Display control system

The display control system addresses the challenge of complex setup for expanding laptop PC screens by automatically recognizing external devices as extended displays, enhancing user convenience and simplifying the process.

WO2025220076A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2025-10-23PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/JP2024/015004
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-04-15
Publication Date
2025-10-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in expanding the desktop screen of laptop PCs by connecting external devices or networks, requiring complex setup work and lacking user convenience, especially when using in-vehicle displays like car navigation systems.

Method used

A display control system that automatically recognizes external devices as extended displays based on device or network connections, using an electronic device, external display terminals, and a relay device to generate and transmit virtual augmented screen data.

Benefits of technology

Enables seamless expansion of the desktop screen using external devices as extended displays, improving user convenience and simplifying setup processes.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A display control system according to the present disclosure comprises: electronic equipment having a control unit that generates virtual extended screen data on the basis of detection of connection of a wired or wireless network or equipment; one or a plurality of external display terminals, each of which has a display unit and displays a virtual extended screen on the display unit on the basis of the virtual extended screen data; and a relay device that is connected wirelessly or wiredly to the electronic equipment and the one or plurality of external display terminals, receives the virtual extended screen data from the electronic equipment, and transmits the virtual extended screen data to the external display terminals.
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Description

Display Control System

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display control system.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art It is known that usability can be improved by connecting an external display to an electronic device such as a laptop PC to expand the desktop screen of the laptop PC.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing device that, when one of multiple virtual desktops is displayed on an LCD and it detects that an external display has been connected to an external display connection terminal, reads the virtual desktop stored with the external display as the display destination device from the HDD and displays it on the actual display screen of the external display.

[0004] JP 2010-267142 A

[0005] The information processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 still has room for improvement in terms of expanding the desktop screen based on the connection of a device other than an external display or a network connection.

[0006] The present disclosure provides a display control system that can extend the desktop screen based on device or network connection.

[0007] A display control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an electronic device having a control unit that generates virtual augmented screen data based on detection of a wired or wireless network or device connection; one or more external display terminals having a display unit that displays a virtual augmented screen on the display unit based on the virtual augmented screen data; and a relay device that is connected wirelessly or wired to the electronic device and the one or more external display terminals, receives the virtual augmented screen data from the electronic device, and transmits the virtual augmented screen data to the external display terminal.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a display control system can be provided that can expand a desktop screen based on a device or network connection.

[0009] 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a display control system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the display control system 1; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the display control system according to a first modification of the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the display control system according to a second embodiment; FIG.

[0010] (Background to the Disclosure) Portable electronic devices such as laptop PCs are sometimes used in automobiles, and in such cases, there is a demand for using the display of an in-vehicle device such as a car navigation system or a tablet terminal as an extended display for the laptop PC.

[0011] However, it is difficult to have the display of an external device such as a car navigation system or tablet terminal recognized as an extended display simply by connecting it to a laptop PC, which requires the user to perform complicated setup work, and there is a need for further improvements in user convenience.

[0012] Therefore, the present inventors have considered automatically recognizing the display of an external device as an extended display of a laptop PC based on detection of the device or network connection, and have arrived at the following invention.

[0013] (First embodiment) [Overall configuration] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a display control system 1 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the display control system 1 of Fig. 1.

[0014] 1 and 2 , the display control system 1 includes an electronic device 10, an external display terminal 20, and a relay device 30 connected to the electronic device 10 and the external display terminal 20. In the display control system 1, the electronic device 10 and the external display terminal 20 are connected via the relay device 30, and the external display terminal 20 can be used as an extended display for the electronic device 10.

[0015] The electronic device 10 is a portable terminal such as a laptop PC or a tablet terminal, and has a display unit 12 such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device 10 is described as a laptop PC.

[0016] When it is detected that a device or a network has been connected to the electronic device 10, virtual extended screen data is generated in the electronic device 10 and transmitted to the external display terminal 20 connected to the electronic device 10 via the device or the network. By transmitting the virtual extended screen data to the external display terminal 20, the external display terminal 20 can be used as an extended display for the electronic device 10.

