

transmitting a description of the provisional configuration for the second video resource to the video driver;

receiving, in response to the transmitted description of the provisional configuration for the second video resource, an indication of one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configurations for the first and second video resources; and

determining, based on the received indication of one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configurations for the first and second video resources, a provisional configuration for a third resource in the video output configuration,

wherein the first video resource comprises one of a video mode, a codec, and a render mode, wherein the second video resource comprises another of the video mode, the codec and the render mode, and wherein the third video resource comprises the remaining of the video mode, the codec and the render mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video resource comprises the video mode, and wherein determining the provisional configuration for the first video resource comprises enumerating a plurality of available video modes on at least one video output.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the provisional configuration for the first video resource further comprises selecting a first video mode and selecting a second video mode such that the first video mode is valid before and after selecting the second video mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video resource comprises the render mode, and wherein determining the provisional configuration for the first video resource comprises enumerating a plurality of available render modes on at least one render target.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the provisional configuration for the first video resource further comprises selecting a first render mode and selecting a second render mode such that the first render mode is valid before and after selecting the second render mode.

6. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

determining a provisional configuration for a first video resource in a video output configuration;

transmitting a description of the provisional configuration for the first video resource to a video driver;

receiving, in response to the transmitted description of the provisional configuration for the first video resource, an indication of one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configuration for the first video resource;

determining, based on the received indication of the one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configuration for the first video resource, a provisional configuration for a second video resource in the video output configuration;

transmitting a description of the provisional configuration for the second video resource to the video driver;

receiving, in response to the transmitted description of the provisional configuration for the second video resource, an indication of one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configurations for the first and second video resources; and

determining, based on the received indication of one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configurations for the first and second video resources, a provisional configuration for a third resource in the video output configuration,

wherein the first video resource comprises one of a video mode, a codec, and a render mode, wherein the second video resource comprises another of the video mode, the codec and the render mode, and wherein the third video resource comprises the remaining of the video mode, the codec and the render mode.

7. A method of configuring a configurable video presenting network comprising a plurality of video outputs, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a configuration of a video input of the video presenting network;

determining one or more video output configurations compatible with the indicated configuration of the video input;

transmitting an indication of the determined one or more video output configurations;

separately from receiving the indication of the configuration of the video input, receiving an indication of a configuration of a video output out of the determined one or more video output configurations;

determining one or more video codecs compatible with the indicated configuration of the video input and the received indicated configuration of the video output;

transmitting an indication of the determined one or more video codecs;

separately from receiving the indication of the configuration of the video input and separately from receiving the indication of the configuration of the video output, receiving an indication of one or more video codecs for simultaneous operation of first and second video paths of the video presenting network; and

configuring the video presenting network according to the received indication of the configuration of the video output, the indication of the configuration of the video input, and the indication of the one or more video codecs for simultaneous operation of the first and second video paths of the video presenting network.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the received indication of the configuration of the video output is received in a first device driver interface call; and

the indication of the configuration of the video input is received in a second device driver interface call.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the received indication of the configuration of the video output is received in a first call to a device driver; and

the indication of the configuration of the video input is received in a second call to the device driver.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the received indication of the configuration of the video output is sent by an operating system; and

the indication of the configuration of the video input is sent by the operating system.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein:

a device driver determines the one or more video output configurations compatible with the indicated configuration of the video input.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein:

at least one configuration option of the video presenting network is not compatible with the indicated configuration of the video input of the video presenting network.

13. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of configuring a configurable video presenting network comprising a plurality of video outputs, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a configuration of a video input of the video presenting network;

determining one or more video output configurations compatible with the indicated configuration of the video input;

transmitting an indication of the determined one or more video output configurations;

separately from receiving the indication of the configuration of the video input, receiving an indication of a configuration of a video output out of the determined one or more video output configurations;

determining one or more video codecs compatible with the indicated configuration of the video input and the received indicated configuration of the video output;

transmitting an indication of the determined one or more video codecs;

separately from receiving the indication of the configuration of the video input and separately from receiving the indication of the configuration of the video output, receiving an indication of one or more video codecs for simultaneous operation of first and second video paths of the video presenting network; and

configuring the video presenting network according to the received indication of the configuration of the video output, the indication of the configuration of the video input, and the indication of the one or more video codecs for simultaneous operation of the first and second video paths of the video presenting network.

