System, module and method of enabling a video interface within a limited resource enabled information handling system

• US 8,134,565 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Utz, James R., Sultenfuss, Andrew T., Loadman, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US12/189,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20100033629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/520
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57

Abstract

A system, module, and method of enabling a video interface within a limited resource enabled information handling system are disclosed. In a particular form, a processing module can include a processor configured to initiate an outputting of a video signal to a host processing system including a video display. The processing module can further include a Mini-card enabled interface operable to be coupled to the host processing system to the host processing system to allow the video signal to be transmitted there between. The processing module can also include a video output channel configured within the Mini-card enabled interface and accessible to the processor to output the video signal to the host processing system.

Claims

1. A processing module comprising:

a processor configured to initiate an outputting of a video signal to a host processing system including a video display;

a Mini-card enabled interface operable to be coupled to the host processing system to allow the video signal to be transmitted there between;

a video output channel configured within the Mini-card enabled interface and accessible to the processor to output the video signal to the host processing system;

a video multiplexer configured to couple the video output channel to the display of the system, wherein the video multiplexer is integrated within a housing configured to house the Mini-card enabled processor and the processor; and

a Mini-card enabled processor configured to be coupled to the Mini-card enabled interface.

2. The processing module of claim 1, wherein:

the video multiplexer is further configured to detect a class of video output by the video output channel; and

the video multiplexer is further configured to access a display resource of the host processing system in response to a detected class of video.

3. The processing module of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to process video data to output to the video multiplexer.

4. The processing module of claim 1, wherein the Mini-card enabled interface further includes a video input interface configured to receive an input video signal from the host processing system.

5. The processing module of claim 1, further comprising:

a Mini-card enabled processor configured to be accessed by the host processor during a run time of the host processor; and

the Mini-card enabled processor configured to be accessed by the processor during a reduced operating state of the host processing system.

6. The processing module of claim 1, further comprising the video multiplexer configured to output a first video output signal to drive a first display and a second video output signal to drive a second display.

7. The processing module of claim 6, wherein:

wherein the first display includes a primary display of the host processing system; and

wherein the second display includes a secondary display of the host processing system.

8. A method comprising:

detecting an operating condition of a host processing system;

detecting a video output event of a Mini-card enabled processing module; and

outputting a video output signal from the Mini-card enabled processing module to a video multiplexer integrated within a housing configured to house the Mini-card enabled processing module, the multiplexer being configured to output video using a display of the host processing system.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting a video class of the video output signal at the video multiplexer; and

determining a display resource of the host processing system to output the video output signal.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting a reduced operating state of the host processing system;

determining whether to enable a particular resource of the host processing system to output the video output signal;

enabling the particular resource of the host processing system; and

outputting the video output signal from the Mini-card enabled module to the video multiplexer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a first video output including a first video class output by the Mini-card enabled processing module using the video multiplexer; and

detecting a second video output including a second video class output by a resource other than the Mini-card enabled processing module at the video multiplexer, wherein the second video class is different than the first video class.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

outputting the first video output from the video multiplexer to a first display of the host processing system; and

outputting the second video output from the video multiplexer to a second display of the host processing system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting an event operable to enable access to the Mini-card enabled module; and

enabling a video output channel of the Mini-card enable module.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

wherein the event is detected by the host processing system;

disabling a portion of the resources of the host processing system in response to the detected event; and

enabling a second portion of the resources of the host processing system.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting a class of video using the multiplexer;

multiplexing the video output signal with a host video output signal to generate a multiplexed video output signal; and

outputting the multiplexed video output signal to the display of the host processing system.

16. An information handling system comprising:

a host processor configured to output video at a display; and

a processing module operably coupled to the host processor, the processing module including;

a local processor configured to initiate an output of a video signal to the display;

a Mini-card enabled interface operable to output the video signal;

a video output channel configured within the Mini-card enabled interface and accessible to the local processor to output the video signal; and

a video multiplexer integrated within a housing and configured to house the Mini-card enabled interface and the local processor.

17. The information handling system of claim 16, wherein the a video multiplexer is configured to multiplex the video signal of the video output channel with a host video signal.

18. The information handling system of claim 17, further comprising:

a wireless enabled Mini-card module coupled to the Mini-card enabled interface;

wherein the video multiplexer is configured to output the video signal during a reduced operating state of the host processor; and

wherein the video multiplexer is configured to output a second video signal to the display during a non-reduced operating state of the host processor, wherein the second video signal is different from the first video signal.

19. The information handling system of claim 16, wherein the video multiplexer is further configured to detect a class of video output by the video output channel, and to access a display resource of the host processor in response to a detected class of video.

20. The information handling system of claim 16, wherein the Mini-card enabled interface further includes a video input interface configured to receive an input video signal from the host processing system.