SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING DISPLAYS AT A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE AND A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE DOCKING STATION

• US 20100250816A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tessitore, Ronald J., Collopy, Thomas Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 9,201,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/10 Program control for peripheral devices G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A method of managing a portable computing device (PCD) display and a PCD docking station display when a PCD is docked with a PCD docking station is disclosed and may include connecting a PCD data driver to the PCD docking station display, transmitting a primary display signal to the PCD docking station display, and transmitting a secondary display signal to the PCD display. The method may include displaying primary information at the PCD docking station display. The method may also include displaying secondary information at the PCD docking station display.

Claims

1. A method of managing a portable computing device (PCD) display and a PCD docking station display when a PCD is docked with a PCD docking station, the method comprising:

connecting a PCD data driver to the PCD docking station display;

transmitting a primary display signal to the PCD docking station display; and

transmitting a secondary display signal to the PCD display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying primary information at the PCD docking station display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the primary information comprises application content, video content, album artwork, a contact list, a call history, a caller photo, a caller number, an email content, game content, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying secondary information at the PCD docking station display.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the secondary information comprises one or more application commands, one or more video controls, one or more audio controls, a numeric keypad, an email list, one or more game controls, or a combination thereof.

6. A portable computing device (PCD), comprising:

means for connecting a PCD data driver to a PCD docking station display;

means for transmitting a primary display signal to the PCD docking station display; and

means for transmitting a secondary display signal to a PCD display.

7. The portable computing device of claim 6, further comprising:

means for displaying primary information at the PCD docking station display.

8. The portable computing device of claim 7, wherein the primary information comprises application content, video content, album artwork, a contact list, a call history, a caller photo, a caller number, an email content, game content, or a combination thereof.

9. The portable computing device of claim 7, further comprising:

means for displaying secondary information at the PCD docking station display.

10. The portable computing device of claim 9, wherein the secondary information comprises one or more application commands, one or more video controls, one or more audio controls, a numeric keypad, an email list, one or more game controls, or a combination thereof.

11. A portable computing device (PCD), comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is operable to;

connect a PCD data driver to a PCD docking station display;

transmit a primary display signal to the PCD docking station display; and

transmit a secondary display signal to a PCD display.

12. The portable computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to:

display primary information at the PCD docking station display.

13. The portable computing device of claim 12, wherein the primary information comprises application content, video content, album artwork, a contact list, a call history, a caller photo, a caller number, an email content, game content, or a combination thereof.

14. The portable computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to:

display secondary information at the PCD docking station display.

15. The portable computing device of claim 14, wherein the secondary information comprises one or more application commands, one or more video controls, one or more audio controls, a numeric keypad, an email list, one or more game controls, or a combination thereof.

16. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

at least one instruction for connecting a PCD data driver to a PCD docking station display;

at least one instruction for transmitting a primary display signal to a PCD docking station display; and

at least one instruction for transmitting a secondary display signal to a PCD display.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for displaying primary information at the PCD docking station display.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the primary information comprises application content, video content, album artwork, a contact list, a call history, a caller photo, a caller number, an email content, game content, or a combination thereof.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for displaying secondary information at the PCD docking station display.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the secondary information comprises one or more application commands, one or more video controls, one or more audio controls, a numeric keypad, an email list, one or more game controls, or a combination thereof.

21. A method of managing a portable computing device (PCD) display and a PCD docking station display when a PCD is docked with a PCD docking station, the method comprising:

connecting a PCD data driver to the PCD docking station display;

transmitting a PCD display signal to the PCD docking station display;

converting the PCD display to a touch screen input device;

displaying a generic touch screen user interface; and

receiving one or more commands via the generic touch screen user interface.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

searching a dynamic touch screen user interface table when an application is selected; and

determining whether an application-defined touch screen user interface is available.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

displaying the application-defined touch screen user interface when available;

receiving one or more commands via the application-defined touch screen user interface.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining whether a user-defined touch screen user interface is available when an application-defined touch screen user interface is not available.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

displaying the user-defined touch screen user interface when available;

receiving one or more commands via the user-defined touch screen user interface.

26. A portable computing device, comprising:

means for connecting a PCD data driver to a PCD docking station display;

means for transmitting a PCD display signal to the PCD docking station display;

means for converting a PCD display to a touch screen input device;

means for displaying a generic touch screen user interface; and

means for receiving one or more commands via the generic touch screen user interface.

27. The portable computing device of claim 26, further comprising:

means for searching a dynamic touch screen user interface table when an application is selected; and

means for determining whether an application-defined touch screen user interface is available.

28. The portable computing device of claim 27, further comprising:

means for displaying the application-defined touch screen user interface when available;

means for receiving one or more commands via the application-defined touch screen user interface.

29. The portable computing device of claim 27, further comprising:

means for determining whether a user-defined touch screen user interface is available when an application-defined touch screen user interface is not available.

30. The portable computing device of claim 29, further comprising:

means for displaying the user-defined touch screen user interface when available;

means for receiving one or more commands via the user-defined touch screen user interface.

31. A portable computing device (PCD), comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is operable to;

connect a PCD data driver to a PCD docking station display;

transmit a PCD display signal to the PCD docking station display;

convert a PCD display to a touch screen input device;

display a generic touch screen user interface; and

receive one or more commands via the generic touch screen user interface.

32. The portable computing device of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operable to:

search a dynamic touch screen user interface table when an application is selected; and

determine whether an application-defined touch screen user interface is available.

33. The portable computing device of claim 32, wherein the processor is further operable to:

display the application-defined touch screen user interface when available;

receive one or more commands via the application-defined touch screen user interface.

34. The portable computing device of claim 32, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether a user-defined touch screen user interface is available when an application-defined touch screen user interface is not available.

35. The portable computing device of claim 34, wherein the processor is further operable to:

display the user-defined touch screen user interface when available;

receive one or more commands via the user-defined touch screen user interface.

36. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

at least one instruction for connecting a PCD data driver to a PCD docking station display;

at least one instruction for transmitting a PCD display signal to the PCD docking station display;

at least one instruction for converting a PCD display to a touch screen input device;

at least one instruction for displaying a generic touch screen user interface; and

at least one instruction for receiving one or more commands via the generic touch screen user interface.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for searching a dynamic touch screen user interface table when an application is selected; and

at least one instruction for determining whether an application-defined touch screen user interface is available.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for displaying the application-defined touch screen user interface when available;

at least one instruction for receiving one or more commands via the application-defined touch screen user interface.

39. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for determining whether a user-defined touch screen user interface is available when an application-defined touch screen user interface is not available.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for displaying the user-defined touch screen user interface when available;

at least one instruction for receiving one or more commands via the user-defined touch screen user interface.