WO2002077788A1

WO2002077788A1 - Computer system with plurality of display devices

Info

Publication number: WO2002077788A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/001189
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Edwards; Simon David Patterson
Original assignee: Michael Edwards; Simon David Patterson
Priority date: 2001-03-24
Filing date: 2002-03-25
Publication date: 2002-10-03
Also published as: GB0107458D0

Abstract

A system (2) comprises a single computer (4), an operating program of the system, at least three information presentation devices (16) connected to the computer (4) and serving to display simultaneously output signals derived from at least three data sources (10), stored information being loaded into the operating program from the data sources (10), and presentation program means requiring a very low allocation of the working memory of the computer (4). The presentation program means can be run in multiple instances and, in the case of each instance, occupy only a minimum of the resources of the system (2) in terms of the working memory. Means (18), (22) are arranged to induce flow of air into the computer (4) and air-flow guiding means (24) are arranged to allow quick cooling of the adaptator (8) and/or the central processing unit (6).

Description

COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH PLURALITY OF DISPLAY DEVICES

This invention relates to a computer system. It is known to have a computer system simultaneously displaying two different computer applications on two different monitors under the control of a single computer. This has been found to be restrictive when endeavouring to make multiple computer presentations or carry out advertising on a large number of monitors without having to use a large number of computers .

It is also known to modify a standard personal computer (PC) architecture to enable a plurality of screens to be driven from a single PC motherboard. Such a system is disclosed in WO00/29934. A PC is described comprising a processor, a processor bus for transfer of data to and from the processor, a graphics bus in the form of an accelerated graphics port (AGP) , a general purpose bus, in the form of a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, for the transfer of data to and from a plurality of input and output devices, a system chipset connected to the processor, graphics and general purpose buses comprising the processor bus, the graphics bus and the general purpose bus, a first screen controller for controlling at least one display screen connected to the general purpose bus, and a second screen controller for controlling at least one display screen connected to the graphics bus. The first and second screen controllers are each addressed from only one of the general purpose and graphics buses. A system is described where a PC controller comprises a plurality of screen controllers attached to the graphics bus, and the PC comprises a plurality of screen controllers connected to the general purpose bus . By extending the graphics bus and the general purpose bus in this way, a plurality of screen controllers may be connected to each bus; it is asserted that this enables a large number of displays to be run from a single processor unit. A video decoder can also be connected to the general purpose bus and to the screen controller on the graphics bus via a multimedia channel which, it is said, has the advantage of faster data throughput with minimum processor intervention. It is also said that, the number of screens is limited only by the number of device addresses that can be allocated from the system BIOS.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising a single computer, an operating program of said system, at least three information presentation devices connected to said computer and serving to display simultaneously output signals derived from at least three data sources, stored information being loaded into said operating program from said data sources, and presentation program means requiring a very low allocation of the working memory of the computer. Owing to this aspect of the invention, a presentation program can be run on a computer system and occupy only a minimum of the resources of the system in terms of the working memor .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising a single computer, an operating program of said system, at least three information presentation devices connected to said computer and serving to display simultaneously output signals derived from at least three data sources, stored information being loaded into said operating program from said data sources, and presentation program means comprising a presentation program capable of being run in a multiple of at least three. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising a single computer, an operating program of said system, at least three information presentation devices connected to said computer and serving to display simultaneously output signals derived from at. least three data sources, stored information being loaded into said operating program from said data sources, and at least three presentation program means to which respective parts of the working memory of said computer are allocated. Owing to these aspects of the invention, it is possible to run^* a presentation program in multiple instances and, in the case of each instance, occupy only a minimum of the resources of the system in terms of the working memory.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer comprising a housing, a central processing unit, an adaptor, means arranged to induce flow of air into said housing and air-flow guiding means arranged to cause the flow of air to pass through the region (s) of said adaptor and/or said central processing unit. Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible quickly to cool the adaptor and/or the central processing unit.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a diagram of an embodiment of a computer system allowing multiple presentations, e.g. carrying out of advertising on a large number of monitors, and Figure 2 shows a diagram of some of the components of a computer.

