ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND PROCESSING METHOD

A first device includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire first image data, a first interface configured to connect with a second device and receive at least second image data sent by the second device, and a second interface configured to connect with a third device and send data including at least the first image data and the second image data to the third device. The second image data include image data collected by an image acquisition unit of the second device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310194533.7, filed on Feb. 28, 2023, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of electronic device and, more particularly, to an electronic device and a processing method thereof.

BACKGROUND

An electronic device often has an image acquisition unit. When multiple electronic devices are present, the image data collected by an electronic device through its own image acquisition unit may only interact with a data processing device, resulting in a relatively simple interactive function of the electronic device.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a first device. The first device includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire first image data, a first interface configured to connect with a second device and receive at least second image data sent by the second device, and a second interface configured to connect with a third device and send data including at least the first image data and the second image data to the third device. The second image data include image data collected by an image acquisition unit of the second device.

Also in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a processing method applied to a first device. The method includes collecting first image data through the first device, receiving second image data sent by the second device, and sending data including the first image data and the second image data to a third device.

Also in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to collect first image data through the first device, receive second image data sent by the second device, and send data including the first image data and the second image data to a third device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To make the objective, technical solutions, and advantages of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and thoroughly described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are only part but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments derived by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts still fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure. The embodiments and features in the embodiments in the present disclosure may be arbitrarily combined if there is no conflict. The steps illustrated in the flowcharts of the figures may be performed in a computer system, such as a set of computer-executable instructions. Also, although a logical order is shown in the flowchart diagrams, under certain circumstances, the steps shown or described in the flowcharts may be performed in other different orders.

The technical solutions of the present disclosure will be further described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

FIG.1is a schematic structural diagram of a first device, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1, the first device100includes an image acquisition unit101, a first interface102, and a second interface103. The image acquisition unit101is configured to collect first image data. The first interface102is configured to connect with a second device200and receive at least second image data sent by the second device200. The second image data includes image data for a second image collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200. The second interface103is configured to connect with a third device300and send data including at least the first image data and the second image data to the third device300.

In some embodiments, both the first interface102and the second interface103may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, such as a USB-C interface. In some embodiments, the first interface102and the second interface103may be a display interface (DP), a Thunderbolt interface (Thunderbolt), or a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), etc.

In some embodiments, the first device, the second device, and the third device may be of the same type, such as monitors.

In some embodiments, the first device, the second device, and the third device may also be of different types. For example, the first device and the second device are monitors, and the third device is a device for generating or processing media data.

An electronic device provided by the present disclosure may not only perform data interaction with a device that generates or processes media data, but may also perform data interaction with a monitor, which not only expands the functionality of the electronic device, but also expands the interaction range of the electronic device.

In the present disclosure, the first device100may also include a processor104, which is configured to merge the first image data and the second image data to obtain third image data. Alternatively, the processor104may also be configured to combine the first image data and the second image data to obtain the third image data.

In some embodiments, image data merging refers to merging multiple independent images into one image that cannot be directly split into the original independent images. For example, independent first image data and independent second image data are merged into one piece of third image data. The third image data is an independent image, and the third image data cannot be split into independent first image data and second image data.

In some embodiments, image data combination refers to combining multiple independent images into one image group, where each image still has relative independence. The image group may be dissolved and restored to the original independent images. For example, independent first image data and independent second image data are combined into third image data. The third image data is an image data group, and the third image data may be split into independent first image data and second image data.

It should be noted that the processor104is different from a central processing unit (CPU) on a device with media data processing capabilities. The difference lies in that the processor104implements image processing and encoding and decoding through hardware. That is, processor104is a processor with hardware image processing capabilities and hardware encoding and decoding capabilities, while the CPU implements image processing and encoding and decoding through software.

In the present disclosure, the first device100may specifically send the third image data to the third device300through the second interface103.

In some embodiments, when the third device300is of the same type as the first device100, the third device300may merge or combine the third image data with the image data collected by itself and then send the merged or combined image data to a lower-level electronic device connected to the third device300. Alternatively, the third image data is directly forwarded to a lower-level electronic device connected to the third device300.

In some embodiments, when the third device300is of a different type from the first device100, the third device300may send the third image data to a remote device connected to the third device, so that the third image data may be output to the display screen of the remote device for display.

In the present disclosure, the second image data sent by the second device200and received by the first device100through the first interface102may also include the image data sent by a fourth device400and received by the second device200. The image data sent by the fourth device400includes at least image data collected by an image acquisition unit of the fourth device400.

