GB2438041A

GB2438041A - Wireless communication of images between a computing device and a remote display

Info

Publication number: GB2438041A
Application number: GB0707542A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Min-Chuan Wan
Original assignee: XGI Technology Inc
Current assignee: XGI Technology Inc
Priority date: 2006-05-12
Filing date: 2007-04-19
Publication date: 2007-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-19
Also published as: TWI320904B; GB0707542D0; TW200743015A; GB2438041B

Abstract

A wireless image source includes a computing device (2) and a driving device (3). The computing device (2) includes a processing unit (21) and a first transceiver unit (22). The processing unit (21) generates a control signal, and wirelessly outputs the control signal through the first transceiver unit (22). The control signal may comprise graphics primitives such as data related to a vertex of a triangle, texture data to apply to the triangle and special set up commands such as adding fog or perspective correction. The driving device (3) is coupled electrically to a remote display (41), and includes a second transceiver unit (31) and a graphics processing unit (32). The graphics processing unit (32) wirelessly receives the control signal through the second transceiver unit (31), converts the control signal into image content for displaying on the remote display (41), and wirelessly transmits a response signal to the computing device (2) through the second transceiver unit (31). The processing unit (21) receives the response signal through the first transceiver unit (22), and generates a subsequent control signal based on the response signal. Both of the computing device and driving device may optionally be connected to two or more displays.

Description

1 2438041

WIRELESS IMAGE SOURCE

The present invention relates to a wireless image source for providing image content to a remote display.

Portable computing devices are experiencing ever-increasing widespread use. However, a drawback of most portable computing devices is their limited screen size. One way in which this drawback is overcome is to output image content of the computing device to a large remote display through either a wired or wireless connection. When transmitting image content through a wiredconnectjon, all the disadvantages associatedwith using wires are present (e.g., the distance between the computing device and the remote display is limited by the length of the wire used for the connection) . Although it is preferred to transmit image content wirelessly, this is not without drawbacks. For example, since there is an extremely largeamount of image data, thebandwidth requirements for such wireless transmission are very high.

Referring to Fig. 1, a remote display system is disclosed in US Patent No. 6,580,422 that aims to minimize the required bandwidth for wireless transmission of image data. This conventional remote display system includes a portable computing device 101, a remote computer display 107, and a data link receiver electrically coupled to the remote computer display 107.

The portable computing device 101 generates graphics primitives, and transmits the graphics primitives to the data link receiver 105 through a wireless data link lO3usingeitherradiofrequency (RF) oroptical signals.

The data link receiver 105 converts the RE' or optical signals into digital data identical to the graphics primitives, display 107. The remote display 107 interprets the digital data as graphics primitives which are then processed to generate an image on the remote display 107.

Graphics primitives are high level instructions which tell a graphics display what to draw. The Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL) is an example of a high-level graphics language that consists of graphics primitives. Since the above conventional remote display system transmits graphics primitives through the wireless data link 103, rather than image pixel data, the bandwidth required for wireless transmission is reduced.

However, since HPGL was derived fromprinter control development, it is therefore suitable for two-dimensional (2D) modeling. In three-dimensional (3D) modeling, it is necessary to first calculate a 3D field, and then convert the 3D field into a flat image that can be displayed by a display. HPGL is unable to support 3D modeling calculations, and hence, the aforesaid conventional remote display system is unable to support 3D modeling.

In addition, the remote display 107 must be able to iflterpretHpGLtogenerate imagepixeldata. Hence, only S highly specialized displays that are capable of receiving and interpreting HPGL may be used in the above conventional remote display system.

Therefore, the object of this invention is toprovide a wireless image source that minimizes bandwidth requirements for wireless transmission of image data, that supports 3D modeling, and that allows for direct application to a conventional remote display for displaying images thereon.

The wireless image source of this invention is adapted to provide image content to a remote display, and comprises: a computing device including a processing unit and a first transceiver unit, the processing unit generating a control signal, and wirelessly outputting the control signal through the first transceiver unit; and a driving device adapted to be coupled electrically to the remote display, unit and a graphics processing unit.

