Abstract:
The present invention provides a management method for use of extended display identification data (EDID), which is applied to manage a plurality of EDID burning device groups. At least one EDID burning device of each EDID burning device group is electronically connected to an EDID management server via a connection, or the EDID management server is further coupled to a network management server via a network. Therefore, the simple-structure and light-volume EDID burning device of the group could directly update EDID, so as to achieve the purpose of collectively managing EDID.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a data management method, and more particularly, to a management method for use of extended display identification data. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    With the popularity of computer technology, the plug and play function becomes an essential function of computer peripheral equipment. As to a display device, the video electronics standard association (VESA) is responsible for promoting and developing important display device and display interface standards, so as to make sure its commonality. Extended display identification data (EDID) standard is one of the standard data formats established by VESA. EDID includes basic data of a display device, such as: manufacturer information, maximum image size, color feature, usage frequency limitation, and etc. The EDID is stored in a display device and used for communicating with a computer host, thereby achieving the plug and play function. 
         [0005]    In the past decades, as shown in  FIG. 1 , display manufacturers always store EDID corresponding to a plurality of different type displays respectively into storage medium such as a floppy  931 , a hard drive  932  or a portable drive  933 , and connect to a PC frame  93  formed by a computer  930  as a main frame for an EDID burning operation, so as to connect to a VGA interface  911 , a DVI interface  912  or a HDMI interface  913  of a to-be-burned display device  91  through an interface converting device  95 , thereby writing the EDID into a non-erasable memory of the display device  91 . That is, if it is going to perform a burning operation to an A-47 type display device, but the burning EDID of the A-47 type display device is stored in the floppy  931 , the manufacturing operator has to utilize a barcode scanner  92  and the computer  930  to read the EDID from the floppy  931 , and then write the EDID into the display device via a VGA interface. 
         [0006]    However, in the past, operations of reading, burning and editing the EDID were all executed on the basis of a huge-volume PC frame, which not only caused problems in the aspects of energy, equipment cost and maintenance expenses, but also caused the problem of unable to immediately update the EDID in the storage medium, even resulting in a serious management problem such as the difficulty of controlling data flows. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a management system and method for use of extended display identification data to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In order to solve the abovementioned problems, the present invention provides a management method for use of extended display identification data (EDID), for transmitting data between an EDID management server and an EDID burning device. The EDID management server is connected to the EDID burning device via an EDID management server connection interface. The EDID burning device is defined with a first identification code and comprises a memory unit. The memory unit is stored with the first identification code and an EDID. The EDID burning device has a plurality of video interfaces for connecting to a display device. The EDID management server comprises a database for storing a plurality of second identification codes and a plurality of EDID. The method of the present invention comprises: (A) the EDID management server loading previously used EDID; (B) determining whether the EDID management server and the EDID burning device are connected; (C) if determined that the EDID management server and the EDID burning device are connected, determining whether to load new EDID; (D) if determined not to load the new EDID, determining whether the EDID burning device and the plurality of video interfaces are connected to the display device; (E) if determined that the plurality of video interfaces are connected to the display device, determining whether to execute a download program; (F) if determined to execute the download program, determining whether the first identification code of the EDID burning device corresponds to the second identification codes stored in the database of the EDID management server; and (G) if determined that the first identification code of the EDID burning device corresponds to the second identification codes stored in the database of the EDID management server, the EDID management server downloading corresponding EDID and a control code to the EDID burning device. 
         [0009]    Further, the present invention could utilize a network to further provide another management method for use of extended display identification data (EDID), wherein a plurality of EDID burning device groups are connected to an EDID management server via a connection, and a plurality of EDID management servers are connected to a network management server via the network for transmitting data with each other. Each EDID burning device group comprises an EDID management server and at least one EDID burning device. Each EDID burning device is defined with a first identification code and comprises a memory unit. The memory unit is stored with the first identification code and an EDID. The network management server comprises a database for storing a plurality of second identification codes and a plurality of EDID. The method of the present invention comprises: (A) the EDID management server loading previously used EDID; (B) determining whether the EDID management server and the EDID burning device are connected; (C) if determined that the EDID management server and the EDID burning device are connected, determining whether to load new EDID or to combine and load new EDID; (D) if determined not to load the new EDID, determining whether the EDID burning device and a plurality of video interfaces are connected to a display device; (E) if determined that the plurality of video interfaces are connected to the display device, determining whether the EDID management server and the network management server are connected; (F) if determined that the EDID management server and the network management server are connected, determining whether to execute a download program; (G) if determined to execute the download program, determining whether the first identification code of the EDID burning device corresponds to the second identification codes stored in the database; and (H) if determined that the first identification code of the EDID burning device corresponds to the second identification codes stored in the database, the EDID management server downloading corresponding EDID and a control code from the network management server, and downloading the EDID and the control code to the EDID burning device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional system schematic drawing. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a system schematic drawing of one preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic drawing of an EDID burning device of one preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of one preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic drawing of a software interface corresponding to the management method for use of extended display identification data of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a system schematic drawing of another preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of another preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    Below please find specific embodiments to explain the implementation of the present invention, such that a person skilled in the art could easily understand the advantage and effect of the present invention according to the disclosure of this specification. 