[0017] The extended display of the electronic device 10 refers to a display unit that can be used by expanding the screen area of ​​the display unit 12 of the electronic device 10. In the present embodiment, for example, a display of a car navigation system, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone can be used as the expanded area of ​​the display unit 12 of the electronic device 10.

[0018] The virtual extended screen data is data that constitutes a screen image of the extended screen area of ​​the display unit 12 of the electronic device 10. In the present embodiment, when the electronic device 10 detects a wired or wireless connection to an external device or a network connection, the virtual extended screen data is generated in the electronic device 10.

[0019] The electronic device 10 is an electronic device such as a laptop PC or a tablet terminal, and includes, for example, a control unit 11 and a display unit 12. The control unit 11 is a processor for controlling the electronic device 10, and is configured, for example, by a processor that realizes predetermined functions by executing programs stored in an internal storage device. The control unit 11 is not limited to a processor that performs predetermined functions through cooperation between hardware and software, but may also be a hardware circuit designed to realize the predetermined functions. In other words, the control unit 11 can be configured by various processors such as a microcomputer, a CPU, an MPU, a GPU, a DSP, an FPGA, an ASIC, etc. In this embodiment, the control unit 11 generates virtual augmented screen data based on detection of a wired or wireless network or device connection.

[0020] The external display terminal 20 is a device having a display unit 21. The external display terminal 20 may be, for example, a device including a car navigation system, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone, and may be a terminal that is not normally used as an external display for an electronic device. The external display terminal 20 displays a virtual extended screen on the display unit 21 based on virtual extended screen data. The virtual extended screen is a screen that extends the display unit 12 of the electronic device 10 and is displayed on the display unit 21 of the external display terminal 20. By displaying the virtual extended screen on the display unit 21 of the external display terminal 20, the display unit 12 of the electronic device 10 can be extended to the display unit 21 of the external display terminal 20, resulting in a larger display unit. In order to distinguish between the display unit 12 of the electronic device 10 and the display unit 21 of the external display terminal 20, the display unit 12 of the electronic device 10 will be referred to as the first display unit 12 and the display unit 21 of the external display terminal 20 in this specification.

[0021] The second display unit 21 may be, for example, a touch panel display. In this case, input on the touch panel is transmitted to the electronic device 10 via the relay device 30.

[0022] The relay device 30 is connected to the electronic device 10 and the external display terminal 20, receives virtual extended screen data generated by the electronic device 10, and transmits the received virtual extended screen data to the external display terminal 20. The electronic device 10 and the relay device 30 are connected via a wired or wireless connection. Similarly, the external display terminal 20 and the relay device 30 are connected via a wired or wireless connection. FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the relay device 30 and the electronic device 10 are connected via a wired connection, and the relay device 30 and the external display terminal 20 are connected via a wired connection. The relay device 30 is configured, for example, by a device including a processor that realizes a predetermined function by executing a program stored in an internal storage device. The relay device 30 is not limited to a device that performs a predetermined function through cooperation between hardware and software, and may be a hardware circuit designed to realize the predetermined function. In other words, the relay device 30 can be configured by a device including various processors such as a microcomputer, a CPU, an MPU, a GPU, a DSP, an FPGA, or an ASIC.

[0023] As described above, in the display control system 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 11 of the electronic device 10 generates virtual extended screen data when it detects a connection between the electronic device 10 and the relay device 30. The generated virtual extended screen data is transmitted to the external display terminal 20 via the relay device 30, and the virtual extended screen is displayed on the external display terminal 20. In other words, in the display control system 1 of the present embodiment, the detection of a connection between the electronic device 10 and the relay device 30 serves as a trigger to enable the electronic device 10 to use the second display unit 21 of the external display terminal 20 as an extended display.

[0024] [Operation] The operation of the display control system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the display control system 1.

[0025] In step S1, the control unit 11 of the electronic device 10 detects a network or device connection. Specifically, the control unit 11 detects that the electronic device 10 has been connected to a network or that another electronic device has been connected to the electronic device 10. In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 detects an electrical connection between the electronic device 10 and the relay device 30 as the other electronic device.

