US0077289l 1B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`
`Lacy et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,728,911 B2
`Jun. 1, 2010
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`POSITIVELY INDICATING TO USER
`\‘V1-IETHER SlGl\AL HAS BEEl\ l)E'1‘EC'l‘ED
`ON EACH VIDEO INPUT
`
`Inventors: Reed H. Lacy, Corvallis, OR QTS); Guy
`C. Heagney, Albany, OR (US)
`
`Assignee: Hewlett-Packarwl Development
`Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. l54(h) by 919 days.
`
`6,191,760 B1
`6,346,927 B1
`6,473,135 131"‘
`6,587,154 B1*
`6,753,928 B1*
`7,298,424 B2*
`7,372,506 132*
`2002/0171762 Al
`2003/0197783 A1
`2004/1145680
`2004/0239816 Al
`2004/0252237 Al’*
`2005/0018084 Al”
`2005/0134746 Al*
`
`2/2001
`2/2002
`10/2002
`7/2003
`6/2004
`1 1/2007
`5/2008
`I 1/2002
`10/2003
`7/2004
`12/2004
`12/2004
`1/2005
`6/2005
`
`Jun ct al.
`‘Iran et al.
`lwamura ......... ..
`Anderson et al,
`Gospel el al.
`..
`Oh ..... ..
`Cho .
`Maxson ct al.
`Woody, Jr. ct al.
`Bennett
`Ando
`Park el al.
`Clio
`Brandt
`
`.. 348/706
`348/553
`.. 348/569
`348/706
`.. 348/569
`
`.. 348/552
`348/569
`.. 348/705
`
`Appl. No.2 11/043,533
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 26, 2005
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2006/0164561A1
`
`Jul. 27, 2006
`
`I11t. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04N 5/50
`(2006.01)
`H041V 5/268
`U.S. Cl.
`..................... .. 348/706; 348/569: 348/563;
`348/705
`348/705—706,
`Field of Classification Search
`348/563465, 569, 552, 554, 734, 570, 731—732,
`348/722, 725; H04N 5/50, 5/268
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PA1'I:'N'1'D()CUMI:'N1'S
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`201 16 386 U1
`
`12/2001
`
`OTHER PI IRI JCATIONS
`
`Dux Computer Digest. Frequently Asked Questions: Monitors.
`htlp://www.duxcw.corrL’faq/mon, Dec. 23, 2002.
`iScai1 Pro, Review at WWW.laaudiofile.com/iscanpro .htn1l, product
`data sheet, product manual, all references no later than .I11n. 2001.
`
`"‘ cited by examiner
`Primary Exam!r1er—Trang U Tran
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method detects whether a signal is present on each of a
`plurality of Video inputs. The method po sitivcly indicates to a
`user whether a signal has been detected on each of the plu-
`rality of Video inputs.
`
`5,572,263 A *
`
`II/I996 Kim et al.
`
`................. .. 348/705
`
`26 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`DEFECT WHETHER A SIGNAL I5
`PRESENT ON EACH VIDEO INPUT
`
`POSITIVELY INDICATE TO USER WHEIHERA SIGNAL HAS BEEN
`5?
