Method and system for providing a peripheral service to a host computing device

• US 20040249994A1
• Filed: 06/06/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guzak, Chris J., Tricker, Michael G., Shapiro, Daniel J., Meyers, Brian R., Jancke, Gavin, Magendanz, Chad L., Grudin, Jonathan T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for one computing device (the “provider”) to provide peripheral services to another device (the “host”). A user directly runs the host. The host accesses the provider as if the provider were a set of peripheral devices attached to the host. In this way, the host and provider become, in effect, one device with the combined capabilities of both devices. The provider switches between two modes: In standalone mode, the provider acts as an individual device; upon switching to auxiliary mode, the provider provides peripheral services to the host but can still run applications and present an input/output interface to its own user. When the peripheral device provided to the host is a display screen, the host can map the provided screen into the host'"'"'s own video memory, thus hiding implementation details from applications that use the screens. One device can simultaneously act as provider and host.

Claims

1. A method for a provider computing device comprising a peripheral device to provide the peripheral device as an auxiliary peripheral device to a host computing device, the host computing device distinct from the provider computing device, the method comprising:

running in a standalone mode;

receiving a request to provide the peripheral device as an auxiliary peripheral device to the host computing device;

switching to an auxiliary mode; and

while running in the auxiliary mode, receiving commands from the host computing device intended for the peripheral device and operating the peripheral device in accordance with the received commands.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device performs an output function and wherein operating the peripheral device comprises presenting output information received from the host computing device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the output information is selected from the group consisting of:

video, audio, and encoded data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device performs an input function and wherein operating the peripheral device comprises receiving input information, the method further comprising:

sending received input information to the host computing device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the input information is selected from the group consisting of:

video, audio, encoded data, text, key selection, location selection, and a sensor measurement.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device performs a computational function and wherein operating the peripheral device comprises presenting a computational task to the peripheral device and receiving results of a computation from the peripheral device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein running in a standalone mode comprises providing a command interface to a user of the provider computing device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein running in a standalone mode further comprises operating the peripheral device in accordance with commands received from a user of the provider computing device.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein running in the auxiliary mode comprises providing a command interface to a user of the provider computing device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein running in the auxiliary mode further comprises operating the peripheral device, at least in part, in accordance with commands received from a user of the provider computing device.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving a request comprises receiving a command from a user of the provider computing device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a request comprises receiving a request from the host computing device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein receiving a request is triggered by establishing communications with the host computing device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein establishing communications with the host computing device comprises placing the provider computing device in a receiver connected to the host computing device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving commands from the host computing device comprises running a Windows Terminal Services session with the host computing device.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the peripheral device comprises translating commands received from the host computing device into a format acceptable to the peripheral device.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating a readiness to provide the peripheral device in response to the request.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

upon receiving a request, checking an authorization of the host computing device before providing the peripheral device.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing status information to the host computing device.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing capability information about the peripheral device to the host computing device.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request to stop providing the peripheral device as an auxiliary peripheral device to the host computing device; and

switching to the standalone mode.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the host computing device is a provider computing device, the host computing device comprising a peripheral device, the method further comprising:

requesting that the host computing device provide its peripheral device as an auxiliary peripheral device to the provider computing device; and

sending commands to the host computing device intended for the host'"'"'s peripheral device.

23. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for a provider computing device comprising a peripheral device to provide the peripheral device as an auxiliary peripheral device to a host computing device, the host computing device distinct from the provider computing device, the method comprising:

running in a standalone mode;

receiving a request to provide the peripheral device as an auxiliary peripheral device to the host computing device;

switching to an auxiliary mode; and

while running in the auxiliary mode, receiving commands from the host computing device intended for the peripheral device and operating the peripheral device in accordance with the received commands.

24. A system for providing an auxiliary peripheral device to a host computing device, the system comprising:

the host computing device;

a provider computing device, the provider computing device distinct from the host computing device, the provider computing device comprising a peripheral device, the provider computing device capable of running in a standalone mode and in an auxiliary mode, the provider computing device capable while running in the auxiliary mode of receiving commands from the host computing device intended for the peripheral device and operating the peripheral device in accordance with the received commands; and

a communications link between the host computing device and the provider computing device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the provider computing device comprises a command interface for a user of the provider computing device.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the host computing device comprises a peripheral device, wherein the host computing device is capable of running in a standalone mode and in an auxiliary mode, wherein the host computing device is capable while running in the auxiliary mode of receiving commands from the provider computing device intended for the host'"'"'s peripheral device and operating the host'"'"'s peripheral device in accordance with the received commands.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein the peripheral device is a display screen, wherein the host computing device is capable of allocating video memory on the host computing device to accommodate at least a portion of the display screen, and wherein the host computing device is capable of accessing the allocated video memory to control, at least in part, the display screen.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein the peripheral device is a display screen and wherein the communications link comprises a Windows Terminal Services session.

29. A method for a host computing device to use, as an auxiliary peripheral device to the host computing device, at least a portion of a display screen provided by a provider computing device, the host computing device distinct from the provider computing device, the method comprising:

requesting that the provider peripheral device provide at least a portion of the display screen as an auxiliary peripheral device to the host computing device;

allocating video memory on the host computing device to accommodate at least a portion of the display screen;

accessing the allocated video memory to control, at least in part, the display screen; and

sending commands intended to operate at least a portion of the display screen.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the display screen is a touch-sensitive display screen, the method further comprising:

receiving touch input information from the display screen.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the host computing device comprises a receiver, the method further comprising:

establishing communications with the provider computing device upon detecting that the provider computing device is in contact with the receiver.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein allocating video memory comprises using a multi-monitor capability of the host computing system.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein sending commands comprises running a Windows Terminal Services session with the provider computing device.

34. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

receiving from the provider computing device an indication of readiness to provide the peripheral device.

35. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

providing authorization information to the provider computing device.

36. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

receiving status information from the provider computing device.

37. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

receiving capability information about the display screen from the provider computing device.

38. The method of claim 29 wherein the host computing device is also a provider computing device, the host computing device comprising a peripheral device, the method further comprising:

receiving a request that the host computing device provide its peripheral device as an auxiliary peripheral device to the provider computing device; and

receiving commands from the provider computing device intended for the peripheral device and operating the peripheral device in accordance with the received commands.

39. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for a host computing device to use, as an auxiliary peripheral device to the host computing device, at least a portion of a display screen provided by a provider computing device, the host computing device distinct from the provider computing device, the method comprising:

requesting that the provider peripheral device provide at least a portion of the display screen as an auxiliary peripheral device to the host computing device;

allocating video memory on the host computing device to accommodate at least a portion of the display screen;

accessing the allocated video memory to control, at least in part, the display screen; and

sending commands intended to operate at least a portion of the display screen.