Automatic configuration of multiple monitor systems

• US 8,089,423 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US09/569,816
• Time in Patent Office: 4,253 Days
• Field of Search: 345/581, 345/589, 345/764, 345/5, 345/108, 345/102, 345/701, 345/765, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/2.1, 345/2.2, 345/3.1, 345/3.2, 345/3.3, 345/3.4
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/007 Circuits for displaying split screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/02 Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/971 Cooperative decision support systems for group of users

Abstract

Control of multiple display screens associated with a computer, wherein the auxiliary screen display content that depends on conditions of the computer. During some times the auxiliary screen displays content associated with the presently executing program, and during other times the auxiliary screen displays history information. The rules can be automatically changed or manually changed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a first program and a second program which are running on a computer, wherein said first program is associated with a first mode of display, wherein said first mode displays content only associated with the first program on a main screen and content only associated with the first program on an auxiliary screen, and wherein said second program is associated with a second mode of display, wherein said second mode displays content only associated with the second program on the main screen and displays content associated with the first program and not associated with the second program on the auxiliary screen;

only displaying the first mode of display when the first program is active and the second program is not active, and only displaying the second mode of display when the second program is active and the first program is not active;

switching between the first program and the second program, wherein said switching between said first program and said second program switches between said first mode of display and said second mode of display, respectively.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said content of the auxiliary screen associated with the first mode of display includes contents associated with the first program, and said content of the auxiliary screen associated with the first mode of display is different than the content associated with the first program on the main screen.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said content of the auxiliary screen associated with the second mode of display shows a previously running operation in the auxiliary screen which includes copies of all open but inactive programs other than active programs, said copies being reduced size copies.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said inactive programs include a history of plural different documents that were previously opened for editing.

5. A method as in claim 1 further comprising analyzing programs which were running in the past and are no longer running, and using said analyzing of programs which were running in the past to determine content to be displayed on said screens.

6. A method as in claim 1 further comprising associating said main screen and said auxiliary screen with separate computers and connecting said computers by a computer connection protocol.

7. A method of determining content for multiple associated computer screens, comprising:

detecting a first program and a second program which are running on a computer, wherein said first program is associated with a first mode of display, wherein the first mode display content only associated with the first program on an auxiliary screen, and wherein said second program is associated with a second mode of display, wherein said second mode displays content associated with the first program and not associated with the second program on the auxiliary screen;

detecting a user changing content on the auxiliary screen for the first program; and

using the computer to automatically change first program from the first mode to the second mode responsive to said detecting the user changing the content on the auxiliary screen.

8. A method as in claim 7 further comprising changing a mode of display on the auxiliary screen based on a number of windows that are open, such that the display on the auxiliary screen is in a first mode when less than a specified number of windows are open, and is in a second mode on the auxiliary screen when more than said specified number of windows are open.

9. A method as in claim 7 further comprising analyzing programs which were running in the past, and using said analyzing of programs which were running in the past to determine content to be displayed on said auxiliary screen.

10. A method comprising:

detecting a first program and a second program which are running on a computer, wherein said first program is associated with a first mode of display, and wherein said second program is associated with a second mode of display, different than the first mode of display;

only displaying the first mode of display when the first program is active;

detecting whether a preference of said computer has been set to automatic or manual, and setting a content of an auxiliary screen dependent on which mode is associated with which program is currently in focus;

switching between the first program and the second program, wherein said switching between said first program and said second program switches between said first mode of display to said second mode of display, respectively;

when said preference is set to automatic, using a plurality of computer-based rules to automatically determine the content on said screens based on the currently focused program; and

using said computer for automatically changing the mode associated with the currently focused program the rules when a user changes a content of the auxiliary screen for said currently focused program.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said automatic setting operates according to conditions of the computer including at least an program which is running and also previous programs which were previously running in the past but are no longer running.

12. A method as in claim 10, further comprising changing a mode of display on the auxiliary screen based on a number of windows that are open, such that the mode of display on the auxiliary screen has a first mode when less than a specified number of documents are open, and has a second mode on the auxiliary screen when more than said specified number of documents are open.

13. A method as in claim 10 further comprising using a plurality of rules which rules define that if a first condition occurs, then a specified content should be displayed on the auxiliary screen in said automatic setting.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a computer including a processor, a memory, at least one program running on the computer and an operating system running on the computer;

a plurality of display ports, each said display port associatable with a display, each of said display producing outputs that display content associated with said computer, including a main display port and an auxiliary display port;

said operating system operating for detecting a first program and a second program which are running on a computer, wherein said first program is associated with a first mode of display, wherein said first mode displays content only associated with the first program on said main display port associated with a main screen and content only associated with the first program on said auxiliary display port associated with an auxiliary screen, and wherein said second program is associated with a second mode of display, wherein said second mode displays content only associated with the second program on the main screen and displays content associated with the first program and not associated with the second program on the auxiliary screen;

said operating system operating for only displaying the first mode of display when the first program is active and the second program is not active, and only displaying the second mode of display when the second program is active and the first program is not active; and

said operating system operating for switching between the first program and the second program, wherein said switching between said first program and said second program switches between said first mode of display and said second mode of display, respectively.

15. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein one of said modes of display provides miniature versions of multiple different windows which are running on said computer on said auxiliary screen, said multiple different windows that are displayed on said auxiliary screen being windows that represent only inactive windows other than an active window associated with said main screen.

16. An apparatus as in claim 14 further comprising changing a mode of display on the auxiliary screen based on a number of windows that are open, such that the mode of display on the auxiliary screen is in a first mode when less than a specified number of documents are open, and is in a second mode on the auxiliary screen when more than said specified number of documents are open.

17. A method as in claim 14, wherein said operating system analyzes programs which were running in the past, and using said analyzing of programs which have run in the past to determine information to be displayed on said screens.