Sending notifications to auxiliary displays

• US 7,581,034 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fuller, Andrew J., Rhoten, Matthew P., Polivy, Daniel J., Wynn, Roger H., Bernstein, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell; Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Survillo; Oleg
• Application Number:
  US10/996,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/250, 719/321
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

Described is a system and method by which application programs running on a main computer system communicate with an auxiliary display device (such as a cell phone, pocket-sized computer, alarm clock, television, digital picture frame and so forth) to provide viewable information on the device, remote control capabilities, and notifications. Via API calls, programs provide information in the same format regardless of the device capabilities and/or the connection type. An auxiliary display platform converts a notification into a format understood by a device driver, which then filters the notification as desired for its particular hardware device before the notification is communicated. Return communications return data such as status and user interaction with the displayed information. Software vendors may thus write code once to output notifications on auxiliary displays, while hardware manufacturers can have their devices work as auxiliary displays, with little or no modification to existing hardware.

Claims

1. In a computing environment having a main computer system and an auxiliary device coupled thereto, the auxiliary device configured to operate in at least one context that does not allow notifications from the main computing system to be displayed at the auxiliary device and configured to operate in at least one context that does allow notifications from the main computing system to be displayed at the auxiliary device, a method comprising:

on the main computer system, an application generating a notification and formatting a notification parameter set for displaying the notification on the auxiliary device;

the application calling an interface to obtain a current context of the auxiliary device;

at the application, receiving a current context of the auxiliary device, the current context being one of the at least one contexts that does not allow notifications to be displayed at the auxiliary device, the current context indicative of the auxiliary device being in a full-screen presentation mode that does not permit notifications to be displayed;

the application requesting a callback when the current context changes;

at the application, receiving a change to the current context, the changed current context being one of the at least one contexts that does allow notifications to be displayed at the auxiliary device, the current changed context indicative of the auxiliary device being in a program mode that does permit notifications to be displayed; and

the application calling the interface with the notification parameter set to request that the notification be displayed on the auxiliary device through a user-mode driver framework, wherein requesting that the notification be displayed includes;

determining whether the auxiliary device is an enhanced auxiliary device or a basic auxiliary device, wherein an enhanced auxiliary device is distinguished from a basic auxiliary device by having certain firmware that is generally compatible with any information received through the user-mode driver framework;

when the auxiliary device is determined to be an enhanced auxiliary device, communicating the notification parameter through a generic driver that is not specific to the enhanced auxiliary device; and

when the auxiliary device is determined to be a basic auxiliary device, communicating the notification parameter through a device-specific driver to the basic auxiliary device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein formatting the notification parameter set comprises specifying text data to appear in association with the notification.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein specifying text data comprises providing text data to appear in a header of the notification.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein specifying text data comprises providing text data to appear in a body of the notification.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein formatting the notification parameter set comprises specifying image data to appear in association with the notification.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein formatting the notification parameter set comprises specifying sound data to appear in association with the notification.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein formatting the notification parameter set comprises specifying a set of at least one control to appear in association with the notification.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein formatting the notification parameter set comprises specifying a property that associates an object with a control of the set.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising, receiving information indicating that a control of the set was selected, and in response, performing an action.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the set comprises at least one button.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein calling the interface comprises calling a send function of a notification API of an auxiliary platform.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising, calling the interface to attempt to revoke the notification.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising, calling the interface to request that notifications requested by other callers to the interface be suppressed.

14. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which when executed perform the method of claim 1.

15. In a computing environment, a method comprising:

at an auxiliary device coupled to a main computer system;

receiving a call from an application of the main computer system to obtain a current context of the auxiliary device, wherein the application generates notification data;

determining that the auxiliary device is in a program mode that does not allow notifications to be displayed and notifying the application of the main computer system of the program mode;

receiving a request for a callback when the current context changes;

sending a current context for the auxiliary device to the application of the main computer system when the auxiliary device is in a program mode that allows notifications to be displayed;

after sending the current context when the auxiliary device is in a program mode that allows notifications to be displayed, receiving notification data from the application on the main computer system through a user-mode driver framework, subsequent to sending the current context to the main computer system; and

receiving the notification data from the application and processing the notification data to output a notification on the auxiliary device, wherein receiving the notification data from the application includes;

when the auxiliary device is an enhanced auxiliary device, receiving the notification data through a generic driver that is not specific to the auxiliary device; and

when the auxiliary device is a basic auxiliary device, receiving the notification data through a driver that is specific to the auxiliary device, wherein an enhanced auxiliary device is distinguished from a basic auxiliary device by having certain firmware that is generally compatible with any information received through the user-mode driver framework.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein processing the notification data comprises outputting text data to a display as at least part of the notification.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein processing the notification data comprises outputting image data to a display as at least part of the notification.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein processing the notification data comprises outputting sound data as at least part of the notification.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein processing the notification data comprises outputting a control to a display as at least part of the notification.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising, detecting that the control was selected, and in response, performing an action.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein performing the action comprises returning information to the main computer system indicating that the control was selected.

22. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which when executed perform the method of claim 15.

