CN113050801A

CN113050801A - Control method and electronic device

Info

Publication number: CN113050801A
Application number: CN202110352236.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 韩爽
Original assignee: Lenovo Beijing Ltd
Current assignee: Lenovo Beijing Ltd
Priority date: 2021-03-31
Filing date: 2021-03-31
Publication date: 2021-06-29

Abstract

The application discloses a control method and an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises: the first interface is used for connecting first processing equipment; the second interface is used for connecting second processing equipment; the third interface is used for connecting the input equipment and can obtain the input information from the input equipment; the electronic equipment is provided with a first mode and a second mode, and in the first mode, the input information can be transmitted to the first processing equipment as the first data information; in the second mode, the input information can be transmitted as the second data information to the second processing device.

Description

Control method and electronic device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of device control technologies, and in particular, to a control method and an electronic device.

Background

Peripheral equipment is a general name of input equipment, output equipment and external storage equipment in a computer system. For example, a keyboard, a mouse, a usb disk, etc. connected to a host of a computer device belong to peripheral devices of the host.

In some cases, a user may want multiple processing devices to be able to connect to the same external device, for example, two hosts are connected to the same display screen, mouse, and keyboard, and therefore how to enable multiple processing devices to share the external device is a technical problem that needs to be solved by those skilled in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a control method and electronic equipment.

Wherein, an electronic equipment includes:

the first interface is used for connecting first processing equipment;

the second interface is used for connecting second processing equipment;

the third interface is used for connecting an input device and obtaining input information from the input device;

wherein the electronic device has a first mode in which the input information is transmittable to the first processing device as the first data information and a second mode; in the second mode, the input information is transmittable to the second processing device as the second data information.

In one possible implementation, the first interface is capable of obtaining first image information;

the second interface can obtain second image information;

the electronic device further includes:

processing means for generating third image information and capable of controlling switching between the first mode and the second mode;

output means for outputting image information, wherein the third image information affects display of the first/second image information if the third image information is displayed simultaneously with the first/second image information;

the control device is used for connecting the third interface and requesting the processing device to generate the third image information or switch the first mode and the second mode according to the input information obtained by the third interface;

wherein, in the first mode, the control device is connected with the first interface and disconnected from the second interface;

when the first mode is switched to the second mode, the control device is disconnected from the first interface and is connected with the second interface.

In yet another possible implementation manner, the control device is configured to obtain a first type of input information from the third interface, and send a mode switching request to the processing device, where the mode switching request is used to request switching between the first mode and the second mode; or, obtaining a second type of input information from the third interface, requesting the processing device to generate the third image information;

the electronic device further includes: an input device;

the processing device is configured to obtain a switching instruction operation from the third interface or the input device for the third image information, and control switching between the first mode and the second mode.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: a fourth interface for connecting a data device;

wherein, in the first mode, the data device is communicable with the first processing device;

the second mode includes:

a second full-cut mode in which the input information can be transmitted to the second processing device as second data information and the data device can be connected to the second processing device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a second half-cut mode in which the input information is transmittable to the second processing device as second data information, and the data device is connectable to the first processing device.

In yet another possible implementation manner, the method further includes a conversion device connected to the processing device;

the conversion device is connected with the control device, the first interface and the second interface, and can realize the communication switching of the control device between the first interface and the second interface under the control of the processing device.

In yet another possible implementation manner, the control device includes: the system comprises a first control device and a second control device, wherein the first control device is connected with at least one third interface, and the second control device is connected with at least one third interface;

the first control device and the second control device are both connected with the conversion device, and the conversion device is used for switching the connection between the first control device and the second control device and the connection between the first interface and the second interface under the control of the processing device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the first control device is connected with one input interface of the second control device, the second control device is connected with the processing device and the conversion device, and the conversion device is used for realizing connection switching of the second control device between the first interface and the second interface under the control of the processing device.

The control method comprises the following steps:

in a first mode, obtaining input information of the input device through a third interface, and transmitting the input information to the first processing device through a first interface;

switching the first mode to the second mode;

and in the second mode, obtaining the input information of the input equipment through the third interface, and transmitting the input information to second processing equipment through a second interface.

In one possible implementation, the switching the first mode to the second mode includes:

when the input information obtained by the control device through the third interface is the first type input information, switching the first mode to the second mode through the processing device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the input information obtained by the control device through the third interface is the second type input information, the processing device controls and displays third image information;

and obtaining a switching instruction operation aiming at the third image at the processing device, and controlling to switch the first mode to the second mode.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

the control device obtains mode information of the electronic equipment and sends the mode information to the processing device, wherein the mode information is used for representing that the electronic equipment is in a first mode or a second mode;

the controlling, by the processing device, display of third image information includes:

and generating third image information containing the mode information by the processing device, and controlling an output device to display the third image information.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

obtaining, by the control device, the input information from the third interface;

if the input information is first type input information or second type input information, the control device controls not to transmit the input information to the first interface or the second interface;

and if the input information does not belong to any one of the first type of input information and the second type of input information, transmitting the input information to the first interface or the second interface.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments are briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of another electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of another structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device in a specific application according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of third image information in the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of another structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method according to an embodiment of the present application.

The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like in the description and in the claims, as well as in the drawings described above, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It should be understood that the data so used may be interchanged under appropriate circumstances such that embodiments of the application described herein may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without inventive step, are within the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As can be seen from fig. 1, the electronic device includes:

a first interface 110 for connecting a first processing device 120;

a second interface 111 for connecting a second processing device 121;

a third interface 112 for connecting to an input device 122, the third interface being capable of obtaining input information from the input device.

The electronic device has a first mode and a second mode.

