Multiple Display Device Taskbars

• US 20130057572A1
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Bret P., Wong, Tsz Yan, Hsiao, Wei-Ting
• Application Number:
  US13/227,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057572A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Multiple display device taskbars are described. A system is described that includes at least one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware. The one or more modules are operable to configure a display environment of a computing device to display a first taskbar for display on a first display device of the display environment, the first taskbar configured to include a representation of a plurality of applications that are executed by the computing device. The one or more modules are also operable to configure a second taskbar for display on a second display device of the display environment, the second taskbar configured to include a representation of at least one application that corresponds to a user interface configured for output on the second display device and does not include a representation of another application that corresponds to a user interface configured for output on the first display device.

Claims

1. A system comprising at least one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware, the one or more modules operable to configure a display environment of a computing device to display to support:

a first taskbar for display on a first display device of the display environment, the first taskbar configured to include a representation of a plurality of applications that are executed by the computing device; and

a second taskbar for display on a second display device of the display environment, the second taskbar configured to include a representation of at least one said application that corresponds to a user interface configured for output on the second display device and does not include a representation of another said application that corresponds to a user interface configured for output on the first display device.

2. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the first display device is specified as a primary display device of the display environment.

3. A system as described in claim 1, wherein each said representation is selectable to apply focus to a respective said application or launch a respective said application.

4. A system as described in claim 1, wherein:

the user interface of the at least one said application is configured for output on the second display device via a window; and

the user interface of the other said application is configured for output on the first display device via another window.

5. A system as described in claim 4, wherein:

the user interface of the at least one said application is configured for output on the second display device via the window such that a majority of the window, when displayed, is displayed by the second display device; and

the user interface of the other said application is configured for output on the first display device via the other window such that a majority of the other window, when displayed, is displayed by the first display device.

6. A system as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the user interface configured for output on the second display device or the user interface configured for output on the first display device is hidden from display.

7. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are part of an operating system of the computing device.

8. A method implemented by a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying a first taskbar on a first display device of the computing device, the first taskbar including a representation of a first application that is executed on the computing device that corresponds to a first user interface that is to be positioned for display on the first display device; and

displaying a second taskbar on a second display device of the computing device, the second taskbar including a representation of the first application and a representation of a second application that is executed on the computing device that corresponds to a second user interface that is to be positioned for display on the second display device.

9. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the second display device is specified as a primary display device of the display environment.

10. A method as described in claim 8, wherein each said representation is selectable to apply focus to a respective said application.

11. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the second taskbar does not include a representation that is configured for inclusion in the first taskbar.

12. A method as described in claim 8, wherein:

the second user interface of the second application is configured for output on the second display device via a second window; and

the first user interface of the first application is configured for output on the first display device via a first window.

13. A method as described in claim 11, wherein:

the second user interface of the second application is configured for output on the second display device via the second window such that a majority of the second window, when displayed, is displayed by the second display device; and

the first user interface of the first application is configured for output on the first display device via the first window such that a majority of the first window, when displayed, is displayed by the first display device.

14. A method as described in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first user interface or second user interface is hidden from display.

15. A method as described in claim 8, further comprising saving setting for the second taskbar as corresponding to the second display device such that the settings are used to reconstruct the second taskbar upon reconnection to the computing device.

16. One or more computer readable storage media comprising instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, causes the computing device to configure a display environment of an operating system executed by the computing device to include:

a primary taskbar for display on a primary display device of the display environment, the primary taskbar configured to include a representation of each application that is being executed by the computing device; and

a secondary taskbar for display on a secondary display device of the display environment, the secondary taskbar configured to include a representation for each said application that is executed on the computing device having a corresponding window that is positioned for display on the secondary display device.

17. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 16, wherein the secondary taskbar does not include a representation that is included in the primary taskbar.

18. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 16, wherein the primary taskbar includes each representation that is to be included in the secondary taskbar.

19. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 16, wherein the secondary taskbar does not include a representation of an application that is being executed by the computing device having a corresponding window that is positioned for display on the primary display device.

20. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 16, wherein each said representation is selectable to apply focus to a respective said application.