`505
`DETECTED ON EACH VIDEO INPUT
`PROVIDE OSD MESSAGE
`506
`
`UT
`DISPLAY REPRESENTATION OF EACH VIDEO INP
`510
`HIGHLIGHT REPRESENTATIONS OF VIDEO INPUTS
`ON WHICH SIGNALS HAVE BEEN DETECTED
`
`HIGHLIGHT REPRESENTATION OF CURRENTLY
`ACTIVE VIDEO INPUT IN DIFFERENT MANNER
`514
`V
`RECEIVE USER INPUT TO DIFFERENTLY SELECT THE
`CURRENTLY ACTIVE VIDEO INPUT
`
`- AND/OR -
`
`51$
`TURN ON LIGHTS (DRRESPONDING TO VIDEO
`INPUTS ON WHICH SIGNALS HAVE BEEN DETECTED
`
`./
`
`MS_Biscotti_0061741
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 1, 2010
`
`Sheet 1 of5
`
`Us 7,728,911 B2
`
`FIG1
`
`100
`
`VIDEO
`
`SOURCE
`
`DEVICE
`
`EA
`
`VIDEO
`
`SOURCE
`
`DEVICE
`104B
`
`VIDEO
`SOURCE
`
`DEVICE
`104C
`
`VIDEO
`
`SOURCE
`
`DEVICE
`104D
`
`MS_Biscotti_0061742
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 1, 2010
`
`Sheet 2 of5
`
`Us 7,728,911 B2
`
`COMP
`
`VIDEO
`
`L\2o2A
`
`CMPNT
`
`VIDEO
`
`L\_202B
`
`MS_Biscotti_0061743
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 1, 2010
`
`Sheet 3 of5
`
`Us 7,728,911 B2
`
`FIG 3
`
`302A 302B
`
`302C 302D
`
`MS_Biscotti_0061744
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 1, 2010
`
`Sheet 4 of5
`
`Us 7,728,911 B2
`
`DETECT WHETHER A SIGNAL IS
`PRESENT ON EACH VIDEO INPUT
`
`FIG 5
`
`POSITIVELY INDICATE TO USER WHETHER A SIGNAL HAS BEEN
`
`DETECTED ON EACH VIDEO INPUT
`
`506
`
`PROVIDE OSD MESSAGE
`
`DISPLAY REPRESENTATION OF EACH VIDEO INPUT
`
`510
`
`HIGHLIGHT REPRESENTATIONS OF VIDEO INPUTS
`ON WHICH SIGNALS HAVE BEEN DETECTED
`
`512
`
`HIGHLIGHT REPRESENTATION OF CURRENTLY
`ACTIVE VIDEO INPUT IN DIFFERENT MANNER
`
`514
`
`RECEIVE USER INPUT TO DIFFERENTLY SELECT THE
`CURRENTLY ACTIVE VIDEO INPUT
`
`- AND/OR -
`
`TURN ON LIGHTS CORRESPONDING TO VIDEO
`INPUTS ON WHICH SIGNALS HAVE BEEN DETECTED
`
`MS_Biscotti_0061745
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 1, 2010
`
`US 7,728,911 B2
`
`DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`VIDEO INPUTS
`
`1i
`
`DISPLAY
`
`MECHANISM
`
`LE
`
`DETECTION
`
`MECHANISM
`
`L04
`
`INDICATION
`
`MECHANISM
`
`fl
`
`INPUT
`MECHANISM
`
`5%
`
`MS_Biscotti_0061746
`
`

`
`US 7,728,911 B2
`
`1
`POSITIVELY INDICATING T0 USER
`VVI-IETHER SIGNAL HAS BEEN DE'I'EC'l‘ED
`ON EACH VIDEO INPUT
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Display devices, sucl1 as projectors and llat-panel displays,
`display image data that is received from video source devices,
`such as DVD players, cable TV and satellite TV set-top
`boxes, video cassette players or recorders, and the like. As
`such, display devices have one or more video inputs that are
`receptive to connecting cables. The connecting cables eon-
`11ect the video source devices to the display devices i11 accor-
`dance with a predetermined format or form factor, such as
`s—video, component video, composite video, VGA, HDMI,
`and DVI.
`When a display device is not fu11ctionir1g as expected, such
`as when a user expects it to be displaying image data from a
`given video source device and the display device is not dis-
`playing the image data, many difierent potential causes of the
`problem have to be examined. The connecting cable from the
`video source device to the display device may be defective,
`the video source device may be defective, or the display
`device itself may be defective, for instance. Each potential
`cause ofthe problem should be examined and ruled out, until
`the actual cause ofthe problem is discovered. However, ruling
`out potential causes of the problem can be diflicult for the
`average user to accomplish.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The drawings referenced herein form a part of the specifi-
`cation. Features shown in the drawing are meant as illustra-
`tive ofonly some embodiments ofthe invention, and not of all
`embodiments of the invention.
`FIG. 1 is a diagram ofa representative system including a
`display device connected to a number of video source
`devices, according to an embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram ofan 011-screen display (OSD) mes sage
`to indicate to a user whether a signal has been detected on
`each video input ofa display device, according to an embodi-
`ment of the invention.
`FIG. 3 is a diagram of a display device having a nlnnber of
`lights corresponding to the video inputs of the display device
`and indicating whether signals have been detected on the
`Video inputs, according to an embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram of a display device having a number of
`lights corresponding to the video inputs of the display device
`and indicating Whether signals have been detected on the
`Video inputs, according to another embodiment of the inven-
`tron.
