Activating applications in portions of unified desktop

• US 8,872,727 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Reeves, Paul E., Sirpal, Sanjiv, de Paz, Alexander, Gimpl, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US13/410,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20130076664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
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• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
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• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 : Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0206 : Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
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• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 : Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

Embodiments provide for a handheld device with a unified desktop for integrating the functionality of the handheld device with a larger computer system. When connected to a peripheral display and/or a display of the larger computer system, the handheld device provides a unified desktop displayed across the screen(s) of the handheld device and the peripheral display. The unified desktop unifies the functionality provided by the larger computer system and the handheld functionality, e.g., communication applications (e.g., phone, SMS, MMS). A user can seamlessly interact with applications, e.g., open, move, close, receive notifications, on the unified desktop whether the applications are displayed on the screens of the handheld device, or the peripheral display of the larger computer system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

connecting a computer system and a multi-screen device, wherein the computer system includes a processor and memory;

forming a unified system from the computer system and the multi-screen device, wherein the multi-screen device controls the function of the computer system;

displaying a unified desktop by at least one processor of a multi-screen device, wherein at least a first portion of the unified desktop is displayed on a peripheral screen associated with the computer system, and wherein a second portion of the unified desktop is displayed on at least one screen of the multi-screen device;

receiving an input into the unified desktop to open an application;

in response to the input;

determining a location on the unified desktop where the input was received;

if the input was received in the first portion of the unified desktop, opening a window of the application in the first portion of the unified desktop and

if the input was received in the second portion of the unified desktop, opening the window of the application in the second portion of the unified desktop.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is a mouse click on the first portion of the unified desktop.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the window is opened on the first portion of the unified desktop.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is a gesture on the second portion of the desktop.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the window is opened on the second portion of the unified desktop.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the screens of the multi-screen device are inactive before the gesture is received on the second portion.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, with the screens of the multi-screen device being inactive when gesture is received on the second portion, the window is opened on the first portion of the unified desktop.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the unified desktop displays windows not displayed on the second portion of the unified desktop.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor perform a method comprising:

determining a connection between a computer system and a multi-screen device has been made, wherein the computer system includes a processor and memory;

forming a unified system from the computer system and the multi-screen device, wherein the multi-screen device controls the function of the computer system;

displaying a unified desktop by at least one processor of a multi-screen device, wherein at least a first portion of the unified desktop is displayed on a peripheral screen associated with the computer system, and wherein a second portion of the unified desktop is displayed on at least one screen of the multi-screen device;

receiving input by the unified desktop;

in response to the input;

determining a location on the unified desktop where the input was received; and

if the input was received in the first portion of the unified desktop, a window of the application in the first portion of the unified desktop; and

if the input was received in the second portion of the unified desktop, opening the window of the application in the second portion of the unified desktop.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the input is a mouse click on the first portion of the unified desktop.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the window is opened on the first portion of the unified desktop.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the input is a gesture on the second portion of the desktop.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the window is opened on the second portion of the unified desktop.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the screens of the multi-screen device are inactive before the gesture is received on the second portion.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein, with the screens of the multi-screen device being inactive when gesture is received on the second portion, the window is opened on the first portion of the unified desktop.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the unified desktop displays windows not displayed on the second portion of the unified desktop.

17. A unified system, comprising:

a computer system comprising;

a processor;

a memory;

a peripheral screen

a multi-screen communication device, in communication with the computer system, comprising;

a first touch sensitive display on a first screen;

a second touch sensitive display on a second screen;

a processor operable to execute instructions, stored on a computer readable medium that when executed cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

forming the unified system from the computer system and the multi-screen device, wherein the multi-screen device controls the function of the computer system;

displaying a unified desktop, wherein at least a first portion of the unified desktop is displayed on the peripheral screen, and wherein a second portion of the unified desktop is displayed on at least one screen of the multi-screen device;

receiving input by the unified desktop;

in response to the input;

determining a location on the unified desktop where the input was received;

if the input was received in the first portion of the unified desktop, opening a window of the application in the first portion of the unified desktop; and

if the input was received in the second portion of the unified desktop, opening the window of the application in the second portion of the unified desktop.

18. The multi-screen communication device of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the unified desktop displays windows not displayed on the second portion of the unified desktop.