In Figure 1, a computer system 2 comprises a computer 4 including, in the embodiment shown, a "PENTIUM" III 933MHz central processor 6 and a four port multiple output VGA graphic adaptor 8. In use, each source of at least three selectable sets of stored information, shown schematically at 10, is applied to an application of a computer presentation program which produces an input signal from- each source of stored information. The input signals are applied by input lines 12 to the processor 6. The presentation program is one which requires a very low allocation of the working memory of the computer. The processor 6 is controlled by the computer program to accommodate simultaneously at least three input signals via the lines of connection 12 and processes the information which is then applied to the adaptor 8 to derive a corresponding number of output signals, characteristic of the associated input signals, transmitted by output lines 14. In the embodiment shown the adaptor is in the form of a video adaptor and any of a maximum of four simultaneously accommodated input signals can be selected to be transferred to the video adaptor 8 for subsequent video output to the output lines 14 for feeding into a group of four monitors 16. Hence, the adaptor 8 can be connected to a maximum of four monitors . Thus, each monitor 16 displays the file content represented by each of the associated application output signals being transferred to the monitors . Each required application opened is able to produce a different selectable input signal, which is stored on the hard drive of the computer 4 or on some other form of recordal media, such as floppy disc, CD-ROM or DVD.

When endeavouring to operate more than three applications simultaneously, it may be found that the available computer working memory is insufficient. If this is the case, the operating program can be modified in such a way so as to reduce any unnecessary working memory requirements for use in running the applications of the presentation program and therefore increase the available memory for substantially simultaneously running more applications of the presentation program. The presentation program is not only able to run in multiple instances but also, in each instance, uses a minimal amount of system resources in terms of the working memory.

This further increases the available memory for substantially simultaneously running more applications of the presentation program. The presentation program is capable of displaying animation, stills, CD-ROM video and DVD video simultaneously on separate monitors 16.

When endeavouring to operate a plurality of applications simultaneously, the working memory of the computer may become overloaded. In order to process all of the commands smoothly and simultaneously it is necessary to increase the size of the virtual memory via the operating program.

In another embodiment, the computer 4 can be provided with a plurality of adaptors 8. For example, by using three of the adaptors 8, twelve monitors 16 can be connected to the computer 4. In a further embodiment, up to five adaptors 8 in the computer 4 is possible, thus allowing up to twenty monitors 16 to be connected to the computer 4.

Hence, in the embodiment using three adaptors 8 connected to twelve monitors 16, it is possible to have twelve separate files being processed by twelve applications with each file being displayed on twelve separate monitors .

Too much heat generation in the computer can seriously affect the central processor performance. If the system is to run for prolonged periods of time, the processor is cooled in such a way as to maintain its optimum performance. In Figure 2 a first fan 18 draws air from outside the computer housing 20 and towards the adaptors 8. Similarly a fan 22 draws air from outside the computer housing 20 and towards the central processor 6. To ensure the flow of air actually passes over the adaptors 8 and processor 6 to enable sufficient cooling thereof, air-flow deflecting guides 24 are placed inside the computer housing 20 in the region of the adaptors 8 and the processor 6.

The computer program may be, for example, a presentation software package. The system would therefore allow several different presentations to be shown on several different monitors at the same time, all under the control of a single computer processor. Such a multi-screen presentation system can run video, stills, text, and sound across all of the screens in any combination desired. For example, with a twenty-screen display it is possible to run a first video on four of the screens, second and third videos on another two screens, slide show presentations on other screens and still photographs on the rest from one server. The system can be a fixed unit, for example a display in a window, or it may be a mobile unit suitable, for example in corporate presentations.

Claims

1. A system comprising a single computer, an operating program of said system, at least three information presentation devices connected to said computer and serving to display simultaneously output signals derived from at least three data sources, stored information being loaded into said operating program from said data sources, and presentation program means requiring a very low allocation of the working memory of the computer.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said presentation program means comprises a single presentation program run in a multiple of at least three.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said presentation program means consists of at least three presentation program means which are allocated respective parts of said working memory.

4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein said computer comprises a housing, a central processing unit, an adaptor, means arranged to induce flow of air into said housing and air-flow guiding means arranged to cause the flow of air to pass through the region (s) of said adaptor and/or said central processing unit.

5. A system comprising a single computer, an operating program of said system, at least three information presentation devices connected to said computer and serving to display simultaneously output signals derived from at least three data sources, stored information being loaded into said operating program from said data sources, and presentation program means comprising a presentation program capable of being run in a multiple of at least three.

6. A system comprising a single computer, an operating program of said system, at least three information presentation devices connected ,to said computer and serving to display simultaneously output signals derived from at least three data sources, stored information being loaded into said operating program from said data sources, and at least three presentation program means to which respective parts of the working memory of said computer are allocated.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said at least three presentation program means consist of a single presentation program run in a multiple of at least three.

8. A computer comprising a housing, a central processing unit, an adaptor, means arranged to induce flow of air into said housing and air-flow guiding means arranged to cause the flow of air to pass through the region (s) of said adaptor and/or said central processing unit.