`
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method, according to an embodi-
`ment of the invention.
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram ofa rudimen ary display device,
`according to an embodiment of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`_
`
`In the following detailed description ofexemplary embodi-
`ments of the invention, reference is made to the accompany-
`ing drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is shown
`by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in
`which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments
`are described in suficient detail to enable those skilled in the
`art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be
`utilized, and logical, mechanical, electrical, electro-optical,
`software/tirmware and other changes may be made Without
`
`2
`departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
`The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be
`taken m a limiting sense, and the scope of the present inven-
`tion is defined only by the appended claims.
`FIG. 1 shows a system 100, according to an embodiment of
`the invention. The system 100 includes a display device 102,
`and video source devices 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D,
`collectively referred to as the video source devices 104. The
`display device 102 may be a projector, a flat-panel display like
`a plasma display or a liquid-crystal display, a cathode ray-
`tube display, or another type of display device. The video
`source devices 1 04 may be DVD players, cable TV or satellite
`TV set-top boxes, video cassette players orrecorders, orother
`types of video source devices. While there are four video
`source devices 104 in FIG. 1, there may be more or less ofthe
`video source devices 104 in other embodiments.
`The display device 102 has anumber ofvideo inputs 106A,
`106B, 106C. and 106D, collectively referred to as the video
`inputs 106. The video inputs 106 are receptive to connecting
`cables 108A, 108B, 108C, and 1081) communicatively
`coupled to the video source devices 104, and are collectively
`referred to as the connecting cables 108. The video inputs 106
`may be the same or different types of Video inputs. Types of
`video inputs include composite video input, s—video inputs,
`component video inputs, RGB video inputs, VGA inputs,
`HDMI inputs, and DVI inputs, among other types of video
`inputs.
`The video source devices 104 assert video signals on the
`connecting cables 108, and the display device 104 receive
`these video signals via the video inputs 106. The display
`device 104 is capable ofdetecting whether a signal is present
`on each of the video inputs 106. That a signal is present 011 a
`given one ofthe video inputs 106 means that a corresponding
`one ofthe video source devices 104 is asserting a signal onthe
`one ofthe connecting cables 108 thatis connected to the video
`input
`in question. A connecting cable may be properly
`secured between a video source device and one of the video
`inputs 106, but a video signal may nevertheless not be
`detected on the video input in question unless the video
`source device is asserting the signal, and the connecting cable
`is not defective.
`
`FIG. 2 shows how the display device 102 positively indi-
`cates to a user Whether a signal l1as been detected on each of
`the video inputs 106, according to an embodiment of the
`invention. The display device 102 displays an on-screen dis-
`play (OSD) message 200.An OSD message is a message that
`is overlaid on a video signal being displayed by the display
`device 102. Thevideo signal onwhich the message is overlaid
`may be a video signal received from one of the video source
`dwices 104, or may be a video signal that is synthesized by
`the display device 102. For example, the display device 102
`may synthesize a completely blue orblack video signal where
`none of the video source devices 104 is outputting a video
`signal, so that the OSD message 200 is capable of being
`displayed to the user.
`The OSD message 200 includes video input indication
`parts 202A, 202B, 202C, and202D, collectively referredto as
`the video input indication parts 202, and which corresponds
`to the video inputs 106 of the display device 102. Each ofthe
`video input indication parts 202 includes a representation of
`the type of video input to which it corresponds. For instance,
`the part 202A shows and corresponds to a composite video
`input, the part 202B shows and corresponds to a component
`video input, the part 202C shows and corresponds to an
`s—video input, and the part 202D shows and corresponds to a
`VGA input.
`
`MS_Biscotti_0061747
`
`

`
`US 7,728,911 B2
`
`3
`If the display device 102 has detected a video signal on a
`given one ofthe video inputs 106, then the corresponding one
`of the video input indication parts 202 is highlighted to posi-
`tively indicate to the tiser that a signal has been detected on the
`video input in qtiestion. In the example of FIG. 2, the video
`input indication parts 202B and 202D are highlighted, as
`denoted by shading, indicating that video signals have been
`detected on the component video input and the VGA input of
`the video inputs 106. Therefore, the user is able to discern at
`a glance which of the video inputs 106 have been detected as
`having video signals thereon.