[0026] When the control unit 11 detects the connection between the electronic device 10 and the relay device 30, the control unit 11 generates virtual extended screen data in step S2. The control unit 11 transmits the generated virtual extended screen data to the relay device 30.

[0027] When the control unit 11 transmits the virtual extended screen data to the relay device 30, in step S3, the relay device 30 receives the virtual extended screen data generated by the control unit 11. Next, in step S4, the relay device 30 transmits the received virtual extended screen data to the external display terminal 20.

[0028] When the relay device 30 transmits the virtual extended screen data to the external display terminal 20, in step S5, the external display terminal 20 displays the virtual extended screen on the second display unit 21 based on the virtual extended screen data, and ends the processing.

[0029] [Effects] According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0030] The display control system 1 includes an electronic device 10, an external display terminal 20, and a relay device 30. The electronic device 10 has a control unit 11 that generates virtual extended screen data based on detection of a wired or wireless network or device connection. The external display terminal 20 has a display unit 21 and displays a virtual extended screen on the display unit 21 based on the virtual extended screen data. The relay device 30 is connected to the electronic device 10 and the external display terminal 20 wirelessly or wiredly, receives the virtual extended screen data from the electronic device 10, and transmits the virtual extended screen data to the external display terminal 20.

[0031] With this configuration, it is possible to provide a display control system that can expand a desktop screen based on a device connection. The control unit 11 of the electronic device 10 generates virtual expanded screen data when detecting a connection with the relay device 30. The relay device 30 receives the virtual expanded screen data from the electronic device 10 and transmits it to the external display terminal 20. The external display terminal 20 displays a virtual expanded screen on the display unit 21 based on the virtual expanded screen data. In this way, detection of a connection between the electronic device 10 and the relay device 30 can be used as a trigger to display a virtual expanded screen that expands the desktop screen.

[0032] The external display terminal 20 includes at least one of a car navigation system, a tablet terminal, and a smartphone.

[0033] With this configuration, the display unit of the terminal, which is not normally used as an external display, can be used as an extended screen.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the display control system 1 includes one external display terminal 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. The display control system 1 may include two or more external display terminals 20. By connecting a plurality of external display terminals 20, the expandability of the electronic device 10 can be improved.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the electronic device 10 and the relay device 30 are connected by wire, but the present invention is not limited to this. The electronic device 10 and the relay device 30 may be connected wirelessly. The electronic device 10 and the relay device 30 may also be connected via another device.

[0036] Fig. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a display control system 1A according to a first modification of the first embodiment. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the display control system 1A of Fig. 4.

[0037] 4 and 5 , in the display control system 1A, the relay device 130 is connected to a cradle 140 connectable to the electronic device 10. In the display control system 1A, the electronic device 10 and the relay device 130 are connected via the cradle 140. The relay device 130 and the cradle 140 are connected in advance, and when the electronic device 10 is connected to the cradle 140, the control unit 11 can detect the connection between the electronic device 10 and the relay device 130 via the cradle 140. In this case, the control unit 11 of the electronic device 10 can generate virtual extended screen data based on the detection of the connection between the electronic device 10 and the cradle 140.

[0038] The term "cradle" refers to a device that is connected to an electronic device such as a laptop PC to charge the electronic device or expand the input / output terminals of the electronic device, and is also called a docking station or port replicator. For example, when using the electronic device 10 in a car, connecting the electronic device 10 to an in-car cradle 140 allows the electronic device 10 to be fixed in place inside the car. For example, when the external display terminal 20 connected to the relay device 130 is a car navigation system, the display (second display unit 21) of the car navigation system can be used as an extended display for the electronic device 10.

[0039] (Embodiment 2) Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In Embodiment 2, components that are the same as or equivalent to those in Embodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, in Embodiment 2, descriptions that overlap with those in Embodiment 1 will be omitted.

[0040] 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a display control system 1B according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the relay device 230 includes a storage unit 232. The second embodiment also differs from the first embodiment in that the relay device 230 acquires display unit information and stores it in the storage unit 232. The other configurations of the display control system 1B are similar to those of the display control system 1 described in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described again.

