Information output system

• US 20020147879A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mondis Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Mondis Technology Limited
• Inventors: Arai, Ikuya, Kitou, Kouji
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/153 using cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/167 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a CRT details suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/006, specific for a flat panel G09G3/2096
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/042 for monitor identification

Abstract

A display unit having a communication control circuit for communicating with an externally connected computer, wherein said communication control circuit including comparing means for comparing a first identification information which is previously stored in the display unit, and a second identification information which is previously stored in the computer and is sent from the computer. A communication permission means for enabling display control by the computer and permitting communication between said computer and the display unit with respect to display control of the display unit, when the first and second identification information match as a result of the comparison by the comparing means.

Claims

1. A display unit having a communication control circuit for communicating with an externally connected computer, wherein said communication control circuit comprises:

comparing means for comparing a first identification information which is previously stored in said display unit, and a second identification information which is previously stored in said computer and is sent from said computer; and

a communication permission means for enabling display control by said computer and permitting communication between said computer and said display unit with respect to display control of said display unit, when said first and second identification information match as a result of the comparison by said comparing means.

2. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said first identification information is stored in a memory in said display unit.

3. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said first and second identification information include an identification number.

4. A display unit having a communication control circuit for communicating with an externally connected computer, wherein said communication control circuit comprises:

comparing means for comparing a first identification information which is previously stored in said display unit, and a second identification information which is previously stored in said computer and is sent from said computer; and

a reception permission means for enabling control of a display size/position of said display unit by said computer and permitting reception of a control command from said computer for controlling at least the display size/position of said display unit, when said first and second identification information match as a result of the comparison by said comparing means.

5. A display unit according to claim 4, wherein said control command further includes information for controlling a display brightness/contrast.

6. A display unit according to claim 4, wherein said control command is generated within said computer, based upon a command inputted from an input means connected to said computer.

7. A display unit according to claim 6, wherein said input means is a keyboard.

8. A display unit according to claim 4, wherein said first identification information is stored in a memory in said display unit.

9. A display unit according to claim 4, wherein said first and second identification information include an identification number.

10. A display unit for displaying an image based upon a digital image information signal, inputting said digital image information signal from an externally connected computer, comprising:

comparing means for comparing a first identification information which is previously stored in said display unit, and a second identification information which is previously stored in said computer and is sent from said computer; and

a communication permission means for enabling display control by said computer and permitting communication between said computer and said display unit with respect to display control of said display unit, when said first and second identification information match as a result of the comparison by said comparing means.

11. A display unit according to claim 10, wherein said digital image information signal is inputted to said display unit through a transmission cable, and said second identification information is inputted to said display unit through said transmission cable.

12. A display unit according to claim 10, wherein said first and second identification information include an identification number.

14. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein said digital image information signal is inputted to said display unit through transmission cable, and said second identification information is inputted to said display unit through said transmission cable.

15. A display unit according to claim 13, wherein said first and second identification information include an identification number.

17. A display unit according to claim 16, wherein said identification number is recognized by said computer when communication with said computer starts.

19. A display unit according to claim 18, wherein said identification number is recognized by said computer when communication with said computer starts.

13. A display unit for displaying an image based upon a digital image information signal, inputting said digital image information signal from an externally connected computer, comprising:

comparing means for comparing a first identification information which is previously stored in said display unit, and a second identification information which is previously stored in said computer and is sent from said computer; and

a communication prohibition means for disabling control of said memory means by said computer and prohibiting communication between said computer and said memory means of said display unit, when said first and second identification information do not match as a result of the comparison by said comparing means.

16. A display unit for displaying an image based upon an image signal inputted from an externally connected computer, comprising:

memory means for storing an identification number for making said computer recognize that said display unit is communicatable with said computer; and

a communication control means for sending said identification number stored in said memory means to said computer.

18. A display unit for displaying an image based upon an image signal inputted from an externally connected computer, comprising:

memory means for storing an identification number for making said computer recognize that said display unit is communicatable with said computer; and

a communication control means for sending said identification number stored in said memory means to said computer in response to power on of at least one said display unit and said computer.

20. A display unit for displaying an image based upon an image signal inputted from an externally connected computer, comprising:

a memory which stores an identification number for making said computer recognize that said display unit is communicatable with said computer; and

a communication controller connected to said memory which sends said identification number stored in said memory to said computer.

21. A display unit for displaying an image based upon an image signal inputted from an externally connected computer, comprising:

a memory which stores an identification number for making said computer recognize that said display unit is communicatable with said computer; and

a communication controller which sends said identification number stored in said memory to said computer in response to power on of at least one of said display unit and said computer.

22. A method of communicating between a display unit and a video source from which video signals are sent to the display unit for display, the method comprising the steps of:

communicating display unit information stored in a memory of the display unit from the display unit to the video source, wherein said display unit information includes an identification number for uniquely identifying the display unit; and

sending a signal from the video source to the display unit, wherein said signal is generated based on the display unit information.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the video source is a computer.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the video source is a computer.

26. A display unit according to claim 24, wherein the identifying information includes an identification number for uniquely identifying the display unit.

24. A method of communicating between a display unit and a video source from which video signals are sent to the display unit for display, the method comprising the steps of:

communicating display unit information stored in a memory of the display unit from the display unit to the video source, wherein said display unit information includes identifying information of the display unit; and

sending a signal from the video source to the display unit, wherein said signal is generated based on at least a portion of the display unit information.