`The video indication par1 202D in FIG. 2 is also high-
`lighted by a frame box 204 surrounding the part 202D. The
`frame box 204 indicates the currently active or selected video
`input of the video inputs 106. That is, the frame box 204
`indicates which of the video inputs 106 is currently selected
`as the video input, the video signal on which is to be or is
`being displayed by the display device 102. For example, in
`FIG. 2, that the video indication part 202D is highlighted by
`the frame box 204 means that the signal on the VGA input is
`to be or is being displayed by the display device 102.
`The currently active or selected video input may be user
`determined, through a user input device such as a remote
`control, by controls on the display device 102 itself, or in
`another manner. The user may be permitted to select any of
`the video inputs 106 as the currently selected or active video
`input, or may be permitted to select the currently active video
`input from among those of the video inputs 106 on which
`video signals have been detected. In another embodiment, the
`display device 102 may itself determine which of the video
`inputs 106 is the currently selected or active video input. For
`instance, there may be a user—configurable priority order of
`the video inputs 106, such that the display device 102 selects
`as the currently active video input the highest priority video
`input on which a video signal has been detected.
`The highlighting ofone ofthe video indication parts 202 by
`the frame box 204 to indicate which video input is the cur-
`rently selected or active video input does not affect the Ingli-
`lighting of the video indication parts 202 by shading to indi-
`cate on which of the video inputs video signals have been
`detected. For example, even though the video indication part
`202D is highlighted by the frame box 204, the video indica-
`tion part 202B is still highlighted by shading. This is because
`the component video input, to which the video indication part
`202B corresponds, has been detected as having a video signal
`thereon. Therefore, the video indication part 202B is high-
`lighted by shading to positively indicate to the user that the
`component video input has been detected as having a video
`signal thereon. even though the component video input is not
`the currently active or selected video input.
`In other words, the highlighting of the video indication
`parts 202 by shading is controlled by whether video signals
`have been detected on their corresponding video inputs I06,
`and not by whether their corresponding video inputs 106 are
`the currently active or selected video input. Typically only
`one of the video indication parts 202 may be highlighted by
`the frame box 204, since typically the display device 102 is
`able to display just one video signal at a given time. By
`comparison, potentially all of the video indication parts 202
`may be highlighted by shading, since potentially all of their
`corresponding video inputs 106 may have signals detected
`thereon.
`FIG. 3 shows how the display device 102 can positively
`indicate to a user whether a signal has been detected on each
`of the video inputs 106 without using an OSD message,
`according to an embodiment ofthe invention. hi the example
`ofFIG. 3, the display device 102 is specifically depicted as
`
`4
`being a projector. The projector has a number of surfaces,
`including the surface 304 and the surface 306, where the
`surface 306 is hidden in FIG. 3. The video inputs 106 are
`situated or disposed within the surface 306, such that all the
`connecting cables 108 lead to the surface 306.
`The surface 304 includes a number oflights 302A, 302B,
`3 02C, and 302D, collectively referred to as the lights 3 02. The
`lights 302 may be light—emitting diodes (LED’s), or other
`types oflights. Each ofthe lights 302 corresponds to one of
`the video inputs 106. In one embodiment, the lights 302 are
`turned on, or lit, to indicate that their corresponding video
`inputs 106 have had signals detected thereon. For example, in
`FIG. 3, the lights 302B and 302D have been ttimed on, indi-
`cating that the video inputs to which the lights 3 02B and 3 02D
`correspond have had video signals detected thereon. By com-
`parison, the lights 302A and 302C have not been turned on,
`denoting that the video inputs to which they correspond have
`not had video signals detected thereon. Potentially, all fotir of
`the lights 302 may be turned on, where all four of the video
`inputs 106 have had video signals detected thereon.
