Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
x CA 02353031 2001-07-18
METHOD FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION
ON MULTIPLE DISPLAY DEVICES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for displaying information on multiple
display devices.
io
2. Background
Video adapters (or "video cards") convert computer data to video signals for
output to a monitor or similar output device. A typical Video Graphics Array
is ("VGA") card has its own memory and digital-to-analog converter ("DAC"),
but does
not actually process data, which is performed by the computer's CPU, including
writing and reading of text, as well as drawing simple graphics primitives
such as
pixels, lines and memory transfers for images.
Programs such as DOS-based word processors run in VGA text mode while
2o graphics-based programs like games run in graphics mode. The operating
system sold
under the trademark Windows 3.1 by Microsoft Corp. runs in VGA graphics mode
as
default, meaning that every pixel that is displayed as a part of the
background, a
window, or a text character must be written using basic VGA calls. The low-
level
nature of the VGA command set die#ates that numerous commands be required to
do
25 something as simple as moving or closing a window. Clearly, an enormous
amount of
data is required to move from the VGA card, along the bus, into the CPU, and
on into
the card's memory, and vice-versa.
Accelerated video cards, however, have their own processor (or
"accelerator"). Thus, an accelerated card may perform many video operations
with
30 only minimal input from the CPU. Indeed, the accelerated video card can
perform all
of the operations usually performed by the CPU with a VGA card. This frees the
bus
and the CPU to execute other tasks, and speeds-up video operation. Unlike VGA
CA 02353031 2001-07-18
mode, where every pixel must be moved to and from the card via the bus and
CPU,
the accelerated card can perform the same operations with instructions
consisting of
only a few bytes being transferred along the bus. ?his results in an enormous
performance gain for most common graphics operations, including bitmap and
pixmap transfers and painting, movement of sprites and icons, opening and
closing of
windows, etc.
The increased performance of accelerated cards has permitted the introduction
of more advanced graphics features. For instance, certain advanced accelerated
cards
now feature television tuning capabilities. Television cards include a
television tuner
1o capable of receiving and tuning a video source from a cable or a video
cassette
recorder. The card then converts the incoming video source into a signal that
may be
displayed on a conventional computer monitor. Cards with television tuners
typically
have additional processing and memory requirements.
TeIevisiozl-tuning video cards have numerous real-world applications.
Medical personnel, for instance, may require video images together with
computerized data during surgery. Seismic technology experts must locate, use,
and
analyze video tape of areas along fault lines or experiencing minor seismic
activity.
In the business arena, securities and commodities brokers rely upon several
television
and computer screens to advise their clients.
2o As more video data becomes necessary, the need for additional screens
increases. The number of available screens, however, is limited by the number
of
available expansion slots within the computer. As more screens are needed,
additional
cards may be added. Most of today's computers include at least six expansion
slots
that may be used for additional monitors or for other peripherals.
Additionally, under
the current paradigm, each screen must typically be supported by its own CPU.
This
additional "footprint" requirement is an unwekorne encroachment on, for
example,
the desk or floor space of stockbrokers. It would be advantageous to support
multiple
displays from a single CPU.
Unfortunately, as a greater number of peripherals hit the market, the number
of
3o expansion slots appears to be dwindling. In other words, sound card
manufacturers,
zip drive makers, and CD-ROM drive makers are competing for the same finite
number of expansion slots within each computer. Moreover, differing bus
standards,
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CA 02353031 2001-07-18
such as PCI and ISA, further limit the number of expansion slots. Thus, a card
having
a PCI bus interface would be limited to the number of PCI bus expansion slots
in the
computer.
The addition of multiple graphics cards has the further disadvantage of
requiring the user to control each screen independently: If two cards are
provided by
different manufacturers, the software utilities for each card may not be
compatible.
Even if two cards from the same manufacturer are used, there is no guarantee
that the
software required to run both cards will run seamlessly and without error. The
user
rnay become confused when faced with numerous video inputs and outputs to
I0 manage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
. . Disclosed herein are hardware and software devices for displaying
video information across one or more screens. In addition, television tuning
capabilities permit the display of television signal on one or more display
devices.
The video adapter hardware of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention
includes two graphic user interface accelerators. Each accelerator is coupled
to an
independent memory unit and a shared memory unit. The adapter communicates
with
the computer's main CPU over the internal bus via a bus interface. A bus
bridge
2o handles data flow and concurrency issues between the two accelerators. The
adapter
further includes several video inputs. Two television tuners accept external
television
SlgnaIS from an outside source, such as a cable television company or a video
cassette
recorder. The television tuners tune the signal from the outside source and
pass the
data to a video multiplexers which routes the video source to one or both of
the
graphics accelerators via a video decoder. The adapter may further include an
audio
multiplexer/sound processor for processing audio data.