Wherein in the first mode, the input information of the input device 122 can be transmitted to the first processing device 120 as first data information;

in this second mode, the input information of the input device 122 can be transmitted as second data information to the second processing device 121.

It can be seen that the first interface and the second interface are interfaces that are provided on the electronic device and can be connected with the processing device.

In this application, the first processing device and the second processing device are processing devices that are connected to the electronic device and need to implement information input and output through the electronic device. Therefore, the first processing equipment and the second processing equipment can be connected with the input and output equipment externally connected with the electronic equipment by being connected into the electronic equipment, and can also be connected with the input device and the output device of the electronic equipment.

For example, the first processing device and the second processing device are both processing devices capable of running an operating system, and of course, the first processing device and the second processing device may be processing devices of the same type or processing devices of different types, which is not limited herein.

For example, the first processing device and the second processing device may be colloquially referred to as hosts.

The third interface is an interface for connecting an input device external to the electronic device.

The third interface may be a physical interface, for example, the third interface may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. The third interface may also be a wireless interface supporting wireless communication, such as a bluetooth interface supporting a bluetooth protocol, or an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) interface supporting an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology interface. On the basis, input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard supporting wireless technologies such as bluetooth or UWB can be connected through the third interface.

Similarly, the first interface and the second interface may be physical interfaces or wireless interfaces supporting wireless communication.

It is to be understood that there may be one or more of the third interfaces in the electronic device.

When the electronic device includes a plurality of third interfaces, the input devices accessed by the third interfaces may be switched from one processing device to another processing device at the same time when the electronic device performs mode switching; it is also possible that for each third interface connected input device, the electronic device has two modes as mentioned above, and the mode switching can be performed for each third interface connected input device separately.

As can be seen from the above, the electronic device of the present application can connect two processing devices through two different interfaces. Meanwhile, the electronic equipment has two modes, and input information of the input equipment connected with the electronic equipment can be transmitted to different processing equipment in different modes, so that the input equipment can be controlled to be switched between the two processing equipment through mode switching, the processing equipment using the input equipment is not required to be switched by plugging and unplugging the input equipment, and the input equipment can be shared by the two processing equipment more reasonably.

It is understood that, in order to enable the electronic device to control the switching between the first mode and the second mode, the electronic device further comprises at least a processing means 113, which is capable of controlling the control of the first mode and the second mode.

Further, in order to enable the first processing device and the second processing device to implement an output function based on the electronic device, the electronic device may further include an output device. The output device may be an image output device, for example, the output device may be a display screen, and the electronic device may be a display device including an output device such as a display screen. For another example, the output device may be an audio output device, such as a sound box, and the like, and of course, the output device may also include both an image output device and an audio output device.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of another structure of the electronic device according to the present disclosure.

Like fig. 1, the electronic device of fig. 2 includes:

a first interface 210 for connecting a first processing device 220;

a second interface 211 for connecting a second processing device 221;

a third interface 212 for connecting an input device 222.

The above contents can be referred to the related descriptions of the previous embodiments, and are not described in detail herein.

As can be seen from fig. 2, the electronic device includes, in addition to: besides the first interface, the second interface and the third interface, the device further comprises: processing means 213 and output means 214.

In fig. 2, the first interface is capable of obtaining first image information, which is image information from the first processing device.

Similarly, the second interface can obtain second image information, which is image information from the second processing device.

Wherein the processing means 213 is configured to generate third image information and is capable of controlling the switching between the first mode and the second mode. The control of the first mode and the second mode refers to controlling to switch from the first mode to the second mode, or to switch from the second mode to the first mode. If the current mode is the first mode, switching the first mode into the second mode; the reverse is also similar.

And an output device 214, at least for outputting image information, where the image information may include one or more of the aforementioned first image information, second image information, and third image information. For example, the output device may include the aforementioned image output device.

Wherein if the third image information is displayed simultaneously with the first image information/the second image information, the third image information affects the display of the first image information/the second image information.

The third image information is generated by the processing means and not image information from the first processing device or the second processing electronics. The third image information has a higher display priority than the image information from the first processing device and the second processing device, so that the third image information can affect the display of the first image information and the second image information.

The specific manner of causing the third image information to affect the display of the first image information and the second image information may be various. For example, the third image information may be displayed on a top layer of the display content corresponding to the output device, so that the first image information and/or the second image information may be covered or blocked.

The blocking or covering mode may be that the semitransparent layer is adopted to present the second data, so that the second data can affect the display or viewing effect of the first data.

For example, in one example, the third image information may be an on-screen display (OSD) menu.

In one possible implementation, in order to enable effective use of the function of the third image information generated by the processing means, mode-related switching control is implemented based on the third image information, which may include mode information related to mode information or mode switching in which the electronic device is located.

For example, the third image information may include mode prompt information for prompting a mode state of the input device in the electronic device. For example, the mode prompt message may include the mode in which the input device is located, such as the input device currently being the processing device; and may also include the device type and device status of the input device, etc.

As another example, the third image information may include: information such as an operation item for prompting mode selection or switching, for example, the third image information may include: switching options of the input device connected by the third interface, and the like.

The processing device may generate the third image information after detecting the image generation instruction on the electronic device. For example, taking the third image information as an OSD menu, after the user clicks an OSD key on the electronic device, the processing device of the electronic device generates the OSD menu and controls to display the OSD menu.

It is understood that the processing means may control switching between the first mode and the second mode based on a mode triggering operation on the third image information. For example, after the user can configure the information for switching the input device in the OSD menu, the processing device can control to switch the first mode and the second mode according to the mode switching information configured by the user.

It can be understood that the manner of operation such as touching the OSD key by the user to trigger the processing device to generate and control the output of the third image information inevitably requires the user to transfer his hand from the input device to the electronic device, which may cause inconvenience in operation and may affect the continuity of information input using the input device.