`I11 one embodiment, the lights 302 emit one color oflight to
`indicate that video signals have been detected on their corre-
`sponding video inputs 106, and another color of light to
`indicate the currently selected or active of the video inputs
`106. For example, the lights 302 i11ay eriiit yellow light to
`indicate that video signals have been detected on their corre-
`sponding video inputs 106, and green light to indicate the
`currently selected or active ofthe video inputs 106. As such,
`at any given time, more than one of the lights 302 may emit
`yellow light, Whereas only one of the lights may typically
`emit green light, because while the display device 102 may
`detect more than one of the video inputs 106 as having video
`signals thereon, typically the display device 102 is able to
`currently display only one of these video signals at a given
`time.
`
`FIG. 4 shows the surface 306 of the display device 102,
`according to a different embodiment of the invention. In FIG.
`4, the lights 302 are disposed, located, or situated near or
`proximate to their corresponding video inputs 106, on the
`same surface 306, instead of on a different surface 304 as in
`FIG. 3. Thus, the light 302A corresponds to the video input
`106A, the light 3023 corresponds to the video input 1 06B, the
`light 302C corresponds to the video input 106C, and the light
`302D corresponds to the video input 106D. Other than their
`placement on the surface 306 instead of on the surface 304,
`the lights 302 operate in FIG. 4 as has been described in
`relation to FIG. 3.
`
`FIG. 5 shows a method 500, according to an embodiment
`of the invention. The method 500 may be implemented in
`whole or in part as a coinputer prograrn having a number of
`computer program parts, such as modules, software objects,
`subroutines, routines, and the like. The computer program
`may be stored on a coinputer-readable medium, such as a
`volatile or a non—volatile medium. Types of compt1ter—read—
`able media include hard disk drives and other magnetic
`media, memories and other semiconductor media, and optical
`discs and other optical media.
`The method 500 detects Whether a signal is present on each
`of a number of video inputs (502). For example, the video
`inputs may be coinmunicatively coupled to the same or dif-
`ferent integrated circuits. The integrated circuits may each
`provide, or expose, a function that can be called to detennine
`whether a signal is present on a given video input. The f1mc-
`tion may return true if a signal has been detected by the
`integrated circuit on the video input, or false ifa signal has not
`been detected by the integrated circuit on the video input.
`
`MS_Biscotti_0061748
`
`

`
`US 7,728,911 B2
`
`5
`The method 500 then positively indicates to the user
`whether a signal has been detected on each video input (504).
`The indication to the user is positive indication in that an
`affinnative action is performed for each video input on which
`a signal has been detected. Such positive indication can
`include highlighting OSD representations ofthe video inputs,
`as has been described in relation to FIG. 2, anddor lighting
`lights corresponding to the video inputs. as has been
`described in relation to FIGS. 3 and4. Positive indication is as
`compared to negative indication, which Would include dis-
`playing a “no signal“ or other message to the user when a,
`Video signal is not detected on a given video input, or turning
`on a light when a video signal is not detected.
`Therefore, in one embodiment, positive indication to the
`user is accomplished by providing an OSD message (506), as
`has been described in relation to FIG. 2. Specifically, in one
`embodiment a representation of each video input is displayed
`as part ofthe OSD message (508). The representations of the
`video inputs on which signals have been detected are high-
`lighted in a particular manner (510,). Furthennore, in one
`embodiment the representation of the currently active or
`selected video input may be highlighted in the OSD message
`in a different manner (512). User input may be received to
`differently select the currently active or selected video input
`(514). In another embodiment, lights may be turned on, or lit,
`when signals have been detected on the video inputs, where
`the lights correspond to the video inputs (516), as has been
`described in relation to FIGS, 3 and 4.
`
`FIG. 6 shows a rudimentary diagram of the display device
`102, according to an embodiment of the invention. The dis-
`play device l02 is depicted in FIG. 6 as including the video
`inputs 106, a display mechanism 602, a detection mechanism
`604, an indication mechanism 606, and an input mechanism
`608. As can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill Within
`the art, the display device 102 may include other components,
`in addition to and/or in lieu ofthose depicted in FIG. 6. The
`mechanisms 602, 604, 606, and 608 may each be in1ple—
`mented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware
`and software.
`
`40
`
`The display mechanism 602 includes those components of
`the display device 102 needed to display a video signal
`received from one of the video inputs 106 to a user. As such,
`the display mechanism 602 may be or include a flat—panel
`display mechanism, such as a plasma or a liquid-crystal dis-
`play mecl1ar1isn1, a projection n1ecl1anisr11, and so or1. The
`detection mechanism 604 detects whether a video signal is
`present on each ofthe video inputs 106. The detection mecha-
`nism 604 may include one or more integrated circuits that are
`communicatively coupled to the video inputs 106 to perform '
`this functionality.
