Scenario synchronism between a primary display and a secondary display of an electronic device

• US 20050213717A1
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Stroupe, Autumn L., Todd, Marc W., O'Neil, Daniel G.
• Application Number:
  US10/811,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.110
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A method and system for scenario synchronizing in a communication device allows a user to complete a task initiated or prompted from a secondary display on a primary display. The secondary display provides quick access to useful information such as time, date, battery life, signal strength, new messages and calendar reminders. When the communication device (e.g., a clamshell flip-style device) is opened to access the primary display, a user need not navigate to the specific application to complete the initiated task.

Claims

1. A method for scenario synchronizing between a primary display and a secondary display of a communication device, comprising:

receiving an event at the communication device;

displaying information associated with the event on the secondary display;

activating on the primary display an application that supports the event; and

displaying on the primary display information associated with the event such that functionality and information that is associated with the application in addition to the information displayed on the secondary display is accessible on the primary display when the primary display is accessed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a clamshell flip-style device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising opening the communication device such that the primary display is accessible.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the event includes at least one of a task, a notification, an alert, and a user-activated application.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising dismissing the information associated with the event from the secondary display.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising interacting with the information associated with the event on the secondary display.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising interacting with the information associated with the event on the primary display.

8. A system for scenario synchronizing in a communication device, comprising:

a secondary display;

a primary display coupled to the secondary display; and

an application that activates upon the occurrence of an event at the communication device, wherein information associated with the event is displayed on the secondary display, and wherein functionality and information associated with the application in addition to the information displayed on the secondary display is accessible on the primary display when the primary display is accessed.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the primary display is larger than the secondary display.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the secondary display is located on an outer surface of the communication device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication device is a clamshell flip-style device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the primary display is accessible when the communication device is opened.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the event includes at least one of a task, a notification, an alert, and a user-activated application.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising a first set of hardware coupled to the secondary display for manipulating content shown on the secondary display.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second set of hardware coupled to the primary display for manipulating content shown on the primary display.

16. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for scenario synchronizing between a primary display and a secondary display of a communication device, the computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform:

receiving an event at the communication device;

displaying information associated with the event on the secondary display;

activating on the primary display an application that supports the event; and

displaying on the primary display information associated with the event such that functionality and information that is associated with the application in addition to the information displayed on the secondary display is accessible on the primary display when the primary display is accessed.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising dismissing the information associated with the event on the secondary display.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the event includes at least one of a task, a notification, an alert, and a user-activated application.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the communication device is a clamshell flip-style device.

20. A system for scenario synchronizing between a primary display and a secondary display of a communication device, comprising:

means for receiving an event at the communication device;

means for displaying information associated with the event on the secondary display;

means for activating on the primary display an application that supports the event; and

means for displaying on the primary display information associated with the event such that functionality and information that is associated with the application in addition to the information displayed on the secondary display is accessible on the primary display when the primary display is accessed.