The graphics accelerators process data from the bus bridge and the video
decoders. The video data may then be sent to one or more computer monitors for
display. The accelerators send data to the monitors via a video monitor
interface.
3o Data may be displayed on one monitor, atone, or across several monitors.
Multiple
adapters may be used to add additional monitors.
_ 3
CA 02353031 2001-07-18
To facilitate the display of information across various display devices, a
preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes video adapter
software. The software includes a tool window that allows the user to modify
the
video and audio inputs and outputs. In addition, the user may select
particular audio
and video characteristics of the active window. Specifically, the tool window
includes
a video output window that provides a choice of inputs for each display
device. The
user may select a television source or an external source for each display
device. If
the same input is selected for both display devices, the information will be
displayed
across multiple display devices. As additional cards, are added, more display
devices
to become available.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided
a method for displaying information on multiple computer screens,
comprising the steps,, performed by a computer, of
displaying a tool window, wherein a f rst screen output window having a group
of
t 5 selectable inputs, and a second screen output window having a group of
selectable
inputs, are displayed; inputting an indication that a user wishes to select a
first input
for the first screen output; inputting an indication that a user wishes to
seiect a second
input for the second screen output; displaying results of the first input on
the first
screen; and displaying results of the second input on the second screen.
2o Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the
description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description or
may be
learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the
invention will
be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations
particularly
pointed out in the appended claims.
a
CA 02353031 2001-07-18
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE i is a functional block diagram of a computer system using the video
adapter and video adapter software according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a functional block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a video
adapter of the present invention.
FIGURE 3 shows an initial screen display of the embodiment of FIGURE 1.
to FIGURE 4 is a flow chart illustrating steps performed during initialization
of a
preferred embodiment of video adapter software according to the present
invention.
FIGURE 5 is a flow chart further illustrating initialization of the video
adapter
software.
FIGURE 6 is a flow chart further illustrating initialization of the video
adapter
1 s software.
FIGURE 7 is a flow chart further illustrating initialization of the video
adapter
software.
FIGURE 8 is a screen illustrating a pop-up menu displayed when the user
right-clicks in the video window of a display according to a preferred
embodiment of
2o the present invention..
FIGURE 9 is a flow chart describing the steps of a menu subroutine in a
preferred embodiment of software according to the present invention.
FIGURE 14 is a flow chart describing the steps of a main window subroutine
in a preferred embodiment of software according to the present invention.
2s FIGURE 11 is a flow chart illustrating control flow of the main Windows
procedure for the software.
FIGURE i2 illustrates processing that occurs when the user requests that a
window be moved in a preferred embodiment of software according to the present
invention.
3o FIGURE 13 illustrates processing that occurs when the user requests that
the
window be re-sized in a preferred embodiment of software according to the
present
invention .
CA 02353031 2001-07-18
FIGURE I4 illustrates processing that occurs when the system requests a
window redraw in a preferred embodiment of software according to the present
invention.
FIGURE 15 illustrates processing that occurs when the user requests that a
window be closed in a preferred embodiment of software according to the
present
mventlon.
FIGURE 16 illustrates processing that occurs when the user opens a menu in a
preferred embodiment of software according to the present invention .
FIGURE 17 is a flow chart illustrating processing that occurs when the user
1o clicks a mouse button in the main window in a preferred embodiment of
software
according to the present invention.
FIGURE 18 illustrates processing that occurs during sizing of a video window
in a preferred embodiment of software according to the present invention.
FIGURE 19 is a flow chart illustrating processing that occurs during moving
t 5 of a video window in a preferred embodiment of software according to the
present
invention.
FIGURE 20 is a flow chart illustrating the handling of system messages in a
preferred embodiment of software according to the present invention.
FIGURE 21 illustrates a File Menu displayed when the user selects "File"
2o from the main program menu in a preferred embodiment of software according
to the
present invention.
FIGURE 22 illustrates a View Menu displayed when the user selects "View"
from the main program menu in a preferred embodiment of software according to
the
present invention.
25 FIGURE 23 illustrates a Tool Window 2302 that is displayed when the user
selects "Tool Window" from the View Menu or from the Pop-up menu in a
preferred
embodiment of software according to the present invention.
FIGURE 24 illustrates the Tool Window when an audio button is selected in a
preferred embodiment of software according to the present invention.