[0041] 6, the relay device 230 has a storage unit 232. The storage unit 232 is a storage device that stores display unit information of the external display terminal 20, which will be described later. The storage unit 232 is configured, for example, by a semiconductor storage device such as a flash memory or a solid state drive (SSD), a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), or a volatile memory such as an SRAM or DRAM.

[0042] The relay device 230 can acquire display unit information related to at least one of the size and resolution of the second display unit 21 from the external display terminal 20 and store the acquired display unit information in the storage unit 232 of the relay device 230. The display unit information is information including, for example, at least one of the resolution, aspect ratio, and number of pixels of the second display unit 21. The relay device 230 modifies the virtual extended screen data received from the electronic device 10 based on the display unit information stored in the storage unit 232 and transmits the modified data to the external display terminal 20. Modification based on the display unit information includes, for example, enlarging or reducing the virtual extended screen data generated by the control unit 11 of the electronic device 10 to match the size or resolution of the second display unit 21 based on the display unit information.

[0043] For example, when the relay device 230 and the external display terminal 20 are connected, the display unit information is transmitted from the external display terminal 20 to the relay device 230 and stored in the storage unit 232. Alternatively, the relay device 230 may periodically receive the display unit information from the external display terminal 20.

[0044] [Effects] According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0045] The relay device 230 acquires display unit information relating to at least one of the size and resolution of the display unit 21 from the external display terminal 20. The relay device 230 changes the virtual extended screen data based on the display unit information and transmits the data to the external display terminal 20.

[0046] With this configuration, even if the external display terminal 20 connected to the relay device 230 is changed and the size or resolution of the second display unit 21 is changed, the virtual extended screen data can be adapted to the size or resolution of the second display unit 21 of the external display terminal 20 connected to the relay device 30.

[0047] (Embodiment 3) Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. In Embodiment 3, components that are the same as or equivalent to those in Embodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals. In Embodiment 3, descriptions that overlap with those in Embodiment 1 will be omitted.

[0048] 7 is a block diagram illustrating a display control system 1C according to a third embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the electronic device 310 has the storage unit 313 instead of the relay device 30. The other configurations of the display control system 1C are similar to those of the display control system 1B described in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described again.

[0049] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 , the electronic device 310 includes a storage unit 313. The storage unit 313 stores display unit information related to at least one of the size and resolution of the display unit 21 of the external display terminal 20. The display unit information includes, for example, at least one of the resolution, aspect ratio, and number of pixels of the second display unit 21. The display unit information may be stored in advance in the storage unit 313 by, for example, a user input. Alternatively, when a connection between the electronic device 310 and the relay device 30 is detected, the control unit 311 may acquire the display unit information from the external display terminal 20 via the relay device 30. When multiple external display terminals 20 are connected to the relay device 330, the storage unit 313 can store display unit information corresponding to each of the multiple external display terminals 20.

[0050] The control unit 311 of the electronic device 310 generates virtual extended screen data based on the display unit information stored in the storage unit 313. When the display unit information of a plurality of external display terminals 20 is stored in the storage unit 313, the control unit 311 may generate a plurality of pieces of virtual extended screen data corresponding to the respective pieces of display unit information. The generated virtual extended screen data is transmitted to the external display terminal 20 via the relay device 30.

[0051] [Effects] According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0052] The electronic device 310 has a storage unit 313 that stores display unit information related to at least one of the size and resolution of the display unit of the external display terminal 20. The control unit 311 generates virtual extended screen data for the external display terminal 20 based on the display unit information stored in the storage unit 313.

[0053] With this configuration, the control unit 311 can generate virtual extended screen data that matches the size or resolution of the display unit 21 of the external display terminal 20 .

