USB Display Interface Components for Pre-OS Boot Output
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer systems require dedicated hardware and complex connections for display output, limiting cost-effectiveness and usability, especially during boot processes and operational stages before the operating system is fully loaded.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing display interface components adapted to transmit display data over general-purpose data transmission mediums like USB, allowing output during various operational stages, including pre-OS and OS stages, using firmware and operating system configurations to manage display data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated video hardware and specialised connections (VGA, DVI, HDMI) are used for display output, then display signal transmission is reliable and stable, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a general-purpose data transmission medium (USB) to perform the specialized function of display signal transmission. The USB interface, originally designed for data transfer, is made multi-functional by adding display output capability through software display drivers, eliminating the need for dedicated video hardware and specialised display connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/hardware-based display connection system (dedicated video hardware, specialised connectors) with a software-based solution. Software display drivers running on the general-purpose data transmission medium substitute for traditional video adapter hardware, converting mechanical connection requirements into software-controlled data transmission.
2Device complexity
If software display drivers are used to transmit display data over USB, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but display output is unavailable during boot process and early operational stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by loading and executing software display drivers during the boot process, before the operating system is fully loaded. This ensures that display output capability is established in advance, allowing the display to function during early operational stages when traditional hardware-based display drivers may not yet be available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the display interface adaptable to different operational stages. The system dynamically switches between different display driver implementations - using firmware-level or early-boot software drivers during boot, and transitioning to full operating system display drivers once the OS is loaded, ensuring continuous display functionality throughout the system's operational lifecycle.
3Ease of operation
If USB-connected displays are used as primary displays during boot process, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of display output may be compromised due to dependency on operating system services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the display driver functionality into distinct segments or layers that operate at different system levels. This includes firmware-level display support, early-boot software display drivers, and full operating system display drivers. Each segment handles display output requirements appropriate to its operational context, ensuring reliability at each stage while maintaining ease of operation through unified USB connectivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system to enable a computer to provide output to a display over a general-purpose data transmission medium, such as USB. The system includes provision of a plurality of display interface components, each display interface component adapted to receive display data and transmission of the display data to the display via the general-purpose data transmission medium. Each component is associated with a respective stage of operation of the system. The system is configured to use a respective one of the display interface components during each of a plurality of distinct operational stages.