In some embodiments, the second image data may be combined data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200and the image data received by the second device200and sent from the fourth device400. In some embodiments, the second image data may be merged image data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200and the image data received by the second device200and sent from the fourth device400. When the second image data is the combined data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200and the image data received by the second device200and sent from the fourth device400, the processor104of the first device100may be configured to merge the first image data, the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200and the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fourth device400to obtain the third image data. When the second image data is the merged data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200and the image data received by the second device200and sent from the fourth device400, the processor104of the first device100may be configured to merge the first image data and the second image data to obtain the third image data.

In the present disclosure, the image data sent by the fourth device400may also include the image data sent by a fifth device500and received by the fourth device400, where the image data sent by the fifth device500may include at least the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fifth device500.

In some embodiments, the image data sent by the fourth device400may be combined data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fourth device400and the image data sent by the fifth device500and received by the fourth device400. In some embodiments, the image data sent by the fourth device400may be merged data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fourth device400and the image data received by the fourth device400and sent from the fifth device500. When the image data sent by the fourth device400is the combined data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fourth device400and the image data sent by the fifth device500and received by the fourth device400, the processor104may be configured to merge the first image data, the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200, the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fourth device400, and the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fifth device500, to obtain the third image data. When the image data sent by the fourth device400is the merged data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fourth device400and the image data sent by the fifth device500and received by the fourth device400, this processor104may be configured to merge the first image data and the second image data to obtain the third image data. Here, the second image data is the merged data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200and the image data sent by the fourth device. The image data sent by the fourth device is the merged data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit image data of the fourth device400and the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fifth device500.

In the present disclosure, the first device100may also have an image output unit105, through which the first image data and/or the second image data may be output, or at least part of the first image data and/or the second image data may be output.

In some embodiments, the image output unit105may be a display screen, and the first device100, the second device200, the fourth device400, and the fifth device500may all be monitors, and the first device100, the second device200, the fourth device500, and the fifth device500may all have the similar architecture. In some embodiments, the third device300may be a computer.

A monitor provided by the present disclosure may not only have computing capacities, but also have hardware data processing capabilities and hardware encoding and decoding capabilities. In addition, through device cascading (i.e., serial connection), in the present disclosure, the first device may receive image data sent by an upper-level device (e.g., the second device), and may also send image data collected by a device itself and image data sent by an upper-level device (e.g., the second device) to a lower-level device (e.g., the third device). The first device may receive data sent by a lower-level device (e.g., the third device), and may also send data from the third device to an upper-level device (e.g., the second device). In this way, the third device may obtain the camera image data of any device on the cascade linkage as needed to meet a user's requirements for images from different angles.

In some embodiments, the first device may also have multiple first interfaces102. The second device200, the fourth device400, and the fifth device500may all be directly connected to the first device100through a respective first interface102. The first device100may directly receive the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200, the fourth device400, and the fifth device500, and may also combine or merge the image data collected by its own image acquisition unit101with the image data sent by the second device200, the fourth device400, and/or the fifth device500, which are then sent to the third device300.

In the present disclosure, the first device100further includes a selection unit106for determining a target device among candidate devices in response to a selection instruction. The candidate devices include at least the first device100, the second device200and the fourth device400connected to the second device200. The candidate devices may also include the fifth device500and more cascaded devices (not shown). The second image data may be combined data of the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device200and the image data sent by the fourth device400. The image data sent by the fourth device400includes at least the image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the fourth device400. The second interface103is configured to send image data corresponding to the target device to the third device300.

In some embodiments, the second interface103is further configured to receive a selection instruction sent by the third device300, where the selection instruction at least carries a device identifier. The selection unit106is further configured to send an image acquisition instruction to the second device200through the first interface102based on the device identifier, so that the second device200performs image acquisition through the image acquisition unit of the second device200based on the device identifier included in the image acquisition instruction. Additionally or alternatively, the selection unit106is configured to send an image acquisition instruction to the fourth device400through the second device200based on the device identifier, so that the fourth device400performs image acquisition through the image acquisition unit of the fourth device400based on the device identifier included in the image acquisition instruction. At this point, the second device200may be used as a relay device between the first device100and the fourth device400and only forward data between the first device100and the fourth device400.

In some embodiments, the selection unit106may be an input device such as a touch screen, a physical button, or a microphone. The selection unit106may also be a software module implemented by part of the code integrated into the processor104.

