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US6433799B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and system for displaying data in a second display area

Assignee: Ostendo Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2001-02-08
•
Granted: 2002-08-13
•
Expires: 2021-02-08
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Abstract

Abstract A method for creating and accessing a graphical user interface in the overscan area outside the area of the display normally visible to users of the common operating systems. This normal display area is generally known as the "desktop". The desktop serves as the graphical user interface to the operating system. The desktop displays images representing documents and applications available to the user (icons). The desktop is restricted in the common environments to a predetermined set of resolutions (e.g., 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768) as defined by VGA and Super VGA standards. Displayable borders outside this area are the overscan.

Inventors

  • 👤 D. David Nason
  • 👤 Thomas C. O'Rourke
  • 👤 J. Scott Campbell

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 18:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; G09; G09G; G09G1/00; G09G1/06; G09G1/14; G09G1/16; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G09G2320/00; G09G2320/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 135
Claim 1
Independent Claim 132 words
A method in a computer system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is controlled by a computer operating system display interface and that occupies a portion of a first display area, the method comprising: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface to create a second display area by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 132 words
A method in a computer system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is controlled by a computer operating system display interface and that occupies a portion of a first display area, the method comprising: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface to create a second display area by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first display area is accessible by the computer operating system display interfice and wherein the created second display area is ignored by the computer operating system display interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the created second display area is outside of the first display area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first display area is accessible by the computer operating system and wherein the created second display area is inaccessible by the computer operating system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the created second display area is outside of the first display area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the display parameters of the video display system adjust the resolution of the video display system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting the display parameters comprises manipulating video display registers that control retrace.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the parameters are control parameters for a controller of a cathode ray tube display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the size of the first display area corresponds to a video mode defined in one or both of the standard DOS ROM BIOS or the VESA extensions to the DOS ROM BIOS.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 87 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting of the display parameters of the video display system to create a second display area further comprises: determining whether the video display system has been set to a non-standard or a standard resolution; when it is determined that the video display system has been set to a standard resolution, adjusting the resolution of the video display system to include a second display area; and modifying the retrace parameters of the video display system to accommodate the second display area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the writing of the data to the second display area further comprises: associating video display memory with the second display area: writing the data to the associated memory; and transferring the contents of the associated memory to the video display such that the data is displayed in the second display area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the data is appears to be displayed continuously in the second display area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the data displayed in the second display area may toggle to an invisible state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the data is not obscured by any portion of the user interface controlled by the computer operating system display interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the data is a secondary user interface that is controlled independently of the computer operating system user interface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the data is displayed alongside the user interface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a portion of the data that is displayed in the second display area includes a movable pointer which moves in relation to user input.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the pointer has an associated tip that is positioned outside of a cursor activation point associated with the tip, the cursor activation point located within the first display area while the pointer is displayed within the second display area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 69 words
The method of claim 1 , the data comprising a displayable image, wherein the writing of the data to the second display area further comprises, after adjusting the display parameters to create a second display area, writing at least a portion of the image to a portion of the first display area such that the image appears to be displayed over at least a portion of the user interface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting the parameters of the video display system is performed by function calls to driver software that communicates with the video display.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 133 words
A method in a computer system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, the method comprising: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is ignored by and inaccssible to the computer operating system display interface, by reserving a portion of the display, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 133 words
A method in a computer system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, the method comprising: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is ignored by and inaccssible to the computer operating system display interface, by reserving a portion of the display, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 140 words
A method in a computer system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a conmputeroperating system display interface, the method comprising: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is outside of the first display area, by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interce is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system along with the user interface.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 140 words
A method in a computer system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a conmputeroperating system display interface, the method comprising: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is outside of the first display area, by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interce is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system along with the user interface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the display of data in the second display area ig performed in a manner that is transparent to the operating system.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 127 words
A method in a computer system for displaying an image on a display of a video display system in conjunction with the display of a user interface in a portion of a first display area of the video display system, the uscr interface controlled by a computer operating system display interface, comprsing: in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, creating a second display area of the video display system by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing the image to the second display so that it cannot be obscured by the user interface.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 127 words
A method in a computer system for displaying an image on a display of a video display system in conjunction with the display of a user interface in a portion of a first display area of the video display system, the uscr interface controlled by a computer operating system display interface, comprsing: in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, creating a second display area of the video display system by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing the image to the second display so that it cannot be obscured by the user interface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 24 , the video display system having a primary display, wherein the creating of the second display area is performed using an application programming interface that creates a second virtual display surface on the primary display.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the application programming interface can be used to manipulate at least one of a display device driver and video display hardware.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the application programming interface is Microsoft's DirectX.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the creation of the second display area is performed using a virtual device driver.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method of claim 24 , the video display system having a video device driver, wherein the video device driver is modified to enable creation of the second display area and wherein the creation of the second display area is performed using the modified device driver.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the second display area is created by adjusting the display resolution parameters of the video display system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the adjustment manipulates control registers of a cathode ray tube display.
