U.S. patent application number 11/538717 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-01 for methods and systems for a portable, interactive display device for use with a computer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Microsoft Corporation. Invention is credited to Joseph H. Matthews, Richard W. Stoakley.
Application Number | 20100082868 11/538717 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25133310 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100082868 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Matthews; Joseph H. ; et
al. |
April 1, 2010 |
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A PORTABLE, INTERACTIVE DISPLAY DEVICE FOR
USE WITH A COMPUTER
Abstract
A portable, interactive display device is disclosed. The device
presents to a user the graphical interface of a host computer. The
host is separate from the display device and sits in a fixed
location. The invention allows a user to carry with him the user
interface capability of the host, limited only by the capabilities
of a wireless communications channel to the host. The host provides
processing, storage, and access to its own peripheral devices. The
display device need only provide the amount of processing necessary
to communicate with the host, to run the client side of the hosting
software, and to provide security functions. The host provides a
docking station that accommodates the display device. When in the
docking station, the display device continues to operate but
communicates with the host through the docking station rather than
through the wireless channel. This allows for a higher quality
video connection.
Inventors: |
Matthews; Joseph H.;
(Woodinville, WA) ; Stoakley; Richard W.;
(Seattle, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEE & HAYES, PLLC
601 W. RIVERSIDE AVENUE
SUITE 1400
SPOKANE
WA
99201
US
|
Assignee: |
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond
WA
98052
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20070143517 A1 |
June 21, 2007 |
|
|
Family ID: |
25133310 |
Appl. No.: |
11/538717 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10869604 |
Jun 16, 2004 |
7183999 |
|
|
11538717 |
Oct 4, 2006 |
|
|
|
09784716 |
Feb 15, 2001 |
6784855 |
|
|
10869604 |
Jun 16, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
710/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/021 20130101;
G06F 3/14 20130101; G06F 3/147 20130101; G06F 1/1632 20130101; G06F
3/1423 20130101; G06F 3/0488 20130101; G06F 2200/1612 20130101;
G06F 1/1626 20130101; G09G 2370/16 20130101; G06F 1/1698 20130101;
G06F 1/1601 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/303 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/00 20060101
G06F013/00 |
Claims
1. A portable display system for use with a computing device, the
portable display system usable when it is in contact with a docking
station of the computing device and usable when it is not in
contact with the docking station, the portable display system
comprising: a display screen; a wireless communications receiver; a
tethered communications receiver; a display rendering module; and a
logic device for determining whether the portable display system is
in contact with the docking station, for connecting output from the
tethered communications receiver to the display rendering module if
the portable display system is in contact with the docking station,
and for connecting output from the wireless communications receiver
to the display rendering module if the portable display system is
not in contact with the docking station.
2. The portable display system of claim 1 wherein the wireless
communications receiver is of a type in the set: radio receiver,
infrared receiver.
3. The portable display system of claim 1 further comprising: a
signal strength evaluator that evaluates a strength of a
communications signal received by the wireless communications
receiver.
4. The portable display system of claim 3 further comprising: a
user warning signal triggered when the strength of the
communications signal received drops below a predetermined
level.
5. The portable display system of claim 3 further comprising: a
second signal strength evaluator that evaluates a strength of a
communications signal received by the tethered communications
receiver and wherein the logic device detects that the portable
display system is in contact with the docking station by comparing
the strengths of the received communications signals.
6. The portable display system of claim 1 further comprising: a
physical proximity detector and wherein the logic device detects
that the portable display system is in contact with the docking
station by referring to the physical proximity detector.
7. The portable display system of claim 1 further comprising: a
power connector that connects to the docking station of the
computing device.
8. The portable display system of claim 1 further comprising: a
user input device; and a wireless communications transmitter
wherein input from the user input device is transmitted to the
computing device.
9. The portable display system of claim 8 wherein the user input
device is in the set: mouse, keyboard, trackball, pen, touch
screen, microphone, camera.
10. The portable display system of claim 8 wherein the user input
device is physically connected to the remainder of the portable
display system.
11. The portable display system of claim 8 wherein the user input
device is wirelessly connected to the remainder of the portable
display system.
12. The portable display system of claim 1 further comprising a
user output device in the set: speaker, display light.
13. A docking station for use with a portable display system and
with a computing device, the docking station comprising: a first
communications channel to the computing device; and a second
communications channel to the portable display system.