The graphics processing unit of the driving device wirelessly receives the control signal from the computing device through the second transceiver unit, converts the control signal into image content to be provided to the remote display for displaying a corresponding image on the first remote display, and wirelessly transmits a response signal to the computing device through the second transceiver unit. The processing unit of the computing device receives the response signal through the first transceiver unit, and generates a subsequent control signal for wireless transmission to the driving device based, at least in part, on the response signal.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed descriptionofthepreferredembodimefltswjth reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view, illustrating a conventional remote display system disclosed in US Patent No. 6,580,422; Fig. 2 is a schematic circuit block diagram, illustrating a wireless image source according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic circuit block diagram, illustrating a wireless image source according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a schematic circuit block diagram, illustrating a wireless image source according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

ReferringtoFig. 2, awireless image sourceaccording to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted to provide image content to a remote display 41. Thewireless image source includesacomputingdevice 2, and a driving device 3 adapted to be coupled electrically to the remote display 41.

The computing device 2 includes a processing unit 21 and a first transceiver unit 22. In the case where the computing device 2 is a personal computer, for example, the processing unit 21 may be a central Processingunitofthepersonalcornp Theprocessing unit 21 generates control signals, and wirelessly transmits the control signals through the first transceiver unit 22 to the driving device 3.

The driving device 3 includes a second transceiver unit 31 and a graphics processing unit 32. The graphics processing unit 32 wirelessly receives the control signals from the computing device 2 through the second transceiver unit 31, converts the control signals into image content to be provided to the remote display 41 for displaying corresponding images on the remote display 41, and wirelessly transmits a corresponding response signal to the computing device 2 through the second transceiver unit 31. The processing unit 21 of the computing device 2 receives the response signal through the first transceiver unit 22, and generates a subsequent control signal for wireless transmission to the driving device 3 based, at least in part, on this response signal.

It is to be noted that signals may be wirelessly transmitted between the first transceiver unit 22 and the second transceiver unit 31 through, for example, microwave, radio frequency, or optical (e.g., infrared light) technologies, and the present invention is not limited to any one particular type of wireless transmission technology.

In order to display images on the remote display 41, many real-time calculations must be performed. For example, when playing a 3D game, it is necessary to perform rendering, texture mapping, and light/shadow effect processing. In order to complete the related calculations, the aforesaid control signal may include graphics primitives. A graphics primitive is an elementary graphics building block. For example, in 3D modeling, an entire image may be formed by combining triangles. At this time, the graphics primitive includes attribute data related to each vertex of the triangles (e.g., corresponding position and color). The control signal may also include commands to instruct a hardware engine to perform a special set up (e.g., adding fog or perspective correction) . The control signal may also include texture data to show surface details of the triangles. Since the data size of the control signal is much smaller than the data size of the image content displayed on the remote display 41 (for example, a ratio of control signal data size to image content data size mayreachl:100), thepresent invention isable toreduce the bandwidth required for wireless transmission.

It may be necessary or desirable to generate subsequent image content on the basis of present image content. In some applications, the present graphics surface serves as texture for subsequent image content.

In this case, the graphics processing unit 32 uses the present graphics data as the response signal and transmitsthesametotheprocessiflgunit2l Forexample, the image data of what is shown in a rear view mirror of a vehicle is returned to serve as texture, and is used for combining with image data to the front of the vehicletoproduceacompleteimage Insomeapplications, vertex data are changed by a 3D shader. In this case, since a subsequent image will use present vertex data, the graphics processing unit 32 uses the data as the response signal and transmits the same to the processing unit 21. For example, when zooming in and enlarging a hand image, vertex data is returned to re-calculate relative distances between the vertices. Since subsequent image content typically must be generated based, at least in part, on present image content in 3D modeling, the present invention may support 3D modeling through use of the above-described response signals.

