Automatic configuration of multiple monitor systems

• US 8,212,740 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• 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
• Application Number:
  US11/775,868
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 715/781, 715/843
• 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 of displaying data on multiple screens within a computer, comprising:

displaying a first menu and second menu of rules,

wherein said first menu comprises a list of a plurality of conditions, wherein said conditions are a plurality of programs that can occur in the computer,

wherein said second menu comprises a list of a plurality of preferences, wherein said preferences are a plurality of display modes, wherein said plurality of display modes include a first display mode and a second display mode;

defining said rules by selecting a preference from said plurality of said preferences for conditions from said plurality of conditions;

executing at least some of said rules when a program from said plurality of said programs has a current focus;

displaying a current focus program on a main screen;

if said current focus program is set for a first display mode of said plurality of display modes, displaying on an auxiliary screen first information associated with said current focus program; and

if said current focus program is set for a second display mode of said plurality of display modes, displaying on said auxiliary screen second information associated with non-current focus programs.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first information on said auxiliary screen includes reduced versions of all open windows in the operating system that are not the current focus for a first of said rules.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said reduced versions include histories representing documents which were previously opened for a second of said rules.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said documents are editable documents which were previously being edited.

5. A method as in claim 2, wherein said rules are established and/or edited using pulldown menus.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising enabling selection of one of previously opened items on the auxiliary screen.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of previously opened items are displayed in a two-dimensional array.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein said rules include a menu, which enables selecting multiple different conditions which can occur in the computer, each of said multiple conditions having multiple possible options that are displayed as part of the menu, and can be selected to specify said preferences, based on said preferences selecting the information that will be displayed as said first information on said auxiliary screen.

9. A method of displaying data on multiple screens within a computer, comprising:

displaying a first menu and second menu of rules,

wherein said first menu comprises a list of a plurality of conditions, wherein said conditions are a plurality of programs that can occur in the computer, and

wherein said second menu comprises a list of a plurality of preferences, wherein said preferences are a plurality of display modes, wherein said plurality of display modes include a first display mode and a second display mode;

defining said rules by selecting a preference from said plurality of said preferences for conditions from said plurality of conditions;

executing at least some of said rules when a program from said plurality of said programs has a current focus;

displaying a current focus program on a main screen;

if said current focus program is set for a first display mode of said plurality of display modes, displaying on an auxiliary screen miniature versions of previously-opened windows associated with said current focus program; and

if said current focus program is set for a second display mode of said plurality of display modes, displaying on said auxiliary screen miniature versions of non-current focus programs.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said defining forms rules that are configured as if, then rules, with the if part of the rule defining the condition, and the then part defining what happens when the condition occurs.

11. A method as in claim 10, further comprising allowing setting a priority of at least one of the rules compared to other rules, said priority defining which rule will be used if the rules contents conflict.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein said rules also include an else part, which is executed if the then part of the rule does not occur.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein said rules allow displaying a plurality of previously opened items on said auxiliary screen, with each of said previously opened items being in miniature form so that multiple miniaturized versions, each showing a single previously-opened item, are displayed on said auxiliary screen.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said rules allow selecting the kinds of the items, and the selections include at least reduced versions of all open windows in the operating system that are not the current focus, and histories representing documents which were previously opened.

15. A computer apparatus, comprising:

a display creating part enabling display of information on both a main screen and an auxiliary screen of a computer system;

a preference obtaining part, obtain preferences which specify which content is provided on said auxiliary screen, said preference obtaining part

displaying a first menu and second menu of rules,

wherein said first menu comprises a list of a plurality of conditions, wherein said conditions are a plurality of programs that can occur in the computer, and

wherein said second menu comprises a list of a plurality of preferences, wherein said preferences are a plurality of display modes, wherein said plurality of display modes include a first display mode and a second display mode;

said preference obtaining device defining said rules by selecting a preference from said plurality of said preferences for conditions from said plurality of conditions;

said computer apparatus operating for executing at least some of said rules when a program from said plurality of said programs has a current focus;

said computer apparatus operating for displaying a current focus program on a main screen;

if said computer apparatus detects that said current focus program is set for a first display mode of said plurality of display modes, said computer apparatus displaying on said auxiliary screen first information associated with said current focus program; and

if said computer apparatus detects that said current focus program is set for a second display mode of said plurality of display modes, displaying on said auxiliary screen second information associated with non-current focus programs.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said menu forms rules that are configured as if, then rules, with the if part of the rule defining the condition, and the then part defining what happens when the condition occurs.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said preference obtaining part further comprises allowing setting a priority of at least one of the rules compared to other rules, said priority defining which rule will be used if the rules contents conflict.

18. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said rules also include an else part, which is executed if the then part of the rule does not occur.

19. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said rules command displaying a plurality of previously opened items on said auxiliary screen, with each of said previously opened items being in miniature form so that multiple miniaturized versions, each showing a single previously-opened item, are displayed on said auxiliary screen.

20. An apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said rules allow selecting the kinds of the items, and the selections include at least reduced versions of all open windows in the operating system that are not the current focus, and histories representing documents which were previously opened.