Receiving a particular identification file among an analog identification file and a digital identification file in response to a request to a dual-interface monitor

A method for communicating monitor information between a monitor and a computer system, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory and also having an analog video connector and a digital video connector, the monitor having an analog interface that receives analog video input, the monitor also having a digital interface that receives digital video input, comprising:

• sensing whether an initiating event has occurred;
• providing to the monitor, when the initiating event has occurred, a request for identification information;
• receiving an identification file from the monitor, the identification file being one of a plurality of identification files associated with the monitor, the plurality of identification files including an analog identification file and a digital identification file, the identification file including a video input definition;
• and
• using the video input definition to determine which of the digital video input and the analog video input to provide to the monitor.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a main memory coupled to the processor;
• a monitor coupled to the processor, the monitor including an analog identification file and a digital identification file;
• an analog video connector, the analog video connector being capable of being coupled to the monitor;
• a digital video connector, the digital video connector being capable of being coupled to the monitor;
• and
• program code stored by the main memory and executable by the processor,
• wherein the program code includes instructions for:
• sensing whether an initiating event has occurred;
• providing to the monitor, when the initiating event has occurred, a request for identification information;
• receiving a particular identification file;
• and
• using a video input definition to determine whether to provide to the monitor analog video input or whether to provide to the monitor digital video input, the video input definition being included in the particular identification file.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a means for sensing whether an initiating event has occurred;
• a means for providing to a dual-interface monitor, when the initiating event has occurred, a request for identification information;
• a means for receiving a particular identification file;
• a means for using a video input definition to determine whether to provide to the monitor analog video input or whether to provide to the monitor digital video input, the video input definition being included in the particular identification file;
• a means for determining whether the monitor is connected to both an analog video connector and a digital video;
• and
• a means for selecting a default identification file if the monitor is connected to both the analog video connector and the digital video connector, the default identification file being included in a plurality of identification files, the plurality of identification files including an analog identification file and a digital identification file;
• a means for providing the default identification file to a computer system if the monitor is connected to both the analog video connector and the digital video connector;
• a means for providing to the computer system a particular identification file, if the monitor is not connected to both the analog video connector and the digital video connector, the particular identification file being included in the plurality of identification files.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a means for sensing whether an initiating event has occurred;
• a means for providing to a dual-interface monitor, when the initiating event has occurred, a request for identification information;
• a means for receiving a particular identification file comprising:
• a means for providing the analog identification file if the monitor is connected to the analog video connector;
• and
• a means for providing the digital identification file if the monitor is connected to the digital video connector;
• and
• a means for using a video input definition to determine whether to provide to the monitor analog video input or whether to provide to the monitor digital video input, the video input definition being included in the particular identification file.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a means for sensing whether an initiating event has occurred;
• a means for providing to a dual-interface monitor, when the initiating event has occurred, a request for identification information;
• a means for receiving a particular identification file;
• and
• a means for using a video input definition to determine whether to provide to the monitor analog video input or whether to provide to the monitor digital video input, the video input definition being included in the particular identification file;
• wherein:
• the particular identification file further comprises:
• an analog identification file having an analog Extended Display Identification Data Standard (EDID) file;
• and
• a digital identification file having a digital EDID file.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a means for sensing whether an initiating event has occurred;
• a means for providing to a dual-interface monitor, when the initiating event has occurred, a request for identification information;
• a means for receiving a particular identification file;
• and
• a means for using a video input definition to determine whether to provide to the monitor analog video input or whether to provide to the monitor digital video input, the video input definition being included in the particular identification file;
• wherein:
• the particular identification file further comprises:
• an analog identification file having an analog Enhanced Extended Display Identification Data Standard (EDID) file;
• and
• a digital identification file having a digital EDID file.