23. In a computing environment having a main computer system and an auxiliary device coupled thereto, a system comprising:

one or more processors on the main computer system; and

an auxiliary platform on the main computer system and coupled to the one or more processors, the auxiliary platform including;

a context interface that receives calls from a program running on the main computer system, including a call checking the current context of the auxiliary device to determine when the auxiliary device is in a program mode that does allow notifications from the main computing system to be displayed at the auxiliary device and when the auxiliary device is in a program mode that does not allow notifications from the main computing system to be displayed at the auxiliary device;

a notification interface that receives calls from the program running on the main computer system, including a call having a set of at least one notification parameter corresponding to a notification to communicate to the auxiliary device, the set of at least one parameter independent of any particular auxiliary device hardware;

a user-mode driver framework that couples the auxiliary platform to a device driver associated with the auxiliary device; and

wherein the auxiliary platform converts the notification into notification data in a format understood by the device driver such that the device driver forwards the notification data for communication to the auxiliary device, wherein the device driver is a generic driver that is not specific to the auxiliary device when the auxiliary device is an enhanced auxiliary device, and wherein the device driver is device-specific when the auxiliary device is a basic auxiliary device, and wherein an enhanced auxiliary device is distinguished from a basic auxiliary device by having certain firmware that is generally compatible with any information received through the user-mode driver framework.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the auxiliary device comprises a mobile communications device.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the auxiliary device comprises a device from among a set of device types, the set containing:

a separate computer;

a mobile communications device;

a secondary display screen with actuators;

a watch;

a wall display;

a display screen;

a digital picture frame;

a clock;

a television;

a radio;

a media player;

a device embedded within or using the main display of a consumer electronics device;

automotive, transportation or other vehicular units;

keyboards or other input devices of the main computer system;

a pager; and

a personal digital assistant.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the device driver filters at least some of the notification data based on capabilities of its associated auxiliary device.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein a second auxiliary device is connected to the computer system, and wherein the auxiliary platform maintains a data structure that contains data as to which auxiliary device or devices the notification data is to be routed for the program running on the main computer system.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the data indicates that the notification data is to be routed to the second auxiliary device, wherein the second auxiliary device includes a corresponding device driver for the second auxiliary device, and wherein the auxiliary platform routes the notification data to the device driver for the second auxiliary device.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the device driver sends return information to the auxiliary platform in response to the information forwarded for communication to the auxiliary device.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the return information corresponds to user interaction with the auxiliary device.

31. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which when executed perform steps, comprising:

at a computer program running on the main computer system, generating a notification and preparing to send the notification for display on an auxiliary device, wherein preparing to send the notification includes;

the computer program calling an application programming interface (API) to obtain a context representative of a current context of the auxiliary device, wherein the API provides a structured format for such calls and is independent of a type of auxiliary device;

at the computer program, receiving a context indicative of the auxiliary device being in a presentation program mode that does not allow notifications to be displayed;

the computer program requesting a callback for when the auxiliary device changes to a program mode that does allow notifications to be displayed;

at the computer program, receiving a callback providing a context indicative that the auxiliary device is in a program mode that does allow notifications to be displayed;

after determining that the program mode of the auxiliary device does allow notifications to be displayed, the computer program running on the main computer system calling an interface and sending a notification, the notification including a call having a set of at least one parameter corresponding to notification data to communicate to one or more auxiliary devices, the set of at least one parameter independent of any particular auxiliary device hardware;

determining to which one or ones of a plurality of auxiliary devices coupled to the main computer system the notification data should be communicated, the one or ones of the plurality of auxiliary devices including at least an auxiliary device dedicated to receipt of notifications, and for each such device;

a) accessing the notification data;

b) determining whether each such auxiliary device is an enhanced auxiliary device or a basic auxiliary device, wherein an enhanced auxiliary device is distinguished from a basic auxiliary device by having certain firmware that is generally compatible with any information received through the API;

c) for each of the one or ones of the plurality of auxiliary devices that is an enhanced auxiliary device, converting the notification data to a format understood by a user-mode device driver of that enhanced auxiliary device, wherein the user-mode device driver is a generic driver that is not specific to the enhanced auxiliary device and is adapted to translate the notification data into a format understood by that enhanced auxiliary device;

d) for each of the one or ones of the plurality of auxiliary devices that is a basic auxiliary device, converting the notification data to a format understood by a device driver for that basic auxiliary device, wherein the device driver for that basic auxiliary device is specific to that basic auxiliary device and is adapted to translate the notification data to a format understood by that basic auxiliary device and to filter the information suitable to display capabilities of that basic auxiliary device; and

e) communicating the notification data to that auxiliary device;

receiving, from one of the auxiliary devices, an indication that a user has dismissed the notification; and

transmitting to each other connected auxiliary device, a cancellation of the notification.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the main computer system is coupled to a plurality of auxiliary displays, and at least one of the auxiliary displays comprises an enhanced auxiliary display.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the main computer system is coupled to a plurality of auxiliary displays, and at least one of the auxiliary displays comprises a basic auxiliary display.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the main computer system is coupled to a plurality of auxiliary displays, and at least one of the auxiliary displays comprises an enhanced auxiliary display and at least one other of the auxiliary displays comprises a basic auxiliary display.