14. The docking station of claim 13 wherein the first
communications channel comprises a connection of a type in the set:
wired, fiber optic, radio, infrared, LAN, WAN access.
15. The docking station of claim 13 further comprising: a user
input device.
16. The docking station of claim 15 further comprising: a logic
device for detecting whether the portable display system is in
contact with the docking station, and for connecting input from the
user input device to the first communications connection if the
portable display system is in contact with the docking station.
17. The docking station of claim 13 wherein the second
communications channel is a tethered communications channel and
further comprising: a third, wireless communications channel to the
portable display system; and a logic device for detecting whether
the portable display system is in contact with the docking station,
and for connecting input from the first communications channel to
the second communications channel if the portable display system is
in contact with the docking station, and for connecting input from
the first communications channel to the third communications
channel if the portable display system is not in contact with the
docking station.
18. A method for a portable display device with at least two
communications receivers to communicate with a computing device,
the method comprising: setting a first communications receiver to
be a default communications receiver; evaluating a strength of a
communications signal received by the default communications
receiver; and if the evaluated strength of the received
communications signal is above a predetermined level, then
displaying the communications received by the default
communications receiver, else displaying the communications
received by a second communications receiver.
19. A computer-readable medium having instructions for performing
the method of claim 18.
20. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data
structure, the data structure comprising: a first data field
containing data representing login credentials of a user; a second
data field containing data representing a host computing device;
and a third data field containing data representing a time when the
user most recently logged into the host computing device.
21. The data structure of claim 20 wherein the data representing
the host computing device are of a type in the set: Dynamic Name
Service name of the host, Internet Protocol address of the host,
Media Access Control address of the host.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/869,604 filed on Jun. 16, 2004 entitled
"Methods and system for a portable, interactive display device for
use with a computer" by inventors Joseph H. Matthews and Richard W.
Stoakley.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The ever increasing usefulness of the personal computer (PC)
leads users to an ever increasing dependence upon its capabilities.
Ironically, that dependence in turn highlights some shortcomings of
the traditional, "location-based,"model of computing. In that
model, users come to a powerful, self-contained PC when they have
computing tasks to perform. This model has long been accepted, but
clearly preferable is a "user-based" model of computing, wherein
computing power comes to the user whenever, and wherever, it is
needed.
[0003] The proliferation of laptop computers, pocket PCs, and their
ilk illustrates a first step toward user-based computing. Users
carry computing power with them so that it is always available.
Useful as they are, however, portable devices have not eliminated
the fixed location PC. The fixed PC offers greater levels of
performance than do many portables. Also, many peripheral devices
are best left in one place, whether because of their weight, such
as in the case of high-quality printers and scanners, or because of
their connection to inherently fixed resources, such as Internet
access devices that use DSL, fiber optic, CATV, or other "tethered"
communications media. Even if the functionality of these
peripherals could be made portable, their power drain would
exacerbate an already sore point with users of portable devices.
Many users are also hard pressed to justify the expense of owning
both fixed and portable versions of some devices, especially as the
fixed devices stand idle while the user moves about.
[0004] Microsoft's "WINDOWS TERMINAL SERVICES" (WTS) takes another
step toward user-based computing, a step beyond laptops. WTS
leverages the power of a fixed location PC, making it serve as host
for numerous client workstations. The workstations communicate with
the host, and each workstation uses the computing power, storage,
and other resources of the host to present a user with the
experience of running a full PC.
[0005] Thus, the host can be placed in a location best suited for
connecting to its peripherals and to tethered data channels while
the workstations are placed at locations more convenient to the
users. The host can be always running so that when a user accesses
a workstation, he is faced only with a minimal login delay rather
than a full boot delay. Because the host supports multiple,
simultaneous users, a family that needs another PC may purchase a
relatively inexpensive workstation rather than a second full PC.
Upgrade costs are reduced as they are localized to the host whose
upgraded resources are then made available for use by all users via
the client workstations.
[0006] However, a PC (or PC-like workstation) in every room does
not satisfy a user when his desire is for computing portability,
not just computing ubiquity. Portability is especially important
when the user wants to use the services of the computer while he is
doing something else. For example, he may read news from an
Internet service while eating breakfast or may scan sports
statistics while watching television. at is needed is a device that
separates the parts of the PC that have some reason for staying
fixed (either by inherent necessity or by economic desirability)
from the parts of the PC that the user needs to access as he
wanders. An ideal device would leverage the power and connectivity
of the fixed PC while allowing the flexibility of movement and
location of portable devices.