Since the graphics processing unit 32 first converts thecontrol signals into image content (i.e., imagepixel data) to be provided to the remote display 41 for displaying corresponding images thereon, the present invention may be used with any conventional display.

Referring to Fig. 3, a second preferred embodiment of a wireless image source of the present invention is adapted to provide image content to four displays 41-.44.

The second preferred embodiment is similar to the first preferred embodiment, and so only aspects thereof different from the first preferred embodiment will be described in the following paragraphs.

In the second preferred embodiment, the computing device 2 further includes a graphics processing unit 23 that is adapted to be coupled electrically to two of the local displays 43, 44. The graphics processing unit 23 receives the control signals generated by the processing unit 21, converts the control signals into image content to be provided to the local displays 43, 44 for displaying corresponding images on the local displays 43, 44, and transmits a corresponding response signal to the processing unit 21. The processing unit 21 generates a subsequent control signal for transmission to the processing unit 23 of the computing device2based, at least inpart, onthis response signal.

The driving device 3 is adapted to be coupled electrically to the remote display 42, in addition to the remote display 41. The graphics processing unit 32 provides the converted image content to both of the remote displays 41, 42 coupled electrically to the driving device 3 for displaying corresponding images on the remote displays 41, 42.

It is to be noted that the two graphics processing units 23, 32 of the computing device 2 and the driving device 3, respectively, may simultaneously operate, or only one may operate at any one time. Further, the two graphics processing units 23, 32 may receive the same control signals, or may receive different control signals. Each of the graphics processing units 23, 32 may have two output modes, namely, a mirror mode and an extension mode. In the mirror mode, the displays 41, 42 or 43, 44 coupled to the same graphics processing unit 32 or 23 display the same images, whereas in the extension mode, the displays 41, 42 or 43, 44 coupled to the same graphics processing unit 32 or 23 display respectively different parts of images so that they together display whole images.

Referring to Fig. 4, a third preferred embodiment of a wireless image source of the present invention is adapted to provide image content to four remote displays 41, 42, 45, 46. The thirdpreferred embodiment is similar to the first preferred embodiment, and so only aspects thereof different from the first preferred embodiment will be described in the following paragraphs.

In the third preferred embodiment, the driving device 3 further includes a graphics processing unit 33, and is further electrically coupled to the remote displays 42, 45, 46, in addition to the remote display 41. The graphics processing unit 32 provides the converted image content tothetworemotedisplays4l, 42. Theadditional graphics processing unit 33 of this embodiment wirelessly receives the control signals from the computing device 2 through the second transceiver unit 31, converts the control signals into image content to be provided to the two remote displays 45, 46 for displaying corresponding images on the remote displays 45, 46, and wirelessly transmits a corresponding response signal to the computing device 2 through the second transceiver unit 31. The processing unit 21 of the computing device 2 receives the second response signal through the first transceiver unit 22, and generates a subsequent control signal for wireless transmission to the graphics processing unit 33 of the drivingdevjce.3based, atleastinpart, onthisresponse signal.

It is to be noted that the two graphics processing units 32,33 may provide different image content to each of the remote displays 41, 42, 45, 46 for displaying different corresponding images thereon. As an example, the image content converted from the control signals may include stock market information for four different markets, and each of the four remote displays 41, 42, 45, 46 may receive image content corresponding to one of the stock markets for display thereon.

It is evident from the above description that since the present invention transmits control signals for use in conversion into image content, rather than directly andwirelesslytransmittingjmagecontent, therequired bandwidth may be reduced. Also, through use of the response signals, 3Dmode1ingissupportedbythepresen invention. Finally, the control signals are first converted into image content prior to being provided to remote displays such that the present invention is directly applicable to conventional displays.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A wireless image source adapted to provide image

content to a first remote display, comprising: a computing device including a processing unit and a first transceiver unit, said processing unit generating a control signal, and wirelessly outputting the control signal through said first transceiver unit; and a driving device adapted to be coupled electrically to the first remote display, and including a second transceiver unit and a first graphics processing unit; wherein said first graphics processing unit of said driving device wirelessly receives the control signal from said computing device through said second transceiverunit, converts the control signal into image content to be provided to the first remote display for displaying a corresponding image on the first remote display, and wirelessly transmits a first response signal to said computing device through said second transceiverunit, saidprocessingunitofsaidcomputing device receiving the first response signal through said first transceiver unit and generating a subsequent control signal forwireless transmissiontosaiddriv ng device based, at least in part, on the first response signal.

