Controlling an auxiliary display user interface based on usage context

• US 20070130399A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Jason, Makoski, Daniel, Fuller, Andrew, Westerinen, William, Rhoten, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts

Abstract

An auxiliary computing device normally used for remotely controlling a primary device may change its functionality and extend its usefulness based on a usage context. An auxiliary device may change its usage context by connecting differently to a primary device depending on any number of parameters including distance from the device, battery life, connection method, and proximity to other devices. The device may change its usage context by interfacing with a primary device service that communicates with various applications to feed the auxiliary device different information in different usage contexts. Further, the device may control different functions of the primary device based on the usage context.

Claims

1. On an auxiliary computing device, a method of controlling a user interface comprising:

establishing a connection between the auxiliary computing device and a primary computing device;

enumerating the auxiliary computing device through a primary computing device operating system auxiliary service, the primary computing device operating system auxiliary service comprising at least one auxiliary application, the at least one auxiliary application generating displayable information;

establishing a usage context of the auxiliary computing device;

communicating the displayable information to the auxiliary computing device; and

displaying the information on the auxiliary computing device display based on the usage context.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enumerating the auxiliary computing device through a primary computing device operating system auxiliary service comprises sending a plug and play connect to the primary computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising sending a plug and play disconnect to the primary computing device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plug and play connect comprises information related to the auxiliary computing device, the information related to the auxiliary computing device comprising at least one of battery information, display settings, or a docking status.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating system auxiliary service initializes the auxiliary application.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the application provides displayable data to the auxiliary device according to at least one of an enumerated device status or the usage context.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the displayable data comprises at least one of a media player status, an e-mail notification, an e-mail contents, a streaming video, home network information, a really simple syndication feed, an appointment schedule, an appointment notification, available nearby controllable devices, and nearby controllable device status information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary computing device comprises at least one of a media device remote control, a hand held computer, a cellular phone, or a Smartphone-enabled device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary computing device determines a usable subset of the displayable information based on the usage context.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary computing device determines a usable subset of the displayable information based on the usage context.

11. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for controlling an auxiliary computing device based on usage context comprising computer executable instructions for:

sending a plug and play message from the auxiliary computing device to a primary computing device, the plug and play message being one of a connect message or a disconnect message;

establishing a connection between the auxiliary computing device and the primary computing device based on the plug and play message;

enumerating the auxiliary computing device through a primary computing device operating system auxiliary service, the primary computing device operating system auxiliary service in communication with an application, the application comprising displayable information;

establishing a usage context of the auxiliary computing device based on at least one of the plug and play message, information related to the auxiliary computing device, or information related to the primary computing device;

initializing an auxiliary application on the primary computing device;

communicating the displayable information from the auxiliary application to the primary computing device operating system auxiliary service;

communicating the displayable information from the primary computing device operating system auxiliary service to the auxiliary computing device based on the usage context; and

displaying the information on the auxiliary computing device;

wherein the plug and play message comprises information related to at least one of the auxiliary computing device or the primary computing device, the information comprising a battery status, a docking status, a message round trip time, a device type, a motion sensor status, or an enumerated device status; and

wherein the displayable data comprises a media player status, an e-mail notification, an e-mail contents, a streaming video, home network information, a really simple syndication feed, an appointment schedule, an appointment notification, available nearby controllable devices, or nearby controllable device status information.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the auxiliary application provides the displayable data to the auxiliary device according to the usage context.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the auxiliary application provides the displayable data to the auxiliary device in response to a primary computing device event.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the primary computing device event comprises at least one of changing the primary computing device status, changing application information, or changing the application status.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the application comprises a media player, a photo album, an e-mail program, an instant messenger program, or a monitoring service application.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the monitoring service application sends data from at least one computing device to the auxiliary application.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the auxiliary computing device comprises at least one of a media device remote control, a hand held computer, a cellular phone, or a Smartphone-enabled device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein establishing a usage context of the auxiliary computing device is performed by the auxiliary computing device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein establishing a usage context of the auxiliary computing device is performed by the primary computing device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising the auxiliary computing device selectively rendering the information on the auxiliary computing device display.