In an optional manner, in order to enable more flexible triggering of the mode switching and reliable control of the input device to transmit the input information to the first processing device or the second processing device, the electronic device may further include: a control device 215.

As can be seen from fig. 2, the control device 215 is used for connecting to the third interface, and the control device 215 is connected to the processing device 213. The third interface can be used as an interface arranged on the control device, so that the third interface is connected with the control device; the third interface may also be a third interface disposed outside the control device and connected to the control device, which is not limited thereto.

The control device 215 can request the processing device to generate third image information or switch between the first mode and the second mode according to the input information obtained by the third interface.

In the first mode, the control device is connected with the first interface and disconnected with the second interface. On the basis, the control device can transmit the input information of the third interface to the first interface, so that the first processing equipment obtains the input information.

When the first mode is switched to the second mode, the control device is disconnected from the first interface and is connected with the second interface. In the second mode, since the control device is connected to the second interface, the control device may transmit the input information obtained by the third interface to the second interface, so that the second processing apparatus obtains the input information.

It can be understood that, because the control device can request the processing device to generate the third image information based on the input information obtained by the third interface, the user can input the input information for indicating and displaying the third image information during the input operation by using the input device, and perform the operation related to the mode switching based on the third image information, so that the user does not need to touch and press a specific key arranged on the electronic device to trigger and display the third image information after the input is suspended, and the convenience and flexibility of the mode switching are improved.

Furthermore, because the control device can request the processing device for mode switching based on the input information obtained by the third interface in the application, the user can also input the related information by operating the input device, and can trigger the control device to request the processing device for mode switching so as to complete mode switching, thereby realizing mode switching control more flexibly and quickly.

For example, in one possible implementation, the control device is configured to obtain the first type of input information from the third interface, and send a mode switching request to the processing device, where the mode switching request is used to request switching between the first mode and the second mode.

It can be seen that, if the input information obtained by the control apparatus from the third interface is the first type of input information (which may also be referred to as first type of input information), the control apparatus may directly request the processing apparatus to perform the mode switching to switch the input device between the first processing device and the second processing device, so that the user is not required to perform other operations, and the flexibility of the mode switching is higher.

For example, taking the input device as a keyboard, it may be configured that a combined key of the key 1 and the key 2 in the keyboard may trigger a processing device to which the keyboard is directly switched, and on this basis, the combined key value of the key 1 and the key 2 is the first type of input information, and correspondingly, the control device obtains the combined key value of the key 1 and the key 2 input by the keyboard through the third interface, and sends a mode switching request to the processing device.

In yet another possible implementation, the control means may request the processing means to generate the third image information after obtaining the second type of input information (also referred to herein as second type of input information) from the third interface.

In this implementation, after the processing device generates the third image information, if a switching instruction operation for the third image information is obtained, the processing device may control switching between the first mode and the second mode.

The switching instruction operation is an operation for triggering mode switching, and for example, a switching key or an option in the third image information may be clicked, which is not limited.

It is understood that, after the output device displays the third image information, the user may operate the third image information through the input device so that the processing device may obtain a switching instruction operation from the third interface for the third image information.

In particular, in the case where the electronic apparatus has an input device such as a touch panel or a key, the user can operate the third image information through the input device, and therefore the switching instruction operation may be a switching instruction operation for the third image information from the input device.

It is understood that, after the control apparatus obtains the input information from the third interface, if the input information is the first type of input information or the second type of input information, it indicates that the input information is an instruction for controlling mode switching, and not information that is necessarily input to the first processing device or the second processing device. Therefore, if the input information is the first type of input information or the second type of input information, the control device does not transmit the input information to the first interface or the second interface.

It is to be understood that when the input information is of a first type of input information or a second type of input information, the input information is not input information that requires a response by the first processing device or the second processing device. On the basis, from the perspective of the first processing device or the second processing device, the control device does not transmit the input information to the first interface or the second interface, and the input information is prevented from being wrongly responded by the first processing device or the second processing device relative to the situation that the input information is intercepted.

Accordingly, if the input information does not belong to any one of the first type of input information and the second type of input information, the control device may transmit the input information to the first interface or the second interface.

It can be understood that if the control device needs to analyze whether each input information is the first type or the second type, the resource consumption of the electronic device is excessive, and the performance is affected.

In order to reduce resource consumption and improve performance, in one possible implementation, after the control device confirms that the time length of the third interface without the input information exceeds the set time length, the input information obtained from the third interface is processed to determine whether the input information is the first type input information or the second type input information.

It will be appreciated that a user will not typically switch the processing device to which the input device is connected suddenly while the user is continuously making inputs to the first processing device or the second processing device, and therefore the user may trigger the switching mode only while there is a pause with the input device or while there is no continuous input of information to the first processing device or the second processing device. Based on this, the control device may analyze whether the input information obtained by the third interface is the first type or the second type after confirming that the time length of the third interface without the input information exceeds the set time length, so as to reduce the data amount processed by the control device, reduce the resource consumption of the electronic device, and reduce the performance influence on the electronic device.

In this embodiment, the control device can implement mode switching through the processing device according to the input information, so that the process of switching the electronic device connected to the input device does not need to depend on the related driver installed on the first processing device or the second processing device, thereby avoiding the need to install the corresponding driver on the first processing device and the second processing device, and enabling the input device switching process to be independent of the operating system on the first processing device or the second processing device.

It is understood that in the process of switching by the user based on the third image information, it may be desirable to know mode information such as the connection state of the input device with the first processing device and the second processing device.

In an optional manner, in order to enable a user to know the mode information of the electronic device, in this application, the control device is further configured to obtain the mode information of the electronic device and send the mode information to the processing device, where the mode information is used to represent that the electronic device is in the first mode or the second mode, for example, the mode information may prompt: the input device 1 of the third interface is connected to the processing device 1, or the input device 1 is connected to the processing device 2, and the like.

