EXPANDABLE SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE COMPRISING A HANDHELD COMPUTER DEVICE THAT DYNAMICALLY GENERATES DIFFERENT USER ENVIRONMENTS WITH SECONDARY DEVICES WITH DISPLAYS OF VARIOUS FORM FACTORS

• US 20100064228A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Handheld Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Handheld Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Tsern, Ely
• Application Number:
  US12/554,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20100064228A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/740
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1415 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/02 Graphics controller able to handle multiple formats, e.g. input or output formats
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information

Abstract

An expandable system architecture comprising a self-configuring handheld device that dynamically generates different user environments with secondary devices with displays of various form factors is described. In one embodiment, the handheld device includes an operating system, a user environment, which includes a graphical user interface generated by the operating system, and a display that displays at least a portion of the user environment. The handheld device also has an interface that communicates with a secondary device with a second display, wherein the operating system enables a different second user environment, which in one embodiment includes a different second graphical user interface, that is transmitted across the interface for display at least partially on the second display based upon a configuration of the secondary device.

Claims

1. A handheld device, comprising:

an operating system;

a first user environment, which includes a graphical user interface generated by the operating system;

a display that displays the graphical user interface; and

an interface, wherein the interface communicates with a secondary device having a second display, the operating system enables a second user environment with a different second graphical user interface based on a configuration of the secondary device, and the handheld device transmits the second graphical user interface across the interface for display on the second display.

2. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the operating system receives the configuration of the secondary device over the interface from the secondary device.

3. The handheld device of claim 2 wherein the configuration is received by using an identification code from the secondary device received over the interface.

4. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the second user environment allows a user to view and interact with the handheld device from the secondary device.

5. The handheld device of claim 4 wherein the first user environment of the handheld device is replicated and accessible in a window within the second user environment on the secondary device display.

6. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the operating system at least one of configures and selects the second user environment based on the configuration of the secondary device.

7. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the operating system supports a virtualized operating system and the second user environment is generated running within the virtualized operating system.

8. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the operating system coordinates synchronization of file data between the first user environment and the second user environment.

9. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein an API of the operating system enables a software application that has different graphical user interfaces for the first user environment and the second user environment.

10. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the second user environment comprises control of at least one input/output device, wherein the at least one input/output device comprises one or more of a keyboard, a pointing device, a microphone, a touch screen, a camera, buttons, and a remote control paired with the secondary device.

11. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the second user environment comprises operating system functionality accessible by a user.

12. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the second user environment comprises access to a plurality of applications.

13. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the second user environment comprises at least one of data content and digital content.

14. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the second user environment is controlled by the operating system.

15. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the secondary device is a thin notebook-sized display appliance comprising at least an interface controller, the second display, a battery, a keyboard, and a pointing device.

16. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the secondary device comprises one of a desktop display appliance, a personal computer, an automotive display, and a television.

17. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device comprises a wireless data connection, wherein the handheld device shares the wireless data connection between the user environment and the second user environment.

18. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device has a first network data connection and the secondary device has a second network data connection, wherein the second user environment selects one of the first data connection and the second data connection based upon a data connection factor.

19. The handheld device of claim 18 wherein the network data connection factor comprises at least one of data bandwidth, service cost and power consumption.

20. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device has a first network data connection and the secondary device has a second network data connection wherein the handheld device allocates the second network data connection to the second user environment and the first network data connection to the user environment.

21. A method for using a handheld device with a secondary device that comprise a second display, wherein the handheld device comprises a user environment and a display that displays the user environment, comprising:

auto-detecting a configuration of the secondary device over an interface;

generating at least a part of a different second user environment based on the configuration of the secondary device;

transmitting the second user environment over the interface; and

displaying at least a part of the second user environment on the second display.

22. A system, comprising:

a handheld device comprising a user environment and a display that displays at least a portion of the user environment; and

a secondary device that comprises a second display, wherein the handheld device provides a different second user environment that is displayed at least in part on the second display across an interface.

23. A handheld device for use with a secondary device comprising:

a display; and

at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor executes an operating system that enables a user environment that is at least partially displayed on the display and is configured to;

auto-detect a configuration of the secondary device that comprises a second display;

provide a different second user environment based on the configuration of the secondary device, such that the handheld device transmits the second user environment over an interface; and

display the second user environment at least in part on the second display.