When the selection unit106is an input device, the first device100may also receive a menu opening instruction implemented through the selection unit106. Through the menu opening instruction, a menu interface for device selection may be displayed in the display area of the first device100. Then, a selection instruction for a candidate device in the menu interface may also be received through the selection unit106, and the target device may be determined from the candidate devices based on the device identifier included in the selection instruction.

For example, by pressing a physical button on the first device100, a menu interface for device selection may pop up in the display area of the first device100. By pressing the physical button again, a user may select a target device from the multiple candidate devices displayed in the menu interface.

In some embodiments, the first device100may also receive display data sent from the third device when receiving a menu opening instruction through the selection unit. In this case, the menu opening instruction may have a higher priority than the display data. The first device100may preferentially display the target menu interface in the display area due to the higher priority of the menu opening instruction. Apparently, the first device may also display both the target menu interface and the display data in the display area. At this moment, since the menu opening instruction has a higher priority than the display data, at least part of the content of the display data may be blocked by the target menu interface.

In some embodiments, when the selection unit is a software module of the processor, the first device may also include an input device through which a menu opening instruction may be received. A menu interface for device selection may be displayed in the display area based on the menu opening instruction. In some embodiments, the first device may also receive a selection operation for multiple candidate devices in the menu interface, and the processor may determine a target device by identifying the device identifier included in the selection operation.

In some embodiments, the first device may display a menu interface on the display screen through an on-screen display (OSD) method to achieve the selection of the target device.

Through device cascading, the first device provided by the present disclosure not only has the ability to select data, but also allows the third device to access the camera image data of any device on the cascade linkage according to user needs, to meet different needs of users.

In some embodiments, the first device100may send data including the first image data and the second image data to the third device300through a first data channel of the second interface103. The first device100may also receive the first display data sent by the third device300through a second data channel of the second interface103, so that the first display data is displayed on the image output unit105.

In some embodiments, the first display data may originate from the image data sent by a remote device and received by the third device300, or may be image data stored by the third device300itself.

In some embodiments, the first device100may also receive the second image data sent by the second device200through a first data channel of the first interface102, and send second display data to the second device200through a second data channel of the first interface102, so that the second display data may be displayed on an image output unit of the second device200. In some embodiments, the first display data includes the second display data.

In one embodiment, the second display data sent by the first device100to the second device200through the first interface102is the same as the first display data. For example, the second display data is all data of the first display data.

In another embodiment, the second display data sent by the first device100to the second device200through the first interface102is different from the first display data. For example, the second display data is part of the first display data.

In some embodiments, the first display data may also include multiple sub-display data, each sub-display data having a corresponding identifier. The identifier here is configured to indicate the display order of each sub-display data on a corresponding device.

In one example, the first display data includes three sub-display data. The identifier corresponding to the first sub-display data is 1, indicating that the first sub-display data is displayed first; the identifier corresponding to the second sub-display data is 3, indicating that the second sub-display data is displayed third; and the identifier corresponding to the third sub-display data is 2, indicating that the third sub-display data is displayed second.

In some embodiments, the processor104may determine the first sub-display data among the plurality of sub-display data based on the identifier for the first sub-display data, and display the first sub-display data through the image output unit105.

Here, the first device may be in a position to display sub-display data first, and the identifier of the first sub-display data indicates that the first sub-display data is displayed first, which then directs to the first device.

Next, the first device100may send the remaining sub-display data of the plurality of sub-display data except for the first sub-display data to the second device200through the first interface102, so that the second device200displays the corresponding second sub-display data in the remaining sub-display data through the image output unit of the second device200based on the identifier. Alternatively, through the second device200, the first device100may send the remaining sub-display data to the fourth device400connected to the second device200, so that the fourth device400displays the corresponding third sub-display data in the remaining sub-display data through the image output unit of the fourth device400based on the identifier.

In one example, the second device200is in a position to display sub-display data second, and the fourth device400is in a position to display sub-display data third. The first display data includes two sub-display data, where the identifier corresponding to the first sub-display data is 1, indicating that the first sub-display data is displayed first, which is then output for display through the first device100. The identifier corresponding to the second sub-display data is 2, indicating that the second sub-display data is displayed second, which is then output for display through the second device200. If the identifier corresponding to the second sub-display data is 3, indicating that the second sub-display data is displayed third, the second sub-display data is forwarded to the fourth device400through the second device200, so that the fourth device400displays the output second sub-display data.

In some embodiments, when data is forwarded through the second device200, the data sent by the first device100to the second device200may include an identifier, and the second device200may determine, whether to output the data through its own device or to forward the data according to the identifier.

