Extensible architecture for auxiliary displays
First Claim
1. An auxiliary display device capable of coupling to a main computer system, the auxiliary device comprising:
- a processor; and
memory storing an auxiliary platform for displaying data received from any main computer system having a particular operating system, the auxiliary platform being extensible to support extended hardware that is incorporated into the auxiliary display device, the auxiliary platform including;
a hardware abstraction layer that is specific to the processor and that abstracts functions provided by the processor from higher-level software on the auxiliary display device;
a driver layer that includes standard driver code for driving an auxiliary display of the auxiliary display device, the driver layer also being extensible by including additional driver code for driving extended hardware that may be included in the auxiliary display device;
a common language runtime layer for running programs that are written in managed code, wherein the common language runtime layer is extensible by providing programs that are written in native code to support extended hardware as needed; and
auxiliary device program code that displays the data received from the main computer system or data that is generated by extended hardware that is included in the auxiliary display device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described is a system and method by which an auxiliary computing device having an auxiliary display platform that displays information corresponding to data that originated on the main computer system may be extended by a device manufacturer. Extended hardware is added to the device, such as a radio receiver and/or an audio decoder. The auxiliary display platform is layered and extensible at each layer, and includes an extensible hardware abstraction layer that is extensible to support extended hardware if needed, and a driver layer that is extensible by adding driver code for the extended hardware. A runtime layer is also extensible to support the extended hardware as needed, as are libraries, the auxiliary shell program and other managed code. The client API is also extensible to allow applications on the main computer system to communicate with extended hardware via the device runtime layer.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An auxiliary display device capable of coupling to a main computer system, the auxiliary device comprising:
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a processor; and memory storing an auxiliary platform for displaying data received from any main computer system having a particular operating system, the auxiliary platform being extensible to support extended hardware that is incorporated into the auxiliary display device, the auxiliary platform including; a hardware abstraction layer that is specific to the processor and that abstracts functions provided by the processor from higher-level software on the auxiliary display device; a driver layer that includes standard driver code for driving an auxiliary display of the auxiliary display device, the driver layer also being extensible by including additional driver code for driving extended hardware that may be included in the auxiliary display device; a common language runtime layer for running programs that are written in managed code, wherein the common language runtime layer is extensible by providing programs that are written in native code to support extended hardware as needed; and auxiliary device program code that displays the data received from the main computer system or data that is generated by extended hardware that is included in the auxiliary display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an auxiliary display device which is capable of coupling to a main computer system, a method for providing an auxiliary platform that includes standard firmware for displaying data received from a main computer system having a particular operating system and that is extensible to support the display of data received from extended hardware that is included within the auxiliary display device, the method comprising:
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installing the auxiliary platform including a firmware stack on the auxiliary display device, the firmware stack including; a hardware abstraction layer that is specific to a processor of the auxiliary display device and that abstracts functions provided by the processor from higher-level software on the auxiliary display device; a driver layer that includes standard driver code for driving an auxiliary display of the auxiliary display device, the driver layer also being extensible by including additional driver code for driving extended hardware that may be included in the auxiliary display device; a common language runtime layer for running programs that are written in managed code, wherein the common language runtime layer is extensible by providing programs that are written in native code to support extended hardware as needed; and auxiliary device program code that displays the data received from the main computer system or data that is generated by extended hardware that is included in the auxiliary display device; adding extended hardware to the auxiliary display device; and extending the firmware stack to support the extended hardware. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. One or more computer storage media storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method for providing an auxiliary platform that includes standard firmware for displaying data received from a main computer system having a particular operating system and that is extensible to support the display of data received from extended hardware that is included within the auxiliary display device, the method comprising:
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installing the auxiliary platform including a firmware stack on the auxiliary display device, the firmware stack including; a hardware abstraction layer that is specific to a processor of the auxiliary display device and that abstracts functions provided by the processor from higher-level software on the auxiliary display device; a driver layer that includes standard driver code for driving an auxiliary display of the auxiliary display device, the driver layer also being extensible by including additional driver code for driving extended hardware that may be included in the auxiliary display device; a common language runtime layer for running programs that are written in managed code, wherein the common language runtime layer is extensible by providing programs that are written in native code to support extended hardware as needed; and auxiliary device pro gram code that displays the data received from the main computer system or data that is generated by extended hardware that is included in the auxiliary display device; adding extended hardware to the auxiliary display device; and extending the firmware stack to support the extended hardware.
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Specification