Automatic configuration of multiple monitor systems

• US 8,537,073 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• 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:
  US13/758,948
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 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, 715/751, 715/752, 715/753, 715/754, 715/755, 715/756, 715/757, 715/758, 715/759, 715/761, 715/778
• 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. An apparatus comprising:

a first computer including a processor, a memory, at least one application running on the computer and an operating system running on the computer, a first display, and a first sound producing device;

a second computer having its own processor and memory, running applications, having a second display, and a second sound producing device;

said second computer connected to receive information from said first computer over a connection,

said operating system operating to automatically display content associated with a currently running program on said first display, and to send information over said connection to display content on said second display associated with said currently running program on said second display in a first mode of operation, and in a second mode of operation to automatically display, on said second display, second specified content associated with a previous history of said computer, previous to running said currently running program; and

wherein said memory in said first computer stores computer-based rules, which rules define that if a first condition occurs that indicates that the currently running program is capable of being displayed on multiple screens, then said first mode is established and outputs of said currently running program are displayed on both said first display and said second display, in a way that allows interacting with parts of said application that are displayed on said first display, and also interacting with parts of said application that are displayed on said second display,

and if a second condition occurs that indicates that the currently running application is not capable of being displayed on multiple screens, then said second mode is established and said second specified content is displayed on said second screen, where said second specified content is not information from the currently running program,

where said operating system operates said first and second modes according to computer-based rules, and allows a user to change content of the displays by a manual operation.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said operating system programmed for and operating for automatically making new rules when the user changes a content of the screens for said manual operation.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said rules specify a priority of which among said previously running programs is displayed on said second display.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second specified content on said second screen represents miniature versions of multiple different windows which are running on said computer, said multiple different windows that are displayed on said second screen being windows that represent only inactive windows other than an active window associated with said first screen.

5. A method, comprising:

detecting applications which are running on a computer;

using conditions, including both said applications which are running and preset preferences, to automatically control a content which is displayed on both a main screen and at least one auxiliary screen associated with the computer,

operating in a first mode in which content on the auxiliary screen includes content associated with said main screen and in which said content on said auxiliary screen is different than the content on the main screen, and

operating in a second mode in which said auxiliary screen includes content associated with a previous operation of the computer that is not connected with said content being displayed on said main screen,

said operating in said first or second mode depending on said conditions that includes both said applications which are running and said preset preferences; and

storing computer-based rules specifying said conditions, which rules define that if a first condition occurs, then a specified content should be displayed on the auxiliary screen, and using the computer to execute said rules to define said content for said auxiliary screen.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein said defining computer based rules defines a plurality of computer-based rules having conditions and results, which rules define that if a first condition occurs, where said first condition is that a computer is currently executing an application that is multiple screen enabled and can display different information on different screens, then said application is displayed on both the main screen and on the auxiliary screen as first specified content, and that if a second condition occurs, where said second condition indicates that said application is not multiple screen enabled, then a second specified content, different than the first specified content, is displayed on said auxiliary screen, where the second specified content that is displayed when the second condition is present, is not associated with said application.

7. A method as in claim 5 wherein said preferences include a history content, which shows a previously running operation in the auxiliary screen which includes copies of all open but inactive windows other than said content on the main screen, said copies being reduced size copies.

8. A method as in claim 5, further comprising an operation which allows a user to override said preferences and define specific content to be displayed on both said main screen and said auxiliary screen.

9. The method as in claim 5, wherein said defining specific content automatically changes said rules to display said specific content on both said main screen and said auxiliary screen at time subsequent to the automatically changes.

10. A method as in claim 5 further comprising associating both said main screen and said auxiliary screen with a single computer.

11. A method as in claim 5 further comprising associating said main screen and said auxiliary screen with separate computers and connecting said computers by a computer connection protocol.

12. A computer system comprising:

a processor, running an operating system in which multiple programs are simultaneously open, each said program having information and producing output results when active,

said processor producing outputs that control both at least a main screen and an auxiliary screen, separate from the main screen;

said operating system controlling said multiple programs and defining a currently active program, according to a plurality of computer-based rules having conditions and results which rules define that if a first condition occurs, then said currently active program is automatically displayed on both the main screen and also on the auxiliary screen in a way that allows interacting with parts of said currently active program that are displayed on said main screen, and also interacting with parts of said currently active program that are displayed on said auxiliary screen,

where said first condition is that the currently active program is multiple screen enabled and can display different information on different screens including at least a main screen and an auxiliary screen,

said operating system controlling said multiple programs, according to said plurality of computer-based rules having conditions and results which rules define that if a second condition occurs, where said second condition indicates that said currently active program is not multiple screen enabled, then a second specified content, different than said currently active program is automatically displayed on said auxiliary screen, where the second specified content that is displayed when the second condition is determined, is not part of said currently active program; and

said computer operating to execute said computer-based rules to automatically determine the content of the auxiliary screen;

said computer allowing a user to change a content of the auxiliary screen; and

said computer automatically changing the rules when a user changes the content of the auxiliary screen such that subsequent operations after said user changing the content of the auxiliary screen use changed rules that take into account the user having changed the content of the auxiliary screen.

13. The computer system as in claim 12 wherein said second specified content includes content that is selected according to a hierarchy.

14. The computer system as in claim 13, wherein the changing of content on the auxiliary screen comprises putting content on the auxiliary screen which is different than that specified by the hierarchy, and the changed rules specify a new hierarchy based on the user having changed the hierarchy.

15. The computer system as in claim 14, wherein the hierarchy uses information indicative of which program was most recently run.

16. The computer system as in claim 14, wherein the hierarchy uses information indicative of how many instances of a program are running.

17. The computer system as in claim 12, wherein the computer detects whether a preference of said computer has been set to automatic or manual, and sets a content of the auxiliary screen dependent on said conditions if said preference is set to automatic, and

when said preference is set to automatic, using the computer-based rules to automatically determine the content on said auxiliary screen.

18. The computer system as in claim 12, wherein both said main screen and said auxiliary screen are connected to a single computer.

19. The computer system as in claim 12, wherein said main screen and said auxiliary screen are associated with separate computers and connected said computers by a computer connection protocol.