In one example, the first device, the second device, and the fourth device are connected in a cascade manner. The first device may send the second sub-display data including the identifier3to the second device200through the first interface102. After receiving the second sub-display data including the identifier3, the second device200may compare the identifier with its own assigned position identifier. If the comparison result indicates a difference, the second device200may then send the second sub-display data including the identifier3to the fourth device400. The fourth device400displays the output second sub-display data. That is, at this moment, the second device200only forwards the second sub-display data and does not display the data.

In some embodiments, the third device300may be a mobile phone, a computer, an information transceiver device, a tablet device, a personal digital assistant or other terminals. The third device300may include at least one processor, memory, at least one network interface, and input and output devices. The various components in the third device300are coupled together through a bus system. It may be understood that the bus system is configured to implement connection communication between these components. In addition to the data bus, the bus system may also include a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus.

The input and output devices may include a monitor, camera, keyboard, mouse, trackball, click wheel, keys, buttons, touchpad or touch screen, etc.

It may be understood that the memory may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, and may also include both volatile and non-volatile memories. The non-volatile memory may be a Read Only Memory (ROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Magnetic Random Access Memory (FRAM), flash memory, magnetic surface memory, optical disk, or Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), etc. The magnetic surface memory may be a magnetic disk memory or a tape memory. Volatile memory may be Random Access Memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of illustration, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Synchronous Static Random Access Memory (SSRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDRSDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (ESDRAM), SyncLink Dynamic Random Access Memory (SLDRAM), Direct Rambus Random Access Memory (DRRAM), etc. The memories described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memories.

The memory in the embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to store various types of data to support the operation of the third device300. Examples of these data include any computer programs configured to execute on the third device300, such as operating systems and applications, contact data, phonebook data, messages, pictures, audio, etc. The operating system includes various system programs, such as a framework layer, core library layer, driver layer, etc., which are configured to implement various basic services and process hardware-based tasks. Applications may include various applications, such as media players, browsers, etc., configured to implement various application services. The programs for implementing the methods of the embodiment of the present disclosure may be included in the application program.

In some embodiments, the processor may be an integrated circuit chip with signal-processing capabilities.

In an exemplary embodiment, the third device300may be one or more of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Programmable Logic Device (PLD), Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), general-purpose processor, controller, Micro Controller Unit (MCU), microprocessor, or other electronic components.

The first device provided by the present disclosure may have the functions of a daisy chain and reverse daisy chain at the same time through device cascading, and may also choose to transmit part of the data or all the data to an upper-level device or a lower-level device.

FIG.2is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of electronic devices, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.2, the electronic devices include four monitors, namely monitor1, monitor2, monitor3, and monitor4, where monitor1, monitor2, monitor3, and monitor4are all connected in sequence through USB interfaces, and monitor4is also connected to computer5through a USB interface.

In some embodiments, each monitor has a camera through which image acquisition is possible. Monitor1may send image1collected by the camera of monitor1to monitor2. Monitor2may merge the image collected by the camera of monitor2with image1to form image2and send image2to monitor3. Monitor3may merge the image collected by the camera of monitor3with image2sent by monitor2to form image3and send image3to monitor4. Monitor4may merge the image collected by the camera of monitor4with image3sent by monitor3to form image4and send image4to computer5. In other words, each monitor may merge the image collected by its own camera with an image sent by an upper-level monitor and then send the merged image to a lower-level monitor/device. In this way, computer5may obtain the image data collected by the cameras of all monitors.

In some embodiments, computer5may be connected to a remote device (not shown), and image4may be also sent to the remote device through a connection, so that image4may be displayed on the remote device. For example, in a remote conference scenario, the remote device may display images collected by the cameras of the four monitors from different angles.

FIG.3is a schematic diagram of an architecture corresponding toFIG.2. As shown inFIG.3, camera1of monitor1collects an image and sends the collected image1to the hub HUB1. HUB1sends image1to the processor SoC1. SoC1sends image1to USB-C controller2of monitor2through USB-C controller1. USB-C controller2of monitor2sends image1to HUB2of monitor2. Camera2of monitor2collects an image and sends the collected image to HUB2. HUB2sends both the collected image and received image1to the processor SoC2. SoC2merges the image collected by camera2with image1to obtain image2, and sends image2to USB-C controller2of monitor3through USB-C controller1of monitor2. USB-C controller2of monitor3sends image2to HUB3of monitor3. Camera3of monitor3collects an image, and sends the collected image to HUB3. HUB3sends both the collected image and image2to the processor SoC3. SoC3merges the image collected by camera3with image2to obtain image3, and sends image3to USB-C controller2of monitor4through the USB-C controller1of monitor3. USB-C controller2of monitor4sends image3to HUB4of monitor4. Camera4of monitor4collects an image, and sends the collected image to HUB4. HUB4sends both the collected image and image3to the processor SoC4. SoC4merges the image collected by camera4with image3to obtain image4, and sends image4to computer5through the USB-C controller1of monitor4.