3o FIGURE 25 illustrates the Tool Window when the user selects a video button
in a preferred embodiment of software according to the present invention.
6
CA 02353031 2001-07-18
FIGURE 26 illustrates the Tool Window when the user selects an input button
in a preferred embodiment of software according to the present invention.
FIGURE 27 illustrates the Tool Window when the user selects an output
button in a preferred embodiment of software according to the present
invention.
s
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the
drawings
to to refer to the same or like parts.
I. Overview of the Present Invention.
FIG. I is a block diagram of a computer system 100 in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. Computer system 100 includes a
15 computer I I0. Computer 110 includes a CPU 102, a memory 104, a bus 105, a
first
display device 130 (e.g., a computer monitor), a second display device 140, an
input
device 160 (e.g., a mouse), and a video adapter 150 coupled to the first
display device
130 and the second display device 140 by electrical connections. Video adapter
150
is further coupled to two video sources, a video cassette recorder 137 and a
cable
2o television input 139. Computer system 100 can further include a second
display
device 140 connected to the computer by way of the video adapter 150. Memory
104
includes video graphics software 125 that controls operation of the video
adapter i 50.
The operation of the video graphics software 125 is described in detail below.
It will
be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that computer system 100
may
2s also include numerous elements not shown in the figure for the sake of
clarity, such as
disk drives, keyboards, display devices, network connections, additional
memory,
additional I/O elements, additional CPUs, etc.
Computer system 110 also includes an operating system (not shown), such as
the Windows 95 operating system. "Windows 95" is a registered trademark of
3o Microsoft Corp. It will be understood that the present invention is not
limited to any
particular hardware, operating system, or type of computer system.
' CA 02353031 2001-07-18
II. Video Adapter Hardware
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the video adapter I50 of the present invention.
The video adapter 150 is implemented as a circuit board having a plurality of
integrated circuits mounted or etched thereon. The adapter 150 includes a 32-
bit PCI
Version 2.1-compliant bus interface 220 that couples with a single PCI bus
expansion
slot (not shown) in the computer 110. Data flows between the computer 110 and
the
adapter i 50 through the bus interface 220. It should be apparent to one of
ordinary
skill in the art, however, that other bus standards, such as ISA, and other
versions of
PCI may be used.
a0 The video adapter ISO processes video data from the computer 110 via a PCI
bridge 240. The PCI bridge 240 bridges data from the PCI bus interface 220 to
multiple accelerators on the card. The PCI bridge 240 includes control logic,
' concurrency control, and buffering that permit multiple accelerators to
access the
single PCI bus interface 220. Specifically, the bridge 240 implements delayed
transactions for all PCI configurations, I/O, and memory-read commands, such
that
three of the aforementioned transactions may be performed simultaneously in
each
direction. The bridge 240 supports five simultaneous posted write commands,
with
88 bytes of buffering for each command. The PCI bridge 240 fiuther provides
concurrent primary and secondary bus operation, as well as enhanced address
2o decoding to thereby isolate traffic in both directions.
The video adapter 150 includes six distinct video inputs. Two television
tuners 260, 270, each accept television signals from a cable television
connection, a
video cassette recorder, a television antenna, or similar television signal
source. Twa
video multiplexer inputs 280, 290 accept phono RCA inputs from a variety of
sources,
including outputs from the tuners 260, 270, and routes these signals to one or
both of
the graphics accelerators 210, 230. In addition, the multiplexer accepts two
mini-DIN
S Video inputs. Most audio/video connections are made through a single HD44
pin
cable 247. The cable includes, but is not limited to, two HD15 VGA outputs,
two
RCA phono in {composite video in) inputs, two RCA phono out (routed composite
3o video output), two Mini DiN in (S-Video input), and three Stereo mini phone
jacks
(Master/siave audio out, slave audio in). The tuners 260, 270 accept an F-
style cable
television input that is separate from the 44-pin connector.
_ g
CA 02353031 2001-07-18
Video decoders 275, 285 convert the analog video signals from the video
multiplexers 280, 290 into a digital component stream for use by the graphics
accelerators 210, 235. The video decoders 275, 285 include full video
acquisition
capability, including text slicing for intercast, teletext, and closed-
captioning
capability. Numerous input formats, including NTSC-M, NTSC-44, PAL-B, PAL-G,
PAL-H, PAL-I, PAL-M, PAL-N, PAL-60, SECAM, and S-VHS are supported.
Computer software I25 may be used to control various video processing features
via
control busses 237, 239. Specifically, a user may control the hue, brightness,
contrast,
window croppinglscaling, horizontal and vertical resizing, and anti-aliasing
features.
1o The software 125 is discussed in greater detail below.
The adapter I50 of the present invention includes two graphic user interface
{"GUI") accelerators 210, 235. Each accelerator 210, 235 is coupled to a
memory unit
21 ~, 225. The memory units Z I 5, 225 are synchronous graphic random access
memory ("SGRAM") units, although other memory types may be used. Preferably,
each memory unit has a peak memory bandwidth of 800 Megabytes per second
(MBIs). The memory units 215, 225 store decoded video data, graphic data from
computer operations, character fonts, and other information required for
operation of
the adapter 150. The shared memory 230 serves as the BIOS for the accelerator
card
150. Rather than using two separate BIOS chips for each accelerator, the
memory is
2o shared between the two accelerators 210, 235.
The GUI accelerators 210, 235 are preferably accelerators sold under the
trademark CL-GD5480, by Cirrus Logic, Inc, although any graphic accelerator
chip
may be used. Each GUI accelerator 210, 235 is a graphic visual media
accelerator
integrated circuit with additional graphic support logic. The GUI accelerators
210,
235 support a synchronous dynamic random access memory ("SDRAM'~ interface, a
digital camera interface, a PCI bus interface, a graphics controller, a BITBLT
engine,
a stream engine, a VGA graphics controller, and CRT controller functions. The
GUI
accelerators 210, 235 combine decoded video data from the video decoders 275,
285
with the computer graphics information stored in memory 215, 225. Resultant
data
from the GUi accelerators 210, 235 is output to computer monitors I30, 140 via
video
monitor interface components 245, 255.
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CA 02353031 2001-07-18
The video adapter I50 may further include an audio multiplexer Found
processor 295. The audio muItiplexer 295 accepts audio inputs from each of the
television tuners 260, 270, and an external sound source. Computer software
may be
used to control various audio processing features via control busses 237, 239.
Specifically, a user may control the volume, balance, mute control, pseudo-
stereo,
spatial function, treble, and bass characteristics of the audio output through
the video
adapter software 125. Processed audio is output to an external speaker system
or
amplif ration device.
The accelerator card 150 is powered by a power supply 224. The power
1 o supply 224 draws power from the computer's main power supply (not shown)
via the
PCI bus interface 220. The power drawn by the power supply 224 is then
converted
to the proper voltages required to power each element of the accelerator card
150.
Specifically, the PCI bridge 240, the video multiplexers 280, 290, the tuners
260, 270,
and the remaining circuitry all require different voltages. The power supply
224
t 5 converts the main voltage to a particular voltage for each card element.
III. Video Adapter Software
FIG. 3 shows an initial screen display 300 of the embodiment of FIG. I . The
screen display of FIG. 3 is the initial screen display shown when the video
adapter
2o software of the described embodiment is first executed in a Windows 95
environment.
Screen display 300 includes a video area 302, a menu bar area 310, and a
status bar
area 320. Menu bar area 310 includes three menu items: a "File" menu item 312,
a
"View" menu item 314, and a "Help" menu item 316. Status bar area 320 includes
three parts: a video window part 322 indicating a video window number, a
resolution
25 part 324 indicating a video resolution for the active video window, and a
channel part
326 indicating a tuned channel within the active video window.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating steps performed during initialization of
the
video adapter software in Windows 95. (Hereinafter, the words "software" and
"program" will be used interchangeably.) It will be understood by persons of
30 ordinary skill in the art that the flow charts in this document generally
represent steps
performed by CPU 102 in accordance with instructions stored in memory 104.
When
the video adapter software is started, it first instantiates, in step 404, all
variables
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CA 02353031 2001-07-18
associated with the software. In addition, when the software is first
executed, the
program searches the system for another running instance of the program. If
another
instance of the program is found, the new instance of the program must
terminate.
Accordingly, the software calls an operating system command to sound the
internal
s computer bell at step 408. The new instance of the software exits the system
at step
410.
In step 412, the software obtains the version number of the operating system.
The software then determines, in steps 414 and 420, respectively, whether a
generic
driver and video-adapter-specific driver have been installed. If no generic
driver is
to found, the program displays the message "Error: generic driver not
installed" in the
active window at step 416. The program then proceeds to wait for the user to
issue an
"OK" response to the error message. Similarly, if a video-adapter-specifc
driver is
not found, the program displays the message: "Error: video adapter driver is
not
installed," in the active window at step 422. Program control continues at
step 418.
15 Following a response from the user, the software exits at step 410.
Once the appropriate device driver has been located, the software, in step
424,
initializes to a default source path (disk drive location). The default source
path is the
path in which the software was originally installed. In step 426, the software
copies
the source directory and a default file name to a variable.
2o Program initialization continues in FIGS. 5 -7. In step 502, the program
goes
to step 802, where an application instance and shared items are initialized by
a
subroutine {Subroutine C described below). If the initialization was performed
without error, the program continues to step 506. Otherwise, the program goes
to step
410 and terminates. In step 506, an instance handle provided by the operating
system
25 is saved in an instance handle variable. Next, the software loads an
operating system
dynamic link library (the "DLL") in step 508. The DLL is a library of law-
level
routines used to access the hardware. The primary function of the DLL is to
determine the hardware present in the system and carry out the device control
requests
of an application. For example, the DLL turns on and off the video registers
in the
3o graphic accelerators, sets the video window size in the graphic
accelerators, controls
the sound process treble and bass, switches the video multiplexers to the
correct
source, sets the channel on the tuners, etc. The software, in step 510, checks
to ensure
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CA 02353031 2001-07-18
that the DLL loads properly. If the DLL fails to load, the program displays
the
message: "Error: DLL did not load. DLL must be in the same directory with
~J.exe" in 'the active window, where jXXXJ is the name of the executable file
containing the software described herein. The program then continues control
at step
s 418. If the DLL loads properly, the software attempts to obtain the entry
point for the
DLL for later use in step 602. If the entry point is not obtained in step 602,
the
software displays the message: "Error: Could not get entry point to the
control
routine" in step 604 and goes to step 418 where the program eventually
terminates.
Once the DLL entry point is obtained, program control continues at step 608,
1 o where the program calls an initialization subroutine of the DLL. If the
DLL fails to
initialize, the software, in step 612, displays the message: "Error: Could not
initialize
hardware" and goes to step 418. Following initialization, the software obtains
the
default settings for the video adapter ISO in step 614. In step 616. the
software
confirms the receipt of these setting. Failure to obtain the settings results
in the
t 5 display of the message: "Error: Could not get hardware defaults." The
program
would then continue at step 418. If the hardware defaults are obtained, the
program
creates and paints a background color for tile active window in step 622. In
step 624,
the software loads all global flags that will be used by the operating system.
In step 702, the program goes to step 802, where the main video window is
20 opened and instance initializations are performed by a subroutine
(Subroutine D
described below). If initialization is aronerIv nerfnm,Prt "r~..P~~:"~
,.,..,t:.,...... ... _~__
704. Otherwise, the program terminates. At step 708, the program enters a
message
loop to obtain threaded window messages from the operating system. If the
message
is "WM QU~~°° ~e message loop ends and program flow continues in
step 718. For
25 alI other Windows messages, the program goes to step 712. The software
first handles
all dialog box messages. Following the processing of the dialog box message,
the
software translates any virtual key codes generated by Windows 9S into
character
messages in step 714. Once the message has been read and translated, it is
dispatched
back to the operating system in step 716. Windows 9S then holds this message
until it
3o can be passed to the program's window function. When the software receives
a
"WM_QUIT" message in step 710, it unloads the DLL from memory. In step 720,
the
program cleans up ali memory and resources and terminates.
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' ' CA 02353031 2001-07-18
FIG. 8 is a screen illustrating a pop-up menu created by subroutine C and
displayed when the user right-clicks in the video window. The pop-up menu
includes
five menu items: a "Preferences " menu item 802, a "Tool Window" menu item
804,
a "Status Bar" menu item 806, a blank line, and an "Exit" menu item 808. Each
of
these items is described in detail in the discussion of menu processing
below..
FIG. 9 is a flow chart describing the steps of subroutine C, which is called
from other points in the program. Subroutine C begins processing at step 902.
In step
904, the routine defines a window class structure for the main window. The
window
class structure includes the default fields for the WNDCLASS structure. The
instance
1o handle obtained in step 506 is used to define the HINSTANCE field of the
structure.
in step 906, a pop-up menu is created for the defined window. The software in
step
908 ensures that the pop-up menu was created properly. If the menu was
properly
created, the sofiware creates the menu items. Once the menu items have been
created,
the window class is registered with the operating system in step 9I2. The
software
t 5 exits Subroutine C in step 914.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating subroutine D, which is called from other
points in the program. The subroutine begins at step 1002. At step 1004, the
software
obtains the profile for the window set-up. Specifically, the software obtains
the size
of the window and the current input settings for the window. These are usually
saved
2o from a previous session. If no settings have been saved, the software will
use default
window settings. The main video window is created at step 1008. If the main
window is properly created, the software goes to step 1010. Otherwise, the
subroutine
exits with a failure code. Once the window is created, however, program
control
continues at step 1012 where the software ensures that the Windows 95 comnson
25 control DLL is loaded. The common controls are an extended set of controls,
such as
drag list boxes, rich edit controls, and toolbars, that are used by the
software. If the
common control DLL is properly loaded, the subroutine exits with a success
code at
step 1014.
FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating control flow of the main Windows
3o procedure for the software. The Windows procedure is called by Windows 95
when it
needs to pass a message to the software. It is through this function that
Windows 95
communicates with the program. The Windows function may be implemented in
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' CA 02353031 2001-07-18
many ways, but it often consists of a "switch" statement that links a specific
response
to each message that the program will respond to. in step 1104, the software
obtains
the user's action within the main window. In step 1106, the software
determines
whether the user requested to close a window. If the user requested that the
window
be closed, processing continues at step 1202. Otherwise, processing continues
at step
11 I0, where the software subtracts one from the total number of open windows.
If
only one window remains open, the software places the open window in virtual
mode
in step 1114. Virtual mode allows a single video window to be moved from one
display to another or sized to fit on more than one display. This mode allows
more
than one video window to be opened at one time. If no video windows are open
following step I 110, the software goes to step 9I8 to determine whether the
tool
window remains open. If the tool window is open, the software closes the tool
window in step I I20. Once the tool window is closed, (or if the tool window
was not
open in step 1118), the windows procedures calls the PostQuitMessageU function
of
i 5 the operating system which, in turn, causes a WM QUIT message to be sent
to the
software. Once a WM-QUIT message is received, the software automatically
halts.
The Windows procedure exits at step 1126.
FIG. I2 illustrates processing that occurs when the user requests that a
window
be moved. In step 1202, the software determines whether or not the user
requested
2o that a video window be moved. If a move was not requested, processing
continues at
step 1302. Otherwise, the software ensures that the video window is currently
visible.
If the window is not visible, the default Windows processing occurs (via a
call to
DefWindowProc()). If the window is visible, the software ensures that the
window is
not simply an icon in step 1208. In step 1210, if the video cannot be
displayed on the
25 screen, such as by minimizing, the software turns off any video that is
being sent to
the window. In step 1212, the software obtains the display area for the video
in the
window. Next, the size of the status bar for the window is subtracted from the
area.
In step 1216, the software creates flags to point to the new location and size
of the
video portion of the window. The software then enters the DLL to set the new
video
3o by modifying the registers in the display adapter accelerator associated
with a given
window. If the window is the first-opened window, the registers in graphics
accelerator 210 are modified. If the window is the second-opened window, the
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' CA 02353031 2001-07-18
registers_in graphics accelerator 235 are modified. AlI other messages for
moving are
sent to the default handling for the Windows procedure.
FIG. 13 illustrates processing that occurs when the user requests that the
window be re-sized. The software, in step 1302, determines whether the user
requested that the size of the window be modified. If the user did not request
a
window re-sizing, processing continues at step 1402. Otherwise, the software
determines whether the window to be sized is visible. If the window is not
visible, the
default Windows procedure handling is used. If the window is visible, the
software
ensures that the status bar is visible. If the status bar is visible, the
software redraws
the status bar for the correct window size in step 13 I0. If the status bar is
aot present,
the software obtains the display area for the video in the newly-sized window.
The
size of the status bar is subtracted from the total area in step 1314. In step
1316, the
software creates flags to point to the new location and size of the video
portion of the
window. The software then enters the DLL to set the new video by modifying the
t5 registers in the display adapter accelerator. If the window is the first-
opened window,
the registers in graphics accelerator 210 are modified. If the window is the
second-
opened window, the registers in graphics accelerator 235 are modified. All
other
messages are sent to the default handling for the Windows Procedure.
FIG. 14 illustrates processing that occurs when the system requests a window
2o redraw. The software, in step 1402, determines whether the operating system
requested a redrawing of the window. If a redraw is not requested, processing
continues at step 1502. In step 1406, the software redraws the main window. In
step
1408, the software redraws the status bar if the status bar is visible. The
software, in
step 1410, fills the video section of the window with a default color. This
step is
25 performed to prevent previous material from displaying is the area. When
new video
signals are received, the new video picture will fill the redrawn area.
Program control
continues at step 1126.
FIG. I 5 illustrates processing that occurs when the user requests that a
window
be closed. In step 1502, the software monitors a request to close the window.
