Method and system for auxiliary display of information for a computing device

• US 20060007051A1
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chandley, Adrian M., Ledbetter, Carl, Adams, Aditha May, Crosier, Dale C., Kaneko, Steve, Magendanz, Chad, Westerinen, William J., Schoppa, Chris, Bear, Eric Gould, Plank, Robert Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,221,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and system for auxiliary display of information for a computing device. An auxiliary display is integrated with a computing system to provide an area where notifications can be peripherally presented off-screen. Whenever a background task sends a notification to the main display of the system, the notification may be redirected to appear instead on the auxiliary display. A user may then glance at the notification appearing on the auxiliary display to be informed of the message without interruption from the current task onscreen. Any type of information may be presented on the auxiliary display including incoming communications, meeting reminders, system alerts, and information from Internet subscription services. The auxiliary display may be placed on the central processor chassis or on the monitor border along with LED indicator lights to provide simple peripheral-vision notification. By pressing a button, a user may obtain additional detailed follow-up information.

Claims

1. A system for auxiliary display of information, comprising:

a computing device including a main display interface for displaying information;

an information generator component for sending the information for display;

an auxiliary display coupled to the computing device; and

an information redirector component operably coupled to the information generator component, the information redirector component examining the information sent for display and directing the information to the auxiliary display for auxiliary display of the information.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an input device coupled to the computing device for controlling output to the auxiliary display.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary display comprises a display of another computing device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the other computing device comprises a personal computer.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the other computing device comprises a phone.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the other computing device comprises a handheld device.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the other computing device comprises a personal digital assistant.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the other computing device comprises a remote control.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary display comprises a portion of the main display of the computing device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary display comprises one or more notification indicators.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the notification indicators comprise lights.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary display comprises a multi-line display.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary display uses at least one member of the set comprising visual, audible, and tactile representations.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the information directed to the auxiliary display comprises a notification to a user about an event.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the event comprises the receipt of an email message.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the event comprises the receipt of a voicemail message.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the event comprises an incoming communication.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the event comprises a reminder.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the event comprises a system alert.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the event comprises an instant message.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the information directed to the auxiliary display comprises media information.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the information directed to the auxiliary display comprises caller ID information.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the information directed to the auxiliary display comprises data from an Internet-based service.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the Internet-based service provides news-related information.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the Internet-based service provide weather-related information.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the Internet-based service provides entertainment information.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the Internet-based service provided provides financial-related information.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the Internet-based service provides data from a web camera.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the Internet-based service provides information from transaction services.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein the Internet-based service provides information from auction services.

31. The system of claim 23 wherein the Internet-based service provides information from location services.

32. The system of claim 23 wherein the Internet-based service provides advertising information.

33. The system of claim 1 wherein the information directed to the auxiliary display is assigned a priority level used in displaying the information on the auxiliary display.

34. The system of claim 1 wherein the information directed to the auxiliary display is assigned a display period used in displaying the information on the auxiliary display.

35. The system of claim 1 further comprising a configuration component for setting selection criteria used by the information redirector for selectively redirecting the information to the auxiliary display.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the configuration component may further set a priority level for a subset of the information directed to the auxiliary display.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the configuration component may further set a display period for the information directed to the auxiliary display.

38. The system of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary display controller operably coupled to the information redirector component, the auxiliary display controller managing the information directed to the auxiliary display.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein managing the information directed to the auxiliary display includes displaying a tally of the number of redirections made by the information redirector on the auxiliary display.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein displaying the tally of the number of redirections includes displaying a sub-tally of the number of redirections by information type.

41. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device comprises a single button for switching between categories of information.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the input device further comprises an up button and a down button for navigating the information displayed on the auxiliary display.

43. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device further controls the output of the computing device.

44-70. -70. (canceled)