SUMMARY
[0007] The above problems and shortcomings, and others, are
addressed by the present invention, which can be understood by
referring to the specification, drawings, and claims. The present
invention is a portable, interactive display device that presents
to a user the graphical user interface of a host computer. The host
is separate from the display device and usually sits in a fixed
location. The invention allows a user to carry with him as he roams
about the full user interface capability of the host, limited only
by the capabilities of a wireless communications channel to the
host. Devices made according to the invention include a display
screen along with any number of other user input and output
peripherals such as a mouse, keyboard, pen and touch screen,
speaker, camera, and the like. The host provides processing,
storage, and access to its own peripheral devices.
[0008] The display device need only provide the amount of
processing necessary to communicate with the host, to run the
client side of the hosting software, and to provide security
functions. The host provides a docking station that accommodates
the display device. When in the docking station, the display device
continues to operate but communicates with the host through the
docking station rather than through the wireless channel. This
allows for a higher quality video connection. The docking station
may provide power to run the display device and to recharge its
batteries.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a portable, interactive
display device in an exemplary environment;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of an exemplary architecture
usable for the host computing device and for the portable,
interactive display device;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing how "WINDOWS TERMINAL
SERVICES" software supports the invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing possible configuration
variations when the portable, interactive display device operates
in the untethered mode;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing a portable,
interactive display device 20 sitting in a docking station and
operating in tethered mode; and
[0014] FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic drawings showing possible
embodiments of a docking station connected to the host computing
device by a Local Area Network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Turning to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
refer to like elements, the invention is illustrated as being
implemented in a suitable computing environment. The following
description is based on embodiments of the invention and should not
be taken as limiting the invention with regard to alternative
embodiments that are not explicitly described herein.
[0016] In the description that follows, the invention is described
with reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations
that are performed by one or more computers, unless indicated
otherwise. As such, it will be understood that such acts and
operations, which are at times referred to as being
computer-executed, include the manipulation by the processing unit
of the computer of electrical signals representing data in a
structured form. This manipulation transforms the data or maintains
them at locations in the memory system of the computer, which
reconfigures or otherwise alters the operation of the computer in a
manner well understood by those skilled in the art. The data
structures where data are maintained are physical locations of the
memory that have particular properties defined by the format of the
data. However, while the invention is being described in the
foregoing context, it is not meant to be limiting as those of skill
in the art will appreciate that various of the acts and operations
described hereinafter may also be implemented in hardware.
The Portable, Interactive Display Device
[0017] The present invention is a portable, interactive display
device that presents to a user the graphical user interface of a
host computing device. An overview of the invention is presented
with reference to FIG. 1, while details are presented later. FIG. 1
is a schematic drawing of the portable display device in an
exemplary environment. The host computing device 100 is separate
from the display device 108 and usually sits in a fixed location.
The host may support any number of peripherals, here illustrated by
a keyboard 102 and mouse 104 attached to the host by a wired
communications channel 106. The display device 108 operates in two
modes: tethered and untethered. When untethered, the display device
communicates with the host via a wireless communications channel,
here illustrated by a radio antenna 110 on the display device and
an antenna 112 on the host. In the untethered mode, the user
carries the display device around with him and the display device
gives him access to the full user interface of the host. Of course,
the untethered mode is limited by the bandwidth and range of the
wireless communications channel. Accompanying the display device
may be user input and output peripherals such as a mouse, keyboard,
pen 114 for touch input, speaker, camera (402 in FIG. 4), and the
like. The host provides processing to run applications, storage,
and access to its own peripheral devices. The display device need
only provide the amount of processing necessary to communicate with
the host, to run the client side of the hosting software, and to
provide security functions.
[0018] The host computing device 100 provides a docking station 116
that accommodates the display device 108. When in the docking
station, the display device switches to tethered mode. In this
mode, the display device operates as a display for the host and
communicates with the host through connectors 118 on the docking
station rather than through the wireless channel. This allows for a
higher quality video connection. In FIG. 1, the docking station's
connection to the host computer is by way of the wired
communications channel 106. Other options are described below. The
docking station may provide power to run the display device and to
recharge its batteries.