Claim 36
Independent Claim 128 words
A method in a computer system for displaying non-obscured data on a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is displayed in at least a portion of a first display area using a computer operating system display interface, the method comprising: in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, using the CRTC registers of the computer system to create a visible display area that is outside of the first display area; locating video memory; associating the located video memory with the created visible display area; writing the data to the associated video memory; and transferring the video memory contents to the video display system such that the data displayed in the created visible display area is not obscured by the user interface.
Claim 37
Independent Claim 128 words
A method in a computer system for displaying non-obscured data on a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is displayed in at least a portion of a first display area using a computer operating system display interface, the method comprising: in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, using the CRTC registers of the computer system to create a visible display area that is outside of the first display area; locating video memory; associating the located video memory with the created visible display area; writing the data to the associated video memory; and transferring the video memory contents to the video display system such that the data displayed in the created visible display area is not obscured by the user interface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the data displayed in the created visible display area is toggled to an invisible state.
Claim 39
Independent Claim 91 words
A method in a computer system for creating a second display area on a display of a video display system, the second display area being independent of a first display area, the first display area displaying a user interface of a computer operating system, the second display area not controlled by the computer operating system, comprising, in a manner that bypasses a display interface of the computer operating system, adjusting the display parameters of the video display system to create the second display area by reserving a portion of the display.
Claim 40
Independent Claim 91 words
A method in a computer system for creating a second display area on a display of a video display system, the second display area being independent of a first display area, the first display area displaying a user interface of a computer operating system, the second display area not controlled by the computer operating system, comprising, in a manner that bypasses a display interface of the computer operating system, adjusting the display parameters of the video display system to create the second display area by reserving a portion of the display.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the display parameters are CRTC registers and the resolution of the video display system is modified to create the second display area.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the display parameters are modified using a virtual device driver.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 34 , further comprising displaying in the second display area a second user interface that is controlled independently from the user interface displayed in the first display area.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 34 , further comprising associating a portion of video display memory with the second display area for writing data to the second display area.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 38 , further comprising writing data to the associated portion of video display memory so that the data is displayed in the second display area.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 136 words
A computcr-readable memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is controlled by a computer operating system display interface and that occupies a portion of a first display area, by: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface to create a second display area by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 136 words
A computcr-readable memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is controlled by a computer operating system display interface and that occupies a portion of a first display area, by: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface to create a second display area by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 37 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the first display area is accessible by the computer operating system display interface and wherein the created second display area is ignored by the computer operating system display interface.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 20 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 41 wherein the created second display area is outside of the first display area.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 33 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the first display area is accessible by the computer operating system and wherein the created second display area is inaccessible by the computer operating system.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 19 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 43 wherein created second display area is outside of the first display area.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 24 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the display parameters of the video display system adjust the resolution of the video display system.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 21 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the adjusting the display parameters comprises manipulating video display registers that control retrace.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 22 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the parameters are control parameters for a controller of a cathode ray tube display.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 40 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the size of the first display area corresponds to a video mode defined in one or both of the standard DOS ROM BIOS or the VESA extensions to the DOS ROM BIOS.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 89 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the adjusting of the display parameters of the video display system to create a second display area further comprises: determining whether the video display system has been set to a non-standard or a standard resolution; when it is determined that the video display system has been set to a standard resolution, adjusting the resolution of the video display system to include a second display area; and modifying the retrace parameters of the video display system to accommodate the second display area.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim 59 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the writing of the data to the second display area further comprises: associating video display memory with the second display area; writing the data to the associated memory; and transferring the contents of the associated memory to the video display such that the data is displayed in the second display area.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim 21 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the data is appears to be displayed continuously in the second display area.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim 22 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the data displayed in the second display area may toggle to an invisible state.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim 28 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the data is not obscured by any portion of the user intertce controlled by the computer operating system display interface.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim 26 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the data is a secondary user interface that is controlled independently of the computer operating system user interface.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim 16 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the data is displayed alongside the user interface.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim 32 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein a portion of the data that is displayed in the second display area includes a movable pointer which moves in relation to user input.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim 46 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 56 wherein the pointer has an associated tip that is positioned outside of a cursor activation point associated with the tip, the cursor activation point_located within the first display area while the pointer is displayed within the second display area.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim 71 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 , the data comprising a displayable image, wherein the writing of the data to the second display area further comprises, after adjusting the display parameters to create a second display area, writing at least a portion of the image to a portion of the first display area such that the image appears to be displayed over at least a portion of the user interface.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim 31 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 40 wherein the adjusting the parameters of the video display system is performed by function calls to driver software that communicates with the video display.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim 137 words