`lhe indication mechanism 606 positively indicates to the
`user whether a video signal is present on each video input, as
`has been detected by the detection mechanism 604. The indi-
`cation mechanism 606 may thus provide an OSD message for
`display by the display mechanism 602, as has been described
`in relation to FIG. 2. The indication n1ecl1a11isn1 606 may
`additionally or alternatively include a number of lights cor-
`responding to the video inputs 106 that are turned on or lit
`when signals have been detected thereon, as has been
`described in relation to FIGS, 3 and 4.
`Finally,
`the input mechanism 608 may be optionally
`present so that a user is able to differently select the currently
`active video input from among the video inputs 106. The
`input mechanism 608 may thus be or include a remote con-
`trol. controls located on the display device 102 itself. and the
`
`6
`like. The currently active Video input is the video input that
`the signal present thereon is displayed by the display mecha-
`nism 602.
`It is noted that. although specific embodiments have been
`illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by
`those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement is
`calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for
`the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended
`to cover any adaptations orvariations ofthe present invention.
`For example. where one embodiment of the invention has
`been described in relation to a display device, other embodi-
`ments ofthe invention may be amenable to implementation in
`relation to other types of devices, such as video processing
`devices that are connectedbetvveen video source devices and
`a display device. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this
`invention be limited only by the claims and equivalents
`thereof.
`We claim:
`1. A method comprising:
`detecting whether a video signal is present on each of a
`plurality ofvideo inputs ol'a display device including all
`video inputs ofthe display device; and,
`positively indicating to a user, simultaneously for each
`video input in said plurality having a detected video
`signal and each video input in said plurality without a
`detected video signal, whether a video signal has been
`detected on said video input, comprising, for each video
`input,
`where a video signal has been detected on the video
`input, positively indicating to the user in a [irst manner
`that a video signal has been detected or1 the video
`input;
`where a video signal has not been detected on the video
`input, positively indicating to the user in a second
`manner that a video signal has not been detected on
`the video input, the second manner being such that the
`user is notified that the video input exists.
`2. The method of claim 1, wherein positively indicating to
`the user whether a video signal has been detected on each of
`the plurality of video inputs comprises providing an
`on-screen display (OSD) message indicating whether a video
`signal l1as been detected on each of the plurality of video
`inputs.
`3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the OSD
`message indicating whether a video signal has been detected
`on each of the plurality of video inputs comprises, for each
`video input:
`displaying a representation of the video input; and,
`highlighting the representation of the video input where a
`Video signal l1as been detected on the video input.
`4. The method of claim 3, wherein highlighting the repre-
`sentation of each video input where a video signal has been
`detected on the video input comprises highlighting the rep-
`resentation in the first manner, the method further compris-
`ing:
`highlighting the representation of a currently active video
`input in the second manner; and,
`receiving user input to differently select the currently
`active video input from among the plurality of video
`inputs.
`5. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the OSD
`message indicating whether a video signal has been detected
`on each of the plurality ofvideo inputs comprises, where no
`video signal l1as been detected on any ofthe plurality ofvideo
`inputs, generating an artificial video signal on which the OSD
`message is able to be displayed.
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`6. The method of claim 1, wherein positively indicating to
`the user whether a video signal has been detected on each of
`the plurality of video inputs comprises, for each video input,
`turning on a light corresponding to the video input where a
`video signal has been detected on the video input.
`7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting whether a
`video signal is present on each of a plurality of video inputs
`comprises calling a function for each video input provided by
`an integrated circuit, the function returning whether a video
`signal is present on the video input.
`8. A display device comprising:
`a plurality ofvideo inputs including all video inputs of the
`display device, each video input receptive to a corre-
`sponding connector communicatively connected to a
`video source device over which a video signal is able to
`be received;
`a display mechanism to display a video signal received at a
`currently active video input,
`a detection mechanism to detect whether a video signal is
`present on each video input; and,
`an indication mechanism to positively indicate to a user,
`simultaneously for each video input in said plurality
`having a detected viceo signal and each video input in
`said plurality without a detected video signal, whether a
`video signal is present on said video input, by, for each
`video input,
`where a video signa has been detected on the video
`input, positively indicating to the user in a first manner
`that a video signal has been detected on the video
`input;
`where a video signal ias not been detected on the video
`input, positively indicating to the user in a second
`maimer that a video signal has not been detected on
`the video input, the second manner being such that the
`user is notified tha the video input exists.
`9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the detection
`mechanism comprises an integrated circuit capable of detect-
`ing whether a video signa is present on each video input.
`10. The display device of claim 8, wherein the indication
`mechanism is to provide an on-screen display (OSD) mes-
`sage comprising a representation of each video input, where
`the representation of the video input is highlighted when a
`video signal has been detected on the video input.
`11. The display device of claim 10, wherein the represei1—
`tation of each video input is highlighted in the first mamier
`when a video signal has been detected on the video input, and
`the representation of the currently active video input is high-
`lighted iii the second rnarmer.
`12. The display device of claim 11, further comprising an 7
`input mechanism by which a user is able to differently select
`the currently active video input from among the plurality of
`video inputs.
`13. The display device of claim 10, wherein the display
`mechanism is to generate an artificial video signal on which
`the OSD message is able to be displayed where no video
`signal has been detected on any of the plurality of video
`inputs.
`14. The display device of claim 8, wherein the indication
`mechanism comprises a plurality of lights corresponding to
`the plurality of video inputs, each light turned on when a
`video signal has been detected on the corresponding video
`input.
`15. The display device of claim 14, wherein each light is
`located proximate to the video input to which the light corre-
`spoiids.
`
`8
`16. "he display device of claim 14, further comprising a
`housing, the plurality ofvideo inputs located on a first side of
`the housing, and the plurality of lights located on a second
`side of the housing.
`17. "he display device of claim 8, wherein the currently
`active video input is selected based on a user—configurable
`priority ordering 01' the plurality of video inputs.
`18. The display device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of
`video inputs comprise at least one or more of: an s-video
`input, a composite video input, a component video input, a
`VGA input, a DVI input, and an FIDMI input.
`19. The display device of claim 8, wherein the display
`device comprises one of: a projector and a flat—panel display.
`20. A display device comprising:
`a plurality ofvideo inputs including all video inputs ofthe
`display device, each video input receptive to a corre-
`sponding connector communicatively comiected to a
`video source device over which a video signal is able to
`be received;
`means for detecting whether a video signal is present on
`each video input; and,
`means for positively indicating to a user, simultaneously
`for each video input in said plurality having a detected
`video signal and each video input in said plurality witl1-
`out a detected video signal, whether a video signal is
`present on said video input, by, for each video input,
`where a video signal has been detected on the video
`input, positively indicating to the user in a first maimer
`that a video signal has been detected on the video
`input;
`where a video signal has not been detected on the video
`input, positively indicating to the user in a second
`manner that a video signal has not been detected on
`the video input, the second manner being such that the
`user is notified that the video input exists.
`2]. The display device ofclaim 20, wherein the means for
`positively indicating to the user whether a video signal is
`present on each video input is further for providing an on-
`screen display (OSD) message comprising arepresentation of
`each video input that is highlighted when a video signal has
`been detected or1 the video input.
`22. The display device of claim 21, wherein the represen-
`tation of each video input is highlighted in the first manner
`when a video signal has been detected on the video input, and
`the representation ol'a currently active video input is high-
`lighted in the second manner, the display device further com-
`prising means for receiving input from a user by which the
`currently active video input
`is differently selected from
`among the plurality of video inputs.
`23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a
`computer program stored thereon comprising:
`a first computer program part to determine whether a video
`signal has been detected on each ofa plurality ofvideo
`inputs ofa display device including all video inputs of
`the display device; and,
`a second computer program part to positively indicate to a
`user, simultaneously for each video input in said plural-
`ity having a detected video signal and each video input in
`said plurality without a detected video signal, whether a
`video signal has been detected on said video input, by,
`for each video input,
`where a video signal has been detected on the video
`input, positively indicating to the user in a first manner
`that a video signal has been detected on the video
`input;
`where a video signal has not been detected on the video
`input, positively indicating to the user iii a second
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`manner that a video signal has not been detected on
`the vi