[0019] The host computing device 100 and portable display device
108 of FIG. 1 may be of any architecture. FIG. 2 is a structural
diagram of an exemplary architecture usable for the host computing
device and for the portable display device. The architecture
portrayed is only one example of a suitable environment and is not
intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or
functionality of the invention. Neither should the host computing
device 100 or display device 108 be interpreted as having any
dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of
components illustrated in FIG. 2. The invention is operational with
numerous other general-purpose or special-purpose computing
environments or configurations. Examples of well-known computing
systems, environments, and configurations suitable for use with the
invention include, but are not limited to, personal computers,
servers, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor based systems,
minicomputers, mainframe computers, and distributed computing
environments that include any of the above systems or devices. In
their most basic configuration, the host and display devices
typically include at least one processing unit 200 and memory 202.
The memory 202 may be volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such as
ROM, flash memory, etc.), or some combination of the two. This most
basic configuration is illustrated in FIG. 2 by the dashed line
204. The host and display devices may have additional features and
functionality. For example, they may include additional storage
(removable and non-removable) including, but not limited to, PCMCIA
cards, magnetic and optical disks, and magnetic tape. Such
additional storage is illustrated in FIG. 2 by removable storage
206 and non-removable storage 208.
[0020] Computer-storage media include volatile and non-volatile,
removable and non-removable, media implemented in any method or
technology for storage of information such as computer-readable
instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.
Memory 202, removable storage 206, and non-removable storage 208
are all examples of computer-storage media. Computer-storage media
include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory,
other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD),
other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic
disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, and any other media
which can be used to store the desired information and which can
accessed by devices 100 and 108. The host device 100 may also
contain communications channels 210 that allow the host to
communicate with other devices. Communications channels 210 are
examples of communications media. Communications media typically
embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program
modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier
wave or other transport mechanism and include any information
delivery media. The term "modulated data signal" means a signal
that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such
a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,
and not limitation, communications media include wired media, such
as wired networks and direct-wired connections (such as the wired
communications channel 106 in FIG. 1), and wireless media such as
acoustic, radio, infrared, and other wireless media. The term
computer-readable media as used herein includes both storage media
and communications media. The host 100 and display devices 108 may
also have input devices 212 such as a keyboard 102, mouse 104, pen
114, a voice-input device, a touch-input device, etc. Output
devices 214 include the devices themselves, such as a screen
display, speakers, printer, etc., and rendering modules (often
called "adapters") for driving these devices. All these devices are
well know in the art and need not be discussed at length here. The
devices each have a power supply 216. On the display device 108,
the power supply includes a battery and may include circuitry for
recharging the battery whenever the display device is in the
docking station 116.
Functionality in Untethered Mode: Display Device and Host
[0021] When operating in untethered mode, the portable, interactive
display device is supported by software that projects the user
interface of the host computing device to the display device. The
software also accepts user input from the display device and sends
I to the host. As an example of this software, FIG. 3 is a block
diagram of Microsoft's
[0022] "WINDOWS TERMINAL SERVICES" (WTS). An application program
300 running on the host 100 sends its output to the operating
system 304 intending the output to be displayed in one or more
windows managed by the Desktop 302. If the user of the application
program is using a portable display device 108, however, the
Terminal Services software component 306 intercepts the display
output, reformats it, and delivers it to the Networking software
component 308 for transport to the display device.
[0023] The display information is transported to the portable
display device 108 by a standard protocol such as Microsoft's
Remote Desktop Protocol 310 or the Independent Computing
Architecture protocol. These protocols allocate the limited
bandwidth of the wireless communications channel, an especially
important consideration when a bandwidth-intensive peripheral, such
as the camera 402 in FIG. 4, is attached to the portable display
device.
[0024] When the display information reaches the Networking
component 312 on the portable display device 108, it is passed to
the Terminal Services Client component 316. That component
interprets the information and displays it on the display device's
screen. If the display device is associated with a user input
device, such as the pen 114 or the camera 402, then this procedure
is reversed and the input from the device is presented to the
Application Program 300 as if it were generated locally on the host
100.
[0025] The support software handles issues such as user
authentication, encryption of data carried on the wireless
communications channel, and application program licensing. For a
discussion of licensing issues, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,146,
"System and Method for Software Licensing," incorporated herein by
reference. Software on the display device 108 stores configuration
parameters and login credentials of its users. If wireless
communications are interrupted during a user session, the display
device uses the cached user credentials to automatically relogin
when the host again comes within range.
