Layered desktop system

• US 20110029915A1
• Filed: 08/02/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Application Number:
  US12/534,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

Different windows and layers on the computer can be either shown on the local screen or projected. Some windows on the local screen might not be projected windows. The user can check email or do other personal things in the non-projected screen without seeing those things on the projection.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a processor, running first and second programs;

a first output port for a local display, both of said first and second programs being output over said first output port for the local display;

and

a second output port for a remote display, wherein said second output port only provides output for only said first program for a remote display, and does not display said second program on said second output port for said remote display.

2. A computer system as in claim 1, wherein said second output port for said remote display is an output for an external projector.

3. A computer system as in claim 1, wherein said first output port produces output that displays a complete desktop, and second output port produces output that displays said complete desktop of said local display, other than said second program.

4. A computer system as in claim 1, further comprising a user interface on the computer system that controls interacting with both said first and second programs.

5. A computer system as in claim 4, wherein said user interface interacts with said second program to change a display of said second program on said first output port, and said second output for said remote display continues to display only said first program while said user interface is interacting with said display of said second program, and does not display said second program that is being interacted with using the user interface.

6. A computer system as in claim 1, wherein said first program is displayed to have a first outer shape on said local display, and said second program is displayed to have a second outer shape different than said first outer shape on said local display.

7. A computer system as in claim 4, wherein said user interface enables changing said second programs such that said second program is also displayed on said remote display after said changing.

8. A computer system as in claim 1, wherein said processor controls running programs, and controls selecting whether running programs will be displayed on said remote display or will not be displayed on said remote display.

9. A computer system as in claim 1, wherein said processor determines parts of a local display which are to be sent to the second display port, and only sends those parts to the second display port.

10. A computer system as in claim 9, wherein said parts which are not sent include labels on the first display indicating whether the parts will be sent to the second display.

11. A computer system as in claim 1, wherein said first program that will be sent to the second port is shown in a first way over the first port, and said second program which will not be sent to the second port is shown in a first in a second way different than the first way over the first port.

12. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a display, connected to said first port, locally displaying information about said first port.

13. A system as in claim 11, wherein said first and second programs are shown with different outer shapes.

14. A system as in claim 11, wherein said first and second programs are shown with labels representing characteristics of the programs.

15. A system as in claim 14, wherein said labels are not sent as part of the shape to the second port.

16. A method, comprising:

using a computer to create a display output that shows multiple different programs, including at least a first program that is run in a way to be output over a first display port, and a second program that is run in a way to not be output over said first display port,

using the computer to allow interacting with both of said first and second programs; and

using the computer to provide output of both the first and second programs on the first display port to thereby display information about both of said first and second programs on a device connected to the first display port, and to provide output of only the first program over a second display port.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein said first program is displayed to have a first outer shape on a local display connected to said first display port, and said second program is displayed to have a second outer shape different than said first outer shape on said local display.

18. A method as in claim 16, wherein said interacting comprises using a user interface to change said second program such that said second program is also displayed on a remote display connected to said second display port after said changing.

19. A method, comprising:

using a computer to select a first program, and to select whether or not the first program will be displayed on an external display; and

operating the first program, and always providing output indicative of the first program to a port intended for local display of said first program, and providing output indicative of the first program to a second port intended for remote display of the first program only if said program is indicated as being displayed on an external display and not if the program is indicated as not being displayed on said external display.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein said first program is displayed to have a first outer shape on a local display when it will be displayed also on the external display, and said first program is displayed to have a second outer shape different than said first outer shape on said local display when it will not be displayed on the external display.