Of course, the mode information may also include the device type of the input device, such as the input device is a keyboard or a mouse.

Accordingly, the processing means may generate third image information including the mode information, and output the third image information through the output means.

It is understood that the external device accessible to the electronic device may have a data device, such as a data storage device, for example, a usb disk, etc., in addition to the input device; the power supply device can also be a charging device which needs to obtain power supply, or a device which has the requirements of data storage and power supply, and the like. On this basis, in any of the above embodiments of the present application, the electronic device may further include: a fourth interface for connecting a data device. For example, the fourth interface may be a USB interface.

It is to be understood that the fourth interface and the third interface may both belong to interfaces of the electronic device for connecting external devices, and the two interfaces may be the same interface.

Correspondingly, when the electronic device is in the first mode, the data device can communicate with the first processing device, for example, when the data device is a data storage device or a data interaction device, the data device can perform data transmission interaction with the first processing device. For another example, when the data device is a charging device or a data storage device with a power supply requirement, the data device can communicate with the first processing device, so that the first processing device can charge the data device or provide power for the power supply, and the like.

In this case, the data device of the fourth interface may be switched to the second processing device at the same time when the input device of the third interface is switched to the second processing device, or the data device may be still connected to the first processing device without switching the data device.

Accordingly, in the present application, the second mode may include: a second full cut mode and/or a second half cut mode.

In the second cut-through mode, the third interface obtains input information which can be transmitted to the second processing device as second data information, and the data device can be connected with the second processing device.

In the second half-cut mode, the input information can be transmitted as second data information to the second processing device, and the data device can be connected with the first processing device.

Correspondingly, the processing device in the electronic equipment is used for switching the first mode and the first full-cut mode or the second half-cut mode.

As explained in connection with the embodiment of fig. 2, the electronic device further has a fourth interface 216, which is connected with a data device 223, as shown in fig. 2.

The fourth interface 216 is connected to the control device 215, for example, the fourth interface may be an interface provided on the control device, so that the fourth interface is connected to the control device; the fourth interface may also be an interface disposed outside the control device and connected to the control device, which is not limited in this respect.

On the basis, the processing device may control the switching between the first mode and the first full-switching mode or the first half-switching mode according to a mode switching request sent by the control device, for example, switching the first mode to the first full-connection mode or switching the first mode to the first half-switching mode.

Alternatively, after the control means requests generation of the third image information, switching of the first mode to the first full-cut mode or the first half-cut mode is controlled based on a switching instruction operation in the generated and displayed third image information.

It can be understood that, in the case that the data device is a data storage device, in a certain mode, for example, taking the first mode as an example, the data device accesses the first processing device, and if data is stored between the data device and the first processing device, the first mode is switched to the second mode at this time, and a data loss may be caused due to a data transmission failure or the like.

Similarly, if the data device is a data device requiring a charging class, if the data device is being charged by the first processing device, then switching the data device to the second processing device at this time may result in the data device not being able to continue charging, thereby causing the charging or power supply of the input device to be interrupted.

In order to reduce the abnormal situations such as data transmission interruption or power supply interruption, in one possible implementation, the control device is further configured to obtain status information of the data device and send the status information to the processing device.

Wherein the status information includes: a data transfer status between the data device and the first processing device or the second processing device, and/or a power status of the data device.

Wherein the data transmission status characterizes whether there is data storage between the data device and the first processing device or the second processing device.

Wherein, the power state is used for representing one or two kinds of information as follows:

the electric quantity condition of the data equipment is the current available or residual electric quantity condition of the data equipment;

and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

the relationship between the device that provides power to the data device and the first processing device and the second processing device, e.g., the device that provides power to the data device may be the first processing device, the second processing device, or a power module (power module) in the electronic device, e.g., an adapter.

Accordingly, the processing device controls the first mode to switch to the second full-cut mode or the second half-cut mode according to the state information of the data device, for example, controls the first mode to switch to the second full-cut mode or the second half-cut mode.

It can be understood that, if the state information of the data device indicates that there is data transmission between the data device and the first processing device, when the first mode is switched to the second mode, specifically, the first mode is switched to the first half-switching mode, so as to avoid data transmission abnormality or data loss.

Similarly, the first mode may be switched to the second full switching mode if the state information of the data state characterizes that there is no data transmission between the data device and the first processing device.

Correspondingly, if the data device is a charging device, if the data state indicates that the device supplying power to the data device is the first processing device or the second processing device, the first mode may be switched to the second half-switching mode when the first mode is switched to the second mode; if the data state indicates a power mode, such as an adapter for an electronic device, that provides power to the data device, the first mode may be switched to a second full switching mode when the first mode is switched to the second mode.

Or, if the data device is a charging device, if the data state indicates that the remaining capacity of the data device exceeds a set capacity ratio, and if the remaining capacity exceeds 50%, the first mode may be controlled to be switched to the second full switching mode; otherwise, the first mode is switched to the second semi-connected mode, so that only the input device is switched and the data device is not switched.

It can be understood that, the above is described by taking the case of switching from the first processing device to the second processing device as an example, and the case of switching from the second mode to the first mode is similar, and the description is omitted here.

In an alternative, after obtaining the status information of the data device, if the status information of the data device indicates that it is currently not suitable to switch the data device, such as data transmission of the data device is occurring or charging with the processing device, the processing apparatus may further generate a risk prompt and output the risk prompt through the output apparatus.

The risk prompt is used for prompting the user that the data device is in a use state currently, for example, the data device is transmitting data with the processing device, or is charging with the processing device, or the like, or the current electric quantity of the data device is still lower than the set electric quantity proportion.