A computer-readablc memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interfce that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, by: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is ignored by and inaccessible to the computer operating system display interfaces by reserving a portion of the display, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim 137 words
A computer-readablc memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interfce that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, by: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is ignored by and inaccessible to the computer operating system display interfaces by reserving a portion of the display, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim 145 words
A computer-readable memory mnedium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, by: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is outside of the first display area, by resrving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interfce is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system along with the user interface.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim 145 words
A computer-readable memory mnedium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, by: adjusting the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is outside of the first display area, by resrving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interfce is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system along with the user interface.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim 29 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 61 wherein the display of data in the second display area is performed in a manner that is transparent to the operating system.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim 133 words
A computer-readable memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display an image on a display of a video display system in conjunction with the display of a user interface in a portion of a first display area of the video display system, the user interface controlled by a computer operating system display interface, by: in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display intertice, creating a second display area of the video display system by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interfce is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing the image to the second display so that it cannot be obscured by the user interface.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim 133 words
A computer-readable memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display an image on a display of a video display system in conjunction with the display of a user interface in a portion of a first display area of the video display system, the user interface controlled by a computer operating system display interface, by: in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display intertice, creating a second display area of the video display system by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interfce is prevented from affecting the second display area; and writing the image to the second display so that it cannot be obscured by the user interface.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim 42 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 63 , the video display system having a primary display, wherein the creating of the second display area is performed using an application programming interface that creates a second virtual display surface on the primary display.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim 29 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 64 wherein the application programming interface can be used to manipulate at least one of a display device driver and video display hardware.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim 15 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 64 wherein the application programming interface is Microsoft's DirectX.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim 22 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 63 wherein the creation of the second display area is performed using a virtual device driver.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim 48 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 63 , the video display system having a video device driver, wherein the video device driver is modified to enable creation of the second display area and wherein the creation of the second display area is performed using the modified device driver.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim 25 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 63 wherein the second display area is created by adjusting the display resolution parameters of the video display system.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim 19 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 69 wherein the adjustment manipulates control registers of a cathode ray tube display.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim 132 words
A computer-readable memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display non-obs data on a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is displayed in at least a portion of a first display area using a computer operating system display interface, by: in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, using the CRTC registers of the computer system to create a visible display area that is outside of the first display area; locating video memory; associating the located video memory with the created visible display area; writing the data to the associated video memory; and transferring the video memory contents to the video display system such that the data displayed in the created visible display area is not obscured by the user interfere.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim 132 words
A computer-readable memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to display non-obs data on a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is displayed in at least a portion of a first display area using a computer operating system display interface, by: in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, using the CRTC registers of the computer system to create a visible display area that is outside of the first display area; locating video memory; associating the located video memory with the created visible display area; writing the data to the associated video memory; and transferring the video memory contents to the video display system such that the data displayed in the created visible display area is not obscured by the user interfere.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim 23 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 71 wherein the data displayed in the created visible display area is toggled to an invisible state.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim 97 words
A computer-readable memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to create a second display area on a display of a video display systemn, the second display area being independent of a first display area, the first display area displaying a user interfitce of a computer operating system, the second display area not controlled by the computer operating system, comprsing, in a manner that bypassed a display interface of the computer operating system, adjusting the display parameters of the video display system to create the second display area by reserving a portion of the display.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim 97 words
A computer-readable memory medium that contains instructions for controlling a computer processor to create a second display area on a display of a video display systemn, the second display area being independent of a first display area, the first display area displaying a user interfitce of a computer operating system, the second display area not controlled by the computer operating system, comprsing, in a manner that bypassed a display interface of the computer operating system, adjusting the display parameters of the video display system to create the second display area by reserving a portion of the display.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim 31 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 73 where in the display parameters are CRTC registers and the resolution of the video display system is modified to create the second display area.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim 18 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 73 wherein the display parameters are modified using a virtual device driver.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim 34 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 73 , further comprising displaying in the second display area a second user interface that is controlled independently from the user interface displayed in the first display area.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim 30 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 73 , further comprising associating a portion of video display memory with the second display area for writing data to the second display area.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim 31 words
The computer-readable memory medium of claim 77 , further comprising writing data to the associated portion of video display memory so that the data is displayed in the second display area.
