IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,575,707

Granted Patent B2

US 9,575,707 · App. 14/181,482 · Granted Feb 21, 2017

Multi-chassis coordinated display system including a chassis enclosure that includes a backplane and information handling system (IHS) connectors

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,575,707
App. No.: 14/181,482
Granted: Feb 21, 2017
Kind: B2

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USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A multi-chassis coordinated display system a first chassis having a first display device located on the first chassis and a master screen agent. The master screen agent is configured to receive device information from a screen sub-agent that is located in a second chassis that includes a second display device. The master screen agent uses the device information to determine a first user interface screen for a user interface and a second user interface screen for the user interface, and sends the second user interface screen to the screen sub-agent. The master screen agent may then display the first user interface screen on the first display device while the screen sub-agent displays the second user interface screen on the second display device to provide a coordinated display of the user interface on the first display device and the second display device.

Claims (105)

1. A multi-chassis coordinated display system, comprising:

a first chassis that is configured to be housed in a chassis enclosure that includes a backplane having a plurality of Information Handling System (IHS) connectors;

a first backplane connector that is included on the first chassis and that is configured to couple to the backplane in the chassis enclosure through a first IHS connector of the plurality of IHS connectors when the first chassis is housed in the chassis enclosure;

a first display device located on the first chassis;

a first processing system housed in the first chassis and coupled to the first display device and the first backplane connector; and

a first memory system housed in the first chassis and including instructions that, when executed by the first processing system, cause the first processing system to provide a master screen agent that is configured to:

receive device information through the backplane from a screen sub-agent that is provided by a second processing system and a second memory system that are:

located in a second chassis that is housed in the chassis enclosure;

coupled to a second display device that is located on the second chassis; and

coupled to a second backplane connector that is included on the second chassis and that is coupled to the backplane through a second IHS connector of the plurality of IHS connectors;

use the device information to determine a relative positioning of the first display device and the second display device;

use at least the relative positioning of the first display device and the second display device to generate a first user interface screen for a user interface and a second user interface screen for the user interface;

send the second user interface screen to the screen sub-agent via the backplane; and

display the first user interface screen on the first display device, wherein the display of the first user interface screen by the master screen agent on the first display device and the display of the second user interface screen by the screen sub-agent on the second display device results in a coordinated display of the user interface on the first display device and the second display device.

2. The multi-chassis coordinated display system of claim 1 , wherein the master screen agent is configured to:

use the device information to determine dimensions of the second display device;

use at least the relative positioning of the first display device and the second display device and the dimensions of the second display device to generate the first user interface screen for the user interface and the second user interface screen for the user interface.

3. The multi-chassis coordinated display system of claim 1 , wherein the master screen agent is configured to:

detect disconnection of the screen sub-agent from the master screen agent;

determine a third user interface screen for the user interface; and

display the third user interface screen on the first display device, wherein the display of the third user interface screen by the master screen agent on the first display device results in a display of the user interface on only the first display device.

4. The multi-chassis coordinated display system of claim 1 , wherein the determining the second user interface screen includes:

creating a screen task that includes instructions for displaying the second user interface screen; and

sending the screen task through the backplane to the screen sub-agent, wherein performance of the screen task by the screen sub-agent results in the display of the second user interface screen on the second display device.

5. The multi-chassis coordinated display system of claim 1 , wherein the master screen agent is configured to:

receive a user input on at least one of the first display device and the second display device;

store the user input; and

send the user input through the backplane to the screen sub-agent, wherein disconnection of the master screen agent from the screen sub-agent causes the screen sub-agent to become an elected master screen agent, and wherein the user input allows the elected master screen agent to determine a third user interface screen and display the third user interface screen on the second display device, and wherein the display of the third user interface screen by the elected master screen agent on the second display device results in a display of the user input.

6. The multi-chassis coordinated display system of claim 1 , wherein the master screen agent is configured to:

receive a user input on the first display device;

use the user input to determine a third user interface screen and a fourth user interface screen;

send the fourth user interface screen through the backplane to the screen sub-agent; and

display the third user interface screen on the first display device, wherein the display of the third user interface screen by the master screen agent on the first display device and the display of the fourth user interface screen by the screen sub-agent on the second display device results in the coordinated display of a response of the user interface to the user input on the first display device and the second display device.

7. The multi-chassis coordinated display system of claim 1 , wherein the master screen agent is configured to:

receive a user input on the second display device from the screen sub-agent;

use the user input to determine a third user interface screen and a fourth user interface screen;

send the fourth user interface screen through the backplane to the screen sub-agent; and

8. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:

an IHS enclosure;

a backplane that is located in the IHS enclosure;

a slave IHS that is located in the IHS enclosure, that is coupled to the backplane, and that includes a slave display device and a slave processing system that provides a screen sub-agent; and

a master IHS that includes a master display device, that is located in the IHS enclosure, and that is coupled to the backplane such that the master display device is located adjacent the slave display device, wherein the master IHS includes a master processing system that provides a master screen agent that is coupled to the screen sub-agent through the backplane and that is configured to:

receive device information through the backplane from the screen sub-agent;

use the device information to determine relative positioning of the master display device and the slave display device;

use at least the relative positioning of the master display device and the slave display device to generate a first user interface screen for a user interface and a second user interface screen for the user interface;

send the second user interface screen through the backplane to the screen sub-agent; and

display the first user interface screen on the master display device;

wherein the screen sub-agent is configured to:

display the second user interface screen on the slave display device, wherein the display of the first user interface screen by the master agent on the master display device and the display of the second user interface screen by the screen sub-agent on the slave display device results in a coordinated display of the user interface on the master display device and the slave display device.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the master screen agent is configured to:

detect disconnection of the screen sub-agent from the master screen agent;

determine a third user interface screen for the user interface; and

display the third user interface screen on the master display device, wherein the display of the third user interface screen by the master screen agent on the master display device results in a display of the user interface on only the master display device.

10. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the determining of the second user interface screen includes:

creating a screen task that includes instructions for displaying the second user interface screen; and

11. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the master screen agent is configured to:

receive a user input on at least one of the master display device and the slave display device;

store the user input; and

send the user input through the backplane to the screen sub-agent, wherein disconnection of the master screen agent from the screen sub-agent causes the screen sub-agent to become an elected master screen agent, and wherein the user input allows the elected master screen agent to determine a third user interface screen and display the third user interface screen on the slave display device, and wherein the display of the third user interface screen by the elected master screen agent on the slave display device results in a display of the user input.

12. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the master screen agent is configured to:

receive a user input on the master display device;

use the user input to determine a third user interface screen and a fourth user interface screen;

send the fourth user interface screen through the backplane to the screen sub-agent; and

display the third user interface screen on the master display device; and

wherein the screen sub-agent is configured to:

display the fourth user interface screen on the slave display device, wherein the display of the third user interface screen by the master screen agent on the master display device and the display of the fourth user interface screen by the screen sub-agent on the slave display device results in the coordinated display of a response of the user interface to the user input on the master display device and the slave display device.

13. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the master screen agent is configured to:

receive a user input on the slave display device;

use the user input to determine a third user interface screen and a fourth user interface screen;

send the fourth user interface screen through the backplane to the screen sub-agent; and

display the third user interface screen on the master display device; and

wherein the screen sub-agent is configured to:

14. A method for a multi-chassis coordinated display interaction, comprising:

receiving, through a backplane in a chassis enclosure by a master screen agent provided by a first processing system that is coupled to the backplane and a first display device on a first chassis that is housed in the chassis enclosure, device information from a screen sub-agent provided by a second processing system that is coupled to the backplane and a second display device on a second chassis that is housed in the chassis enclosure;

using, by the master screen agent, the device information to determine relative positioning of the first display device and the second display device;

using, by the master screen agent, at least the relative positioning of the first display device and the second display device to generate a first user interface screen for a user interface and a second user interface screen for the user interface;

sending, by the master screen agent through the backplane, the second user interface screen to the screen sub-agent; and

displaying, by the master screen agent, the first user interface screen on the first display device, wherein the display of the first user interface screen by the master screen agent on the first display device and the display of the second user interface screen by the screen sub-agent on the second display device results in a coordinated display of the user interface on the first display device and the second display device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

using, by the master screen agent, the device information to determine dimensions of the second display device;

using, by the master screen agent, at least the relative positioning of the first display device and the second display device and the dimensions of the second display device to generate the first user interface screen for the user interface and the second user interface screen for the user interface.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

detecting, by the master screen agent, disconnection of the screen sub-agent from the master screen agent;

determining, by the master screen agent, a third user interface screen for the user interface; and

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining of the second user interface screen includes:

creating, by the master screen agent, a screen task that includes instructions for displaying the second user interface screen; and

sending, by the master screen agent through the backplane, the screen task to the screen sub-agent, wherein performance of the screen task by the screen sub-agent results in the display of the second user interface screen on the second display device.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, by the master screen agent, a user input on at least one of the first display device the second display device;

storing, by the master screen agent, the user input; and

sending, by the master screen agent through the backplane, the user input to the screen sub-agent, wherein disconnection of the master screen agent from the screen sub-agent causes the screen sub-agent to become an elected master screen agent, and wherein the user input allows the elected master screen agent to determine a third user interface screen and display the third user interface screen on the second display device, and wherein the display of the third user interface screen by the elected master screen agent on the second display device results in a display of the user input.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, by the master screen agent, a user input on the first display device;

using, by the master screen agent, the user input to determine a third user interface screen and a fourth user interface screen;

sending, by the master screen agent through the backplane, the fourth user interface screen to the screen sub-agent; and

displaying, by the master screen agent, the third user interface screen on the first display device, wherein the display of the third user interface screen by the master screen agent on the first display device and the display of the fourth user interface screen by the screen sub-agent on the second display device results in the coordinated display of a response of the user interface to the user input on the first display device and the second display device.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, by the master screen agent, a user input on the second display device from the screen sub-agent;

using, by the master screen agent, the user input to determine a third user interface screen and a fourth user interface screen;

sending, by the master screen agent through the backplane, the fourth user interface screen to the screen sub-agent; and

Assignments (15)

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022

From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT

To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC

Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022

From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT

To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC

Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022

From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT

Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021

From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.

Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →

SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020

From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC

To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →

SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019

From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC

To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →

SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016

From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.

To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT

Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →

SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016

To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT

Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →

RELEASE OF REEL 032810 FRAME 0038 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016

From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT

To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, INC.

Reel/Frame 040027/0686 →

RELEASE OF REEL 032809 FRAME 0987 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016

From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT

To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, INC.