On the basis, if the processing device detects a confirmation switching instruction aiming at the risk prompt, the first mode and the second mode are switched; if a cancel switching instruction for the risk prompt is detected, switching between the first mode and the second mode is not performed.

It is understood that, in the present application, the specific implementation of the connection of the electronic device switching control apparatus with the first interface and the second interface may be various.

In a possible implementation manner, the electronic device may further include a conversion device, the conversion device is connected to the processing device, and the conversion device is connected to the control device, the first interface, and the second interface.

For example, the control device may be provided with one or more third interfaces, or one or more ports to which the third interfaces are connected. Meanwhile, a port used for connecting the processing equipment in the control device is connected with the conversion device, so that the control device is switched to be connected with the first processing equipment on the first interface or the second processing equipment on the second interface through the conversion device.

The switching device can realize the communication switching of the control device between the first interface and the second interface under the control of the processing device. The specific form of the switching device may be various, for example, the switching device may be a switch, etc., without limitation.

It is understood that, in practical applications, the conversion device may be disposed outside the control device, or may be integrated with the control device into a module, which is not limited thereto.

For ease of understanding, the description is made in conjunction with a possible application scenario, as shown in fig. 3, which illustrates a schematic structural diagram of the electronic device in a specific application.

In fig. 3, the electronic device is taken as an example of a display, in this scenario, the processing device may be a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) in the display, and the control device may be a hub (hub) disposed in the display, which is also called a multi-port repeater. Meanwhile, the conversion device is taken as a conversion switch, and the first processing device is taken as a host 1, and the second processing device is taken as a host 2.

As shown in fig. 3, the electronic device may include a micro-processing unit 310 and a hub 311 coupled to the micro-processing unit 310. Meanwhile, the MPU 310 and the hub 311 are connected to a switch 312. In the embodiments of the present application, a hub external transfer switch is taken as an example for description. Of course, the electronic device may further comprise an output device 313.

The changeover switch may be provided with or connected to a first interface and a second interface (not shown in fig. 3), on the basis of which the changeover switch is connected to the host 1 via the first interface and to the host 2 via the second interface.

When the transfer switch is a hub, the hub may have an interface for connecting an external device, and thus, the aforementioned third interface and fourth interface may be considered as interfaces that the hub has.

Correspondingly, a plurality of interfaces for connecting external devices in the hub may be connected to different external devices, for example, the hub in fig. 3 is connected to input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and data devices such as a usb disk. For example, the hub may be a USB-based hub, and on this basis, the hub may have a plurality of USB interfaces, and input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse may be connected through different USB interfaces, and data devices may also be connected.

In fig. 3, it is assumed that the external device can be triggered to directly switch from one processing device to another processing device through a first hot key combination consisting of a "ctrl" key in the keyboard and a left mouse key; meanwhile, a second hot key combination is formed by the ctrl and Alt keys and the left mouse key in the keyboard to trigger the display to display an OSD menu for switching the external equipment. Meanwhile, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the current hub is connected to the host 1 through a transfer switch.

Correspondingly, if the user inputs the first hot key value through the first hot key combination, and the concentrator determines that the input information input by the input device is the first hot key value, the concentrator requests the MCU to switch the external device connected with the MCU to another host. Accordingly, the MCU controls the transfer switch to connect the hub to the host 2, so that the keyboard, mouse, and usb disk connected to the hub are switched from the host 1 to the host 2.

Of course, the hub can obtain the state of the usb disk and inform the MCU, if the usb disk is transmitting data with the host 1, the MCU outputs a risk prompt bar through the display screen, and a risk prompt for prompting that the usb disk is transmitting data, a first button for indicating to continue switching, and a second button for indicating not to switch are displayed in the risk prompt bar. If the user wishes to continue switching, the first key in the risk prompt bar is clicked, and the MCU controls the change-over switch to switch the concentrator to be connected with the host 2; and if the user clicks the second key, the MCU does not control the change-over switch to switch.

Similarly, if the user inputs a second hot key value through the second hot key combination, the hub confirms that the input information input by the input device is the second hot key value, and obtains attribute information such as the type of external equipment connected with the hub and mode information such as the data state of the external equipment, the hub sends an OSD menu display request to the MCU and sends the mode information to the MCU, and the MCU generates an OSD menu containing the mode information and outputs the OSD menu to the display screen.

On this basis, the user can check the connection between the external device and the host 1 through the OSD menu, and can also see the type, the use state, and other information of each external device. Meanwhile, the user can instruct the MCU to switch the external device to the host 2 through the OSD menu, and the MCU can control the change-over switch to execute the relevant switching.

In the present application, in the case where the input device to which the electronic device is connected includes a keyboard and a mouse, the first type of input information and the second type of input information may be input information input by a combination of the keyboard and the mouse, such as the first hot key combination and the second hot key combination mentioned above. The input information for indicating mode switching is input through the combination of the keyboard and the mouse, so that misoperation can be reduced, and information input conflict can be avoided.

For example, if the first type input information or the second type input information is input information input only by a keyboard, the input information generated by clicking one or two keys may easily conflict with input information recognizable in the first electronic device or an application running on the electronic device. For example, there may be situations in a game where a key or a small number of key combinations is touched to trigger the input of different game tricks, and if the first type of input information or the second type of input information also only needs to be touched to achieve input, a conflict with the game input may occur.

However, if the first type of input information or the second type of input information is generated by clicking a large number of keys of the keyboard (e.g., clicking 4 or 5 keys), the input complexity of the first type of input information and the second type of input information may increase.

Therefore, according to the application, the first type input information or the second type input information for triggering mode switching is generated through a combination mode of a keyboard and a mouse (such as the first hot key combination and the second hot key combination), so that the input difficulty can be reduced, and the input conflict can be reduced.