2. The wireless image source of claim 1, wherein wireless transmission of signals between said first transceiver unit and said second transceiver unit is performed through one of microwave, radio frequency, and optical technologies.

3. The wireless image source of claim 1, wherein the control signal includes a graphics primitive, an elementary graphics building block.

4. The wireless image source of claim 3, wherein the graphics primitive includes attribute data related to a vertex of a triangle.

5. The wireless image source of claim 1, wherein the control signal includes a command to instruct a hardware engine to perform a special set up.

6. The wireless image source of claim 4, wherein the control signal further includes texture data to show surface details of the triangle.

7. The wireless image source of claim 1, wherein said computing device is adapted to be coupled electrically to a second display, and further includes a second graphics processing unit, said second graphics processing unit receiving the control signal generated by said processing unit, converting the control signal into image content to be provided to the second display for displaying a corresponding image on the second display, and transmitting a second response signal to said processing unit, said processing unit generating a subsequent control signal for transmission to said second graphics processing unit based, at least in part, on the second response signal.

8. The wireless image source of claim 1, wherein said driving device is adapted to be coupled electrically to a second remote display, said first graphics S processing unit providing the converted image content to the first and second remote displays for displaying a corresponding image on the first and second remote displays.

9. Thewireless image source of claim 1, wherein said driving device is adapted to be coupled electrically to a second remote display, and further includes a second graphics processing unit, said second graphics processing unit wirelessly receiving the control signal from said computing device through said second transceiver unit, converting the control signal into image content to be provided to the second remote display for displaying a corresponding image on the second remote display, and wirelessly transmitting a second response signal to said computing device through said second transceiverunjt, saidprocessingunitofsaidcomputing device receiving the second response signal through said first transceiver unit and generating a subsequent control signal for wireless transmission to said driving device based, at least in part, on the second response signal.

10. A computing device, comprising: a processing unit; and -a transceiver unit; wherein said processing unit generates a control signal convertible into image content, wirelessly outputs the control signal through saidtransceiver unit and generates a subsequent control signal based on a response signal received through said transceiver unit.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein said transceiver unit wirelessly transmits and receives signals through one of microwave, radio frequency, and optical technologies.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the control signal includes a graphics primitive, an elementary graphics building block..

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the graphics primitive includes attribute data related to a vertex of a triangle.

14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the control signal includes a command to instruct a hardware engine to perform a special set up.

15. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the control signal further includes texture data to show surface details of the triangle.

16. A driving device adapted to be coupled electrically to a remote display, comprising: a transceiver; and a graphics processing unit wirelessly receiving a control signal through said transceiver unit, converting the control signal into image content to be provided to the remote display for displaying a corresponding image on the remote display, and wirelesslytransmittjnga response signal through said transceiver unit for generating a subsequent control signal.

17. The driving device of claim 16, wherein wireless transmission of signals through said transceiver unit is performed through one of microwave, radio frequency, and optical technologies.

18. The driving device of claim 16, wherein the control signal includes a graphics primitive, an elementary graphics building block.

19. The driving device of claim 18, wherein the graphics primitive includes attribute data related to a vertex of a triangle.

20. The driving device of claim 16, wherein the control signal includes a command to instruct a hardware engine to perform a special set up.

21. The driving device of claim 19, wherein the control signal further includes texture data to show surface details of the triangle.

22. A wireless image source substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4.

23. A computing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4.

24. A driving device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4.