The thick black line inFIG.3represents the image data transmitted from the monitors to the computer, and the dotted line represents the data sent from computer5to the monitors. The thin black line indicates that if the identifier included in the camera selection instruction sent by computer5to monitor4is the camera corresponding to monitor1, the selection instruction needs to be sent to the USB-C controller2of monitor1through SoC1of monitor1. The HUB1is then controlled through the USB-C controller2of monitor1to send an image collected by camera1to the SoC1.

FIG.4is a schematic diagram of another application scenario of electronic devices, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.4, the electronic devices include four monitors, namely monitor1, monitor2, monitor3, and monitor4, where monitor1, monitor2, monitor3, and monitor4are all connected in sequence through USB interfaces, and monitor4is also connected to computer5through a USB interface.

In some embodiments, each monitor has a camera through which image acquisition is possible. Monitor1may send image1collected by the camera of monitor1to monitor2. Monitor2may send image2collected by the camera of monitor2together with image1to monitor3. Monitor3may send image3collected by the camera of monitor3and image1and image2sent by monitor2to monitor4. Monitor4may merge the image collected by the camera of monitor4with image1, image2, and image3sent by monitor3to form image4and send image4to computer5. In this way, computer5may obtain the image data collected by the cameras of all displays.

In some embodiments, computer5may also be connected to a remote device (not shown), through which image4may be sent to the remote device, so that image4may be displayed on the remote device. This allows the remote device to display images collected by the cameras of four monitors from different angles.

The thick black line inFIG.5represents the merged image, which means that only monitor4inFIG.5performs image merging, and other monitors only perform image combination or forwarding. The dotted line represents the data sent from computer5to the monitors. The dotted line between a SW HUB and an SoC indicates that no data transfer is taking place therebetween.

FIG.6is a schematic diagram of yet another application scenario of electronic devices, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.6, the electronic devices include four monitors, namely monitor1, monitor2, monitor3, and monitor4, where monitor1, monitor2, monitor3, and monitor4are all connected in sequence through USB interfaces, and monitor4is also connected to computer5through a USB interface.

In some embodiments, each monitor has a camera through which image acquisition is possible. InFIG.6, monitor4may receive a selection instruction sent by computer5, and the selection instruction may include a device identifier. Based on the device identifier, monitor4determines that the camera of monitor3is the target object, and then sends an image acquisition instruction to monitor3. Monitor3is caused to turn on the camera on monitor3to collect an image based on the image acquisition instruction. Monitor3sends the collected image1to monitor4(shown by the solid line in the figure), and monitor4then sends image1to computer5. Computer5may send image1to a remote device (not shown) so that image1may output to display on the remote device.

In some embodiments, computer5may also receive a remote image (shown as a dotted line in the figure) sent by the remote device, and send the remote image to monitor4. Monitor4outputs and displays the remote image through the display screen of monitor4, and sends the remote image to monitor3. Monitor3determines that the display screen of monitor3is currently in use according to the usage status information of the display screen of monitor3. The remote image may be then directly sent to monitor2without displaying by monitor3. Monitor2outputs and displays the remote image through the display screen of monitor2, and also sends the remote image to monitor1. Monitor1then outputs and displays the remote image through the display screen of monitor1.

Through the cascaded monitors provided by the present disclosure, the computer may access the camera of any monitor in the cascaded monitors, so that the display screen of one of the monitors displays the local camera image, while the display screens of all other monitors display the remote image. In this way, the purpose of displaying different content on different display screens may be achieved.

FIG.7is a schematic diagram of an architecture corresponding toFIG.6. As shown inFIG.7, only the camera of monitor3is on (as indicated by the solid line). Camera3collects an image and sends the collected image1to switch SW3of monitor3. SW3then sends image1to the hub HUB3, and HUB3then sends image1to the USB-C controller1of monitor3, and monitor3displays the output image1through monitor3. At the same time, the USB-C controller1of monitor3sends image1to USB-C controller2of monitor4. USB-C controller2of monitor4then sends image1to HUB4of monitor4. HUB4of monitor4then sends image1to the USB-C controller1of monitor4. The USB-C controller1of monitor4then sends image1to computer5. In this way, only camera3of monitor3is in a working state, and display screen3may output and display the local image data collected by camera3. In this way, the computer may select a camera of any monitor on the cascade linkage to realize image collection according to the needs.