[0026] Note that FIG. 3 is for illustrative purposes only, and the
invention is not limited to the specific software components and
protocols shown. In particular, one advantage of the invention is
that the display device may run an operating system entirely
different from that of the host. The standard display protocol
hides implementation differences. The protocols and transport
methods used to carry the display information are chosen to suit
particular needs. For example, protocols TCP/IP, SPX, IPX, and
NetBEUI may each be appropriate in certain situations. Appropriate
transport methods include infrared and short-range radio such as
Bluetooth, IEEE's 802.11b, and IEEE 1394 Firewire.
[0027] The host computing device 100 may run WTS in either
single-user or multi-user mode. For a discussion of the issues
involved in the multi-user mode, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,247,
"Server Operating System for Supporting Multiple Client-Server
Sessions and Dynamic Reconnection of Users to Previous Sessions
Using Different Computers," incorporated herein by reference. When
in single-user mode, the host supports only one user session. If a
user is using an untethered display device 108, then the host sends
no display output to its locally attached display 400 (if any),
thus darkening its screen. The host also ignores input from local
peripherals such as the keyboard 102 and mouse 104. On the other
hand, a host running in multi-user mode supports multiple, live,
and concurrent user sessions. The user of an untethered display
device is just one of potentially several users. Each display
device, untethered, tethered, or locally attached as 400, operates
independently to present its user with the full capabilities of a
host session.
Functionality in Tethered Mode: The Docking Station
[0028] FIG. 5 shows the portable, interactive display device 108
sitting in its docking station 116 and operating in the tethered
mode. The wireless connection illustrated in FIG. 1 is silent in
this mode. Communications from the host computing device 100 are
carried over the wired channel 106 to the docking station and then
through the connectors 118 (shown in FIG. 1) to the display device.
In some embodiments, these connectors carry display signals (such
as VGA signals) directly to the display device without mediation of
an intervening data protocol. This direct connection provides a
higher quality video signal than is available over most wireless
channels. When tethered, the display device receives electrical
power through the connections to its docking station. Depending
upon the configuration of the hosting software, a tethered display
device may serve a user other than the one using the locally
connected display 400 or one user may use both displays in a
multiple-monitor mode.
[0029] Wiring the docking station 116 directly to the host
computing device 100 limits the possible distance between the host
and the docking station. For those applications in which it is
desirable to place the docking station at some remove from the
host, the direct wired communications channel 106 is replaced with
a remote connection, such as the LAN 600 illustrated in FIGS. 6A
and 6B. In these embodiments, the docking station receives power
from a wall outlet. The LAN carries information between the host
and peripherals either directly connected to the docking station,
such as the keyboard 102, or connected to the display device, such
as the camera 402. Replacing the LAN with a WAN (e.g., Internet)
connection allows the docking station to be even farther removed
from the host, potentially on a different continent. When the
docking station is remotely connected to the host, the display
device shown in FIG. 6B communicates wirelessly with the docking
station via antenna 602 rather than directly with the host. In this
case, when the display device operates in the untethered mode, its
connection with the host flows over both a wireless channel to the
docking station and over the docking station's connection to the
host.
Altering the User Interface Between Tethered-Optimal and
Untethered-Optimal Mode
[0030] A user may be happy with a pen 114 whenever the portable,
interactive display device 108 is untethered but may prefer the
keyboard 102 and mouse 104 when they become available, that is,
when the display device is in the docking station 116. The same
user may be happy with a ten-point default font size when the
display device is docked but may prefer a larger size when the
device is untethered and subject to movement. There is no one set
of interface parameters optimal for use in both the tethered and
untethered environments. Because the display device moves between
these two environments, it changes its interface parameters to suit
its operating environment and to suit the particular peripherals in
use. As an example of changing the parameters to suit the
peripherals, consider that a pen is generally not as accurate a
pointing device as a mouse. A movement of a couple of pixels may be
unintentional. Thus, two clicks in rapid succession, the second a
couple of pixels away from the first, is interpreted as a double
click for a pen but not for a mouse. Also, a pen and the hand
holding it obscure part of the display screen. Because of this,
pop-up menus should appear above the selection and away from the
user's pen-wielding hand. By managing these parameter changes
itself, the display device shields their details from the host
computing device. Changes in interface parameters are also shielded
from the application programs by having the operating system manage
the changes.
[0031] In view of the many possible embodiments to which the
principles of this invention may be applied, it should be
recognized that the embodiments described herein with respect to
the drawing figures are meant to be illustrative only and should
not be taken as limiting the scope of invention. Therefore, the
invention as described herein contemplates all such embodiments as
may come within the scope of the following claims and equivalents
thereof.
* * * * *