Further, in order to improve the flexibility of mode switching, the present application may further obtain a relative positional relationship between the first processing device and the second processing device, and accordingly, the first type input information, which is input by a combination of a keyboard and a mouse and is used to trigger the switching between the first mode and the second mode, is related to the relative positional relationship.

Specifically, the first type of input information that switches from the first mode to the second mode relates to a first positional relationship of the second processing device relative to the first processing device, and the first type of input information that switches from the second mode to the first mode relates to a second positional relationship of the first processing device relative to the second processing device.

In one possible case, the relative positional relationship may be determined by the respective positions of the first processing device and the second processing device, or may be determined based on the respective positional relationships of the first processing device and the second processing device with respect to the electronic device.

For example, the relative positional relationship may be that the first processing device is on the left side of the electronic device and the second processing device is on the right side of the electronic device, or that the first electronic device is on the left side of the second electronic device, etc.

The relative position relationship between the first processing device and the second processing device may be manually input and stored in the electronic device when the first processing device and the second processing device are connected to the electronic device.

The relative position relationship may also be determined by the electronic device according to the position relationship between the first interface and the second interface, for example, the first interface is disposed on the left side of the electronic device, and the second interface is disposed on the right side of the electronic device, and based on the position relationship between the two interfaces, it is determined that the first processing device can only be located on the left side of the electronic device, and the second processing device can only be located on the right side of the electronic device.

The relative position relationship may also be determined by the electronic device through a wireless ranging or positioning technology, and the specific manner of determining the relative position relationship is not limited in the present application. For ease of understanding, the following are illustrated:

in the first type of input information input by the combination of the keyboard and the mouse, the track direction of the mouse is consistent with the direction of the target processing equipment to be switched relative to the electronic equipment, the input of the keyboard in the first type of input information is the input information of an Alt key, and the target processing equipment is the processing equipment connected with the input equipment to be switched.

For example, the first processing device is on the left side of the electronic device and the second processing device is on the right side of the electronic device.

Assuming that the electronic device is currently in the first mode, and the mouse and the keyboard are connected to the first processing device through the control device, on this basis, if the first mode needs to be switched to the second mode, the user needs to click the left mouse button and move to the right (i.e. move to the second processing device) while pressing the Alt button in the keyboard. On the basis, the electronic device switches the mouse and the keyboard to the second processing device.

If the second mode needs to be switched to the first mode, the user needs to press the Alt button of the keyboard and simultaneously click the left mouse button and move the mouse button to the left (i.e. move the mouse button to the first processing device), where the electronic device switches the mouse and the keyboard to the second processing device.

Of course, in the above example, the relative position relationship is represented by the mouse moving track as an example, and in practical application, the relative position of the processing device to be switched to may be indicated by a combination of a designated key (e.g., Alt key) in the keyboard and a left direction key (key indicated with a left arrow in the keyboard) or a right direction key (key indicated with a right arrow in the keyboard).

In yet another possible case, in the case that the output device of the electronic apparatus simultaneously displays the first display area of the first processing apparatus and the second display area of the second processing apparatus, the relative positional relationship may also be a relative positional relationship of the first display area of the first electronic apparatus and the second display area of the second electronic apparatus. The first display area is used for displaying first image information from the first electronic device, and the second display area is used for displaying second image information from the second electronic device.

For example, assume that the first display area is located on the left side of the second display area, and correspondingly, the second display area is located on the right side of the first display area.

While the electronic device is currently in the first mode if the user wishes to switch to the second mode. The user may touch a specific key and a right direction key on the keypad at the same time, or touch the specific key and simultaneously press a left mouse button and move the mouse button to the right, which may trigger the electronic device to switch the input device to the second processing device, so that the electronic device is in the second mode.

For the case of switching the second mode to the first mode, the principle is similar except that the right direction button is replaced by the left direction button, or the mouse is changed from moving to the left from moving to the right, and the description is omitted.

It is understood that in practical applications, the relative position relationship between the first processing device and the second processing device may change, for example, the positions of the first display area relative to the second display area are interchanged, and on this basis, for the same mode switching, the direction in which the mouse needs to move or the direction key that needs to be clicked needs to be dynamically adjusted to adapt to the change of the relative position relationship. For example, in connection with the above example, it is assumed that at a certain time, the electronic device is still in the first mode, but the second display area is located on the left side of the first display area, and when it is necessary to switch to the second mode, the user is required to click a specific key such as Alt on the keyboard and click the left direction key at the same time, so that the electronic device switches the first mode to the second mode.

Therefore, the input of the first type of input information is realized by combining the position relation between the mouse and the processing equipment to be switched to the keyboard relative to the electronic equipment, so that the combined input mode of the keyboard and the mouse is more convenient to memorize, and the mode switching can be more flexibly controlled.

It is understood that, in the above embodiments of the present application, the electronic device includes one control device as an example for illustration, but it is understood that, in order to increase the number of external devices that can be connected to the electronic device or reasonably control the switching of part of the external devices, a plurality of control devices may be provided in the present application. Accordingly, the control device in the present application may include a first control device and a second control device. The first control device may be connected to at least one third interface, and the second control device may also be connected to at least one third interface.

For example, the first control device and the second control device may be two hubs, each hub having a plurality of interfaces for accessing external devices.

In a possible case, the first control means and the second control means are both connected to the switching means, in which case the switching means are able to switch the communication between the first control means and the second control means and the first interface and the second interface under the control of the processing means.

In this case, the conversion means may actually realize multiplexing. Specifically, the switching device may control connection switching between the first control device and the first interface and the second interface, and control connection switching between the second control device and the first interface and the second interface.