In some embodiments, the cameras in monitor1, monitor2, and monitor4may be in the working state or in the non-working state. InFIG.7, when the corresponding cameras in monitor1, monitor2, and monitor4are in the working state, an image collected by a camera may be sent to the corresponding SoC through the corresponding SW, but is not sent outwards (as indicated by the dotted line).

InFIG.7, computer5may also send a remote image to the USB-C controller1of monitor4. The USB-C controller1of monitor4sends the remote image to the processor SoC4of monitor4. The processor SoC4sends the remote image to the USB-C controller2and display screen4of monitor4, and outputs and displays the remote image through display screen4. The remote image is also sent to the SoC3of monitor3through the USB-C controller2of monitor4. SoC3then forwards the remote image to USB-C controller1of monitor2through USB-C controller2of monitor3. USB-C controller1of monitor2sends the remote image to display screen2and SoC2of monitor2, and outputs and displays the remote image through display screen2. SoC2of monitor2also forwards the remote image through to USB-C controller1of monitor1through USB-C controller1of monitor2. The USB-C control of monitor1of monitor1sends the remote image to the display screen1of monitor1to output and display the remote image through the display screen1. In this way, except that monitor3displays the local image, monitors1,3, and4all display the remote image. This achieves the effect of displaying different content from different devices on the display screens.

Through device cascading, while realizing image collection through its own image acquisition unit, an electronic device provided by the present disclosure may receive image data sent by an upper-level device and/or send image data collected by its own image acquisition unit and/or image data sent by the upper-level device to a lower-level device. In this way, users' needs for using images collected by multiple cameras may be met. In addition, the computer connected to the cascade devices may also select any camera on a cascade linkage device to collect an image, so that in a video conference scenario, the remote device may display an image collected by any camera. The displayed image range is no longer limited to a specific device.

FIG.8is a flow chart of a processing method, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The method may be applied to the first device. As shown inFIG.8, the method includes:

Step801: Collect first image data through a first device.

In some embodiments, the first device may be a monitor, and the monitor may have an image acquisition unit through which first image data may be collected.

Step802: Receive second image data sent by a second device.

In some embodiments, the first device may have a first interface through which it may be connected to the second device to receive the second image data sent by the second device. In some embodiments, the second image data may be image data collected by the image acquisition unit of the second device, or the second device may receive a collected image sent from the fourth device. In some embodiments, the second image data may be an independent image or a combined image of multiple independent images.

Step803: Send data including the first image data and the second image data to a third device.

In some embodiments, the first device may have a second interface through which data including the first image data and the second image data may be sent to the third device.

In some embodiments, the first device may merge or combine the first image data and the second image data to generate third image data, and send the third image data to the third device through the second interface.

In some embodiments, the first device, the second device, the third device, and the fourth device may be connected in series, or the second device, the third device, and the fourth device may all be directly connected to the first device.

In some embodiments, the first device may also receive the display data sent by the third device through the second interface, and output the display data through its own display screen. Apparently, the first device may also send at least part of the display data to the second device through the first interface, or send at least part of the display data to the fourth device through the second device.

Apparently, the data displayed by the first device through its own display screen may also have the same content as the data output by the second device and the fourth device.

In some embodiments, the first device, the second device, and the fourth device may all be monitors, and the third device may be a computer device with a CPU.

It should be noted that the processing method in the embodiments disclosed herein may be based on the same concept as the above-described first device embodiments. The specific implementation process may refer to the descriptions in the device embodiments, details of which will not be described again here.

In the embodiments provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods may be implemented in other ways. The device embodiments described above are merely for illustrative purposes. For example, the division of the devices may be a logical function division. In actual embodiments, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple devices or components may be combined, or may be integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored, or not implemented. In addition, the coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection between the components shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection of the devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or in other forms.

The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separated. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the present disclosure.

The features disclosed in several product embodiments provided in the present disclosure may be combined arbitrarily without conflict to obtain new product embodiments.

The features disclosed in several device embodiments provided in the present disclosure may be arbitrarily combined to obtain new device embodiments without conflict.

The above are merely some specific embodiments of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. A person skilled in the art may easily derive changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present disclosure, which should fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the protection scope of the present disclosure is also subject to the protection scope of the claims.