Patent ID: 7698579
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer system, comprising: a processor; a memory; a first graphical processor; a second graphical processor, wherein the first graphical processor and the second graphical processor have different operating characteristics; a switching mechanism coupled to the first graphical processor and the second graphical processor; and a display coupled to the switching mechanism, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to couple a given graphical processor to the display, and wherein the switching mechanism is initially configured to couple the first graphical processor to the display; wherein a program module that is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor is further configured to change a configuration of the switching mechanism thereby decoupling the first graphical processor from the display and coupling the second graphical processor to the display based on an operating condition of the computer system, and wherein the program module further includes instructions for storing a first display state when the first graphical processor is coupled to the display, and instructions for initializing a second display state based on the stored first display state when the second graphical processor is coupled to the display; and wherein the changing and switching module operations are configured to occur while an operating system is running.