14. One or more computer-readable storage media having instructions configurable for causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

querying a video driver for a video output configuration that supports a plurality of video modes on at least one video output in the video output configuration;

provisionally configuring one of the plurality of video modes on the at least one video output in the video output configuration;

provisionally configuring one of a plurality of video-input-to-output converters in the video output configuration; and

provisionally configuring one of a plurality of render modes on a first render target and a second render target in the video output configuration, wherein provisionally configuring one of the plurality of render modes comprises;

enumerating a plurality of render modes on the first render target for display on a first display device;

enumerating a plurality of render modes on the second render target for display on a second display device;

determining that the first render target is a most important render target;

based on the determination, selecting one of the plurality of render modes on the first render target;

selecting one of the plurality of render modes on the second render target;

identifying, based on the selected one of the plurality of render modes on the first render target, the selected one of the plurality of render modes on the second render target as an invalid render mode; and

selecting another one of the plurality of render modes on the second render target, wherein the selected another one of the plurality of render modes on the second render target is different from the selected one of the plurality of render modes on the first render target.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein provisionally configuring one of the plurality of video-input-to-output converters in the video output configuration comprises selecting at least one codec based on a power consumption goal.

16. At least one computing device programmed to carry out a method, the method comprising:

determining a provisional configuration for a first video resource in a video output configuration;

transmitting a description of the provisional configuration for the first video resource to a video driver;

receiving, in response to the transmitted description of the provisional configuration for the first video resource, an indication of one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configuration for the first video resource;

determining, based on the received indication of the one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configuration for the first video resource, a provisional configuration for a second video resource in the video output configuration;

transmitting a description of the provisional configuration for the second video resource to the video driver;

receiving, in response to the transmitted description of the provisional configuration for the second video resource, an indication of one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configurations for the first and second video resources; and

determining, based on the received indication of one or more video resources co-functional with the provisional configurations for the first and second video resources, a provisional configuration for a third resource in the video output configuration,

wherein the first video resource comprises one of a video mode, a codec, and a render mode, wherein the second video resource comprises another of the video mode, the codec and the render mode, and wherein the third video resource comprises the remaining of the video mode, the codec and the render mode.

17. At least one computing device programmed to carry out a method, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a configuration of a video input of the video presenting network;

determining one or more video output configurations compatible with the indicated configuration of the video input;

transmitting an indication of the determined one or more video output configurations;

separately from receiving the indication of the configuration of the video input, receiving an indication of a configuration of a video output out of the determined one or more video output configurations;

determining one or more video codecs compatible with the indicated configuration of the video input and the received indicated configuration of the video output;

transmitting an indication of the determined one or more video codecs;

separately from receiving the indication of the configuration of the video input and separately from receiving the indication of the configuration of the video output, receiving an indication of one or more video codecs for simultaneous operation of first and second video paths of the video presenting network; and

configuring the video presenting network according to the received indication of the configuration of the video output, the indication of the configuration of the video input, and the indication of the one or more video codecs for simultaneous operation of the first and second video paths of the video presenting network.

18. At least one computing device programmed to carry out a method, the method comprising:

querying a video driver for a video output configuration that supports a plurality of video modes on at least one video output in the video output configuration;

provisionally configuring one of the plurality of video modes on the at least one video output in the video output configuration;

provisionally configuring one of a plurality of video-input-to-output converters in the video output configuration; and

provisionally configuring one of a plurality of render modes on a first render target and a second render target in the video output configuration, wherein provisionally configuring one of the plurality of render modes comprises;

enumerating a plurality of render modes on the first render target for display on a first display device;

enumerating a plurality of render modes on the second render target for display on a second display device;

determining that the first render target is a most important render target;

based on the determination, selecting one of the plurality of render modes on the first render target;

selecting one of the plurality of render modes on the second render target;

identifying, based on the selected one of the plurality of render modes on the first render target, the selected one of the plurality of render modes on the second render target as an invalid render mode; and

selecting another one of the plurality of render modes on the second render target, wherein the selected another one of the plurality of render modes on the second render target is different from the selected one of the plurality of render modes on the first render target.