Attachable display system for a portable device

• US 20070236482A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Proctor, David, Abanami, Thamer, Bentsen, Brett
• Application Number:
  US11/400,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20070236482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

A larger display can be directly attached to the portable device to enhance the experience of the portable device. In the case of video or pictures, the optimal resolution shows on the attachable display. When the attachable display is not connected, the local display on the device shows the appropriate resolution for the local display. The attachable display has a processor for decoding video from the device.

Claims

1. A method for processing video data for possible display on an attachable display comprising:

downloading to a portable computing device video data of a resolution appropriate for the device'"'"'s local display;

updating a video data resolution display capability of the portable device according to that which is appropriate for display on an attachable display when the attachable display is connected to the portable device for a first time; and

downloading video data of at least one resolution appropriate for display on at least one attachable display for the portable device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

checking whether the device has a capability to display video of the appropriate resolution to an attachable device before downloading the video of the appropriate resolution to the device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining whether an attachable display is connected to the device;

if the attachable display is not connected, then displaying the video of a resolution appropriate for device'"'"'s local display;

if the attachable display is connected, then displaying video from the device of a resolution appropriate for the attachable display, if such video is stored on the device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

if the attachable display is connected to the device, but video of a resolution appropriate for the attachable display is not stored on the device, then scaling up the video stored on the device for display on the connected attachable device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the attachable display has a processor for decoding video from the device and audio output capability to play audio data from the device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the attachable display is wirelessly connected to the portable device for display of video data from the portable device.

7. A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing the steps of claim 1.

8. A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing the steps of claim 2.

9. A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing the steps of claim 3.

10. A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing the steps of claim 4.

11. A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing the steps of claim 5.

12. A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing the steps of claim 6.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for checking whether the device has a capability to display video of the appropriate resolution to an attachable device before downloading the video of the appropriate resolution to the device.

15. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

means for determining whether an attachable display is connected to the device;

means for, if the attachable display is not connected, then displaying the video of a resolution appropriate for device'"'"'s local display;

means for, if the attachable display is connected, then displaying video from the device of a resolution appropriate for the attachable display, if such video is stored on the device.

16. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

means for, if the attachable display is connected to the device, but video of a resolution appropriate for the attachable display is not stored on the device, then scaling up the video stored on the device for display on the connected attachable device.

17. The system of claim 4 wherein the attachable display has a processor for decoding video from the device and audio output capability to play audio data from the device.

18. The system of claim 5 wherein the attachable display is wirelessly connected to the portable device for display of video data from the portable device.

13. A system for processing video data for possible display on an attachable display comprising:

means for downloading to a portable computing device video data of a resolution appropriate for the device'"'"'s local display;

means for updating a video data resolution display capability of the portable device according to that which is appropriate for display on an attachable display when the attachable display is connected to the portable device for a first time; and

means for downloading video data of at least one resolution appropriate for display on at least one attachable display for the portable device.

19. An automobile multimedia display system comprising:

an interface operable for connection with a portable device to play video and audio stored on the portable device on the automobile multimedia display system, a processor operable to decode video from the portable device;

a display operable to display decoded video data from the portable device;

audio output capabilities operable to play audio stored on the portable device, wherein the display and portable device may be disconnected from each other by unplugging the portable device; and

a display capabilities indication mechanism configured to indicate to the portable device display capabilities of the automobile multimedia display system when the portable device is connected to the automobile multimedia display system.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a portable device for connection to the automobile multimedia display system, said portable device operable for and configured to download video and audio data appropriate according to the capabilities of the automobile multimedia display system, said capabilities being stored on the portable device.