If no
3o request to close the window is made, the software goes to step 1602. If no
request is
made to minimize or maximize the window, the software checks to see if the
system is
in virtual mode. If the system is in virtual mode, the software creates flags
and
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' CA 02353031 2001-07-18
parameters for the window to correctly process the resizing. Program control
then
continues at step 1602. If the user requests that a window be closed, the
software goes
to step 1510 and calls the DLL to tom off the video display function of the
accelerator. In step 1512, the program saves the current position of the
window for
later use. In step 1514, the software sends a message to destroy the window to
the
operating system. The software then exits the main window procedure.
FIG. 16 illustrates processing that occurs when the user opens a menu. In step
1602, the software determines whether the operating system requested that a
window
be activated. If no request from the operating system was received; the
software
1o monitors a change in the display resolution at step 1604. If no change to
the display
resolution is made, the system looks for the selection of a command on the
software
menu at step 1606. Menu processing is discussed below. If the operating system
requests that a window be activated, the software, in step I6I0, updates the
tool
window and exits the Virindow procedure. If the user changes the display
resolution,
1 s the software, in step 1612, creates flags to point to the location and
size of the video
portion of the window. In step 16I4, the software enters the DLL to set the
new video
modifying the registers in the display accelerator. Processing then goes to
step 1606.
If the user does not select a command on the menu, the software looks for a
double-click in the window. If no double-click is received, the software
continues at
2o step 1702. If a double-click is received, the software, in step 1618,
obtains the
current window and current setting. In step 1620, the software looks for a
title bar in
the window. If the window has no title bar, the software, in step 1624, sets a
NO MENU flag to provide a title bar for the window. The window is also given a
menu in step 1626. The old window is then erased. If the window has a current
title
25 bar, a flag is set to remove the title bar. The aew window is modified to
remove the
menu in step 1630 and the old window is then erased. In step 1634, the new
window
is painted according to the set flags (i.e., either a foil window or a window
with a title
bar and menu).
FIG. I7 is a flow chart illustrating processing that occurs when the user
clicks
3o a mouse button in the main window. In step 1702, the software looks for a
left mouse
button click. If no left mouse button click is received, the software looks
for a right
mouse button click in step 1704. If a left mouse button click is received, the
software
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CA 02353031 2001-07-18
determines whether the menu bar is on or off. If the menu bar is off, messages
are
sent through Windows to allow the user to move the video window in step 1708.
If
the menu bar is on, the Windows procedure exits. If a right mouse button click
is
received, the software obtains the current window the user is in. If no menu
bar is on
in the current window, the software creates the pop-up menu described above as
the
active window of the application in step 1714. The software then obtains the
current
cursor position in step 1716. Finally, the software displays the pop-up menu
in the
video window at the cursor position and allows Windows 95 to track the menu.
The
Windows procedure then exits.
FIG. I 8 illustrates processing that occurs when the user sizes a video
window.
If no right or Ieft mouse button is received and no double-click is received,
the
software determines whether the user is sizing the video window at step 1802
in FIG.
16. If the user is not sizing the video window, processing continues at step
1902.
Otherwise, the software, at step 1806, creates a flag with the current drag
location
~ 5 where the user would like to size the window. If only one video window is
open, a
flag is created with the maximum size that the current window can be on alI
screens.
If other windows are open, the software, in step 1808, creates a flag with the
maximum size the video window can be on this screen alone. In steps 1812-I826,
the
software determines whether the window is sized past the farthest desired
point. If the
2o window is beyond that point, the video window is set to the maximum desired
position. The Windows procedure then exits.
FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating processing that occurs during moving of a
video window. In step 1902, the software determines whether the user is moving
the
video window. If the user is not moving the video window, the software looks
for a
25 system message in step 2002. If the user is moving the video window, the
software,
in step 19046, creates a flag with the current location to which the window
has been
dragged by the user. in step 1906, the software creates a flag with the
current video
window position location. If only one video window is open, a flag is created
with the
maximum size that the current window can be on all screens. If other windows
are
30 open, the software, in step 1912, creates a flag with the maximum size the
video
window can be on this screen alone. In steps i 914-1928, the software
determines
whether the window is past the farthest desired point. If the window is beyond
that
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' CA 02353031 2001-07-18
point, the video window is set to the maximum desired position. The Windows
procedure then exits.
FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating the handling of system messages by the
software. If a system message is not received, the software, in step 2004,
allows
windows to handle all remaining user entries by the default method. If a
system
message is received, the software ignores the message in step 2006. The
Windows
procedure then exits.