It can be seen that the switching of the first control means and the second control means may be independent of each other, in which case the user may switch only the processing device to which the external device connected to the first control means is connected, or only the processing device to which the external device connected to the second control means is connected, as desired, so that switching only a part of the external devices connected to the electronic device at a time may be achieved.

Of course, if the switching of the processing apparatuses to which the first control means and the second control means are connected is controlled at the same time, the switching of the processing apparatuses to which all the external apparatuses connected to the electronic apparatus are connected at the same time can be realized.

This is explained below with reference to fig. 4. In fig. 4, the electronic apparatus includes: a processing means 410, a first control means 411 and a second control means 412 connected to the processing means, and a switching means 413 connected to the processing means, the first control means and the second control means.

The conversion apparatus 413 may be provided or connected with a first interface 414 and a second interface 415, where the first interface is used to connect to the first processing device 421, and the second interface is used to connect to the second processing device 422.

The first control device and the second control device are respectively connected (the connection is realized through internal setting or external connection) with a plurality of connection interfaces 416 for connecting external equipment, and the plurality of connection interfaces of each control device comprise a third interface for connecting input equipment and a fourth interface for connecting data equipment.

As shown in fig. 4, a keyboard, a mouse and a usb disk may be connected to the plurality of connection interfaces 416 connected to the first control device, for convenience of distinguishing, the keyboard, the mouse and the usb disk connected to the first control device are respectively referred to as a keyboard 1, a mouse 1 and a usb disk 1, and similarly, the keyboard 2, the mouse 2 and the usb disk 2 are connected to the second control device.

In fig. 4, for any one of the first control apparatus and the second control apparatus, the control apparatus may obtain input information input by an input device connected to the control apparatus, and may transmit the input information to the corresponding processing device through the first interface or the second interface connected to the control apparatus.

Meanwhile, if the obtained input information is the first type input information, the control device requests the processing device to switch the external device connected with the control device, and on the basis, the processing device controls the change-over switch to switch the first interface or the second interface connected with the control device by sending a switching instruction to the change-over switch and the like.

For example, assuming that the first control device 411 is connected to the first processing device 421 through the conversion device, the first control device obtains input information input by the keyboard 1 and the mouse 1 and transmits the input information to the processing device 421 through the first interface. If the first control device obtains the first type input information and sends a switching request to the processing device, the processing device controls the switching device to switch the first control device from being connected with the first processing equipment to being connected with the second processing equipment. The switching principle is similar for the second control device, and is not described in detail herein.

Similarly, for any control device, if the input information obtained by the control device from the input device such as a keyboard and/or mouse to which the control device is connected is the second type of input information, the control device requests the processing device for the third image information (e.g., an OSD menu including mode switching related information). Accordingly, the processing means may generate and output the third image information via output means (not shown in fig. 4). On this basis, if the processing device obtains a switching operation instruction for the third image information, the changeover switch may be controlled to switch the connection of the control device to the first interface or the second interface based on the operation switching instruction.

It can be understood that, for any one control device, the interaction process between the control device and the processing device is similar to that in the foregoing embodiment, and specific reference may be made to the related description in the foregoing embodiment, and details are not described herein again.

In an alternative mode, the application can display information of all external equipment connected with the electronic equipment through the two control devices in the third image information generated by the processing device when the second type of input information is input through any one control device. On the basis, the user can select and switch the connection relation between the external equipment and the processing equipment which are connected with one control device according to needs, or select and switch the connection relation between all the external equipment and the processing equipment.

As shown in fig. 5, a schematic diagram of the third image information provided by the present application is shown.

The third image information in fig. 5 may be in the form of an OSD menu. For example, in fig. 5, the third image information shows a switch option 501 corresponding to the external device corresponding to each control apparatus, and also shows a full switch option 502 for triggering switching of all the external devices, so that the user can select to switch the connection between all the external devices and the processing device as needed, or select to switch only the processing device to which the external device accessed by one of the control apparatuses is connected.

Meanwhile, in order to facilitate the user to know the processing device to which each external device is connected and the data state of each external device, such as data input or data transmission, the third image information may further include a state display area 503 that may display the connection relationship between each external device and the processing device, the data state, and the like.

In the case of a control device comprising a first control device and a second control device, the present application can also be embodied such that the number of interfaces for connecting external devices is increased by means of one control device, on the basis of which only one of the two control devices is connected to the switching device, wherein the device connection of the other control device is connected to one of the control devices connected to the switching device for connecting to an external device connection interface.

For example, the first control device is connected to an input interface of the second control device, and the second control device is connected to the processing device and the conversion device. Correspondingly, the conversion device is used for realizing the connection switching of the second control device between the first interface and the second interface under the control of the processing device.

The input interface of the control device is an interface for connecting an external device, for example, in the case that the control device is provided with a third interface or a fourth interface, the input interface may be the third interface and the fourth interface. For another example, in the case that the control device is connected to the third interface and the fourth interface of the peripheral, the input interface may be an interface for connecting the third interface or the fourth interface.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another structure of the electronic device according to the present application.

The electronic device in fig. 6 includes: a processing device 610, a first control device 611 and a second control device 612.

It will be appreciated that each control device has a port to which a processing device is connected, which is referred to herein as an output port 613 (which may also be referred to as an upstream port). Similarly, the interface 614 provided by the control apparatus for connecting an external device is referred to as an input interface (also referred to as a downstream port).

As can be seen, the output port 613 of the first control device is connected to an input interface 614 of the second control device. And the output port 613 of the second control means is connected to the switching means 615. Meanwhile, the second control device 611 is connected to the processing device 610, which is also connected to the converting device 615.

The first control device and the second control device are respectively connected to different external devices 620, for example, the external devices may include a keyboard, a mouse, or a usb disk.