         [0018]    Please refer to both  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a system schematic drawing of the management method for use of extended display identification data (EDID) according to the present invention, while  FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic drawing of an EDID burning device of one preferred embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the system of the present invention comprises at least one EDID burning device group  1 . The EDID burning device group  1  comprises an EDID management server  11 , a database  31 , and multiple EDID burning devices  121 ,  122 ,  123 . In this embodiment, three EDID burning devices  121 ,  122 ,  123  are used as an example for a detailed description. Please note that because the relevant explanation of each EDID burning device  121 ,  122 ,  123  is similar, this embodiment only takes the EDID burning device  121  as an example. 
         [0019]    In this embodiment, the EDID burning device  121  is defined with a first identification code ID 11 , and comprises a memory unit  121 A, a microcontroller  121 B, an EDID management server connection interface  121 D and a plurality of video interfaces  121 E. 
         [0020]    The memory unit  121 A is stored with the first identification ID 11 , an extended display identification data EDID O , and counter data C 11 . In this embodiment, the memory unit  121 A is an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). 
         [0021]    The microcontroller  121 B comprises a random access memory (RAM) which has a counter  121 C, and is electronically connected to the memory unit  121 A. The counter  121 C is used to accumulate an EDID burning time, and stores the EDID burning time to the counter data C 11  of the memory unit  121 A. 
         [0022]    The EDID management server connection interface  121 D is electronically connected to the microcontroller  121 B for connecting to the EDID management server  11 . For the convenience of explanation, in this embodiment, the EDID management server connection interface  121 D is preferably a RS232 serial interface. 
         [0023]    In this embodiment, the plurality of video interfaces  121 E are preferably a VGA interface, a HDMI interface and a DVI interface. The EDID burning device  121  writes the EDID into a non-erasable memory of a display device (not shown in figures) via the plurality of video interfaces  121 E. The scope of the plurality of video interfaces  121 E of the present invention is not limited to the above disclosure. 
         [0024]    Further, the EDID management server  11  comprises a database  31 , which stores a plurality of second identification codes (please note that  FIG. 2  only shows a second identification code ID 21  corresponding to the first identification ID 11 ) and a plurality of EDID (please not that  FIG. 2  only shows an extended display identification data EDID N ). The EDID management server  11  comprises an EDID upload/download program CS for executing the flow of the management method for use of extended display identification data. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, and  FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic drawing of a software interface corresponding to the management method for use of extended display identification data of the present invention. As for the detailed description of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , please also refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
         [0026]    Firstly, step S 505  loads previously used EDID. In the present invention, whenever the software of the management method for use of extended display identification data is executed in the server  11 , it would always load the EDID previously used by the software from the database  31  of the EDID management server  11 , so as to avoid the procedure of requiring the user to assign required EDID, thereby increasing the convenience of use. 
         [0027]    Step S 510  checks whether a connect button of the software is connected. If the EDID management server  11  detects that it is connected to the EDID burning device  121  via the EDID management server connection interface  121 D, that is to say, the connect button of the software is connected, and then step S 515  would be executed. If the EDID management server  11  detects that it is not connected to the EDID burning device  121 , that is to say, the connect button of the software is not connected (the connect button would be shown in gray color), and then step S 580  would be executed. In this embodiment, the EDID management server connection interface  121 D is preferably a RS232 serial interface. 
         [0028]    Step S 515  checks whether an update procedure of the software is enabled. If a new type is inputted via an input model, the software is required to load a new type EDID (i.e. corresponding to the type inputted via the select model) from the database  31  of the EDID management server  11 . If the update procedure of the software is enabled, step S 517  would be executed; otherwise, step S 518  would be executed. 
         [0029]    Step S 517  loads a new type EDID. 
         [0030]    Step S 518  checks whether a new model button of the software is enabled. If the new model button of the software is pressed, the software is required to combine and load the new type EDID from the database  31  of the EDID management server  11 . If the new model button of the software is enabled, step S 520  would be executed; otherwise, step S 519  would be executed. 
         [0031]    Step S 520  not only loads the new type EDID, but also combines the new type EDID with the EDID of the plurality of video signals to be the same type, and then stores into the database  31  for next time access. Because in this embodiment, the EDID of the plurality of video signals are VGA, HDMI and DVI, step S 520  could combine the EDID of VGA, HDMI and DVI, such that the user is not required to respectively load the EDID of VGA, HDMI and DVI, thereby increasing the convenience of use. 
         [0032]    Step S 519  determines whether to execute an EDID review program based on whether a review button of the software is pressed. If yes, step S 521  would be executed; otherwise, step S 525  would be executed. Step S 521  displays relevant EDID. 
         [0033]    Step S 525  determines whether the plurality of video interfaces  121 E of the EDID burning device  121  are connected to a display device (not shown in figures). If not, step S 580  would be executed; otherwise, step S 530  would be executed. 
         [0034]    Step S 530  enables relevant buttons of the software, including enabling the download button, the upload button and the disconnected button. 
         [0035]    Step S 535  determines whether to execute a download program based on whether the download button of the software is pressed. If yes, step S 540  would be executed; otherwise, step S 550  would be executed. 
         [0036]    Step S 540  determines whether the first identification code ID 11  of the EDID burning device  121  matches with the second identification code ID 21  stored in the database  31 . If yes, step S 545  would be executed; otherwise, step S 580  would be executed. 
         [0037]    In step S 545 , since the first identification code ID 11  matches with the second identification code ID 21  stored in the database  31 , the EDID management server  11  downloads relevant EDID and a control code from the database  31  to the EDID burning device  121 , and also updates the counter data C 11  of the EDID burning device  121 . However, before the update, the counter data C 11  would be uploaded to the database  31  of the EDID management server  11  first, such that the system could efficiently manage the EDID burning time as a reference to charge the user in the future. 
         [0038]    Step S 550  determines whether to execute an upload program based on whether the upload button of the software is pressed. If yes, step S 555  would be executed; otherwise, step S 570  would be executed. 
         [0039]    Step S 555  reads and transmits the EDID and the control code of the EDID burning device  121  to the EDID management server  11  for comparing with the EDID and the control code stored in the database, so as to confirm whether the data transmitted to the EDID burning device  121  is correct. 
         [0040]    Step S 570  determines whether to disconnect. If yes, step S 575  would be executed; otherwise, step S 580  would be executed. Step S 575  disconnects the connection between the EDID management server  11  and the EDID burning device  121 , and disables the download button, the upload button and the disconnected button. 
         [0041]    Step S 580  determines whether to end the software based on whether an exit button of the software is pressed. If yes, ends the software; otherwise, step S 510  would be executed. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  illustrates a system schematic drawing of another preferred embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 3 , the system of implementing the management method for use of extended display identification data of this embodiment according to the present invention comprises multiple EDID burning device groups  1 ,  2 , a network management server  3  and a database  31 . In this embodiment, two EDID burning device groups  1 ,  2  are used as an example for a detailed description. 
         [0043]    Each EDID burning group  1 ,  2  comprises an EDID management server  11 ,  21 , and multiple EDID burning devices  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  221 ,  222 ,  223 . In this embodiment, six EDID burning devices  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  221 ,  222 ,  223  are used as an example for a detailed description. Please note that because the relevant explanation of each EDID burning devices  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  221 ,  222 ,  223  are similar, this embodiment only takes the EDID burning device  121  as an example. 
         [0044]    The major difference between this and the previous embodiment is: a network management server  3  is newly added to this embodiment. The network management server  3  is coupled to the EDID management server  11 ,  21  of each EDID burning device group  1 ,  2  via a network  4 . Further, a database  31  has been moved from the EDID management server  11 ,  21  to the network management server  3  and electronically connected to each other. The database  31  stores a plurality of second identification codes (please note that  FIG. 6  only shows a second identification code ID 21  corresponding to the first identification ID 11 ) and a plurality of EDID (please not that  FIG. 6  only shows an extended display identification data EDID N ). Each EDID management server  11 ,  12  comprises an EDID upload/download program CS for executing the flow of the management method for use of extended display identification data. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of this preferred embodiment according to the present invention. The major differences between the flowcharts of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7  are: step S 710 , step S 540 ′ and step S 545 ′ are newly added to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0046]    Step S 710  determines whether the EDID management server  11  is connected to the network management server  3 . If yes, step S 535  would be executed; otherwise, step S 570  would be executed. 
         [0047]    Step S 540 ′ determines whether the first identification code ID 11  of the EDID burning device  121  matches with the second identification code ID 21  stored in the database  31  of the network management server  3 . If yes, step S 545 ′ would be executed; otherwise, step S 580  would be executed. 
         [0048]    In step S 545 ′, since the first identification code ID 11  matches with the second identification code ID 21  stored in the database  31 , the EDID management server  11  downloads the EDID and the control code stored in the database  31  of the network management server  3  to the EDID burning device  121  via the network  4 , and also updates the counter data C 11  of the EDID burning device  121 . However, before the update, the counter data C 11  would be uploaded to the database  31  of the network management server  3  via the network  4  first, such that the system could efficiently manage the EDID burning time as a reference to charge the user in the future. 
         [0049]    Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.