[0054] (Fourth Embodiment) A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. In the fourth embodiment, the same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals. In the fourth embodiment, descriptions that overlap with those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0055] FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a display control system 1D according to a fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the relay device 430 includes a communication module 433 connectable to the network NW. The fourth embodiment also differs from the first embodiment in that the electronic device 410 includes a communication module 414, and the control unit 411 of the electronic device 410 generates virtual extended screen data based on detection of a connection between the electronic device 410 and the network NW. In the fourth embodiment, the relay device 430 and the external display terminal 20 are directly connected by, for example, a cable. The remaining configuration of the display control system 1D is similar to that of the display control system 1 described in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 8, the relay device 430 has a communication module 433 and is connected to the network NW by wire or wirelessly.

[0057] The communication module 433 includes a network interface circuit and connects the relay device 430 to the network NW wirelessly or via a wire using a predetermined communication standard such as mobile communication such as a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a long term evolution (LTE), or 5G, or short-range wireless communication such as power line communication or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0058] Similarly, in this embodiment, the electronic device 410 also has a communication module 414 that can be connected to the network NW by wire or wirelessly. Therefore, the electronic device 410 and the relay device 430 can communicate with each other via the network NW. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the relay device 430 and the external display terminal 420 are connected without going through the network NW. The communication module 414 has the same configuration as the communication module 433.

[0059] The control unit 411 of the electronic device 410 generates virtual extended screen data when triggered by detection of a connection between the electronic device 410 and the network NW via the communication module 414. The generated virtual extended screen data is received by the relay device 430 via the network NW.

[0060] [Effects] According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0061] The relay device 430 has a communication module that can be connected to the network NW by wire or wirelessly. The control unit 411 generates virtual extended screen data based on the detection of the connection between the electronic device 410 and the network NW.

[0062] With this configuration, the control unit 411 of the electronic device 410 can generate virtual extended screen data when the detection of a connection between the electronic device 410 and the network NW is used as a trigger.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the relay device 430 and the external display terminal 20 are directly connected without going through the network NW, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0064] 9 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a display control system 1E according to a first modification of the fourth embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 9 , the external display terminal 520 may have a communication module 522, and the relay device 430 and the external display terminal 520 may be connected via a network NW. The electronic device 410, the relay device 430, and the external display terminal 520 are connected to the network NW via the communication modules 414, 433, and 522, respectively. Therefore, even if the relay device 430 is installed in a location distant from the electronic device 410 and the external display terminal 520, for example, the control unit 411 can detect the connection between the electronic device 410 and the network NW and cause the external display terminal 520 to display a virtual extended screen.

[0065] (Embodiment 5) Embodiment 5 will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In Embodiment 5, the same or equivalent configurations as those in Embodiment 4 will be denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, in Embodiment 5, descriptions that overlap with those in Embodiment 4 will be omitted.

[0066] Fig. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a display control system 1F according to a fifth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 10, the fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in that an electronic device 610 has a built-in relay device 630. The fifth embodiment also differs from the fourth embodiment in that the relay device 630 is connected to the network NW via a communication module 614 of the electronic device 610. The remaining configuration of the display control system 1F is the same as that of the display control system 1D described in the fourth embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0067] 10 , in this embodiment, the relay device 630 is built into the electronic device 610. The control unit 611 of the electronic device 610 generates virtual extended screen data based on detection of a connection between the electronic device 610 and the network NW via the communication module 614.

[0068] By incorporating the relay device 630 into the electronic device 610, the system configuration can be simplified.

[0069] Fig. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a display control system 1G according to a first modification of the fifth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the external display terminal 520 may have a communication module 522, and may be configured to be connectable to the network NW via the communication module 522. In this case, the relay device 630 and the external display terminal 520 are connected via the network NW.

[0070] (Additional Notes) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques.

[0071] (Technology 1) A display control system comprising: an electronic device having a control unit that generates virtual extended screen data based on detection of a wired or wireless network or device connection; one or more external display terminals having a display unit that displays a virtual extended screen on the display unit based on the virtual extended screen data; and a relay device that is connected wirelessly or wired to the electronic device and the one or more external display terminals, receives the virtual extended screen data from the electronic device, and transmits the virtual extended screen data to the external display terminal.

[0072] With this configuration, it is possible to provide a display control system that can expand the desktop screen based on device or network connection.