In this case, the first control device corresponds to a plurality of input interfaces extended by the second control device, and all the input information obtained by the first control device can be transmitted to the second control device. And the second control device 611 transmits the input information to the first processing apparatus 621 or the second processing apparatus 622 to which the second control device 611 is connected.

Meanwhile, the second control means may also notify the processing means in a case where the input information is the first type input information or the second type input information, so that the processing means completes the switching operation of the conversion means. The interaction process between the second control device and the processing device is similar to the interaction process between the control device and the processing device in the embodiments of fig. 1 to fig. 3, and is not described herein again.

The first control device may transmit the input information to the second control device only when the input information does not belong to the first type of input information or the second type of input information. However, when the input information is the first type of input information or the second type of input information, the first control device may directly request the processing device to generate the third image information or request mode switching, which is similar to the previous process of processing the first type of information and the second type of input information by the single control device or the second control device, and is not described herein again.

In fig. 6, if the processing device controls the switching device to switch between the processing devices connected to the second control device, the input devices connected to the first control device and the second control device are switched from one processing device to another processing device because the input devices of the first control device are also connected to the processing devices via the second control device.

It should be noted that, in fig. 6, for convenience of understanding, a larger number of external device interfaces can be expanded through a plurality of control devices, and therefore, in fig. 6, the first control device is only connected with the keyboard, and the second control device is only connected with the mouse, for example, but in practical applications, both the first control device and the second control device can be connected with the keyboard and the mouse at the same time.

In another aspect, based on the electronic device provided by the present application, the present application provides a control method applied to the electronic device. As shown in fig. 7, which shows a flowchart of a control method of the present application, the control method may be applied to the electronic device mentioned above, and the method of the present embodiment may include:

and S701, in the first mode, obtaining input information of the input equipment through the third interface, and transmitting the input information to the first processing equipment through the first interface.

As described in the previous embodiments of the electronic device, the third interface is for connecting an input device and the first interface is for connecting a first processing device.

S702, switching the first mode to the second mode.

In a possible case, when the input information obtained by the control means through the third interface is the first type of input information, the first mode is switched to the second mode by the processing means.

In yet another possible case, when the input information obtained by the control means through the third interface is the second type of input information, the display of the third image information is controlled by the processing means; accordingly, a switching instruction operation for the third image is obtained at the processing device, and the switching from the first mode to the second mode is controlled.

For the switching from the first mode to the second mode, reference may be made to the foregoing embodiment regarding the processing device controlling the switching of the control device with the first processing device and the second processing device, and details are not described herein again.

And S703, in the second mode, obtaining the input information of the input device through the third interface, and transmitting the input information to the second processing device through the second interface.

And the second interface of the electronic equipment is used for connecting the second processing equipment.

In this embodiment, the electronic device may control, through mode switching, the processing device operated by the input information input by the input device, so that the input device connected to the electronic device may be controlled to switch between the electronic device and the plurality of processing devices, so that the plurality of processing devices may share the input device connected to the electronic device.

In an alternative, in a case that the input information obtained by the control device through the third interface is the second type of input information, before the processing device controls to display the third image, mode information of the electronic device may also be obtained by the control device and sent to the processing device, where the mode information is used to indicate that the electronic device is in the first mode or the second mode.

Correspondingly, third image information containing the mode information is generated through the processing device, and the output device is controlled to display the third image information.

It is to be understood that, in the above embodiment, after the input information is obtained from the third interface by the control device, if the input information is the first type of input information or the second type of input information, the control device controls not to transmit the input information to the first interface or the second interface; and if the input information does not belong to any one of the first type of input information and the second type of input information, transmitting the input information to the first interface or the second interface.

Further, the method may further include:

after the control device confirms that the time length of the third interface without the input information exceeds the set time length, processing the input information obtained from the third interface and determining whether the input information is the first type input information or the second type input information.

It can be understood that, since the related contents in the control method are already included in the foregoing descriptions related to the control device, the processing device, and the like on the electronic device side, reference may be made to the foregoing related descriptions specifically, and no further description is provided herein.

In another aspect, the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which at least one instruction, at least one program, a set of codes, or a set of instructions is stored, and the at least one instruction, the at least one program, the set of codes, or the set of instructions is loaded and executed by a processor to implement the control method according to any one of the above embodiments.

It should be noted that, in the present specification, the embodiments are all described in a progressive manner, each embodiment focuses on differences from other embodiments, and the same and similar parts among the embodiments may be referred to each other. Meanwhile, the features described in the embodiments of the present specification may be replaced or combined with each other, so that those skilled in the art can implement or use the present application. For the device-like embodiment, since it is basically similar to the method embodiment, the description is simple, and for the relevant points, reference may be made to the partial description of the method embodiment.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the application. Thus, the present application is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

the first interface is used for connecting first processing equipment;

the second interface is used for connecting second processing equipment;

2. The electronic device of claim 1, the first interface being capable of obtaining first image information;

the second interface can obtain second image information;

the electronic device further includes:

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the control device is configured to obtain a first type of input information from the third interface, and send a mode switching request to the processing device, where the mode switching request is used to request switching between the first mode and the second mode; or, obtaining a second type of input information from the third interface, requesting the processing device to generate the third image information;

the electronic device further includes: an input device;

4. The electronic device of any of claims 1-3, further comprising: a fourth interface for connecting a data device;

the second mode includes:

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

5. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising a conversion device to which the processing device is connected;

6. The electronic device of claim 5, the control means comprising: the system comprises a first control device and a second control device, wherein the first control device is connected with at least one third interface, and the second control device is connected with at least one third interface;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

7. A control method, comprising:

switching the first mode to the second mode;

8. The method of claim 1, the switching the first mode to the second mode, comprising:

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: