Extensible architecture for auxiliary displays

• US 20060130072A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fuller, Andrew J., Rhoten, Matthew P., Polivy, Daniel J., Wynn, Roger H., Bernstein, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,549,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements

Abstract

Described is a system and method by which an auxiliary computing device having an auxiliary display platform that displays information corresponding to data that originated on the main computer system may be extended by a device manufacturer. Extended hardware is added to the device, such as a radio receiver and/or an audio decoder. The auxiliary display platform is layered and extensible at each layer, and includes an extensible hardware abstraction layer that is extensible to support extended hardware if needed, and a driver layer that is extensible by adding driver code for the extended hardware. A runtime layer is also extensible to support the extended hardware as needed, as are libraries, the auxiliary shell program and other managed code. The client API is also extensible to allow applications on the main computer system to communicate with extended hardware via the device runtime layer.

Claims

1. An auxiliary device capable of coupling to a main computer system, a system comprising:

an auxiliary platform on the main computer system, the auxiliary platform including;

a hardware abstraction layer that abstracts hardware differences from higher-level software and is extensible to support extended hardware as needed;

a driver layer that is extensible by including driver code for the extended hardware;

a runtime layer that is extensible to support extended hardware as needed; and

auxiliary device program code that displays information corresponding to data that originated on the main computer system or in the extended hardware.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device comprises a mobile communications device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device comprises a device from among a set of device types containing:

a separate computer;

a mobile communications device;

a secondary display screen with button actuators;

a watch;

a wall display;

a display screen;

a digital picture frame;

an alarm clock;

a television;

a radio;

a watch;

a media player;

a device embedded within or using the main display of a consumer electronics device;

automotive, transportation or other vehicular units;

keyboards or other input devices of the main computer system;

a pager; and

a personal digital assistant.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising, custom software code on the auxiliary device that corresponds to the extended hardware.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising, an application program interface on the main computer system that is extensible to transfer data between software code running on the main computer system and the custom software code on the auxiliary device.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the runtime comprises a common language runtime and wherein the custom software code comprises managed code.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary shell program that is extensible to support the extended hardware.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device includes a display for displaying information including auxiliary information corresponding to data that originated on the main computer system, and wherein the display includes a region reserved for displaying customized output.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the extended hardware corresponds to at least one hardware component of a set of components, the set containing:

SPOT radio;

Bluetooth radio;

GPS receiver;

temperature sensor;

audio decoder;

audio encoder;

additional storage;

a biometric sensor;

an accelerometer;

RFID tags/reader;

presence detection;

an interface to storage arrays/system management;

a battery;

an RF transmitter;

a microphone;

a radio receiver;

mobile telephone components;

wireless communication components;

wireless networking components; and

an indicator.

10. In a computing device, a method comprising:

installing in the computing device firmware including an auxiliary device firmware stack, the firmware stack including code that displays auxiliary information corresponding to data that originated on the main computer system on a display of the computing device;

adding extended hardware to the computing device; and

extending the firmware stack to support the extended hardware.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the firmware stack includes a hardware abstraction layer and wherein extending the firmware comprises extending the hardware abstraction layer.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the firmware stack includes a driver layer and wherein extending the firmware comprises extending driver code.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the firmware stack includes a runtime and wherein extending the firmware comprises extending the runtime.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the firmware stack includes a shell program and wherein extending the firmware comprises extending the shell program.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the firmware stack includes a framework library and wherein extending the firmware comprises extending the framework library.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein adding extended hardware to the computing device comprises configuring the computer device for mobile communications.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein adding extended hardware comprises adding at least one hardware component of a set of components, the set containing:

SPOT radio;

Bluetooth radio;

GPS receiver;

temperature sensor;

audio decoder;

audio encoder;

additional storage;

a biometric sensor;

an accelerometer;

RFID tags/reader;

presence detection;

an interface to storage arrays/system management;

a battery;

an RF transmitter;

a microphone;

a radio receiver;

mobile telephone components;

wireless communication components;

wireless networking components; and

an indicator.

18. The method of claim 10 communicating data between a program running on the main computer system and custom software code running on the auxiliary device that corresponds to the extended hardware.

19. The method of claim 10 further comprising, displaying custom information on a region of the display that is reserved for displaying customized output.

20. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions which when executed perform the method of claim 10.

21. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which when executed perform steps, comprising:

installing in the computing device firmware including an auxiliary device firmware stack, the firmware stack including code that displays auxiliary information corresponding to data that originated on the main computer system on a display of the computing device; and

establishing a communications path through at least part of the firmware stack to custom software that extends the firmware stack to support extended hardware added to the computing device.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the custom software that extends the firmware stack comprises driver code added to a driver layer.