Menu control flow will now be described. FIG. 21 illustrates a File Menu
displayed when the user selects "File" from the main program menu. The File
Menu
2102 includes three menu items: a "New Window" menu item 2105, a blank line,
and an "Exit" menu item 2I07. When "New Window" is selected, the software
opens
a new window containing data from a new video source. The new window is opened
on the next available monitor. The selection of audio and video sources will
be
described below. The program temlinates when the user selects "Exit" from the
File
~ 5 menu 2102.
Fig. 22 illustrates a View Menu displayed when the user selects "View" from
the main program menu. The View Menu includes three menu items: a
"Preferences"
menu item 2205, a "Tool Window" menu item 2207, and a "Status Bar" menu item
2209. When the Preferences menu item 2205 is selected, the software creates a
dialog
2o box containing the current setting for tuner input. Specifically, the
dialog box
indicates whether an air antenna or cable is selected. In addition, the type
of cable
selected is displayed. The user also has the option of keeping the Tool Window
on
top of multiple windows. Other information may be included in the Preferences
menu, such as the audio connections, external video names, etc.
25 When the "Tool Window" item 2207 is selected from the Preferences menu,
a check is entered next to the item and a Tool Window 2302 (see FIG. 23) is
displayed. When the "Status gar." menu item 2209 is selected, the status bar
320 is
displayed. Both the Tool Window and the status bar may be toggled on and ofl:
FIG. 23 illustrates a Tool Window 2302 that is displayed when the user selects
30 "Tool Window" from the View Menu or from the Pop-up menu. The Tool Window
contains a title bar 2306 and a main window 2304. The main window 2304
includes a
keypad 2308, a volume slider 2314, and a muse button 2320. The keypad 2308
allows
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CA 02353031 2001-07-18
the user to select particular audio and video settings for the active window.
The
keypad 2308 includes a "PC" button 2327 that allows the user to select the
previously-tuned channel. A "CN" button 2331 allows the user to modify the
name of
the channel (e.g., "ABC") for the currently-tuned channel. The "AD" button
2337
allows the user to modify the audio characteristics of the active window. The
"AV"
button 2341 opens an audiolvideo window 2402 that is discussed in greater
detail
below. The volume slider 2314 allows the user to increase or decrease the
volume
within a particular window. The volume slider 2314 controls the volume for
either
window. The volume may be muted by pressing the mute button 2320.
1o When the user selects the "AV" button 2341 on the keypad 2308, an
audio/video window 2402. The audio/video window 2402 allows the user to select
particular audio and video input and output sources. In addition, the window
2402
allows the user to select specific audio and video characteristics of the
active window.
FIG. 24 illustrates the Tool Window when an audio button is selected. A stereo
mode
window 2404 lets the user select a particular stereo mode from a group of
radio
buttons. The user may select "Normal, " "Pseudo," or "Spatial" stereo mode. In
addition, the user may select the tuner LR check box that allows the user to
hear both
left and right audio simultaneously. A bass/treble window 2406 includes two
slider
controls for allowing the user to increase or decrease the amount of bass
and/or treble
2o in the volume. All audio selections are sent to the audio multiplexes and
sound
processor 295 via the control buses 237, 239.
FIG. 25 illustrates the Tool Window when the video button in the Tool
Window is selected. A video window 2502 opens allowing the user to adjust the
video characteristics of the active window. Specifically, the user may adjust
the color,
tint, brightness, and contrast of the display using one or more slider
controls.
FIG. 26 illustrates the Tool Window when the user selects an input button. A
video input routing window 2602 allows the user to use either internal or
external
sources for the video. If an internal source is selected, the user may toggle
back and
forth between two open screens using the "Tuner 1" or "Tuner 2" radio buttons.
If an
3o external source is selected, the user may select among two CVBS inputs and
two S-
Video inputs.
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CA 02353031 2001-07-18
FIG. 27 illustrates the Tool Window when the user selects an output button. A
video output routing window 2702 opens allowing the user to send the input
source to
one or more different output cables. Options for the first output cable are
represented
in the CVBS Output 1 window 2704. Options for the second output cable are
represented in the CVBS Output 2 window 2706. Both output cables may display
information from the Tuner 1 input, the Tuner 2 input, the external CVBS 1
input, and
the external CUBS 2 input. An automatic button makes the f rst cable follow
the first
video window and the second video cable follow the second video window.
Having thus described a preferred embodiment of a video adapter, it should be
1 o apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages have been
achieved. It
should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and
alternative
embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present
invention. For example, analog video signals have been illustrated, but it
should be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the teachings described herein would
be
applicable to digital video signals as well. The invention is further defined
by the
following claims:
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