Claim 91
Independent Claim 140 words
A system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is controlled by a computer operating system display interface and that occupies a portion of a first display area, comprising: a display parameter adjustment mechanism that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display interface inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interice is prevented from affecting the second display area; and a data writing mechanism that enables data to be written to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 92
Independent Claim 140 words
A system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is controlled by a computer operating system display interface and that occupies a portion of a first display area, comprising: a display parameter adjustment mechanism that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display interface inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interice is prevented from affecting the second display area; and a data writing mechanism that enables data to be written to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim 35 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the first display area is accessible by the computer operating system display interface and wherein the created second display area is ignored by the computer operating system display interface.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 80 wherein the created second display area is outside of the first display area.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim 31 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the first display area is accessible by the computer operating system and wherein the created second display area is inaccessible by the computer operating system.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 82 wherein the created second display area is outside of the first display area.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the display parameters of the video display system adjust the resolution of the video display system.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the display parameter adjustment mechanism manipulates video display registers that control retrace.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the parameters are control parameters for a controller of a cathode ray tube display.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim 38 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the size of the first display area corresponds to a video mode defined in one or both of the standard DOS ROM BIOS or the VESA extensions to the DOS ROM BIOS.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim 79 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the display adjustment parameter mechanism creates a second display area by: determining whether the video display system has been set to a non-standard or a standard resolution; when it is determined that the video display system has been set to a standard resolution, adjusting the resolution of the video display system to include a second display area; and modifying the retrace parameters of the video display system to accommodate the second display area.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim 57 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the data writing mechanism writes data to the second display area by: associating video display memory with the second display area: writing the data to the associated memory; and transferring the contents of the associated memory to the video display such that the data is displayed in the second display area.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the data is appears to be displayed continuously in the second display area.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the data displayed in the second display area may toggle to an invisible state.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the data is not obscured by any portion of the user interface controlled by the computer operating system display interface.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the data is a secondary user interface that is controlled independently of the computer operating system user interface.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the data is displayed alongside the user interface.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim 30 words
The system of claim 79 wherein a portion of the data that is displayed in the second display area includes a movable pointer which moves in relation to user input.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim 45 words
The system of claim 95 wherein the pointer has an associated tip that is positioned outside of a cursor activation point associated with the tip, the cursor activation point located within the first display area while the pointer is displayed within the second display area.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim 70 words
The system of claim 79 , the data comprising a displayable image, wherein the data writing mechanism writes the data to the second display area by, after adjusting the display parameters to create a second display area, writing at least a portion of the image to a portion of the first display area such that the image appears to be displayed over at least a portion of the user interface.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim 31 words
The system of claim 79 wherein the display parameter adjustment mechanism adjusts the parameters of the video display system through function calls to driver software that communicates with the video display.
Claim 112
Independent Claim 140 words
A system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, the system comprising: a display parameter adjustment fiwility that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is ignored by and inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, by reserving a portion of the display, whereas the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and a data writing mechanism that writes data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 113
Independent Claim 140 words
A system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, the system comprising: a display parameter adjustment fiwility that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is ignored by and inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, by reserving a portion of the display, whereas the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and a data writing mechanism that writes data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system in conjunction with the user interface.
Claim 114
Independent Claim 148 words
A system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, the system comprising: a display parameter adjustment facility that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is outside of the first display area, by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereas the computer operating System display interfacc is prevented from affecting the second display area; and a data writing mechanism that writes data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system along with the user interface.
Claim 115
Independent Claim 148 words
A system for displaying data on a display of a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that occupies a portion of a first display area, the first display area being accessible by a computer operating system display interface, the system comprising: a display parameter adjustment facility that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses the computer operating system display interface, to create a second display area that is outside of the first display area, by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereas the computer operating System display interfacc is prevented from affecting the second display area; and a data writing mechanism that writes data to the second display area so that it is displayed on the video display system along with the user interface.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim 27 words
The system of claim 100 wherein the display of data in the second display area is performed in a manner that is transparent to the operating system.
Claim 117
Independent Claim 128 words
A system for displaying an image on a display of a video display system in conjunction with the display of a user interface in a portion of a first display area of the video display system, the user interface controlled by a computer operating system display interface, comprising: a display creation mechanism that bypasses the computer operating system to create a second display area of the video display system by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and a data writing mechanism that writes the image to the second display so that it cannot be obscured by the user interface.
Claim 118
Independent Claim 128 words
A system for displaying an image on a display of a video display system in conjunction with the display of a user interface in a portion of a first display area of the video display system, the user interface controlled by a computer operating system display interface, comprising: a display creation mechanism that bypasses the computer operating system to create a second display area of the video display system by reserving a portion of the display to make the second display area inaccessible to the computer operating system display interface, whereby the computer operating system display interface is prevented from affecting the second display area; and a data writing mechanism that writes the image to the second display so that it cannot be obscured by the user interface.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim 40 words
The system of claim 102 , the video display system having a primary display, wherein the creating of the second display area is performed using an application programming interface that creates a second virtual display surface on the primary display.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 103 wherein the application programming interface is used to manipulate at least one of a display device driver and video display hardware.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 103 wherein the application programming interface is Microsoft's DirectX.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 102 wherein the creation of the second display area is performed using a virtual device driver.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim 46 words
The system of claim 102 , the video display system having a video device driver, wherein the video device driver is modified to enable creation of the second display area and wherein the creation of the second display area is performed using the modified device driver.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 102 wherein the second display area is created by adjusting the display resolution parameters of the video display system.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system of claim 108 wherein the adjustment manipulates control registers of a cathode ray tube display.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim 141 words
A computer system for displaying nonobscured data on a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is displayed in at least a portion of a first display area using a computer operating system display interace, the system comprising: a display area creation facility that bypasses the computer operating system display interface to use the CRTC registers of the computer system to create a visible display area that is outside of the first display area; a video memory association mechanism that locates video memory; and associates the located video memory with the created visible display area; and a data writing mechanism that writes the data to the associated video memory; and transfer the video memory contents to the video display system such that the data displayed in the created visible display area is not obscured by the user interface.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim 141 words
A computer system for displaying nonobscured data on a video display system in conjunction with a user interface that is displayed in at least a portion of a first display area using a computer operating system display interace, the system comprising: a display area creation facility that bypasses the computer operating system display interface to use the CRTC registers of the computer system to create a visible display area that is outside of the first display area; a video memory association mechanism that locates video memory; and associates the located video memory with the created visible display area; and a data writing mechanism that writes the data to the associated video memory; and transfer the video memory contents to the video display system such that the data displayed in the created visible display area is not obscured by the user interface.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 110 wherein the data displayed in the created visible display area is toggled to an invisible state.
Claim 129
Independent Claim 86 words
A system for creating a second display area on a display of a video display system, the second display area being independent of a first display area, the first display area displaying a user interface of a computer operating system, the second display area not controlled by the computer operating system, comprising a display area creation facility that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses a display interface of the computer operating system, to create the second display area.
Claim 130
Independent Claim 86 words
A system for creating a second display area on a display of a video display system, the second display area being independent of a first display area, the first display area displaying a user interface of a computer operating system, the second display area not controlled by the computer operating system, comprising a display area creation facility that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system, in a manner that bypasses a display interface of the computer operating system, to create the second display area.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 110 wherein the display parameters are CRTC registers and the resolution of the video display system is modified to create the second display area.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 110 wherein the display parameters are modified using a virtual device driver.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim 38 words
The system of claim 110 , further comprising a user interface display mechanism that displays in the second display area a second user interface that is controlled independently from the user interface displayed in the first display area.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim 33 words
The system of claim 110 , further comprising a display association mechanism that associates a portion of video display memory with the second display area for writing data to the second display area.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim 34 words
The system of claim 116 , further comprising a data writing mechanism that writes data to the associated portion of video display memory so that the data is displayed in the second display area.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-08-12 2006-02-11 2006-08-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-08-12 2010-02-11 2010-08-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-08-12 2014-02-11 2014-08-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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