JPH0440518A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the system configuration being suitable for the use environment and the installation condition of a computer system by connecting a computer and plural sets of display devices on one piece of network by a communication equipment. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a communication equipment 11 which connects a computer 1 and plural sets of display devices 2 on one piece of network 7, and can obtain selectively display information, and a display information generating device 12 for converting the display information received selectively by the communication equipment 11 so that a display part 14 and its driver 13 can handle it. That is, the communication equipment 11 monitors data flowing through a line 7 and receives selectively only necessary data, and delivers the data to the display information generation device 12. The display information generating device 12 converts the received data to data which can drive the display part 14 and delivers it to a display part driver 13. In such a way, the number of sets which can be connected to the computer 1 can be changed freely, and also, a different display can be executed at every display device.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a display device for a computer.

U Prior Art] The display device in a conventional computer is connected to the computer by a signal line such as a cable or bus, and the signal flowing on the line transmits the same information to all the display devices connected to the line. was giving. Since the display devices use this information to display information, all display devices connected to one line display the same information.

[Problems and Objects to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned conventional technology has a problem in that the number of display devices connected to one computer and each displaying different information cannot be freely changed.

The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a display device that can freely change the number of devices that can be connected to a computer and that can display different images for each display device. It's there.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A display device of the present invention includes a communication device that connects a computer and a plurality of display devices on one network and makes it possible to selectively obtain display information; The present invention is characterized by having a display information creation device that converts display information selectively received by a communication device so that it can be handled by a display unit and its driver.

[Examples] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on Examples.

FIG. 1 shows a computer system including a display device of the present invention configured using a flat display. The system consists of a computer, 3 flat display devices 2 to 4, a keyboard 5, and a mouse 6. Calculator 1 and display device 2, display devices 2 and 3, and 3 and 4
During this time, the display device 4 and the keyboard 5, and the keyboard 5 and the mouse 6 are connected by communication lines 7, respectively, to form a network. keyboard 5 or mouse 6
The input from the computer 1 and the output of the processing results of the computer 1 are displayed on a designated display device. As can be seen from the configuration, there is no upper limit to the number of display devices that can be connected, and the number can be freely connected depending on the environment such as space.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of signal processing of the display device of the present invention. 7 is a communication line that connects the components of the system and forms a network. Reference numeral 11 denotes a communication device that selectively receives display information. 12 is a display information creation device. 13 is a display driver. 14 is a display section. The communication device 11 controls communication on the line 7, monitors the data flowing on the line 7, selectively receives only necessary data, and passes the data to the display information creation device 12. The display information creation device 12 converts the data received from the communication device 11 into data that allows the display driver 13 to drive the display 14 and passes the data to the display driver 13. The display driver 13 uses this data to control the display 14 to display necessary information.

FIG. 3 shows the format of a data packet of the display device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a communication device that processes this data packet. Here, it is assumed that the data flowing through the line is a packet. A data packet consists of a display device identifier and data. The display device identifier is the packet destination address and is at the beginning of the packet.

21 is a signal receiving means for controlling communication lines for reception, decoding signals on the lines, etc. Packet identification means 22 checks the destination address of the packet and determines whether to receive the packet and obtain display information. 2
3 is a data extraction means for extracting display information data from the packet.

24 is a communication control means for controlling communication. When it becomes necessary to transmit a packet by the communication control means 24 or the display information creation device 12, the packet creation means 2
5, a packet is created, and the signal transmitting means 26 performs communication line control for transmission, signal encoding, line driving, etc.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display device identifier, which is the destination address of the packet, is at the beginning of the packet. Therefore, the packet identifying means 22 of FIG. 4 can determine whether or not the packet should be received and processed by examining only the beginning of the packet.

Furthermore, all system components are bus-coupled by bypass line 27, and packets are equally transmitted to all system components. Therefore, the packet identification means 22 simply discards unnecessary packets without processing them.
There is no need to process the packet to send it to other system components.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a display information reception processing method in the embodiment of the display device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Now, assuming that the signal receiving means 21 detects that packet data is flowing on the communication line 7, decodes the signal, and receives the packet (1), the packet identifying means 22 inspects this packet from the beginning and processes it. (2). If the packet does not need to be processed, ignore it (3).

In the case of a packet to be processed, the data retrieval device 23
4) deletes the destination address, which is the display device identifier, at the beginning of the packet, creates a packet containing only display information data, and passes it to the display information creation device 12. The display information creation device 12 converts the data of the received packet into display information data that the display driver 13 can drive the display 14 (5). The display driver 13 uses this data to control the display 14 to display the necessary information (6).

It should be noted that the embodiment mentioned here is just one embodiment. For example, flat displays and C
A system configuration in which RTs are mixed is also possible, and it is possible to use different display types depending on the information desired to be displayed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the display device of the present invention can freely change the number of display devices that can be connected to a computer by connecting a computer and a plurality of display devices on one network using a communication device. This has the effect that a system configuration suitable for the use environment and installation conditions of the computer system can be easily created. For example, it is possible to freely change the number of display devices connected, which has the effect of reducing initial costs and increasing or decreasing the number of display devices as necessary. In addition, since the communication device selectively receives display information, it is possible to freely select the type of display device to be connected and display different information on each, so information tailored to the viewer can be displayed on the appropriate display device. It has the effect of being able to be displayed.

In addition, since the display information creation device converts the data, the computer can compress and send the display information, which has the effect of reducing the load on the computer when transmitting display information and the amount of communication on the communication line. have

Furthermore, if the display devices only display page units, each display device can be treated as if it were a single document, providing a human interface that feels like an unfolded document. Particularly, when using a word processor where you need to be conscious of output on paper, it is possible to work with consideration to page layout, and it is very effective as a more natural display format.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a computer system including a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of signal processing of the display device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a data packet format diagram of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a communication device that is part of the display device. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of display information reception by the display device of the embodiment. ■...Calculators 2 to 4...Flat display display device 5...Keyboard 6...Mouse 7...Communication line...Communication device 2...Display information creation device 3...Display Section Driver 4...Display Section and above Applicant Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Kizo Suzuki (and 1 other person) Figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] a) A display device in a computer system that includes an interface that receives signals sent from a computer, a display unit that displays this signal, and a driver thereof, and b) a computer as an interface. c) A communication device that connects a plurality of display devices onto a single network and enables selectively obtaining display information; A display device comprising a display information creation device that converts the information into a display device.