Controls and indicators for a secondary operational mode of a computer system

• US 6,819,961 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Mondshine, James L., Memo, Gregory B., Frost, Kevin R., Jacobs, William E., Forlenza, Daniel V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald D
• Application Number:
  US10/317,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/83, 700/95, 345/700, 345/716, 345/727, 345/728, 710/14-15, 713/322
• US Class Current: 700/17
• 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 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A portable computer case whether in a closed state or open state permits a user to exercise control and monitor certain operating features. The user may toggle a control switch to place the computer system in a secondary operational mode, determine when a computer system is in a secondary operational mode, and adjust a digital master volume control during the secondary operational mode. The portable computer system includes a status indicator for indicating when a computer is in a secondary operational mode, digital master volume control buttons operable in a secondary operational mode, and a control switch for placing the computer system in a secondary operational mode. The status indicator, volume control buttons, and control switch are preferably provided on a top surface of the bottom shell of the portable computer for convenient access by a user. As such, a user is capable of placing the computer system in a secondary operational mode and determining when the computer system is in a secondary operational mode without opening the portable computer case. A user is also capable of adjusting volume control during a secondary operation mode without the need to access a plurality of volume controls, sort through software to adjust the volumes of the audio sources, or open the portable computer case to visualize volume controls for the audio sources on the main display screen.

Claims

1. A method of controlling display of a status icon for an audio CD play mode of a computer system, comprising the steps of:

detecting if a computer system is in an audio CD play mode; and

displaying an audio CD mode status icon during the audio CD play mode;

wherein the computer system is in a reduced power mode during the audio CD play mode.

2. The method of claim 1, the controlling step comprising the step of:

providing a signal to a status display screen to display the audio CD mode status icon during the audio CD play mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the status display screen is a secondary display screen of the computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio CD mode status icon comprises a musical note icon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio CD play mode is a secondary operational mode of the computer system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein during the audio CD play mode the CD mode status icon is intermittently illuminated.

7. An apparatus for controlling display of a status icon for an audio CD play mode of a computer system, comprising:

a means for detecting if a computer system is in an audio CD play mode; and

a means for display of an audio CD mode status icon during the audio CD play mode;

wherein the computer system is in a reduced power mode during the audio CD play mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the audio CD mode status icon comprises a musical note icon.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the audio CD play mode is a secondary operational mode of the computer system.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said means for display is operable to effect an intermittent illumination of the CD mode status icon during the audio CD play mode.

11. A method of controlling display of a status icon for an audio CD play mode of a computer system including a system display, comprising the steps of:

detecting if a computer system including a system display is in an audio CD play mode; and

displaying on a display screen, which is separate from the system display, an audio CD mode status icon during the audio CD play mode;

wherein the audio CD play mode is controlled by control code stored separately from BIOS code for controlling operation of the computer system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the system display is not activated during said display on the display screen.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the audio CD play mode is a secondary operational mode operated independently of a computer system operating system.

14. An apparatus for controlling display of a status icon for an audio CD play mode of a computer system, comprising:

a means for detecting if a computer system including a system display is in an audio CD play mode; and

a means for displaying on a display screen, which is separate from the system display, an audio CD mode status icon during the audio CD play mode;

wherein the audio CD play mode is controlled by control code stored separately from BIOS code for controlling operation of the computer system.