Processing information received at an auxiliary computing device
First Claim
1. In a computing environment having a main computer system and auxiliary device firmware including an auxiliary display, the auxiliary device firmware being capable of operating that operates independently of the main computer system, a method comprising:
- receiving first data at the auxiliary device firmware from the main computer system with which the auxiliary device firmware is associated, the first data being received while components of the main computer system are powered up such that a main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are running, wherein the auxiliary device firmware comprises a secondary processor and cache that are powered up even when the components of the main computer system are powered down;
displaying the first data on the auxiliary display such that the display of the first data is primarily controlled by the main CPU of the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered up;
storing the first data in the cache of the auxiliary display firmware;
receiving second data at the auxiliary device firmware from a source other than the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are not running; and
the auxiliary device firmware processing the second data in the auxiliary device firmware to modify the first data stored in the cache while the components of the main computer system are powered down; and
the auxiliary device firmware displaying the modified first data on the auxiliary display while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the display of the modified first data is controlled only by the auxiliary device firmware,wherein a battery controller of the main computer system continues to operate while the components of the main computer system are powered down, andwherein the auxiliary device firmware is connected to the main computer system via SMBus (System Management bus).
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described is a mechanism for receiving new data at an auxiliary device associated with a main computer system, and processing that new data within the auxiliary device firmware to take some action. The receipt and processing of the data is independent of whether the main computer system is in a powered-up state (online) or powered-down state (offline). A cache that maintains the user application data for offline navigation may be updated with new data, either to change existing data in the cache or add a new navigation path. The received data can be processed to perform other actions, depending on the context of that data as determined by auxiliary processing.
95 Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a computing environment having a main computer system and auxiliary device firmware including an auxiliary display, the auxiliary device firmware being capable of operating that operates independently of the main computer system, a method comprising:
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receiving first data at the auxiliary device firmware from the main computer system with which the auxiliary device firmware is associated, the first data being received while components of the main computer system are powered up such that a main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are running, wherein the auxiliary device firmware comprises a secondary processor and cache that are powered up even when the components of the main computer system are powered down; displaying the first data on the auxiliary display such that the display of the first data is primarily controlled by the main CPU of the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered up; storing the first data in the cache of the auxiliary display firmware; receiving second data at the auxiliary device firmware from a source other than the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are not running; and the auxiliary device firmware processing the second data in the auxiliary device firmware to modify the first data stored in the cache while the components of the main computer system are powered down; and the auxiliary device firmware displaying the modified first data on the auxiliary display while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the display of the modified first data is controlled only by the auxiliary device firmware, wherein a battery controller of the main computer system continues to operate while the components of the main computer system are powered down, and wherein the auxiliary device firmware is connected to the main computer system via SMBus (System Management bus). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable storage medium having stored computer-executable instruction, which when executed perform a method comprising:
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receiving first data at auxiliary device firmware from a main computer system with which the auxiliary device firmware is associated, the first data being received while components of the main computer system are powered up such that a main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are running, wherein the auxiliary device firmware comprises a secondary processor and cache that are powered up even when the components of the main computer system are powered down; displaying the first data on the auxiliary display such that the display of the first data is primarily controlled by the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered up; storing the first data in the cache of the auxiliary display firmware; receiving second data at the auxiliary device firmware from a source other than the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are not running; processing, by the auxiliary device firmware, the second data in the auxiliary device firmware to modify the first data stored in the cache while the component of the main computer system are powered down; and displaying, by the auxiliary device firmware, the modified first data on the auxiliary display while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the display of the modified first data is controlled only by the auxiliary device firmware; maintaining at least some of the second data in the cache for synchronizing with the main computer system when the main computer system is powered up; and providing the at least some of the second data to the main computer system after the components of the main computer system are powered up, wherein a battery controller of the main computer system continues to operate while the components of the main computer system are powered down, and wherein the auxiliary device firmware is connected to the main computer system via SMBus (System Management bus).
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14. In a computing environment having a main computer system, a system comprising:
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an auxiliary device, the auxiliary device being associated with a main computer system and receiving first data from the main computer system while components of the main computer system are powered up, and storing the first data at a cache and displaying the first data on the auxiliary display such that the display of the first data is primarily controlled by the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered up such that a main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are running, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a secondary processor and the cache that are powered up even when the components of the main computer system are powered down; a mechanism coupled to the auxiliary device that receives second data from a data source other than the main computer system while the components of the main computer system are powered down; and wherein the auxiliary device processes the second data received from the other source to modify the first data stored in the cache while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the main CPU, operating system, and application programs of the main computer system are not running, and wherein the auxiliary device displays the modified first data on the auxiliary display while the components of the main computer system are powered down such that the display of the modified first data is controlled only by the auxiliary device firmware, wherein a battery controller of the main computer system continues to operate while the components of the main computer system are powered down, and wherein the auxiliary device is connected to the main computer system via SMBus (System Management bus). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification