U.S. patent application number 13/004193 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-26 for display system and method of display for supporting multiple display modes.
Invention is credited to April Slayden Mitchell, Ian N. Robinson, Mark C. Solomon.
Application Number | 20120098761 13/004193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45972595 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120098761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mitchell; April Slayden ; et
al. |
April 26, 2012 |
DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISPLAY FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE
DISPLAY MODES
Abstract
The present invention is a display system that is comprised of a
display, at least one background screen control sensor and a
background screen control component. The display includes a display
screen for operating in at least a first background screen mode and
a second background screen mode. The at least one background
control sensor for sensing interaction with the display. The
background screen control component processes background control
sensor data from the at least one sensor, wherein based on the
background control sensor data a determination is made whether a
background screen control condition has been met, wherein
responsive to the determination that the background screen control
condition has been met, the background of the display screen is
changed.
Inventors: |
Mitchell; April Slayden;
(San Jose, CA) ; Robinson; Ian N.; (Pebble Beach,
CA) ; Solomon; Mark C.; (San Jose, CA) |
Family ID: |
45972595 |
Appl. No.: |
13/004193 |
Filed: |
January 11, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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PCT/US2010/053860 |
Oct 22, 2010 |
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13004193 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/012 20130101;
G06F 3/041 20130101; G06F 3/013 20130101; G06F 1/1643 20130101;
G06F 3/0487 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Claims
1. A display system comprising: a display, the display including a
display screen for operating in at least a first background screen
mode and a second background screen mode; at least one background
screen control sensor for sensing a physical user interaction with
the display; and a background screen control component for
processing background control sensor data from the at least one
background screen control sensor, wherein based on the background
control sensor data, a determination is made as to whether a
background screen control condition has been met, wherein
responsive to the determination that the background screen control
condition has been met, the background of the display screen is
changed.
2. The display system recited in claim 1 wherein when the display
is in the first background screen mode, the display screen displays
an opaque background and the when the display is in the second
background screen mode, the display screen displays a transparent
background.
3. The display system recited 1 wherein the interaction with the
display is touching the back surface of the display screen.
4. The display system recited 1 wherein the interaction with the
display is placing an object within the capture region behind the
back surface of the display screen.
5. The display system recited in claim I wherein the display screen
is movable to a first screen position and a second screen
position.
6. The display system recited in claim 5 wherein the interaction
with display is moving the display screen between the first screen
position and the second screen position.
7. A method executed on a processor, the method comprising the
steps of: capturing background screen control sensor data from at
least one sensor for sensing interaction with a display, the
display including a display screen for operating in at least a
first background screen mode and a second background screen mode:
and determining based on the captured background screen control
sensor data whether a background screen control condition has been
met, wherein responsive to the determination that the background
screen control condition has been met, the background of the
display screen is changed.
8. The method recited ire claim 7 wherein when the display is in
the first background screen mode, the display screen displays an
opaque background and the when the display is in the second
background screen mode, the display screen displays a transparent
background.
9. The method recited 7 wherein the interaction with the display is
touching the back surface of the display screen.
10. The method recited 7 wherein the interaction with the display
is placing an object within the capture region behind the back
surface of the display screen.
11. The method recited in claim 7 wherein the display screen is
movable to a first screen position and a second screen
position.
12. The method recited in claim 7 wherein the interaction with
display is moving the display screen between the first screen
position and the second screen position.
13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having
computer readable program instructions stored thereon for causing a
computer system to perform a method, the method comprising the
steps of: capturing background screen control sensor data from at
least one sensor for sensing interaction with a display, the
display including a display screen for operating in at least a
first background screen mode and a second background screen mode;
and determining based on the captured background screen control
sensor data whether a background screen control condition has been
met, wherein responsive to the determination that the background
screen control condition has been met, the background of the
display screen is changed.
14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium recited in
claim 13 wherein when the display is in the first background screen
mode, the display screen displays an opaque background and the when
the display is in the second background screen mode, the display
screen displays a transparent background.
15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium recited in
claim 13 wherein the display screen is movable to a first screen
position and a second screen position, wherein the interaction with
display is moving the display screen between the first screen
position and the second screen position.
16. A display system comprising: a display, the display including
at least a display screen for operating in at least a first opaque
background screen mode and a second transparent background screen
mode; and a background screen user interface control for
controlling the background screen mode, wherein responsive to a
user selection, the background screen changes to the selected
background screen mode.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This case is a continuation in part of the case entitled "An
Augmented Reality Display System and Method of Display" filed on
Oct. 22, 2010, having serial number PCT/US2010/053860, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In addition this
case is related to the case entitled "Display System and Method of
Displaying Based on Device Interactions" filed on Oct. 29, 2010,
having Ser. No. 12/915,311, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A wide variety of displays for computer systems are
available. Often display systems display content on an opaque
background screen. However, systems are available which display
content on a transparent background screen. There is software
available which recognizes the rotation of display screen. This
software can present content differently dependent on the viewing
angles and user interface orientations dependent upon how the user
is holding or has rotated a display. There are also displays for
some computer systems that allow the display screen to be moved
between a position into a second position which allows writing on
the display screen surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0003] The figures depict implementations/embodiments of the
invention and not the invention itself. Some embodiments are
described, by way of example, with respect to the following
Figures.
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a front view of a
display screen in an display system with an object positioned
behind the display screen according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0005] FIG. 2A shows a side perspective view of a desktop version
of an display system with the display screen operating in an opaque
operational mode where the display screen is positioned in a
substantially vertical position according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0006] FIG. 2B shows aside perspective view of a desktop version of
an display system with the display screen operating in a
transparent operational mode where the display screen is positioned
in a second position according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 shows a back perspective view of the display system
shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0008] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram for a method of display
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 5 shows a computer system for implementing the method
shown in FIG. 4 and described in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention.
[0010] The drawings referred to in this Brief Description should
not be understood as being drawn to scale unless specifically
noted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0011] For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of
the embodiments are described by referring mainly to examples
thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details
are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill
in the art, that the embodiments may be practiced without
limitation to these specific details. Also, different embodiments
may be used together. In some instances, well known methods and
structures have not been described in detail so as not to
unnecessarily obscure the description of the embodiments.
[0012] The present invention describes a display system 100, the
display system 100 comprising: a display 110, the display 110
including a display screen 112 for operating in at least a first
background screen mode and a second background screen mode; at
least one sensor 114 for sensing interaction with the display 110;
and a background screen control component 118 for processing
information from the at least one sensor 114, wherein based on the
background screen control sensor data 132 from the at least one
background screen control sensor 114 a determination is made
whether a background screen control condition 136 has been met,
wherein responsive to the determination that the background screen
control condition 136 has been met, the background of the display
screen 112 is changed.
[0013] In one example, the display screen background switches
between a first opaque background and a second transparent
background, Switching of the background screens is controlled by
predefined background screen control conditions 136 defined in the
background screen control component, The background screen of the
display can be changed based on system or user controlled
instructions or automatically based on common usage assumptions.
The common usage instructions are defined in the background screen
control component 118 as background screen control conditions 136.
The background control sensor data 132 gathered by the at least one
background screen control sensor is tested to see if the background
control conditions 136 are met. Responsive to whether the
background screen control conditions 136 are met, the display
system determines the display screen background that is output.
[0014] In one embodiment, the predefined common usage assumption is
that when the user changes the position of the display screen, the
user wants to change the operational mode and correspondingly
change the display screen to the background screen associated with
the operational mode. For example in one embodiment, the user may
wish to change from a viewing mode where the display screen
background is opaque to a "thru-screen" mode, a mode where the
display screen background screen is transparent and objects can be
viewed "thru" the transparent display screen. Details regarding a
transparent thru-screen type display system and interacting with an
object or device positioned behind the display screen is described
in more detail in the pending patent applications entitled "An
Augmented Reality Display System and Method of Display" filed on
Oct. 22, 2010, having serial number PCT/US2010/053860 and the case
entitled "Display System and Method of Displaying Based on Device
Interactions" filed on Oct. 29, 2010, having Ser. No. 12/915,311,
which are both hereby incorporated by reference in it's
entirety.
[0015] In another alternative embodiment, the predefined common
usage assumption is that when the user moves an object behind the
display screen, the user wants to change the operational mode. For
example, if the user is in the viewing mode (with an opaque display
screen background) and moves an object behind the display screen,
the common usage assumption is that the user wants to use the
system in the thru-screen operational mode and that the display
screen should be transparent.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a front view of
a display screen in a display system according to an embodiment of
the invention. The display system includes a display screen 112 for
displaying content on a background screen. In one embodiment, the
display screen 112 is capable of operating either in at least a
first mode (with an opaque background screen) and a second mode
(with a transparent background screen). Switching between the two
modes can be controlled by (1) system or user instructions to the
display system or (2) automatically based on common usage
assumptions predefined in the background screen control
component.
[0017] In the viewing mode, the background screen is preferably
opaque. An opaque background provides greater contrast so that
person viewing the screen can more easily see the content. Thus an
opaque background is preferable as viewing conditions for the user
can be easily optimized--the opaque background screen and content
displayed on the opaque background screen can be chosen to provide
optimal contrast to make viewing the content easier by the user.
However, a transparent background screen allows the user to
interact with an object or device positioned behind the screen. In
the thru-screen operational mode, a transparent screen is necessary
so that the user can see through the display screen so that the
user can interact with an object positioned behind the display
screen.
[0018] Different screen materials may be used to provide the
transparent display screen 112. In one embodiment, the transparent
display screen is a transparent OLED (organic light-emitting diode)
screen. In an alternative embodiment, the display screen is
comprised of transparent LCDs (liquid crystal display). However,
the transparent LCD screen implementation assumes a well lit
working environment. In a third alternative embodiment, the display
screen is comprised of a partially diffusing material and the
content is projected onto the partially diffusing material.
Although many alternative implementations are possible, the
transparent display screen operates so that objects positioned
behind the display screen can be easily seen or viewed by a user
positioned in front of the display screen.
[0019] As previously described, in one embodiment the display
screen 112 is capable of switching between a first opaque display
mode and a second transparent display mode. For example, in the
first opaque background screen display mode--the background screen
upon which content is displayed would be opaque. Similarly, in the
second transparent background screen display mode--the background
screen upon which content is displayed would be transparent. A
display screen capable of switching between two modes could be
implemented in one embodiment as a transparent OLED screen with a
liquid crystal shutter positioned behind the OLED screen. In a
first mode the display screen would appear to be opaque (liquid
crystal shutter behind the display screen closed) for use as a
conventional display. In a second mode the transparent LED screen
would be transparent (liquid crystal shutter open).
[0020] Background screen control conditions 136 are predefined
based on common usage assumptions. Consider the common usage
condition of a transparent screen in a first position, then in one
embodiment, background control sensor or sensors 114 coupled to a
display stands hinge(s) 128 would be used to sense when the display
screen 112 moves to a first position. By using information or data
132 gathered from the at least one background control sensor, the
display system 100 can determine whether a background control
condition has been met.
[0021] The at least one background control sensor 114 senses an
interaction with the display. The display 110 includes a display
stand 157 for supporting the display screen on a surface 155. In
one embodiment, for example, the at least one sensor is a sensor
coupled to the hinge 128 of the display stand. When an interaction
occurs (user physically moving the display screen), the sensed
information is used to determine whether a background screen
control condition has been met. For example, if the background
screen control condition is the hinge moving to a second position,
when this condition is met--the background of the display screen is
changed.
[0022] If a common usage condition has occurred, the display system
100 automatically controls the display screen's background to
correlate it to the defined display screen operational mode. In one
embodiment, the background screen control component 118 controls
the display screen 112 to automate displaying the desired
background screen, without requiring user input to specify the
background screen or a change in the background screen. Having the
display system 100 automatically react to these common usage event
triggers, saves the user time and effort and creates a more natural
user interface.
[0023] The display system 110 changes the screen background based
on sensed information from the at least one background control. In
one embodiment, the at least one background control sensor 114
detects the movement of the display screen hinge(s) 128 to a
predefined position or alternatively through a certain range of
motion. In another embodiment, the sensor 114 detect the a user
held device or other object that the user is manipulating in the
capture range behind the back surface of the display screen.
[0024] The type of sensor used in the display system depends on the
type of interaction that the background control sensor 114 is
required to sense or detect. Examples of the types of interactions
that the at least one background control sensor might sense
include, but are not limited to, the examples of: sensing a change
in the position of the display screen, display stand or hinges of
the display stand, sensing an object placed behind the display
screen, sensing touch on the back surface of the display screen,
and sensing an electrical connection made to the display
system.
[0025] In one embodiment, more than one background control sensor
114 or more than one type of background control sensors is used.
For example, for the case where a single sensor does not cover the
desired range behind the display screen, multiple sensors of the
same type with overlapping capture regions might be positioned at
different points along the bezel 154 of the display screen to
expand the capture range of the background control sensors. In
another embodiment, more than one type of background control sensor
might be used to provide additional verification that that a
triggered or sensed event has occurred. For example in one
embodiment, when in the transparent mode, an object 120 positioned
behind the screen might be identified using two types of background
control sensors. For example, both a motion detection sensor (to
detect an object positioned behind screen) and a depth camera or
other image capture device (to identify an object positioned behind
the screen) might be used to detect an object positioned behind the
back surface of the display screen.
[0026] The at least one background control sensor senses
interaction with the display. In one embodiment, the interaction is
a user interaction that is instigated or initiated by the physical
actions of a user. For example, in one embodiment the interaction
sensed is the physical movement of the display screen from a first
position to a second position. In another embodiment, the
interaction sensed is the physical movement of an object in the
capture region behind the display screen. Thus, interaction with
the display includes physical movements where the user is not
physically touching the display itself, but where his physical
movements are captured by the display--in this case captured by the
sensors on the back surface of the display frame.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1 shows at least one background screen
control sensor, for example coupled to the hinge mechanism of the
display stand. Data 132 from the background control sensor is input
to background screen control component 118 for use in determining
the background that is used and displayed by the display generation
component 126. In one embodiment, the display generation component
controls the content output to the display and the background
screen displayed on the display screen.
[0028] FIG. 1 also shows data from a viewpoint assessment sensors
140a, 140b and object tracking sensors 148a, 148b that input
information into the display controller component 130 for use by
the display generation component 126. In the embodiment shown, the
background screen control sensor 114 is a separate sensor from the
viewpoint assessment sensors and object tracking sensors used in
the display system. However, in an alternative embodiment, one
sensor type (for example, viewpoint assessment sensors or object
tracking sensors) could be used to sense data for another sensor
type (for example, the background screen control sensor). For
example, for the case where an object's positioned behind the back
surface of the display screen--a depth camera could be used both to
perform the function required by the background control sensor and
the object tracking sensor function. In other words, depth camera
data could be used to determine whether an object was positioned
behind the screen (the background control sensor condition) and the
location of the object (the object tracking sensor function) . In
this case, a single sensor might provide the data required--though
the data gathered might be tested or processed differently
dependent upon the requirements for the sensor.
[0029] In one embodiment, the display system is capable of
switching between a first opaque background screen mode and a
second transparent background mode. If it is desirable for the
background screen to change between opaque and transparent
background screens based on the position of the display screen--the
background screen control sensors would measure conditions
regarding the position of the display screen. Based on whether the
predefined conditions occurred (i.e. display screen at certain
angle relative to stand base, etc.), the background screen would
change or remain static.
[0030] In one embodiment, switching between operational modes (and
their corresponding opaque and transparent background screens) is
controlled by moving the display screen from a first screen
position to a second screen position. To further illustrate the
example above, refer to the display systems shown in FIGS. 2A and
2B. FIG. 2A shows a side view of a desktop version of a display
system with the display screen positioned in a first position--a
position substantially vertical to the surface the display stand is
resting on. For purposes of discussion only, assume the embodiments
discussed with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B operate in the viewing
mode when in the first position (opaque screen) and the thru-screen
mode (transparent screen) in the second position.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 23 shows a side view of a desktop version
of the same display system with the display screen in a second
position. Compared to the first position shown in FIG. 2A, the
second position shown in FIG. 2B is more horizontal to the surface
that the display stand is resting on. Referring to the xyz
reference axis shown, the angle of the display screen in the first
position shown in FIG. 2A is substantially vertical or at
approximately 90 degree to the positive x axis, while the angle of
the display screen in the second position shown in FIG. 23 is at an
acute angle, say for purposes of example at an angle of
approximately 75 degrees relative to the positive x axis. In one
example, the first and/or second positions are at a defined angle,
however, more commonly the first and second positions are defined
within a range of angles. For example, it is common for a user to
move the display screen of a laptop or desktop monitor to a
position that is at an acute angle to the referenced positive axis.
For example, the vertical range of the display screen might be
between 80 and 95 degrees relative to the positive x axis for the
first position. However, in one embodiment, whatever the angle
range--the second position relative to the first viewing position
has a smaller acute angle range. This smaller acute angle range
occurs in the thru-screen mode as it is desirable to have
additional room behind the screen to position an object behind the
screen to interact with the object. To achieve this additional
space, the user pulls the display screen out and angles the screen
at a smaller acute angle range compared to the display screen first
position.
[0032] In one embodiment, the background screen control sensors
detect the movement of the hinges with respect to the display
stand. For this case, the background control sensor 114 used when
the display screen or object that is effected by, coupled to or is
part of the display (for example, the hinge) reaches a predefined
position. In an alternative embodiment, the background screen
control sensors should sense the movement of the display hinges as
it moves through a predefined range of motion. In one embodiment,
background screen control sensors are coupled to or embedded in the
hinges to determine whether so we know when the hinges are in a
locked up or locked down position. In one example, the sensors
coupled to the hinges are accelerometers that detect the motion of
the hinges. In another alternative embodiment, the sensors are
electrical components or devices, (i.e., a Hall effect device),
which detect closing of a circuit. In one example, when the display
screen moves from a first position to a second position a circuit
is dosed resulting in a current flow. In one embodiment, the sensor
could be a current sensing device which detects current flow when
the hinge reaches the second position. In another example, the
background control sensor could be any sensor that detects
rotation, such as a rotary encoder. In one example, the rotation
sensing device coupled to the hinge or bezel of the display senses
when the display is at a first or second position or alternatively
is moved from a first or second position.
[0033] As previously stated and as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B in one
embodiment the predefined common usage assumption is that when the
user changes the position of the display screen, the user wants to
change the operational mode. In a second alternative embodiment,
the user indicates that he wishes to change the operational mode by
placing an object behind the display screen. For example, a user
operating the display screen in an operational mode that has an
opaque background screen could indicate the intent to switch to a
transparent background screen by placing an object (such as a
keyboard, etc.) behind the display screen.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 3 shows a perspective back view of the
display system shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the
invention where the sensors 114a, 114b can be more clearly seen. In
one embodiment, sensors 114a, 114b act as background control
sensors. The information sensed from sensors 114a, 114b from the
back surface 158 of the display screen 112 provide information
about whether the user has positioned a device or other object
behind the display screen indicating the desire to change to the
thru-screen mode (transparent background screen). In other words,
if a display screen is in a mode which requires an opaque
background and an object is positioned behind the display screen,
the display screen would automatically change to a transparent
screen.
[0035] As previously stated, the type of sensors used for the
background control sensors 114 depends upon the type of interaction
that the sensor is required to sense or detect. In this example,
the background control sensors should be able to detect an object
positioned behind the display screen. In one embodiment, the
background control sensors 114a, 114b are motion sensors which
detect movement of an object behind the screen. In another
alternative embodiment, the background control sensors 114a, 114b
could be an image capture devices. In one embodiment, image
analysis software is used to detect changes from the previous image
frames or in an alternatively is used to identify the type of
object positioned behind the display screen. In one embodiment, the
background control sensor can detect the addition or removal of an
object from behind the display screen. For example, a camera with a
capture region covering the region behind the display screen could
be used for to detect the addition or removal of an object from
behind the display screen. Thus in one embodiment, for example, an
object being removed from behind the display screen could indicate
that the user wished to return to the viewing mode or other mode
where an opaque background display screen would be desirable.
[0036] In one embodiment the predefined common usage assumption
upon which the predetermined background screen control conditions
are based, is that when the user touches the back surface of the
display (including the display screen and/or the frame of the
display) that the user wants to interact with the display screen in
the thru-screen operational mode (transparent display screen
background). For example, a user operating the display screen in an
operational mode that has an opaque background screen could
indicate the intent to switch to a transparent background screen by
touching the back surface 158 of the display screen or by touching
the back of the frame 154 of the display screen.
[0037] As previously stated, the type of sensors used for the
background control sensors 114 depends upon the type of interaction
that the sensor is required to sense or detect. In this example,
the background control sensors should be able to detect touch of
the back surface of the display screen or display screen frame. In
one embodiment, the background control sensors 114 are a plurality
of sensors embedded in the bezel 154 around the entire periphery of
the display screen that capable of detecting touch on the back
surface 158 the display screen surface. In another alternative
embodiment, the background control sensor could be a plurality of
image capture device which captures a plurality of images behind
the display screen surface. Image analysis software is used to
determine when an object (including the user's hand) makes physical
contact with the display screen.
[0038] In the embodiment where the background screen changes based
on touching the back surface of the display screen, the user might
be touching the back surface of the display screen frame merely to
adjust the position of the display screen and not to change the
operational mode. In one embodiment, an additional check may be
made to verify that the intent was to change the mode and thus the
background screen--and not just to adjust the position. For
example, in one embodiment there may be sensors capable of sensing
touch both on the bezel of the front surface of the display and the
bezel on the back surface the display screen. In one embodiment, if
both the back and front touch sensitive sensors on the bezel
indicate that a touch has occurred, then it is assumed that the
user is adjusting the display stand position. If only the sensor on
the back bezel of the display screen indicates touch, then it is
assumed that the user wished to interact in the thru screen mode
with a transparent screen background.
[0039] As previously stated, the background screen control
component 118 can be set by system or user controlled instructions
that set background screen conditions of the background screen
control component. In some cases, the user could set his
preferences or additional preferences for automatically switching
between background modes. For example, in addition to turning on
the transparent mode by touching the back of the screen, touch
could be used to turn off the transparent mode. In effect, touch
could be used as an off/switch for a given background screen. For
instance, a first touch on the back display screen bezel 154 could
indicate that the user wishes to change to the thru-screen mode
(transparent screen). A second touch on the back bezel of the
display screen could indicate that the user wishes to change back
to the original background screen. This could be useful when the
user is in a mode that is uses an opaque background (i.e.,
displaying video), and wants to change to a transparent screen in
order to interact with an object behind the screen. In an
alternative embodiment, the user who might for example often
interact with an opaque screen in the viewing mode, might indicate
that he wishes to interact with a transparent background screen by
touching the front surface of the display screen bezel a
predetermined number of times.
[0040] In one embodiment, instead of a physical user interaction
with the display by the user, the user interacts with a user
interface that controls the background screen mode. In one
embodiment, the user interface is an icon displayed on the display
screen. For example, the icon could be a picture of a display with
a dear or lighter colored display screen representing the
transparent background mode and a darker colored display screen
representing the opaque background mode. Alternatively, the display
screen icon could represent a transparent background mode when an
outline of the display frame is shown and the opaque background
mode when the outline of the display frame is shown and in addition
the display screen filled in . In one embodiment, the user's
selection (clicking on the icon), could change the background
screen to correspond to the background screen selected by the icon.
In an alternative embodiment, the user interface is a pulldown menu
where the user selects a transparent screen or transparent screen
based on the user's desired mode of operation. In an alternative
embodiment, the user interface is a button embedded in the frame of
the display that is pressed in or released (on/off) to change
background screen modes.
[0041] As previously discussed in some cases, the background screen
is chosen indirectly by interpreting the sensed user physical
interactions. In this case, common usage assumptions are associated
with background screen control conditions 136 stored in the
background screen control component 118. If background screen
control conditions are sensed (for example, hinge movement), then
based on the control conditions sensed and the background screen
mode associated with it, a background screen is selected. In
another case, instead of indirectly choosing the background screen
based on the user's physical actions, the user selects the
background screen mode directly using a background screen control
user interface 141. For example, by simply clicking on the
transparent screen icon, the user can change the background screen
mode.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 1 shows a background screen control user
interface 141, In one embodiment, based on the user selected
background screen mode, the background screen is selected. For
example, as previously discussed the user could select an icon
representing the desirable background screen or use a pulldown menu
to select the desired background screen. The user uses the
background screen control user interface 141 to directly select
whether the background screen is transparent or opaque.
[0043] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram for a method of controlling the
background screen display mode based on interaction with the
display according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to
FIG. 4 shows the steps of: determining whether a predefined
interaction with a display has occurred, wherein the display is
capable of displaying at least a first background screen and a
second background screen (step 410); and determining whether the
predefined interaction with the display meets the background
control conditions, wherein responsive to meeting the background
control conditions, the background screen corresponding to the
predefined conditions is displayed (steps 412, 414).
[0044] FIG. 5 shows a computer system for implementing the methods
shown in FIG. 4 and described in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention. It should be apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the art that the method 400 represents generalized illustrations
and that other steps may be added or existing steps may be removed,
modified or rearranged without departing from the scopes of the
method 400. The descriptions of the method 400 are made with
reference to the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the system
500 illustrated in FIG. 5 and thus refers to the elements cited
therein, It should, however, be understood that the method 400 is
not limited to the elements set forth in the system 500. Instead,
it should be understood that the method 400 may be practiced by a
system having a different configuration than that set forth in the
system 500.
[0045] Some or all of the operations set forth in the method 400
may be contained as utilities, programs or subprograms, in any
desired computer accessible medium. In addition, the method 400 may
be embodied by computer programs, which may exist in a variety of
forms both active and inactive. For example, they may exist as
software program(s) comprised of program instructions in source
code, object code, executable code or other formats. Any of the
above may be embodied on a computer readable medium, which include
storage devices and signals, in compressed or uncompressed
form.
[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a computing apparatus
500 configured to implement or execute the methods 400 depicted in
FIG. 4, according to an example. In this respect, the computing
apparatus 400 may be used as a platform for executing one or more
of the functions described hereinabove with respect to the display
controller component 130.
[0047] The computing apparatus 500 includes one or more
processor(s) 502 that may implement or execute some or all of the
steps described in the methods 400. Commands and data from the
processor 502 are communicated over a communication bus 504. The
computing apparatus 500 also includes a main memory 506, such as a
random access memory (RAM), where the program code for the
processor 502, may be executed during runtime, and a secondary
memory 508. The secondary memory 508 includes, for example, one or
more hard drives 510 and/or a removable storage drive 512,
representing a removable flash memory card, etc., where a copy of
the program code for the method 500 may be stored. The removable
storage drive 512 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage
unit 514 in a well-known manner.
[0048] These methods, functions and other steps may be embodied as
machine readable instructions stored on one or more computer
readable mediums, which may be non-transitory. Exemplary
non-transitory computer readable storage devices that may be used
to implement the present invention include but are not limited to
conventional computer system RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, hard drives,
flash memory and magnetic or optical disks or tapes. Concrete
examples of the foregoing include distribution of the programs on a
CD ROM or via Internet download.
[0049] Although shown stored on main memory 506, any of the memory
components described 506, 508, 514 may also store an operating
system 530, such as Mac OS, MS Windows, Unix, or Linux; network
applications 532; and a display controller component 130. The
operating system 530 may be multi-participant, multiprocessing,
multitasking, multithreading, real-time and the like. The operating
system 530 may also perform basic tasks such as recognizing input
from input devices, such as a keyboard or a keypad; sending output
to the display 112 controlling peripheral devices, such as disk
drives, printers, image capture device; and managing traffic on the
one or more buses 504. The network applications 532 includes
various components for establishing and maintaining network
connections, such as software for implementing communication
protocols including TCP/IP, HTTP, Ethernet, USB, and FireWire.
[0050] The computing apparatus 500 may also include an input
devices 516, such as a keyboard, a keypad, functional keys, etc., a
pointing device, such as a tracking ball, cursors, etc., and a
display(s) 110, such as the display 110 shown for example in FIGS.
1-3. A display adaptor 522 may interface with the communication bus
504 and the display 112 and may receive display data from the
processor 502 and convert the display data into display commands
for the display 520.
[0051] The processor(s) 502 may communicate over a network, for
instance, a cellular network, the Internet, LAN, etc., through one
or more network interfaces 524 such as a Local Area Network LAN, a
wireless 802.11x LAN, a 3G mobile WAN or a WiMax WAN. In addition,
an interface 526 may be used to receive an image or sequence of
images from imaging components 528 such as the image capture
device.
[0052] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used
specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the
invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art
that the specific details are not required in order to practice the
invention. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of
the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration
and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive of or to
limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many
modifications and variations are possible in view of the above
teachings. The embodiments are shown and described in order to best
explain the principles of the invention and its practical
applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention and various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It
is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the
following claims and their equivalents:
* * * * *