Method and system for auxiliary display of information for a computing device

US7221331B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Eric Gould Bear · Bellevue, US
• Chad Magendanz · Issaquah, US
• Aditha May Adams · Seattle, US
• Carl J. Ledbetter · Mercer Island, US
• Steve Kaneko · Bellevue, US
• Chris Schoppa · Redmond, US
• Adrian Chandley · Sammamish, US
• William J. Westerinen · Issaquah, US
• Dale C. Crosier · Kirkland, US
• Robert Scott Plank · Bellevue, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 5, 2003
• Grant date: May 22, 2007
• Expiry date: Feb 28, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/107
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for auxiliary display of information for a computing device. An auxiliary display is integrated with a computing system to provide an area where notifications can be peripherally presented off-screen. Whenever a background task sends a notification to the main display of the system, the notification may be redirected to appear instead on the auxiliary display. A user may then glance at the notification appearing on the auxiliary display to be informed of the message without interruption from the current task onscreen. Any type of information may be presented on the auxiliary display including incoming communications, meeting reminders, system alerts, and information from Internet subscription services. The auxiliary display may be placed on the central processor chassis or on the monitor border along with LED indicator lights to provide simple peripheral-vision notification. By pressing a button, a user may obtain additional detailed follow-up information.