[0073] (Technology 2) A display control system as described in Technology 1, in which the electronic device has a memory unit that stores display unit information regarding at least one of the size or resolution of the display unit of each of one or more external display terminals, and the control unit generates the virtual extended screen data for each of the one or more external display terminals based on the display unit information stored in the memory unit.

[0074] With this configuration, the control unit of the electronic device can generate virtual extended screen data that matches the size or resolution of the display unit of the external display terminal, thereby allowing the external display terminal to display the virtual extended screen with an appropriate size or resolution.

[0075] (Technology 3) A display control system described in Technology 1 or 2, in which the relay device acquires display unit information from one or more external display terminals regarding at least one of the size or resolution of the display unit of each of the one or more external display terminals, modifies the virtual extended screen data based on the display unit information, and transmits the modified data to the one or more external display terminals.

[0076] With this configuration, the relay device can change the extended screen data generated by the control unit of the electronic device to match the size or resolution of the external display terminal, thereby allowing the external display terminal to display a virtual extended screen with an appropriate size or resolution.

[0077] (Technology 4) A display control system described in any one of technologies 1 to 3, in which the relay device is connected to a cradle that can be connected to an electronic device, and the control unit generates virtual extended screen data based on detection of a connection between the electronic device and the cradle.

[0078] With this configuration, the generation of virtual extended screen data can be triggered by the detection of connection between the electronic device and the cradle. Therefore, for example, the generation of virtual extended screen data can be triggered by the detection of connection of the electronic device to the cradle inside a car, and the virtual extended screen can be displayed on the display of the car navigation system.

[0079] (Technology 5) A display control system described in any one of technologies 1 to 4, wherein the relay device has a communication module that can be connected to the network via wired or wireless connection, and the control unit generates virtual extended screen data based on detection of a connection between the electronic device and the network.

[0080] With this configuration, the control unit can generate virtual extended screen data based on the detection of the connection between the electronic device and the network.

[0081] (Technology 6) A display control system according to any one of technologies 1 to 5, wherein the external display terminal includes at least one of a car navigation system, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone.

[0082] With this configuration, electronic devices that are not normally used as external displays can be used as external displays.

[0083] (Technology 7) The display control system according to any one of technologies 1 to 6, wherein the relay device is built into an electronic device.

[0084] Such a configuration can simplify the display control system.

[0085] The present disclosure can be widely applied to systems including electronic devices such as laptop PCs.

[0086] 10, 310, 410, 610 Electronic device 11, 311, 411, 611 Control unit 12 Display unit (first display unit) 20, 520, 620 External display terminal 21 Display unit (second display unit) 30, 130, 230, 430, 630 Relay device 140 Cradle 232 Storage unit 313 Storage unit 414, 433, 522 Communication module

Claims

1. A display control system comprising: an electronic device having a control unit that generates virtual augmented screen data based on detection of a wired or wireless network or device connection; one or more external display terminals having a display unit that displays a virtual augmented screen on the display unit based on the virtual augmented screen data; and a relay device that is connected to the electronic device and the one or more external display terminals wirelessly or wiredly, receives the virtual augmented screen data from the electronic device, and transmits the virtual augmented screen data to the external display terminal.

2. The display control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a memory unit that stores display unit information regarding at least one of the size or resolution of the display unit of each of the one or more external display terminals, and the control unit generates the virtual extended screen data for each of the one or more external display terminals based on the display unit information stored in the memory unit.

3. A display control system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the relay device acquires display unit information from the one or more external display terminals regarding at least one of the size or resolution of the display unit of each of the one or more external display terminals, modifies the virtual extended screen data based on the display unit information, and transmits the modified data to the one or more external display terminals.

4. A display control system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the relay device is connected to a cradle connectable to the electronic device, and the control unit generates the virtual extended screen data based on detection of a connection between the electronic device and the cradle.

5. A display control system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the relay device has a communication module that can be connected to a network via wired or wireless connection, and the control unit generates the virtual extended screen data based on detection of a connection between the electronic device and the network.

6. The display control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the external display terminal includes at least one of a car navigation system, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone.

7. The display control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the relay device is built into the electronic device.

Citation Information

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