Method of and apparatus for partitioning, scaling and displaying video and/or graphics across several display devices

A method of displaying images on a multiple display configuration including a plurality of display devices comprising the steps of:

• a. determining capabilities and characteristics of the display devices;
• b. partitioning an image into a plurality of image sections each corresponding to a display device within the multiple display configuration;
• c. assigning each image section to a corresponding display device;
• d. capturing each image section corresponding to each display device from an original data stream;
• e. scaling each image section for each display device thereby forming scaled image sections corresponding to each display device;
• f. displaying the corresponding scaled image sections at each display device at an appropriate time thereby forming a magnified image across the multiple display configuration representing the image;
• g. encoding each scaled image section into an encoded data stream representing the scaled image section;
• h. transmitting each encoded data stream to each appropriate display device, wherein the step of transmitting each encoded data stream includes combining data representing the scaled image section for an appropriate display device in a stream of data packets, each including an address value corresponding to a memory location within the appropriate display device;
• and
• i. transmitting a trigger packet on occurrence of a trigger event, the trigger packet including a trigger address value corresponding to a trigger memory location within the appropriate display device;
• wherein the steps of capturing and scaling are performed by a master device on each appropriate image section.

A method of transmitting images to display devices within a multiple display configuration comprising the steps of:

• a. logically partitioning an image into a plurality of image sections each corresponding to a display device within the multiple display configuration;
• b. instructing each display device to physically partition and capture an appropriate image section corresponding to the display device from an original data stream;
• c. transmitting the original data stream to each display device;
• d. determining a latency value for each of the display devices;
• e. determining a worst case latency value for the display devices;
• and
• f. communicating the worst case latency value to each of the display devices.

A method of displaying images on a multiple display configuration including a plurality of display devices and a master device comprising the steps of:

• a. partitioning an image into a plurality of image sections each corresponding to a display device within the multiple display configuration;
• b. assigning each image section to a corresponding display device:
• c. capturing each image section corresponding to each display device from an original data stream at the master device;
• d. scaling each image section for each display device thereby forming scaled image sections corresponding to each display device at the master device;
• e. transmitting each scaled image section to each appropriate display device, wherein the step of transmitting each scaled image section includes combining data representing the scaled image section for an appropriate display device in a stream of data packets, each including an address value corresponding to a memory location within the appropriate display device;
• f. displaying the corresponding scaled image sections at each display device at an appropriate time thereby forming a magnified image across the multiple display configuration representing the image;
• and
• g. transmitting a trigger packet on occurrence of a trigger event, the trigger packet including a trigger address value corresponding to a trigger memory location within the appropriate display device.

A multiple display configuration system comprising:

• a. a plurality of display devices each comprising:
• i. a display communications circuit configured for receiving and transmitting data;
• ii. a capturing circuit coupled to the display communications circuit for capturing an image section assigned to the display for each image within an original data stream;
• iii. a scaling circuit coupled to the capturing circuit for scaling each captured image section thereby forming a scaled image section;
• and
• iv. a display circuit coupled to the scaling circuit for displaying the scaled image section;
• and
• b. a master device coupled to the plurality of display devices comprising:
• i. a master communications circuit configured for receiving and transmitting data;
• and
• ii. a control circuit coupled to the master communications circuit for partitioning an image into a plurality of image sections each corresponding to one of the display devices and assigning each image section to a corresponding display device.