Abstract: Hot connection and disconnection of an external graphics cable with an information handling system provides automatic selection of an external graphics device or an internal graphics device for presentation of visual information. A graphics state module periodically stores visual information, such as display objects for recreating a display frame, and monitors an external graphics device port, such as a PCI Express port, to detect a change in connection state at the external graphics port. Upon detection of a connection or disconnection at the external graphics port, the graphics state module attempts to initiate graphics devices in a predetermined order and provides the stored visual information for presentation at successfully initiated graphics devices according to the predetermined order.

Abstract: An activity poller on an external graphics box is activated during inactivity in communication from a host information handling system to the external graphics box, such as over an external PCI Express cable. The activity poller periodically sends a memory read request from the external graphics box to the host information handling system through the PCI Express cable and analyzes the response to determine the operational state of the host information handling system. Failure of the host information handling system to respond to the polling for a predetermined time results in presentation of a locally generated diagnostic message at the external graphics box, such as message stored in shader instructions of the external graphics box.

Abstract: An improved system and method for selectively applying LCD Response Time Compensation (LRTC) to areas of an LCD panel containing video motion. Motion vectors contained within macroblocks in a compressed video stream are utilized to qualify whether individual pixels in a video frame are a candidate for LRTC. In various embodiments of the invention, computationally expensive LRTC can be selectively applied, pixel-by-pixel, which can result in portable information system power savings by reducing the number of computational cycles and the amount of graphics controller power overhead.

Abstract: An image processing engine receives an image data input and provides an image data output, which is displayable on a screen as the projected colored image. A camera is positioned to capture the projected colored image as a feedback data input. The feedback data input is provided by the camera to the image processing engine to control the image data output. A color error block computes a difference between a predefined value of the image data output and the feedback data input. A color compensation block adds the difference to the image data input to generate a compensated image data output, which appears to be projected on the screen that is white in color even though the screen is non-white in color. The image data input is provided by an information handling system (IHS).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically detecting whether an external monitor is connected to a video port of an information handling system. In various embodiments of the invention, detection of the display is accomplished by periodic polling to detect the presence of an Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) signal as an indication of whether a display has been plugged in or removed. In embodiments of the invention, hardware polling is implemented to provide the interrupt-driven mechanism, thereby relieving software of the performance degradation associated with polling the video port at very short time intervals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically determining whether display is attached to a display interface port. In an embodiment of the invention a display can be automatically detected by determining whether an EDID is present and, therefore, whether a display is present at the video interface port. Detection logic is operable to generate a DDC polling signal for use by the EDID circuitry in a display and to receive a DDC data signal generated by the EDID circuitry in response to the polling signal. The DDC data signal generated by the EDID circuitry in the display comprises a header portion and a data portion. The detection logic is operable to examine the header portion of the DDC data signal to determine whether a display is connected to the display interface port.

Abstract: A variable speed data processor includes a clock generator generating a plurality of clocks at different clock rates. Clock select circuitry synchronously selects one of the clocks as an output clock signal to data processing circuitry, based on a data activity indication. Activity logic generates the data activity indication based at least in part on the existence of data processing activity targeted to the data processing circuitry. When the data processing circuitry experiences bursty data processing activity, the clock rate can shift rapidly between the multiple clock rates, conserving power without substantially diminishing the availability of the data processing circuitry.