Patent · US Expired

Method and system for dynamically selecting video controllers present within a computer system

US6304244A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
7References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 24, 1998
Grant dateOct 16, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 24, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG09G2360/06
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system in a computer having a primary video controller for dynamically selecting an alternative video controller present within the computer. Initially, a diagnostic is performed to determine if alternative video controllers are connected to the computer system. A user is thereafter prompted to select an alternative video controller, if at least one alternative video controller is detected. The primary video controller is then temporarily disabled, in response to a selection of an alternative video controller. The alternative video controller is then automatically designated as the primary video controller, in response to the disabling of the primary video controller, such that the alternative video controller may be temporarily utilized as a primary video controller without altering internal computer system hardware settings or power cycling the computer system. The primary video controller may be implemented initially as an on-board video controller, while the alternative video controllers may be connected to the computer via adapter peripheral cards and slots.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.